Day 1 : Vancouver

In Vancouver, you're never out of sight of towering peaks--or of the sea. It is a prosperous city adorned with flowers lining the streets and lush greenery like Stanley Park. Museums offer fine collections of the dramatic Northwest native arts. Vancouver's Chinatown is the second-largest in the world. The waterfront Gastown district recalls the city's colorful past as a premier Pacific port since the days of the Clipper ships.

Day 2 : Inside Passage

Protected from the open sea by forested isles, sheltered from the windy mainland by the tallest coastal mountains in the world, this tranquil 1,000-mile waterway winds from British Columbia to Alaska's Gulf. The deep, calm waters of the passage meander between dense pine forests where wild game and soaring eagles abound, with occasional rustic towns along the way.

Day 3 : Ketchikan

Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world. The canneries are busy, and the stream below Creek Street's rustic boardwalk bustles with life. Visit the ancient grove of Totem Bight, the largest collection of authentic totem poles anywhere. Make a flight to nearby Misty Fjords--a breathtaking vista of Alaska's unspoiled wilderness and America's newest national monument, or, try a little salmon fishing.

Day 4 : Juneau

Alaska's capital can't be reached by road. You fly or sail here to enjoy its greeting of dockside flags and flowers. It is surprisingly urban and cultured for being so remote. Visit the museum for insights into Inuit culture and crafts. Drive up to Mendenhall, the only glacier inside city limits! Or get an aerial view from a helicopter. Fish for silver salmon, or just enjoy some off the grill--then kick back at the Red Dog Saloon.

Day 5 : Skagway

Skagway was born during the great Alaska gold rush. Those were the days when Skagway had 80 saloons and was known as "the roughest town on earth." The city's rip-roaring past will come alive when you walk down Broadway, a main street so authentic it is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park! Special shore excursions explore Skagway's fascinating history. Take a train up to White Pass and follow the old path to gold and glory in the Yukon, or take a scenic flight to view the amazing wonders of Glacier Bay National Park.

Day 6 : Sitka

When Alaska belonged to Russia, Sitka was the capital and center for its fur trading empire. Today, Sitka's Russian heritage and magnificent setting make it an enchanting destination. The city features a harbor studded with islands, a backdrop of mountains, and spectacular Mt. Edgecumbe, a volcano often compared to Japan's Mt. Fuji. Sitka displays its past in such attractions as St. Michael's Cathedral with its striking onion-shaped dome, the Russian Blockhouse, and world famous New Archangel Dancers. Visit the Historic Park, with a ruined Indian fort where Tlingit Indians battled Russian settlers in 1804.

Day 7 : At Sea

Day 8 : Kodiak

Day 9 : At Sea

Day 10 : Dutch Harbor

Day 11 : At Sea

Day 12 : At Sea

Day 13 : At Sea

Day 14 : At Sea

Day 15 : At Sea

Day 16 : At Sea

Day 17 : Kushiro/JAPAN

Day 18 : At Sea

Day 19 : At Sea

Day 20 : Tokyo/JAPAN

Huge department stores brim with shoppers, neon flashes from dusk to dawn, and the entire world pays heed to the slightest fluctuation on the Nikkei Index. From the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine to the fabled Ginza district, 20th-century Tokyo is an intriguing composite of East and West. Yuppies sporting Walkmen bow formally in greeting. Women in kimonos and Dior suits stroll side-by-side. Geishas play samisens while disc jockeys play the Top Forty. Japanese houses of wood and paper stand in the shadow of towering steel and mortar. Not far away, one of the world's most impressive sights soars 12,388 feet to its snow-clad peak: Mount Fuji, the majestic symbol of Japan.