With snow-ringed peaks and the icy-blue waters of Kachemak Bay as a backdrop to paintbox-bright wooden buildings on stilts, Homer is known as a creative hub for good reason. Do an art crawl of the galleries from Pioneer Avenue to the end of the 4.5-mile Spit to see works rendered in paper, beads and glass, and afterwards feast on catch of the day at one of the restaurants on the shoreline (this is the halibut fishing capital of the world). The wilderness is never too far away in Alaska: here, sightings could include bears digging for clams at low tide and eagles soaring overhead.

If you're going on a bear hunt, there are few better places to do – the 3,500 Kodiak bears on this island equates to one every 0.7 square mile. You'll find this unique sub-species of brown bear and mainland grizzly reaching a paw into a salmon-rich river or ambling about the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge – its pristine forests and meadows explain why Kodiak's moniker is the Emerald Isle. This could equally be called the fishing island, with halibut, salmon, and king crab all found in the waters lapping its shores. And don't forget the whales – this is one of Alaska's best places to watch them.

If Japan conjures up images of sprawling mega-cities and neon-decked skyscrapers, the northernmost island of Hokkaido offers a very different experience. Kushiro, on the east coast, is most famous for its natural landscapes, particularly the Kushiro Marsh – home to deer, sea eagles, and the iconic Japanese crane, which overwinters on the island. The city has much to offer, too, from the bustling Fisherman's Wharf, which is dominated by the EGG (Evergreen Garden), and a spectacular dome-shaped greenhouse filled with indigenous plants and trees, to a bowl of kattedon at the Washo Fish Market – a bowl of rice, topped with seafood of your choice.

When Japan ended two centuries of self-imposed silence, Hakodate, was one of the first ports to open to the outside world. That was in 1859 – fast-forward to today and you'll find a modern metropolis capitalising on its prime location at the southern edge of Hakkaido, just across the water from Honshu. Yet this city values its heritage, especially the impressive 19th- and 20th-century buildings that blend Japanese and Western styles in the Motomachi district, such as the grandiose Old Public Hall of Hakodate and the Former British Consulate, where you can sip tea looking out at a rose garden. Flavors are more authentic at the Morning Market, where chefs from the surrounding cafés pluck fresh seafood from the stalls – try ikameshi (rice-filled squid). And those snow monkeys you see photos of bathing in steaming mineral waters – they're here in the botanical garden. To put it all in perspective, trek up the well-kept paths to the 334m summit of Mount Hakodate.

With its apple orchards, cherry trees and backdrop of the Hakkoda Mountains, this city on the northern tip of Honshu island is a gateway to some of Japan's most beautiful landscapes. About 30 miles south is UNESCO World Heritage Site Shirakami Sanchi, a mountainous area with the last of East Asia' virgin beech forests. Walking trails here lead to waterfalls and lakes, and you may spot golden eagles, black woodpeckers, Japanese macaques and even shy black bears as you go. Some 40 miles southeast, deep-blue Lake Towada is serenely breathtaking and offers gentle activities from walking to canoeing and boat rides. The Aomori area also enjoys a vibrant contemporary arts scene, from the gleaming white Aomori Museum of Art, complete with a colossal dog statue by Yoshitomo Nara, to the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art, strikingly set in a former brewery, and Towada Art Center with eye-popping sculpture.

Founded by powerful samurai lord Date Masamune in 1600, Sendai has burgeoned into the largest city in the Tohoku region. Visit the ruins of Sendai Castle, built for the warrior atop Mount Aoba, to enjoy panoramic views and admire the family mausoleum, before seeking out armor and other artefacts from Japan's Edo period at the Sendai City Museum. Known as the “City of Trees” for its verdant boulevards and the “City of Music” for its harmonious events – from jazz to big band and pop – Sendai is equally cherished for its ramen restaurants, craft beers, and a delicacy called gyutan – grilled beef tongue. Beyond the city is Akiu Fall, one of Japan's most stunning waterfalls. Visit this scenic area to also enjoy the Akiu Onsen hot springs and nearby Rairaikyo Gorge.

This young city on the shores of the Pacific was created from two former towns just 30 years ago. Yet it has already won hearts, especially for the Hitachi Seaside Park, a heart-sighing vision of blossoms – carpets of delicate “baby blue eyes” in spring and fiery red kochia, or “burning bush”, in autumn, roses, tulips and more floral spectacles throughout the year. While you're by the ocean, take a stroll on the golden sands of Ajigaura and Hiraisio beaches or go crabbing on the rocky shore a little further north, where you'll also find plenty of fossils amid the geological layers dating back 75 million years. It's all about the sea here, so it's no surprise the city is home to a renowned fish market, Nakamitano, where chefs prepare spanking fresh sashimi and sushi from the daily catch. Yet there's one local snack that comes from the land, slices of sun-dried sweet potato – an irresistible souvenir.