A coastal resort complete with hot springs, Atami has been a favorite vacation spot for Tokyoites dating back to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Though the city's main draws are its beach boardwalk and spas, visitors can take in some history staying in early 20th-century private villas converted to inns and catching the afternoon Geisha dance performance at Geigi Kenban.

Tradition collides with pop culture in Tokyo, where you can reverently wander ancient temples before rocking out at a karaoke bar. Wake up before the sun to catch the lively fish auction at the Toyosu Market, then refresh with a walk beneath the cherry blossom trees that line the Sumida River. Spend some time in the beautiful East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, then brush up on your Japanese history at the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Don’t forget to eat as much sushi, udon noodles, and wagashi (Japanese sweets) as your belly can handle.

Urayasu is part traditional fishing village, part Disney. It’s best known as the home of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea (and, naturally, the hotels, restaurants and shopping that accompany the theme parks). Most visitors are, naturally, here for the parks, but if you’re interested in the town’s history, a few old fishermen’s cottages can be toured.

Tagaytay secures its place on most Philippines itineraries with its location above Taal Volcano's active crater. Views of the crater lake and a refreshingly cool climate make the town an enticing destination—not to mention the famously unfinished People's Park in the Sky.

Just a speedboat ride from Singapore, Batam’s beaches and bars tempt visitors with dishes of chili crab, grilled lobster, and freshly caught fish. While travellers golf, snorkel, and spa-hop, the island’s traditional culture thrives in fishing villages built on wooden stilts.

Perched on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, Galle wears its history on its sleeve. Windswept beaches and nodding palms surround its colonial-era showpiece, a 16th-century Portuguese-built fort, while the rest of the city is trimmed with Dutch-style houses, quirky shops, whitewashed mansions, and heritage museums.