From island-hopping in southerly Okinawa to farm experiences in rural Aomori and skiing in far northern Hokkaido, this diverse archipelago offers intriguing local culture, ancient history and epic wilderness experiences around every corner — and deeper exploration reaps huge rewards

(whatever your budget!)

Even the swankiest islands have a scattering of smaller, more affordable stays – if you know where to look. Luckily, Lucy Thackray does

The distant charms of South-East Asia’s best-kept secret may be about to go mainstream, predicts our writer

Inspired by Celebrity Race across the World ? Get the vibe in the Yucatán — with the added frisson of a very large swimming companion…

From the otherworldly landscapes of Iceland to Italy’s white-capped mountains – if you love the cold, in these destinations winter is always coming...