Itinerary
- Day 1
Seoul
You'll arrive in Seoul throughout the day and settle into your hotel. Meet your CEO and group at 6 pm for a welcome meeting, then take an orientation walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream where you'll see small waterfalls and overhead bridges. After that, head into the vibrant Myeongdong neighbourhood to check out shops, street food, and the nightlife scene. A group dinner is an option to wrap up your first evening.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Prince)
Included Activities
- Seoul Orientation Walk
- Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Optional Activities
- Group dinner
Landmarks Cheonggyecheon Stream Myeongdong 
- Day 2
Seoul
Travel by private bus through Seoul's skyline where modern skyscrapers and Buddhist temples sit side by side. You'll visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folklore Museum, wander through Bukchon Hanok Village, and browse Insadong Alley. In the afternoon and evening, you get to choose what appeals to you: catch a performance, visit a local museum, or spend time eating through street markets sampling dishes like bibimbap, soondae, and kimchi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Prince)
Included Activities
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Insadong Alley
- National Folklore Museum
- Seoul City Tour
- Bukchon Hanok Village Exploration
Optional Activities
- Show viewing
- Local museum exploration
- Street market food tour
Landmarks Gyeongbokgung Palace Insadong Alley National Folklore Museum Bukchon Hanok Village - Day 3
Seoul to Gyeongju
After breakfast, board a high-speed bullet train for a scenic 2-hour ride through the countryside heading to Gyeongju, the ancient capital. You'll check into a traditional temple and learn about temple etiquette, watch a monk martial arts performance, and participate in the daily prayer ritual. Dinner is temple-style, and you'll sleep in Ondol rooms, which are traditional heated rooms with beds on the floor, arranged in separate male and female dormitories.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional temple breakfast), Dinner (Traditional temple-style dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Golgulsa Temple Stay)
Included Activities
- Overnight Temple Stay
Optional Activities
- Temple etiquette training
- Monk martial arts performance viewing
- Daily drum and bell ritual
- Easy hike to stone cave temple for morning meditation
Landmarks Gyeongju 
- Day 4
Gyeongju
Start before dawn with peaceful meditation, martial arts practice, and a drum and bell ritual. Later, explore Gyeongju and head to UNESCO-listed Bulguksa Temple on Mount Toham's slopes to see national treasures including the Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongun-gyo bridge, and gilt-bronze Buddha statues. Then check out Cheomseongdae Observatory, Asia's oldest surviving astronomical structure, and walk around the Royal Tombs nearby.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Swiss Rosen Hotel Gyeongju)
Included Activities
- City Tour of Gyeongju
- Cheomseongdae Observatory
- Daereungwon Tomb Complex
Landmarks Bulguksa Temple Dabotap Pagoda Seokgatap Pagoda Cheomseongdae Observatory Daereungwon Tomb Complex - Day 5
Gyeongju to Busan
Travel by bus toward Busan with a stop at Yangdong Folk Village, a 500-year-old UNESCO site where you can experience life from the early Joseon Dynasty. Continue on to Haedong Yonggungsa, a 14th century seaside temple tucked into the rocks. Arrive in Busan and take an orientation walk on Haeundae Beach and Dongbaek Island. In the evening, explore colourful Busan and choose between visiting a jjimjilbang spa or hitting up a karaoke bar.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Felix Hotel by STX)
Included Activities
- Yangdong Folk Village
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple Visit
Optional Activities
- Jjimjilbang spa
- Karaoke bar
Landmarks Yangdong Folk Village Haedong Yonggungsa Temple Haeundae Beach Dongbaek Island (APEC House) 
- Day 6
Busan to Seoul
Start your Busan morning at the bustling Jagalchi fish market and Gukjesijang market, then head to Yongdusan Park and the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village. Board a bullet train back to Seoul (2.5 hours) and check out Namdaemun Market, Korea's oldest traditional market. Take a cable car up to N Seoul Tower where you can opt to visit the observation deck for panoramic views. Spend the rest of the day checking out options like Banpo Bridge, the floating islands, or the Gangnam district.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Prince)
Included Activities
- Yongdusan Park Visit
- N Seoul Tower Visit
- Jagalchi Fish Market
- Namdaemun Market Visit
- Gukje Traditional Market
- Gamcheon Culture Village
Optional Activities
- N Seoul Tower Observatory visit (16,000 KRW per person)
- Banpo Bridge visit
- Floating islands visit
- Gangnam district exploration
Landmarks Jagalchi Fish Market Gukjesijang Market Yongdusan Park Gamcheon Culture Village Namdaemun Market N Seoul Tower Banpo Bridge - Day 7
Seoul (DMZ)
Head to the Demilitarized Zone founded in 1953, which separates North and South Korea. You'll spend about 3 to 4 hours exploring this 4km-wide buffer zone where over a million soldiers stand watch each day along its 250 km span. It's become a refuge where nature and wildlife thrive with minimal human interference. After the DMZ, visit the War Memorial of Korea and return to Seoul for the night. You can opt to visit the Samsung Leeum Contemporary Gallery, explore Itaewon, or pre-book a kimchi making and Hanbok experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Prince)
Included Activities
- Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Visit
- The War Memorial Hall of Korea
Optional Activities
- Samsung Leeum Contemporary Gallery
- Itaewon neighbourhood exploration
- Kimchi making and Hanbok experience (pre-booking required)
Landmarks Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) The War Memorial of Korea Samsung Leeum Contemporary Gallery Itaewon - Day 8
Seoul to Osaka
You'll depart Seoul and land in Osaka, where the rest of the day is yours to settle in and get your bearings. Wander around the area near your hotel, grab a meal, or just relax after your flight. By evening, meet up with your CEO and the other travelers for a welcome gathering to go over what's ahead on this Japan trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Prince Smart Inn Osaka Yodoyabashi)
Included Activities
- Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
- Day 9
Osaka to Mount Kōya
Travel to Mount Koya, the centre of Buddhism in Japan where you'll sleep in a temple at 800m elevation. The journey begins with a 3-hour train ride up the mountain, considered one of Japan's finest rail experiences. For the final steep ascent, switch to a funicular and then a bus to reach the monastery. In the evening, dine on shojin-ryori, traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, and relax in a yukata or kimono while absorbing the spiritual atmosphere of this religious centre founded in 816.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Shojin-ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine))
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sekishoin)
Included Activities
- Overnight in Mount Kōya Temple
Landmarks Mount Kōya - Day 10
Mount Kōya to Hiroshima
Watch the monks at their early morning prayers and enjoy a traditional vegetarian breakfast. Spend the morning soaking in Koyasan's peaceful mountain atmosphere before heading down the mountain via bus, train, and funicular. Later, board a bullet train to Hiroshima (5 hours), a historically significant city marked by the atomic bomb explosion in 1945.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional vegetarian breakfast)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Toyoko Inn Hiroshimaeki Shinkansenguchi Ⅱ)
Included Activities
- Oku-no-in Cemetery Visit
Landmarks Oku-no-in Cemetery 
- Day 11
Hiroshima and Miyajima
Visit the Peace Park and Memorial Museum this morning, which commemorate the events of 1945. In the afternoon, take a ferry to the sacred island of Miyajima to see the famous floating Torii Gate. If you're interested, you can hike around Mt Misen for scenic views of the Seto Inland Sea.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Toyoko Inn Hiroshimaeki Shinkansenguchi Ⅱ)
Included Activities
- Hiroshima Park and Peace Memorial
- Miyajima Island Visit
Optional Activities
- Mt. Misen hike (Free-1,840 JPY per person)
Landmarks Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Miyajima Island Itsukushima Shrine Floating Torii Gate Mount Misen - Day 12
Hiroshima to Kyoto
Travel to Kyoto by bullet train (1.5 hours) then local train (1 hour). Start exploring by visiting the impressive Nijo Castle and its beautiful gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, join your CEO for a walking tour of Gion, the atmospheric geisha district where you might glimpse traditional Japanese culture.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo)
Included Activities
- Gion Walk
- Nijo Castle and Gardens Visit
Landmarks Nijo Castle Gion Kiyomizu-dera Temple 
- Day 13
Kyoto
Visit the beautiful Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and walk under the bright torii gates. You'll have free time in the afternoon and evening to shop, stroll along the riverbank, or check out another of Kyoto's many temples.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo)
Included Activities
- Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine Visit
Optional Activities
- Shopping
- Riverbank strolls
- Temple exploration
- Zen Gardens of Ryōan-ji (500 JPY per person)
Landmarks Fushimi Inari Taisha Zen Gardens of Ryōan-ji - Day 14
Kyoto to Hakone
Travel to Hakone, a town in the hills known for natural hot springs. Take a boat ride on Lake Ashino-ko and hopefully catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji on a clear day. In the evening, enjoy a complex traditional Japanese kaiseki meal followed by a relaxing soak in the onsen.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Japanese kaiseki meal)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (TKP Hotel & Resort Rekutore Hakone Gora)
Included Activities
- Lake Ashino-ko Boat Ride
- Traditional Kaiseki Meal
Landmarks Lake Ashino-ko Mount Fuji 
- Day 15
Hakone to Tokyo
Head to Tokyo with time for last-minute shopping before arriving by noon. The rest of the day is yours to explore this energetic metropolis. Choose from visiting Ueno Park and its museums, Akihabara for electronics, Harajuku for funky fashions, Ginza for high-end shopping, or the Imperial Palace East Garden grounds, or just wander the streets.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The B Akasaka)
Optional Activities
- Ueno Park and museums visit (Free)
- Akihabara electronics exploration (Free)
- Harajuku shopping (Free)
- Ginza shopping (Free)
- Imperial Palace East Gardens Walk (Free)
- Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū) Visit (Free-1,000 JPY per person)
- Senso-ji Temple Visit, Asakusa (Free)
Landmarks Ueno Park Akihabara Harajuku Ginza Imperial Palace East Gardens Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū) Senso-ji Temple - Day 16
Tokyo
Your tour concludes today and you can depart at any time. This is a great opportunity to extend your stay in Tokyo if you'd like to spend more time there.
