Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture is a city where samurai history is tangible. Once a stronghold of the Aizu domain, it played a pivotal role in the late Edo period and the Boshin War.

Esperance sits on the southern coast of Western Australia, where wide blue seas meet miles of white sand beaches and rocky headlands. The coastal town grew from pearling and pastoral beginnings into a laid-back seaside destination with a backdrop of rugged terrain and ocean views.

This fishing port in southwestern England's county of Cornwall rests along the sheltered Mount's Bay and is blessed with a mild climate year-round, as evidenced by the subtropical plants in Morrab gardens. Near Penzance is the town of St.Ives, a quaint place with a reputation as an artist's colony.

Blair Atholl, a village in the heart of Highland Perthshire, Scotland, is best known as the home of Blair Castle, a striking white-walled fortress that has stood for over seven centuries.

On coastal Iceland, the globe's northernmost capital, Reykjavík, invites visitors to discover its unique charms. Iceland is rife with natural wonders: geysers, geothermic spas, waterfalls and the spectacular Northern Lights. Reykjavik, dating back to 870 AD, offers world-class museums, restaurants, shopping and nightlife.