Yokohama (Tokyo)

Tokyo's oldest temple (628 AD) — the massive Kaminarimon Thunder Gate with its great red lantern leads through the Nakamise shopping street to the main hall filled with incense smoke and worshippers.

The world's busiest pedestrian crossing — up to 3,000 people cross simultaneously when all signals turn green. The view from the Scramble Square observatory or Starbucks above is the most iconic image of modern Japan.

Yokohama's spectacular modern waterfront district — the Landmark Tower (Japan's second tallest), the brick Red Brick Warehouse, Cosmoworld Ferris wheel and the Cup Noodles Museum along a beautifully designed harbour promenade.

Japan's largest Chinatown — 600+ restaurants and shops in a 10-block area 15 minutes' walk from the pier. The Kanteibyo Temple at the centre is genuinely sacred and the street food is extraordinary.

The best dim sum restaurants cluster on the back streets of Yokohama Chinatown — steamed dumplings, char siu bao and egg tarts prepared by Cantonese chefs who've been in Yokohama for generations.

Japan's finest conveyor belt sushi chain — the freshest nigiri and maki passing on a belt at €1.20 per plate. Order directly via the touchscreen for made-to-order pieces.

Japan's most famous ramen chain — the Shiromaru Moto (white tonkotsu pork broth with thin noodles) is one of the great bowls of ramen, perfected in Fukuoka and now available at this Yokohama branch.

Craft beer restaurant inside Yokohama's iconic Red Brick Warehouse — the in-house brewed ales, porters and seasonal wheat beers are excellent, served alongside yakitori and Japanese small plates.

An intimate 8-seat omakase counter near Yokohama Chinatown — the chef sources fish directly from Tsukiji outer market and serves 14–18 pieces of nigiri at his own pace, explaining each one.

Craft beer bar inside the Red Brick Warehouse with 20+ taps of Japanese and international craft beers — Baird, Yo-Ho, Coedo and seasonal specials from craft breweries across Japan.

The bar in Yokohama's most historic hotel (1927) — MacArthur stayed here during the occupation. Art Deco interiors, immaculate whisky service and the finest Manhattan in Japan.

Japanese sake specialist — 80 labels served at the correct temperature with expert guidance on regional variations, from Niigata dry junmai to Kyoto aromatic ginjo.

Relaxed café overlooking Yamashita Park and the harbour — excellent hand-drip coffee using single-origin Ethiopian and Colombian beans, with fresh pastries.

Artisan bakery-café in the Kannai business district — sourdough baked on Hokkaido flour, premium Japanese coffee, and the best egg salad sandwich in Yokohama.

The beach below the historic town of Kamakura — 50 minutes from Yokohama, combining the Great Buddha (Kotoku-in) and the ancient Zeniarai Benzaiten shrine with an afternoon swim.

The world's largest city — Shibuya Crossing, Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, Harajuku and Shinjuku's neon-lit nightlife district all within a single extraordinary day.

The 13m bronze Great Buddha (1252) sits in the open air above the sea-facing hills of Kamakura — a 40-minute train journey through coastal scenery ending in one of Japan's most iconic images.

Japan's most iconic landscape — Mount Fuji visible across Lake Ashi in Hakone on clear days, the sulphurous volcanic Owakudani valley, and the mountain ropeway above the clouds.

The surviving outer market of the legendary Tsukiji fish market — 400+ stalls selling the freshest sushi, tamagoyaki (grilled egg), fresh oysters and the finest Japanese kitchen knives.

Japan's most extravagant shrine complex — Tosho-gu (1617) is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, decorated with 2.4 million sheets of gold leaf, 5,000 artworks and the three famous monkeys (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil).