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Many travelers to Japan cannot get out of Japan's capital quick enough to see the so called 'real Japan'. For others, Tokyo is the financial, fashion and technological center of Japan.

Tokyo may have been destroyed in the 1923 Great Earthquake and flattened during the bombings of World War Two, but any visitor to the city now would have any idea either event ever occurred. Tokyo does retain some pockets of original temples and housing, but they are dwarfed by the sometimes ugly and occasionally magnificent edifices, that make up Tokyo.

Much of Tokyo life happens several floors above ground and a couple underground as every available space is used for housing, commerce and entertainment. It is not uncommon to have a noisy karaoke bar located in the first floor of an apartment complex.

You might be able to catch most of the major sites in a day or two but it would take a lifetime to explore every bar and restaurant that operates in every narrow laneway that makes up 'Edo'.

Indonesia is made of over 18,000 islands and a population of over 200 million people making it the world's fourth most populated country.

Indonesia is made of over 18,000 islands and a population of over 200 million people making it the world's fourth most populated country. The main island is Java with over 100 million people. While there are countless beautiful and interesting places to visit in Indonesia including Borobudur and Mount Kinabalu most people come to visit Bali.

Capital: Jakarta

Currency: Rupiah

Religion: Indonesia is predominantly an Islamic country with a small number of Christians, Hindu and Buddhist.

Beijing is China's government and cultural capital. Even as far as Urumqi the whole country operates on Beijing time. Construction in the capital is undergoing at a rapid pace as it prepares for the 2008 Beijing Games.

Population: 15 million

Highlights: It would be hard not to miss the cultural icons of the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the Tianemen Square on a visit to China.

Hotels:

Jianguo Hotel Qianmen Beijing: Check availability Write a review

Shanghai, often called the Paris of the East has undergone a massive transformation over the past decade. Shanghai is representative of China's massive economic development, and is one of most important business centers in China.

Highlights: The Bund is a pleasant place for a stroll with a view of the modern Pudong on one side and the European style buildings on the other.

Nanjing Lu is the main shopping district in China and is quickly going upmarket. The Yuyuan Gardens are a pleasant place to visit for a cup of Chinese tea.

Hotels:

Crown Plaza Shanghai
Hotel Equatorial
Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Pudong Shangri-La Hotel