North Pacific Cruise - from Vancouver - 119126

With a population of almost 500,000 Vancouver in British Columbia is the most important port at the Pacific. It is considered to be one of the safest and cleanest cities in the world and, on account of its sheltered location, it has a mild climate all year round. A special attraction at the northern edge of the city is Vancouver's Hausberg Grouse Mountain, which can be reached by a cable-car and has excellent facilities for winter sports and hillwalking as well as a wonderful view of the city. Capilano Suspension Bridge, measuring 137 m in length and suspended 70 m above a river gorge, which visitors can cross, is also nearby. Sights include: Gastown, Stanley Park, Chinatown, Science World, Vancouver Aquarium, Harbour Centre with its viewing platform, the waterfront with a sea bus.

The "Salmon Capital of the World" is one of the towns in south-east Alaska that already existed during Russian times. As in Sitka, this Russian influence is also apparent here in the form of folk dancers and a Russian Orthodox church. In Totem Bight State Park you can view totem poles elaborately carved by the Tlingit native Americans. Ketchikan is considered to be a Mecca for salmon fishers, who already settled here hundreds of years ago.

Juneau, situated between Mount Juneau and the Gastineau Channel, was founded during the Gold Rush. Due to the lack of major roads it has retained its cosy atmosphere. The capital of Alaska has many attractions, such as the old Victorian houses, the governor's palace, museums and much more.

Skagway is in the Klondike National Historic Park. Today it is a reminder of the era of the Gold Rush when thousands of gold diggers set sail to make their fortune. The historic part of Skagway is particularly worth a visit. Here you can take a stroll along the promenades lined by buildings with restored facades. Sights include: the Gold Rush Cemetery, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the Trail of '98 Museum, the historic town centre.

Tokyo, the capital of Japan with a population of almost 8 million, combines tradition with progress. Buddhist temples stand side by side with Shinto cultural institutes and sky-scrapers. In the tiny streets you can find Kimonos, fans and miniature carvings, just a few streets away from the modern banking district and the grand architectural masterpieces. Visitors can relax in the Koraku Garden which has replicas of various features of the Japanese landscape. If it's a thrill you're after, a visit to the fish market is just the thing - and you could even bid on some fish!. More than 90,000 works of art are on display in the largest museum in Japan, the National Museum. In 1958 the Japanese built a replica of the Eiffel tower; At 333m high, 'Tokyo tower' would dwarf the original. Other sights include: the Meji shrine, the emperor's garden and palace, the town hall, the 'Capsule Hotel' where guests are accommodated in "drawers", Asakusa Kannon temple and the temple gardens in Kamakura.

Kobe is the capital of the prefecture of Hyogo and one of the largest cities in Japan. It lies between a large lake and the Rokko mountains and is one of the most beautiful and most cosmopolitan of Japan's cities. For many centuries, Kobe was the most important port in Japan and was the first to be opened for overseas trade.

Kochi is one of the few originally preserved castle towns in Japan and is located on the island of Shikoku. Alongside the Chikurin-ji temple, Kochi Castle is the city's most important tourist attraction. Kochi's diverse nature can be enjoyed on a walk through one of the impressive parks, for example, while the extensive caves in the surrounding area are also well worth a visit.

Hiroshima is one of the most affluent cities in Japan, but its fame is attributable mainly to the atom bomb attack on August 6, 1945. The modern landmark of Hiroshima is "Genbaku domu", the "A-bomb cathedral". The ruins of the former Chamber of Industry and Commerce with its naked steel dome were left as a memorial and a warning to future generations. Close by "Genbaku domu" is the Children's Peace Monument, inspired by Sadako Sasaki, a little girl who died of leukaemia. The 'Peace Park "Heiwa koen" is home to the atom bomb museum and the memorial grave with the eternal flame.

The name of this city with more than a million inhabitants, Busan, means "tea-kettle mountain" and refers to the city's location, hemmed in on three sides by mountains. Before the port lies the "dragon's head rock". You can enjoy an excellent view from the platform of Pusan Tower or from the small restaurant in the tower. At the foot of the tower is a tangled labyrinth of small streets in Kukje Market. The traditional Chagalchi fish market is Korea's most lively market, selling freshly-caught seafood and fish specialities. Taejongdae, a bizarre cliff formation in a beautiful setting, has a spacious plateau from where you will have a fantastic view of the Sea of Japan. The city museum "Pokchon-dong" details Busan's history from the 4th century onwards. Other sights include: Pomo(sa) temple, the fortifications at Kumjongsansong on the Kumjong mountain, Kumgang Park with a funicular railway and ancient forests.

Nagasaki is the only city in Japan with a European influence, since it was only here that some settlements were allowed during the 300 years of isolation. The city lies at the end of a bay between mountain ranges, from where you can enjoy an excellent view of the city, the islands just off the coast and the ocean. The old trams are the perfect way to get around the city and visit the sights. Nagasaki is a busy, colourful city whose early history of encounters with the Portuguese and Dutch has been overshadowed by its fate as the second target of an atomic bomb attack. Urakami, the centre of the atomic explosion is today an affluent and peaceful suburb. This is where visitors can find the nightmarish atomic bomb museum, a vivid reminder of the horrors of nuclear destruction. The Hypocentre Park is also located here. It has a black stone column marking the exact spot at which the bomb exploded, as well as remains and ruins. A bell sounds at 11.02 a.m. every day, the time of the explosion, at the turtle-shaped Zen temple Fukusai-ji.

Tokyo, the capital of Japan with a population of almost 8 million, combines tradition with progress. Buddhist temples stand side by side with Shinto cultural institutes and sky-scrapers. In the tiny streets you can find Kimonos, fans and miniature carvings, just a few streets away from the modern banking district and the grand architectural masterpieces. Visitors can relax in the Koraku Garden which has replicas of various features of the Japanese landscape. If it's a thrill you're after, a visit to the fish market is just the thing - and you could even bid on some fish!. More than 90,000 works of art are on display in the largest museum in Japan, the National Museum. In 1958 the Japanese built a replica of the Eiffel tower; At 333m high, 'Tokyo tower' would dwarf the original. Other sights include: the Meji shrine, the emperor's garden and palace, the town hall, the 'Capsule Hotel' where guests are accommodated in "drawers", Asakusa Kannon temple and the temple gardens in Kamakura.