Yokohama is the departure point for this epic journey, which visits two continents and crosses the International Date Line. Our first stop is Hitachinaka, a young city renownedfor its blossom-filled oceanfront park, then Sendai with its impressive ruined castle and lively music scene. In Hakodate, tea is served overlooking the rose garden at the former British Consulate; in Aomori, the apple and cherry orchards set against the Hakkoda Mountains create a beautiful scene; and in Kushiro there are red-crowned cranes to spot on the marshes. Now comes some serious sailing to Alaska. We make landfall at Kodiak, where bald eagles soar overhead, while Seward, our final stop, is the gateway to magnificent mountains and fjords.