Osaka has always been at the centre of life in Japan. As it is the gateway to mainland Asia, new ideas in science, culture and philosophy has become the base of the city. During the 7th century, Osaka was considered as the capital and some mischievous Osakans even today predicts that some day the city will again become a capital. What is more impressive is its dramatic buildings everywhere, great developments on the land and also into the ocean, and splendid nature of the city. Traditional tourist sites are not so much as the city experienced devastations during the World War II. But still there are many glittering surroundings and great restaurants make the city superb. In fact, the shopping experience was remarkable.

I saw two parts of Osaka and both are totally different. One offered me olden or traditional look and the other with modernization. Well, the Kita or north district is very modern where I experienced striking arrays of skyscrapers and state-of-the-art shopping arcades. Where as, Minami which is the south district even today preserved the style of old Osaka. The buildings and streets in the south district are built to a smaller scale but still it remains busy and lively.Enjoying the panoramas of the city from water, or on Aqua Liner waterbus, or on land in luxury tour coaches all gives stunning beauty of the city. No doubt, it is a magnificent site where a tourist will never say no to visit.

Osaka has crossed more than 1,000 years but still its history is alive and became a part of today’s futuristic cityscape, cutting edge architecture and modern industry. Like Tokyo this city is also a great place to wander and discover the vibrant streets. No wonder, the city is bustling and hard working that brings creative, energetic, versatile and friendly feelings. For sightseeing there are plenty of places especially the 400 year old castle, museums, picturesque shrines and lush gardens are lovely. The Umeda Sky Building is one of the major attractions of Osaka that offers open air Floating Garden Observatory. I was simply at the height of 173 metres from where magnificent views were unpredictable.

To experience the city’s development, head to the Osaka Museum of History and to experience the insight into the natural world, the Osaka Science Museum with planetarium will offer you the best views. And what to say about the huge Kayukan aquarium, it is a home to some 30,000 sea creatures. Now you yourself think about what I am saying how I enjoyed these great attractions. Those who are interested to explore the temples and shrines can also visit the famous Simiyoshi Taisha Shrine which is one of the oldest shrines in Japan. I also visited the Universal Studios of Osaka where I enjoyed a kind of theme park fun with many rides, shows and restaurants.

Besides all these attractions, Osaka has some more highlights and if you get time then do explore few of them like Dotombori nightlife area, National Bunraku (Puppet) Theatre, Kamigata Ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) Museum, Spa World and Festival Gate. All these are the famous attractions and worth visiting sites to explore. This eco-tourism place has hundreds of sightseeing options where a tourist is a bound to visit for more than a week so that he can explore as much areas of Osaka as possible. Whenever I went to other cities or countries I always make myself rushing to eat the popular food. So I liked the okonomiyaki which is the local speciality of the area and also the top notch kaiseki food that gave so much of pleasure to my stomach.

The best time to visit such a magnificent place is during the months of March to May when spring occurs and also autumn will make your days great that occurs from September to November. Also during these time crowds remain less and temperatures also could be experienced mild and when it comes about spring and autumn the blossoms and fiery beauty makes the place even more stunning. Some of the information of this place which you need to know is its currency which is Japanese Yen and language no doubt is Japanese.

The population here is 2.6 million and enjoys constitutional monarchy. Most of the religions here are Shintoism and also Buddhism with some Christian minority. For visa you need to check it from your embassy. Well, Japan is quite strict so visa is anyways needed. What I experienced here is all together excellent and I never stop advertising this beauty to my friends. So, go there once to enjoy its beauty.

Simply, it is very hard to compete with Hong Kong in terms of cultural diversity, architectural modernism, infrastructure and cosmopolitan restlessness. Hong Kong is also among the liveliest commercial hubs in the entire world. It is the leading deep water harbor in over all Asia, a fact that was witnessed by many cargo vessels that usually carries watches, textiles and many other manufactured goods to other countries. It is a unique shopping destination, especially for the cruise passengers who get pleasure from shopping. Most of the shops are within the short walking distance of the inspiring Ocean Terminal and do bargains to get things at cheaper rate.

Hong Kong geographically, is a collection of three major districts. The Kowloon Peninsula accommodates the most popular outdoor markets in the city, the fashionable shops in the golden mile of Nathan Road and also the busy, tourist-friendly Tsim Sha Tsui area. While linking Kowloon to the mainland China you will get the scenic New Territories that includes fascinating intricate temples and woodlands. The island of Hong Kong comprises the financial district of the city and is located transversely at the Victoria Harbour. The Hong Kong Island that offers concrete forest is a stunning beauty that draws attentions of most of the tourists from around the world. It is the combination of striking skyscrapers position next to the green slopes of Victoria Peak.

Well, when coming by cruise I enjoyed a wonderful trip by experiencing such a beauty of the nature. Hong Kong is a real beauty which can be said not less that a heaven. When we docked at the Port of Hong Kong which is located at the South China Sea, we took a glance at the surrounding from the port and truly the sights are simply breathtaking. I was wondering if the sights from the port could be found amazing then how will be its nearby or the city’s attractions. And without taking a single breath I said to my friends that ‘it is a brilliant, magnificent and a great place to visit’. This port is among the busiest ports in the world that handled shipping movements, cargo and passengers.

Right after we docked at the port we first arranged our accommodation and when it comes about Hong Kong, it is a major business and tourist centre that has plenty of hotels ranging from medium budgets to the luxurious one. We accommodate a room that suites our pocket and any way we were not there to stay and sleep but to explore the city. So it’s better to book a medium budget room that could give us shelter. After taking rest, we went to explore the city’s attractions and we haven’t planned for it as the entire city is a set of major attractions. We went on and on strolling on the street and explored the attractions. The harbour view offers amazing architectural boom of the 1980s and 1990s where a mixture of Manhattan and San Francisco could be experienced. Experiencing the nightlife of Hong Kong is the best unforgettable moment that I spent in six days. The sparkling lights of the Peak, dazzling towers and all the sightseeing attractions are unpredictable and are simply superb.

The major highlights that we have experienced there are Ocean Park, Miu Fat Monastery, Fishing villages like Aberdeen, Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, Night markets, Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Museum of History, Ngong Ping 360 cable car and Disneyland Hong Kong. Try shopping at Tsimshatsui, Stanley Market, Western Market, Temple Street and IFC Mall where handicrafts, tea, jade, tea and electrical items could be bought. Also we enjoyed the cuisine of Hong Kong where Chinese food is the speciality. Try the most popular Dim Sum, Cha siu bao and Zhian Jing in Hong Kong.

We went there during spring. Well, the best time to visit Hong Kong is during winter and early spring when the climate will remain mild and fresh. Summers could be experienced in the month of May when hot and frequent wet makes summer pleasing. The currency of this place is Hong Kong Dollar and its language is Chinese and English. Population of this place is 6,985,000 and enjoys People’s Republic government. The majority of the religion in Hong Kong is officially Atheistic but if we consider the stated religions and philosophies then it is Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. Also a huge amount of Muslims, Protestants and Roman Catholics could be found here. So make your holidays best in the world popular Hong Kong where people simply love to visit such a magnificent wonderland again and again.

The closest airport from the port is the Shanghai Airport and is situated at a distance of 15 miles away from the port. We would have traveled by air but what gave us more pleasure is by cruise. The major attractions that are close to the cruise port are the Bund, Shanghai Museum, Yu Gardens and Bazaar, Moganshan Lu Contemporary Arts District, Heping Fandian, Pudong Fazhan Yinhang, Jingan Gu Si, and Yufo Si. Some of the attractions are located at a short walking distance from the docking area. If you want to explore more then taxis will be the better option. You can also travel by buses that cover all the major destinations in the city. Rest China is the best place to explore the history.

We went there for a week so after docking at the port we first arranged our accommodation. There are many world class luxury hotels in the city of Shanghai like Four Seasons, Grand Hyatt, JC Mandarin, JW Marriott, Ritz Portman, and Park Hotel. Budget hotel chains like Super Group and 168 Motel are there at Shanghai where you can make your accommodation. After completing our accommodation we went to have food as we was very much hungry. Shanghai offers a variety of cuisines which is world famous. So we went to try the cuisines here at Bourbon Street. Shanghai specialities are Xiaolongbao, Jiaozi and Hairy Crab which we tasted at first chance. The food was really great. Shanghai has many elegant cafes, high street fast food, and others that you should try once.

After having food we went to explore the attractions of Shanghai. Firstly, we explored all the attractions close to the port. Later we walked around the street of Shanghai and also explored few of the major attractions of Shanghai. We went to Shanghai during winter season that made us feel so cool and pleasant. Shanghai enjoys wild winter and hot and humid summers. So the best time for you to visit is from the months of April to May and late September to November. Well, the population of Shanghai is 18.8 million that includes religion like Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. Officially, atheist is the China’s religion and includes 5 million Protestants and 4 million Roman Catholics as well.

The Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal was opened in the year 2008 on North Bund. Its length is somewhat 880 metres and the new terminal has the capacity to berth three luxury cruise ships at a time. And from then this port welcomed millions of tourists who reached here to explore these amazing sites and make them their memorable moments for their rest of the life. We really enjoyed out trip and did many shopping for our loved ones and hope to visit the provinces of China again to explore the other attractions to the fullest.

Kyoto has over 2,000 temples and shrines as it is a place of pilgrimage and also a real open air museum. I got shocked when I heard that Kyoto has total 17 major sites that gained the status as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. When you will start your journey you can experience beautiful sights that will already fascinate you a lot and when you will dock at Maizuru port let me tell you that this port is dotted with sightseeing spots. So when you will start exploring the sights it will be a real trip that you have never planned or thought before.

Well, the Kobe port which is located in the northwest direction of Osaka Bay was opened in the year 1868. This port was developed as a major Japanese International trading port. Now if we see this port is among the world’s major global container ports. So if your cruise ship docks in Osaka or Kobe then do not miss the chance of exploring Kyoto that has 1600 Buddhist temples, 200 Shinto shrines and 3 imperial palaces. This is the reason why Kyoto is also called as the spiritual capital of Japan.

I went for a trip from Sydney to Shanghai and by the time for two days our cruise was in Osaka and allowed passengers to visit the historical Japanese cities out of which we first went to visit Kyoto. It was our full day visit that also comprises of guided visits to three most significant sites of Kyoto which is Kiyomizu Temple, Nijo-jo Castle and also the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. All of these historical sites was interesting and was amazing. We went there during the month of February when we experienced snowy climate. Temples, shrines, teahouses and old wooden machiya townhouses offers magnificent views to the visitors who throng here in a huge number to explore this ancient city and also its culture and traditions.

Kyoto has most of the breathtaking scenery in Asia that increases the glory of Japan. Castles, gardens, parks, museums, and monuments all become the major attractions of Kyoto that you can explore and make your holidays a memorable one. In short time, we explored the major attractions of Kyoto that impressed us a lot like the Fushhimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, Ginkakuji Temple, Heian Shrine, Ryoanji Temple’s Zen garden, Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle. We also strolled through the old lanes of this city that gave us immense pleasure. The Higashiyama district in the east offers many temples and peaceful walks so try them out.

When you are strolling around the city, do try shopping and make your trip memorable forever. Between the Shijo-dori and Kawaramachi-dori you will get the best shopping experience which is the heart of Kyoto. Head to the Kitayama Street that extends from the Kitayama Bride where you will get stylish shops, exclusive boutiques and trendy restaurants. To get the well-known arts and crafts shops, head to the multistory Kyoto Handicraft Center, Kumanojinja Higashi, Marutamachi-dori and Sakyo-ku and buy few of them. Also we really enjoyed the food of Kyoto where many restaurants offers a variety of Japanese cuisines.

The best time to visit such a great place is during spring that occurs in the months of March to May and autumn starts from September to November. You will experience blossoms in spring and also sizzling beauty in autumn. The city has total 1,473,873 populations and enjoys constitutional monarchy. You will get most of the religion as Shintoism and Buddhism with a Christian minority. People there are very friendly and bowing is the customary greeting at that place. So whenever you plan a trip, do visit Kyoto that has so much of attractions worth exploring and will give you immense pleasure. My trip to this place was a great experience and I wonder how these old attractions are still living. In fact, how the old capital is still present.