Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Seoul
You'll be transferred to your hotel once you arrive in Korea, giving you time to settle in and get your bearings. Later in the afternoon, your tour guide will meet with you to go over what's coming up and answer any questions before things officially start tomorrow.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
- Day 2
DMZ & Seoul Evening
Head out early toward the Cheorwon region and DMZ to see the Second Tunnel, Cheorwon Peace Observatory with its views across the border, the abandoned Woljeong-ri railway station, and the Baek Ma Battle Memorial. After lunch, you'll visit a local Makgeolli producer to learn about traditional Korean rice wine before heading back to Seoul. That evening, walk through City Hall and Deoksugung Palace, then spend time in Myeongdong district for dinner before taking the metro back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Local restaurant in Myeongdong)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
Included Activities
- Second Tunnel DMZ exploration
- Cheorwon Peace Observatory visit
- Abandoned Woljeong-ri railway station visit
- Baek Ma Battle Memorial visit
- Local Makgeolli producer visit
- City Hall visit
- Deoksugung Palace night viewing
- Myeongdong district walk
- Metro ticket to hotel
Landmarks Second Tunnel Cheorwon Peace Observatory Woljeong-ri railway station Baek Ma Battle Memorial Seoul City Hall Deoksugung Palace Myeongdong district 
- Day 3
Seoul City Tour
A five-hour guided tour of Seoul takes up most of your day, starting with Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then walking through Bukchon Hanok Village and checking out the War Memorial of Korea. You'll grab lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Gangnam District. From there, you can either go up Lotte World Tower or spend your free time exploring the park and shopping around the complex. You'll get back to the hotel with the rest of your evening free.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
Included Activities
- Changdeokgung Palace tour
- Bukchon Hanok Village viewing
- War Memorial of Korea visit
- Gangnam District exploration
- Lotte World Tower area exploration
Optional Activities
- Lotte World Tower entry (ticket not included)
Landmarks Changdeokgung Palace Bukchon Hanok Village War Memorial of Korea Gangnam District Lotte World Tower - Day 4
Seoul to Jeonju
Start at Gyeongbokgung Palace where you might catch the changing of the guard ceremony if it's scheduled that day. Then head south from Seoul toward Suwon to explore its UNESCO World Heritage fortress walls and Hwaseong Haenggung summer palace. After lunch, continue on to Jeonju to wander through Hanok Village with its traditional houses, shops, and art galleries scattered throughout the old quarter.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Best Western Plus Jeonju), Hotel (Gloucester)
Included Activities
- Gyeongbokgung Palace visit
- Ceremonial changing of the guard viewing
- Suwon UNESCO World Heritage walls visit
- Hwaseong Haenggung summer palace visit
- Jeonju Hanok Village exploration
Landmarks Gyeongbokgung Palace Suwon Hwaseong Fortress Hwaseong Haenggung Jeonju Hanok Village 
- Day 5
Sunchang Gochujang to Haeinsa to Busan
Head to Sunchang Gochujang Village at Mount Amisan's base for a hands-on session making traditional Korean chili paste. From there, go to Damyang to walk through Juknokwon Bamboo Forest with its meditation paths and check out the Bamboo Museum. Lunch features rice cooked inside a bamboo stalk, which is a nice local touch. Later you'll reach Haeinsa, a major Buddhist temple and UNESCO site from 802 that holds the Tripitaka on 80,000 wooden tablets. You'll wrap up the day arriving in Busan for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local specialty rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crown Harbor), Hotel (Ramada Encore Busan Station)
Included Activities
- Sunchang Gochujang Village visit
- Gochujang-making hands-on experience
- Juknokwon Bamboo Forest visit
- Bamboo Museum visit
- Haeinsa temple visit
- Tripitaka viewing
Landmarks Sunchang Gochujang Village Mount Amisan Juknokwon Bamboo Forest Bamboo Museum Haeinsa 
- Day 6
Busan to Ferry Crossing
Leave Busan in the morning to see Haedong Yonggung, a 14th-century Buddhist temple sitting right by the sea. Once back in Busan, explore the United Nations Memorial and the country's largest fish market near Nampo Port. After lunch, spend time at Yongdusan Park and its 120-meter pagoda. You'll handle ferry boarding procedures before departing at 9:00 p.m., crossing the Sea of Japan overnight in double cabins with private bathrooms (or take the high-speed ferry leaving at 3:00 p.m. if that option works better for you).
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ferry Busan Shimonoseki)
Included Activities
- Haedong Yonggung temple visit
- United Nations Memorial visit
- Largest fish market visit
- Yongdusan Park visit
- 120-meter pagoda viewing
Landmarks Haedong Yonggung United Nations Memorial Nampo Port Yongdusan Park - Day 7
Shimonoseki to Hiroshima via Iwakuni & Miyajima
You'll arrive at Shimonoseki Port at 8:00 a.m., get through border procedures, then head to Iwakumi to see the historic Kintai-Kyo Bridge. Take a ferry to Miyajima island where traditions blend with modern life. Explore Itsukushima Shrine dedicated to the guardian of the seas, partially built over the water, and wander the charming town center before lunch. From there, travel to Hiroshima to tour the Peace Memorial, view the atomic bomb dome, visit the Peace Museum, and have included dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Hiroshima), Hotel (Ana Crowne Plaza Hiroshima)
Included Activities
- Kintai-Kyo Bridge visit
- Ferry to Miyajima
- Itsukushima Shrine exploration
- Miyajima town center stroll
- Peace Memorial tour
- Atomic bomb dome viewing
- Peace Museum visit
Landmarks Kintai-Kyo Bridge Itsukushima Shrine Hiroshima Peace Memorial Atomic Bomb Dome Peace Museum Hiroshima 
- Day 8
Hiroshima to Matsuyama via Shikoku
Take a pleasant two-and-a-half-hour ferry to Shikoku Island. In Matsuyama, ride a cable car up to visit an impressive castle overlooking the city. Then visit Ishiteji, a beautiful Buddhist temple that draws pilgrims regularly. You'll grab lunch at a local restaurant before spending your afternoon at Dogo Onsen, a traditional Japanese bathhouse built back in the 19th century where you can soak and relax.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ana Crowne Plaza Matsuyama), Hotel (Candeo Hotel Matsuyama)
Included Activities
- Ferry to Shikoku Island
- Matsuyama Castle cable car ride and visit
- Ishiteji temple visit
- Dogo Onsen traditional bathhouse entry
Landmarks Matsuyama Castle Ishiteji Dogo Onsen 
- Day 9
Matsuyama to Kobe via Takamatsu & Naruto
Travel to Kotohira to visit a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors, an important pilgrimage site that requires climbing 785 steps to reach. Later in Takamatsu, explore Ritsurin, one of Japan's most beautiful gardens. Have lunch at a local restaurant, then head to Naruto where you'll cross an impressive bridge spanning the sea and walk its glass floor to observe powerful sea whirlpools from 45 meters up. You'll traverse more stunning bridges connecting islands over the water before arriving in Kobe for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel), Hotel (Candeo Kobe Torroad), Hotel (Monterey Kobe)
Included Activities
- Kotohira Shinto shrine visit
- 785-step climb to shrine
- Ritsurin garden visit
- Naruto Bridge exploration
- Glass floor whirlpool viewing
Landmarks Kotohira Shrine Ritsurin Garden Naruto Bridge 
- Day 10
Kobe to Mount Koya
In Kobe, visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum to understand the 1995 earthquake and the city's recovery. Continue to Mount Koya, the center of Shingon Buddhism with 120 temples and monasteries. See the Okuno Mausoleum cemetery set in nature with over 200,000 graves and the Kongobuji Temple originally built in 1593. You'll stay overnight in a Buddhist monastery where monks lead a Zen meditation practice. Dinner included with a vegetarian meal.
- Meals
- Dinner (Vegetarian meal)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Monasterio Hojoin), Hotel (Monasterio Fukuchi In)
Included Activities
- Earthquake Memorial Museum visit
- Okuno Mausoleum visit
- Kongobuji Temple visit
- Zen meditation practice (Ajikan)
- Monastery overnight stay
Optional Activities
- Religious ceremony at temple before breakfast
Landmarks Earthquake Memorial Museum Okuno Mausoleum Kongobuji Temple 
- Day 11
Mount Koya to Kyoto
Start with a traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple. In the early morning, head for Kyoto, Japan's capital from 794 to 1868, a city that largely escaped World War II bombing and kept its artistic heritage intact. You'll see the magnificent Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine, the historic Imperial Palace, and the beautiful Kinkaku-ji Temple with its gardens. After some free time to explore on your own, you'll go to Gion, the traditional district known for its Geisha culture, with more free time to take in the atmosphere.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Japanese breakfast at temple)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (New Miyako Hotel), Hotel (Miyako Kioto Hachijyo)
Included Activities
- Traditional Japanese breakfast
- Fushimi Inari Shrine visit
- Imperial Palace visit
- Kinkaku-ji Temple visit
- Gion district exploration
Landmarks Fushimi Inari Shrine Imperial Palace Kyoto Kinkaku-ji Temple Gion 
- Day 12
Kyoto to Tokyo
After breakfast, transfer to the station for the bullet train to Tokyo, covering nearly 500 km in just over two hours. Once you arrive, you'll have free time to explore the city at your own pace and get a feel for things before your guided tour tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel), Hotel (Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho), Hotel (Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba)
Included Activities
- Bullet train transfer to Tokyo
- Day 13
Tokyo City Tour
A five-hour guided tour covers the main Tokyo highlights. You'll start at Zojoji Temple with its iconic Tokyo Tower views and hundreds of Jizo statues, then head to Shibuya Crossing, one of the world's busiest intersections, and the Meiji Shrine. Travel along elegant Omotesando Avenue, see the Imperial Palace gardens, and view the iconic Nijubashi Bridge. Drive through Akihabara, known as 'Electric Town' for its manga and anime culture. You'll pass the sumo wrestling arena before ending in Asakusa at Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street with lunch at a local restaurant. Later at 6:30 p.m., meet your guide in the hotel lobby, take the metro to Shinjuku district, walk through its vibrant nightlife streets, have included dinner at a local restaurant, then return to the hotel by metro with your guide.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant), Dinner (Local restaurant in Shinjuku)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel), Hotel (Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho), Hotel (Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba)
Included Activities
- Zojoji Temple visit and Tokyo Tower viewing
- Shibuya Crossing visit
- Meiji Shrine visit
- Omotesando Avenue visit
- Imperial Palace gardens viewing
- Nijubashi Bridge viewing
- Akihabara district drive-through
- Kokugikan sumo arena viewing
- Sensoji Temple visit
- Nakamise Street visit
- Shinjuku district stroll
- Metro rides with included tickets
Landmarks Zojoji Temple Tokyo Tower Shibuya Crossing Meiji Shrine Omotesando Avenue Imperial Palace Tokyo Nijubashi Bridge Akihabara Kokugikan Sensoji Temple Nakamise Street Shinjuku 
- Day 14
Departure from Tokyo
After breakfast, your trip comes to an end, leaving you with wonderful memories of Korea and Japan.
- Meals
- Breakfast
