Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, is home to four million residents. Located in the southeast along the Sea of Japan, this bustling harbor city enjoys a mild climate. Walk through vibrant streets, visit cultural landmarks like museums and art galleries, and explore historic sites like the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple's waterfront. Relax on scenic beaches and take in natural landscapes. The city’s welcoming atmosphere and rich heritage make it a must-see destination.

Karatsu Bay features expansive sandy beaches and an ancient pine forest planted centuries ago to shield the coast from the Genkai Sea’s winds and tides. Climb Karatsu Castle or Mount Kagami to take in sweeping views of the area. Explore the Nanatsugama Caves, impressive basalt formations shaped by the sea. Discover the city’s renowned pottery, inspired by Korean craftsmanship, showcased in local galleries and at Karatsu Castle, alongside displays of samurai armor.

Located on the northwest coast of Kyushu, Nagasaki will impress you with its rich heritage. Despite the destruction in 1945, you can visit several ancient sites, including the beautiful 19th-century Catholic Church of Oura and its garden, the sanctuary of Suwa Shrine, or several Buddhist temples. A visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum gives you insight into the extent of the damage caused by the nuclear attack. Close by, a walk in the Memorial Peace Park leads you to a collection of objets d'art offered as a gift from Japan to the world.

The seaside city of Kagoshima, at south of Kyushu Island, is best known for Sakurajima, an active volcano that faces Kinko Bay. A visit to this busy metropolis will remind you just how much the volcano is part of the inhabitants' everyday life: in the wake of the almost daily eruptions, a delicate layer of ash settles on everything. The top of a buried torii (traditional Japanese gate) measuring three meters that was 'swallowed up' by a giant lava flow in 1914 can still be seen. The power of nature will send a shiver down your spine.

The cradle of Japanese mythology, Miyazaki is a hidden treasure on the southern coast of Kyushu. Known for its climate, its golden beaches, and its spectacular rocky formations, it is an invitation to exploration and contemplation. In the heart of the city, the Miyazaki-jingu Shinto shrine stands majestically, surrounded by ancient forests and peaceful gardens, in which an atmosphere of serenity reigns. Make the most of the authenticity of this city with local culture and, during the visit to the Miyazaki Shrine, fall under the spell of the kagura, a dance and song performance by the shrine’s priests and helpers.

At the heart of the Inland Sea, Miyajima, the “island sanctuary” will reveal its treasures. In the background, you will see the Shinto Grand Sanctuary, whose entrance is guarded by a magnificent vermillion “Torii“. Considered to be one of the most beautiful sites in the Japanese islands, you will be transported by the unique character and the serenity of this sacred site.

Visit Itozaki, a charming coastal town surrounded by green hills.

Imabari is a city imbued with history and mystery, stretching majestically along the southern shores of the Seto Inland Sea. Once the playground of the Murakami clan, fearsome pirates reigning over the maritime trade and heroes of literary tales since 1349, the city is now one of Japan’s main naval construction centers, building many ships every year. Today, the Shimanami Kaido, a suspension road, guides travelers in the footsteps of these ancient masters of the waves, just like its castle, one of Japan’s three mizujiro, literally “castles on the sea”. Imabari is also famous as the home of the Imabari towel, one of the highest quality produced in the world.

A former fortified city, ruled over by the Matsudaira clan from the Tamamo castle with its seawater moats, the city is home to one of the most beautiful classic gardens in Japan, the Ritsurin. It was created by the barons of the city at the start of the Edo period, during which time gardening became a profession in its own right. Its landscape incorporates Mount Shiun in the background, an example of what is known as the shakkei technique, which uses the surrounding landscapes to increase the beauty of the gardens.

You may get the impression that you have already seen Himeji Castle, as it has been featured many times on the big screen. The feudal edifice seems to spread its wings over the town like a white heron in fact, its nickname is the castle of the white heron. Originally started in the 15th century and then rebuilt in the 17th century, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. At its feet lies the gorgeous Koko-en garden, which has nine different gardens designed to flourish in each of the four seasons.

To the southwest of the Japanese archipelago, Shingu is a port town in the Kansai region. Founded in 1933, it belongs to the peninsula of Kii, the countryﾒs largest. Take a trip around the Kumano Sanzan religious complex dedicated to three sacred mountains and home to two Shinto temples, Kumano Hong. Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha.ﾠThe latter features the famous sacred nagi tree, said to have been planted around 1159. Pilgrims flock to these two sanctuaries that feature on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Hop on a boat and journey to the Dorokyo Gorge, a natural beauty spot carved out by the emerald waters of the Kumano River.

Toba is a coastal city located in Japan’s Mie Prefecture, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Situated in the Ise-Shima National Park, Toba has given its name to a majestic bay sheltering a string of small islands, famous for the beauty of their forests and the production of cultured pearls. You will have the possibility of discovering the Ise Shrine, a residence of the Imperial family and venerated by the Japanese people as the “soul of Japan”.

Like its big sister Tokyo, Osaka is the product of ancestral traditions and amazing technological innovations. And despite its size, its location on the Pacific Ocean gives it a sense of serenity. The main historic landmark is the 16th-century Osaka Castle, which stands proud in the midst of majestic skyscrapers. The lively streets of Dotomburi and the bizarre Shinsekai district attract thousands of locals and visitors. A multitude of restaurants offer menus full of regional specialties: takoyaki, made with octopus, and other succulent dishes such as kushikatsu kebabs.