The Kadokawa Cultural Museum, in Tokorozawa city north of Tokyo, fuses museums of art, anime and oddities with a huge, reader-friendly library.

The nine-hole course near George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens bills itself as a golf oasis in the northern Australian port town of Darwin.

Four hundred acres of flora from all over the world await you at a botanical garden surrounded by the misty covered Koolau Mountains of Hawaii. It was built more than 40 years ago by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of a flood-control project in the city and has been a relaxing place to enjoy ever since.

Donkeys, llamas and capybaras are among the 140 animals at Izu Shaboten Zoo, less than a three-hour drive from U.S. bases near the Japanese capital.

A visit to cultural landmark Toho Cinemas Shinjuku, which is equipped with Motion EFX Theater, does not disappoint.

Itsukushima in Hiroshima Bay is known for its iconic floating torii, its forests and its wildlife. But the aquarium has some distinct claims to fame, including a unique species of porpoise.

Maboroshi Hakurankai, or Phantom Exhibition, is a display of creepy, salacious and off-beat art in Ito city, south of Tokyo. The private exhibition has clowns, vintage toys and mannequins. It’s a perfect stop for anyone interested in the quirkier aspects of Japanese culture.

The main attraction at Bear Tree Park in Sejong City is — you guessed it — the more than 100 bears of the Asia black and brown species.

Grandberry Park, a sprawling shopping outlet in Machida only 30 minutes from Camp Zama, the headquarters of U.S. Army Japan in greater Tokyo, is a breezy option to beat the heat this summer. With more than 240 stores, including a market, a movie theater and multiple play spaces, there’s something for everyone in the family.

The Tokyo Police Museum, a six-story building a 7-minute walk from the Tokyo Station, showcases hundreds of years of policing history in Japan, and to top it off, it’s a completely free experience.

Surrounded by mountains, Chichibu is an inviting, nature-filled summer weekend destination.

Chichibu, about 50 miles north of Yokota Air base in western Tokyo, provides a near-perfect outdoor experience, including day camping, barbecuing and a visit to an impressive dam.

Prepare to embark on a global journey — and beat drums from around the world — at the Miyamoto-Unosuke Drum Museum in Tokyo.

It’s a great time of year for mountain hikes on Mount Honita and Mount Kawanori. Go quickly, before the summer heat catches up to the area.

Aquarium Sagamihara boasts a 131-foot tank of flowing water that replicates a living river environment. Just 30 miles northwest of U.S. Army Japan’s headquarters, it features living and lifelike replicas of creatures in and along the 81-mile-long waterway in Kanagawa prefecture. In addition to 100 species of fish, insects and amphibians, there are multiple interactive learning exhibits for children and adults to enjoy.

Fireworks have been a big part of Japanese culture for centuries. Nomura Hanabi Kougyou, of Mito city in Ibaraki prefecture provides the sparkle behind about 40 such shows per year.

The South Korean city of Suwon is a beautiful mix of modernization and history, symbolized by Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and the imposing wall that surrounds it.

Akiruno, just an hour’s drive from central Tokyo, boasts scenic countryside and plenty of outdoor activities, including hiking and fishing.

A series of cable cars suspended over Yokohama’s waterfront provides a thrilling, panoramic view of Japan’s second-largest city.