Tokyo

Tokyo runs on a scale that takes a day or two to sink in. Neon-washed districts like Shibuya and Shinjuku pulse with crowds and vertical signage, yet a few streets over you can find a quiet shrine, a tiny six-seat bar, or a centuries-old garden. The city holds its traditional and hyper-modern sides side by side, and moving between them is half the pleasure.

Getting around is remarkably easy once you trust the trains, which run on time and reach nearly everywhere. Spend a morning at the Senso-ji temple in Asakusa, an afternoon browsing the boutiques of Harajuku, and an evening eating your way through a warren of izakayas, and you will have barely scratched the surface. Tokyo is also one of the best food cities on the planet, from Michelin-starred sushi counters to ramen shops with a permanent queue out front.

Cherry blossom season in late March and early April is magical but busy, while autumn brings crisp air and golden ginkgo trees. Summers run hot and sticky, so if humidity wears you down, aim for the shoulder months instead.