Highlights of East Asia: Japan, South Korea, and China

The Ginza district is Tokyo’s equivalent of Fifth Avenue in New York. Window shop at Chanel, Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, then check out the latest electronics at the Sony showroom or Apple store. Visit the Wako department store with its historic clock tower, housed in a building that dates back to 1894. If you are there on a weekend, head to Ginza’s main street where pedestrians rule without Tokyo’s traffic.

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo’s city centre is home to Japan’s Emperor and Empress. It is surrounded by a moat and three gardens, all open to the public. Stroll throughout the grounds, admire the azaleas and hydrangeas (when in season), discover the original stone wall that surrounded the palace back in 17th to 19th centuries during the days when samurai warriors defended the ruler. Visit nearby Sannomaru-Shozo-kan museum and see exquisite kimonos and Japanese paintings.

Explore Sensō-ji Temple, a colourful Buddhist temple and the oldest temple in the entire city. Leading up to the temple the street is lined with shops selling yummy food and great souvenirs.

As Japan's most popular city park, Ueno is known for its museums and cherry blossoms. Stroll the pathways, admire the thousands of trees, including approximately 800 Somei-yoshino cherry trees, look for lotus on the pond, or opt to visit the temples and museums (entrance fees).

Visit this shrine dedicated to the 123rd emperor of Japan, Emperor Meiji and his wife. The shrine is a great place to escape the bustle of the city and wander the grounds along the wide walking paths.

Really get to know Seoul with a stop at the Seoul Museum of History, which highlights each segment of the city's past from the Stone Age to present day. Discover one of the museum's recent creations – a large floor map of Seoul, great for plotting out your next steps!

The Daereungwon Tomb complex in Gyeongju holds 23 tombs that are found inside of large mounds. The complex is beautiful with its rolling mounds and gardens, but the real treat can be found inside the tombs, the most famous being Cheonmachong and Hwangnamdaechong. Each tomb holds thousands of relics that gives us a window into the Silla Dynasty and its royal family. The contents of these tombs are over 1,500 years old and a great treasure to anyone who enjoys Korean history and artistic beauty.

Nestled in the heart of Gyeongju, the capital of the former Silla Kingdom, Cheomseongdae may not appear to be a monumental landmark. But this observatory tower that dates back to the seventh century is actually the oldest existing astronomical observatory in all of East Asia. Cheomseongdae was used for observing the stars in order to forecast the weather in the ancient scientific hub of Gyeongju.

The floating island is a culture complex made up of three man-made floating islands located near one end of the Banpo Bridge. LED lights surround the islands and create a fantastic night view - a must see if you're in Seoul!

Namsan Seoul Tower Observatory allows for an incredible 360 degrees panoramic view of Seoul. The top of the tower is 480m above sea level, including Namsan Mountain (243m) and the tower’s own height (236.7m). It has quickly become a well-known landmark in Seoul and has appeared in lots of smash-hit K-dramas and movies.

Banpo Bridge is home to the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain Show and is the world's longest bridge fountain. Nearly 10,000 LED lights and 380 water spraying nozzles make up this beautiful show of water, music, and lights. During the day, the fountain shows a hundred different configurations meant to evoke waving willow branches and willow leaves. When the sun goes down, the fountain is illuminated as it sends out dancing, rainbow-coloured jets of water in the air in synchronization with music.

Shoppers get ready. The Pearl Market is great place to get souvenirs for friends and family! This market is well know for the verity of pearls but, make sure to also check out the other vendors selling goods like crafts, clothing, and silk.

Visit the striking Drum Tower for some incredible photo ops. Back in the Han Dynasty the towers were used to echo the time to the city with bells in the morning and drums in the evening. Today the 63-ton bell still stands in one tower and drum performances happen daily in the morning and afternoon.

Climb to the top of the Drum Tower for an unforgettable aerial view of the city. Back in the Han Dynasty the towers were used to echo the time to the city with bells in the morning and drums in the evening. Today the 63-ton bell still stands in one tower and drum performances happen daily in the morning and afternoon.

Head to the outskirts of the city to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a beautiful, brick Buddhist temple.

Explore the lively Muslim Quarter and its serene Great Mosque, making time to indulge in the offerings of exotic local street food stalls. At night, head out for some of the best street food in China – the spicy beef and lamb kebabs are always a favorite.

Discover this hidden oasis behind the markets of the Muslim Quarter. Learn about the Great Mosque's centuries-old history, and explore the temples and gardens to see how Chinese and Islamic architecture came together in this place of worship.