Nestled in the mountains just 90 minutes from Tokyo, Hakone has long been a retreat for travelers seeking both quiet and culture. Once a crucial checkpoint on the historic Tōkaidō road between Edo and Kyoto, Hakone is still shaped by centuries of history. The reconstructed Hakone Sekisho (Hakone Checkpoint) offers a glimpse into the Edo Period, when travelers were inspected by samurai guards before continuing on their journey.

Wiesbaden is located in west central Germany at the southern foot of the Taunus Mountains, on the Rhine River, near Frankfurt. It is popular for its 26 hot mineral springs and mild climate and tourism is vital to the local economy. Wiesbaden is a cultural center; places of interest are the former royal and ducal residences; the Kurhaus with its casino and its concert halls; the Colonnade, remnants of a Roman wall known as the Heidenmauer ("heathens' wall"); and the Hessian State Theater.

Located on the Yellow Sea in northwest South Korea, it is a large port city.

Aguas Calientes, officially called Machupicchu Pueblo, sits in a narrow valley below the ruins of Machu Picchu, shaped almost entirely by geography and access. The town grew around the railway and hot springs that give it its name, becoming a necessary stopping point rather than a destination planned in advance. Its identity is closely tied to movement, with most people arriving on foot or by train and staying briefly before heading uphill.

Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is an island off the coast of Thailand and a popular vacation destination for locals and tourists alike.