The Hama-Rikyu Gardens give visitors a scenic glimpse of natural beauty in the middle of one of Tokyo's bustling neighborhoods. Whether its the colorful leaves of autumn, the blooming cherry blossoms of spring, peonies and more, there's a reason to visit each season.

The water bus has many routes along the Sumida river, but the route we took was getting to the heart of Asakusa. No matter which tour you take passengers can get a waterside view of the historic buildings in the area, such as the buildings of the Asahi Breweries headquarters, and Tokyo Sky Tree.

The Aoi-Marushin's set menu offered an excellent selection of crispy, juicy tempura. The traditional décor, especially in the room where visitors can sit on the floor, is sure to give them an historic impression.

Asakusa is one of the most historic areas of Tokyo, with an incredibly famous temple (Sensoji) heralded by its iconic Kaminarimon gate, that attracts thousands of visitors. The surrounding neighborhood has a lot of delicious-looking restuarants, as well as many venues for traditional Japanese performance arts. You could spend a whole day exploring and still find more to discover.

At a towering 634 meters (about 2080 feet), Tokyo Skytree is a symbol of Japanese architecture and ingenuity. The observation deck at 450 meters has an unparelled view of the city (and Mt. Fuji, on a clear day) that simply can't be matched. Plus, the night time illumination makes it a spectacle to behold even from afar.

Tamahide-Ichino was a small restaurant in the Skytree Town complex, perfect for a dinner. The course menu offered a variety of delectable chicken dishes, the most popular of which was an enormous "Oyako" (chicken and egg) rice bowl, a fluffy omelette on top of rice with tender chicken mixed in. The thick, rich pudding for dessert was more like a cheesecake, and was absolutely delicious.

The Richmond Hotel Premier Tokyo Oshiage is conveniently located right next to Tokyo Skytree. The décor is modern, and the rooms are spacious and comfy. I was really impressed by the amenities, which include not only the expected free wifi, but also a room-assigned smart phone to help visitors navigate the area and make the most of their trip. A large portion of the staff spoke English, and I saw answer the questions of several guests.

There was a direct train to the Haneda airport via the Asakusa subway line at Oshiage station, and checking in was as simple as scanning my e-ticket. The ANA domestic flight was quite comfortable, with plenty of leg room and complimentary beverages. The view of Mt. Fuji from the plane was truly breathtaking. It was only about an hour and a half to Tokushima, and the flight was over before I knew it. The airport in Tokushima is small but well-staffed, which means it's easy to navigate even if you can't speak Japanese.

I had never heard of Awa Ningyo Joruri, a traditional puppet theater unique to Tokushima, before this visit so I wasn't sure what to expect. The theater where it was performed was gorgeous, and the incredible, hand-made details combined with the delicate movements of the puppeteers truly brought the puppets to life. I was also able to get a hands-on experience with the dolls at the adjoining museum, which was really fun.

The Oboke and Koboke are gorges carved through the mountainous Shikoku landscape by the Yoshino river over 200 million (!!) years ago. They run for about 8 kilometers (almost 5 miles). The excursion boat tour is about a 25-minute round trip, guided by boatmen who are happy to share the area's rich history. I would love to go back and see what it's like each season, maybe aboard the train that runs alongside the river.

The Iya Vine Bridge is one of those places that has to be seen to be believed. The bridge is one of many that used to span the Iya Valley, and no one is sure exactly why they were built. Today, the bridge is reinforced by metal cables, but is still composed of 5 tons of vines (!!) that are replaced every three years. I'm not afraid of heights, but the swaying of the bridge with each step I took was a bit harrowing at first, and the view between the planks definitely had my pulse racing. It was a thrilling experience made all the better by the gorgeous scenery of the valley itself.

Hotel Obokekyo Mannaka is very close to Oboke-Koboke, which makes it the perfect place to stop when planning an excursion of the area. The room I stayed in was so spacious it must be meant for a family. The shower in the room was really lovely, but I opted enjoying a long soak in the outdoor hot spring. The food for both dinner and breakfast was incredible, comprised of small plates of artfully prepared Japanese dishes made from locally-sourced produce and proteins.

Udatsu Street, in Wakimachi, is one of the best preserved collections of traditional buildings in the country. The street is about 430-meters long, with 85 buildings, many of which are still used as residences today. It's open to visitors for a small fee, and offers a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of the Edo period. Another thing that makes the atmosphere of Udatsu Street so special is the lack of electrical poles or power lines, which are all wired under ground. Of course, my understanding of the intricate details that make Udatsu Street so special would not have been possible without the informative explanations provided by our volunteer guide, a lovely local woman who spoke excellent English.

The Rennaisance Naruto Resort is a luxurious oceanside hotel. We stopped in for a buffet-style lunch, snapper sashimi was unbelievably fresh, with an unctuous flavor and meaty texture, and I went up for more than one helping. The pumpkin ice cream was also a light, flavorful way to end the meal.

I was so surprised by the Otsuka Museum of Art. It's an expansive, five-floor museum built inside of the National Park, and contains more than 1,000 replicas of priceless masterpieces of Western art, from ancient murals to modern paintings. These masterpieces are reproduced to their original size using ceramic boards. Perhaps the best part is that, unlike the art from which the replicas were created, there are no barricades to restrict viewing so visitors can get quite close to the work as much as they'd like with no fear of compromising its integrity. I really enjoyed immersing myself in marvelous works throughout the ages. Be sure to stop by the gift shop before leaving! I recommend the cute badges they have available, as well as their English-language catalogue of 100 masterpieces on display.

The Naruto Strait separates Shikoku from Japan's main island, Honshu, and is spanned by the Onaruto Bridge. Constructed in 1985, the Onaruto Bridge spans 876 meters, 1629 meters overall (about 2900 feet, 5300 feet overall!). The bridge has an enclosed pedestrian walkway beneath the roadway, the Uzu no Michi, with an observatory 45 meters above the water, the perfect place to view the Naruto Uzushio! Winter is when the currents are the strongest, and the whirlpools can get up to 20 meters across at their peak! The view was spectacular, and the strength of the wind combined with the speed of the current really showed off the power of nature.

Mt. Bizan is in the heart of Tokushima city. While there is a hiking path, visitors can take a short ride on a ropeway tram to the top for a spectacular view of the city, and the Yoshino river. There's also an LED lighting fixture that is visible from the city below (especially at night), and regularly changes color. After enjoying the view, visitors can relax at the small cafe on Bizan's summit.

Kappo Hamai was a short walk from the foot of Mt. Bizan, and serves up more of what I've come to understand as the regional cuisine; succulent hot pot of tender wagyu beef sukiyaki and others. Our server was exceptionally polite, and explained each dish of our meal with impressive thoroughness. The classic Japanese décor created an atmosphere of having a decadent dinner in the old family home of a friend.

Awa Odori is Tokushima's traditional dance, filled with exuberance and energy. At the Awa Odori Museum, it was great to get a closer look at the history of the dance, and to watch one of the local troupes perform. After the show, the troupe leader invited the audience to join in. It was really great to be part of them with so much cultural importance to the community, which made the experience even more memorable.

The Awa Kanko Hotel is conveniently located in the center of Tokushima city. The room was incredibly spacious and had a great view of Mt. Bizan and the Awa Odori Museum at night. After a busy day, I took a nice hot bath, and I fell asleep on the comfy bed almost before I realized it. In the morning, I had breakfast at the restaurant on the top floor of the hotel. Like most places, it was buffet style, with traditional Japanese fare and some Western staples. My personal favorite was the curry - a thick, dark roux with meat and veggies, and just the right amount of spice.

The Aizumicho Historical Museum is dedicated to the history and cultivation of the Tokushima's famous Awa indigo, which I had heard so much about throughout the trip. The main building has a collection of beautiful indigo goods on display. Perhaps the most exciting part of the museum is that you can also get hands-on dyeing experience and make your own handkerchief. Thanks to the thorough (and patient) tutelage of the kind indigo workers, even I was able to create a beautiful design. It's really great to be able to share in the area's rich history, and to have a piece of it to take home with you.

Located in Bando, Ryozenji Temple is the first stop on the historic 88 temple pilgrimage around Shikoku. While there are various tours that help visitors make the trek. As the first stop, Ryozenji sells the traditional gear worn during the pilgrimage - a walking stick, white robes, and woven hats. Upon completion, many pilgrims return to Ryozenji to offer thanks for their safe travels.

The Naruto German House is another incredibly surprising piece of Tokushima's history. During World War I, the Japanese made an attack on a German military base in Tsingtao, China. About 1,300 of German soldiers were held in Bando, where they were given almost complete autonomy despite their status as prisoners of war, and the facility had many amenities. There was a large amount of cultural exchange amongst the soldiers and the locals, which planted roots for a long-lasting friendship that can still be felt to this day. The Naruto German House is the repurposed site of the camp, now a museum to wartime history.

The Resort Hotel Moanna Coast is seaside hotel, and we stopped in for lunch at the adjoining restaurant, Fishbone. We sampled an incredible course menu of Italian-inspired dishes prepared with local ingredients, and each component was delicious.

Honke Matsuura Brewery is actually quite famous in the U.S., where their flagship sake, Naruto-Tai, is sold at any Japanese restaurant that wants to be taken seriously. I was really excited to get to see the facility where it was made, and sample some of their wares. After a tasting, a staff took us on an extensive tour of the breweries facilities. For fans of sake, the Honke Matsuura Brewery is a must-see while exploring Tokushima.

One of my greatest pleasures is traveling throughout the country, getting in touch with local culture, and coming to understand even a little of what makes each place so special. Through this trip, I feel like I really connected with the warm-hearted people of Tokushima, and the gorgeous locales they call home. It's obvious how proud everyone is of their cultural heritage and their traditions, and their desire to share it with visitors both domestic and abroad.