30 May

Japan: Himeji

The elegant Himeji-jo, with its five-storey main keep, moats and defensive walls, is renowned as Japan’s most beautiful surviving feudal castle. The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was built in 1580 by the powerful general and samurai warrior Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

31 May

Japan: Takamatsu

The laid back port city of Takamatsu sits on the north coast of Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s major islands, and is home to the beautifully designed Ritsurin Koen, one of Japan’s most famous historical gardens.

1 June

Japan: Matsuyama

2 June

Japan: Beppu

Steam rises over the spa town of Beppu, home to numerous onsen (hot springs) and the surreal red waters of the macabre-sounding ‘blood pond hell’. Beppu is also close to Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan, and the ancient temples of the Kunisaki Peninsula.

3 June

Japan: Uwajima

The historic town of Uwajima, situated on the west coast of Shikoku island, is home to a beautiful 17th century castle, surrounded by ornamental gardens. Another popular and rather eye-opening attraction is the Taga fertility shrine, with its 9-foot carving of a phallus and adjoining sex museum.

4 June

Japan: Aburatsu (Miyazaki)

The city of Miyazaki sits on the southeastern coast of Kyushu, the warmest of Japan’s main islands, and it’s a popular spot for domestic tourists. Worthwhile excursions include the historic town of Obi, known as ‘Little Kyoto’, and laid back Aoshima island, home to a picturesque shrine.

5 June

Japan: Kagoshima

The friendly southern Japanese city of Kagoshima enjoys a balmy climate, and sits just across the bay from the very active Sakurajima volcano, which erupts so regularly that an ‘ash forecast’ is included in local weather reports.

6 June

Japan: Nagasaki

Three days after Hiroshima was flattened by an atomic bomb, Nagasaki suffered the same horrifying fate. The reconstruction of both cities has been quite extraordinary; Nagasaki today is a vibrant, cosmopolitan place, with a fascinating history that goes back a lot further than 1945.

7 June

Japan: Tsushima

8 June

South Korea: Busan

Busan is South Korea’s second biggest city and one of the world’s busiest container ports, but it’s an easygoing place with a discernibly different character to Seoul. Haeundae beach is a popular summer holiday destination for Koreans, while the pungent Jagalchi market sells every type of fish and sea creature imaginable.

9 June

Japan: Shimonoseki

10 June

Japan: Beppu

Steam rises over the spa town of Beppu, home to numerous onsen (hot springs) and the surreal red waters of the macabre-sounding ‘blood pond hell’. Beppu is also close to Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan, and the ancient temples of the Kunisaki Peninsula.

11 June

Japan: Uwajima

The historic town of Uwajima, situated on the west coast of Shikoku island, is home to a beautiful 17th century castle, surrounded by ornamental gardens. Another popular and rather eye-opening attraction is the Taga fertility shrine, with its 9-foot carving of a phallus and adjoining sex museum.

12 June

Japan: Miyazaki

The city of Miyazaki sits on the southeastern coast of Kyushu, the warmest of Japan’s main islands, and it’s a popular spot for domestic tourists. Worthwhile excursions include the historic town of Obi, known as ‘Little Kyoto’, and laid back Aoshima island, home to a picturesque shrine.

13 June

Japan: Kagoshima

The friendly southern Japanese city of Kagoshima enjoys a balmy climate, and sits just across the bay from the very active Sakurajima volcano, which erupts so regularly that an ‘ash forecast’ is included in local weather reports.

14 June

Japan: Yakushima

The island of Yakushima is an unspoilt natural paradise, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its primeval temperate rainforest. The mountainous interior is a magical landscape of waterfalls, ancient cedar trees and winding trails, and provided the inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed anime ‘Princess Mononoke’.

15 June

Japan: Naze (Amami-Oshima)

The island of Amami-Oshima is rich in flora and fauna thanks to a mild subtropical climate, and a number of whale species can be spotted in the surrounding waters during the winter. The island also has some lovely white sand beaches, and is known for producing high quality hand-made silk.

16 June

Japan: Naha

Naha is the capital of Okinawa prefecture, a subtropical region of southern Japan with its own distinct culture. The city is a bustling commercial centre despite being flattened during the Second World War, and the architectural highlight is the elegant Shuri Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

17 June

Japan: Miyako

18 June to 19 June

Taiwan: Keelung (Taipei)

Keelung is a fairly unremarkable port city close to Taipei, Taiwan’s capital. Taipei draws on an interesting mix of Chinese, Japanese and Western influences, and is home to attractive temples, a burgeoning street food scene and Taipei 101, which was the world's tallest building until it was eclipsed by Dubai's Burj Khalifa in 2010.

20 June

Taiwan: Penghu

21 June - At sea

22 June

Arriving in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a striking mix of ancient and modern, Chinese and British, and there is a lot more to the city than just skyscrapers and high finance. It's also a fantastic destination for foodies, a melting pot of culinary influences from around Asia and beyond.