Aomori, Japan

While the city skyline is dominated by contemporary architecture, Aomori’s most iconic landmark may well be Hirosaki Castle, dating to the 17th century, and the famous cherry trees that blanket the surrounding parkland. Aomori is also known for Nebuta Matsuri, an annual festival of splendid floats that you can experience up close in the Nebuta Warasse Museum. The Aomori Art Museum showcases a world-class collection of modern art including works by Yoshitomo Nara, while the archaeological site of Sannai Maruyama takes you back 6,000 years to the Jomon period. Southeast of the city, the Hakkoda Ropeway cable car climbs into the Hakkoda Mountains, where you might follow a hiking trail to Sukayu Onsen or one of the other geothermal baths for which this volcanic region is known. To the southwest lies the UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakami-Sanchi, a mountain range encompassing the largest remaining virgin beech forest in East Asia and filled with hiking trails, waterfalls and rare wildlife.