Itinerary
- Day 1
Seoul
You'll be picked up and taken to your hotel to get settled in. Later in the afternoon, someone from the tour company will brief you on what's coming up over the next few days.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
- Day 2
DMZ - Seoul
Start early heading to the DMZ in Cheorwon where you'll go through the Second Tunnel and check out the Cheorwon Peace Observatory with its museum exhibits. You'll also see the old Woljeong-ri railway station and the Baek Ma Battle Memorial for French UN forces. After lunch, you're stopping at a local Makgeolli producer to see how they make the rice wine. Back in Seoul for the evening, there's a walking tour through City Hall, Deoksugung Palace (it's really nice lit up at night), and Myeongdong shopping district. Dinner's included and you'll head back to the hotel by metro.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
Included Activities
- Visit Second Tunnel in DMZ
- Cheorwon Peace Observatory visit with Korean War museum
- Woljeong-ri railway station visit
- Baek Ma Battle Memorial visit
- Makgeolli traditional rice liquor producer visit
- City Hall viewing
- Deoksugung Palace evening viewing
- Myeongdong district walk
- Metro ticket for hotel return
Landmarks DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Second Tunnel Cheorwon Peace Observatory Woljeong-ri Railway Station Baek Ma Battle Memorial City Hall Deoksugung Palace Myeongdong 
- Day 3
Seoul
Spend a full five hours touring Seoul with Changdeokgung Palace (a UNESCO site), Bukchon Hanok Village where you can see traditional homes, and the War Memorial of Korea museum. Grab lunch, then head to Gangnam District for some shopping and checking out the entertainment area. Next you're going up Lotte World Tower, 550 meters tall, and you'll have free time to visit the observation deck (you'll need to buy a ticket) or wander around the nearby parks and luxury malls. There's free time back at the hotel after.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
Included Activities
- Changdeokgung Palace tour
- Bukchon Hanok Village visit
- War Memorial of Korea museum
Optional Activities
- Lotte World Tower observation deck (ticket not included)
Landmarks Changdeokgung Palace Bukchon Hanok Village War Memorial of Korea Gangnam District Lotte World Tower - Day 4
Suwon - Jeonju
You'll go to Gyeongbokgung Palace and might get to see the ceremonial changing of the guard. From there, head south toward Suwon to walk around the UNESCO World Heritage walls and check out Hwaseong Haenggung summer palace. After lunch, continue on to Jeonju to explore its historic Hanok Village with traditional houses, shops, and art galleries.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Best Western Plus Jeonju), Hotel (Gloucester)
Included Activities
- Gyeongbokgung Palace visit
- Ceremonial changing of the guard viewing (if scheduled)
- Suwon UNESCO World Heritage walls exploration
- Hwaseong Haenggung summer palace visit
- Jeonju Hanok Village historic center discovery
Landmarks Gyeongbokgung Palace Suwon Fortress Hwaseong Haenggung Jeonju Hanok Village 
- Day 5
Sunchang - Damyang - Haeinsa - Busan
Start at Sunchang Gochujang Village at the base of Mount Amisan where traditional hanok houses and courtyards display clay pots everywhere. You'll learn to make gochujang (Korean chili paste) from master artisans who use traditional methods. Then it's off to Damyang to walk through Juknokwon Bamboo Forest and visit the Bamboo Museum. Lunch features rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk. Later you'll arrive at Haeinsa, a UNESCO Buddhist temple from 802 AD that houses the Tripitaka (80,000 carved wooden scripture tablets). The day ends in Busan, Korea's second-largest city.
- Meals
- Lunch (Rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk, local specialty)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crown Harbor), Hotel (Ramada Encore Busan Station)
Included Activities
- Sunchang Gochujang Village visit with gochujang-making experience
- Juknokwon Bamboo Forest walk
- Bamboo Museum visit
- Haeinsa Buddhist temple visit
- Tripitaka viewing
Landmarks Sunchang Gochujang Village Mount Amisan Juknokwon Bamboo Forest Bamboo Museum Haeinsa 
- Day 6
Ferry to Japan
You'll leave in the morning to see Haedong Yonggung, a 14th-century Buddhist temple sitting right by the sea. Back in Busan, explore the United Nations Memorial and visit the country's largest fish market near Nampo Port. After lunch, walk through Yongdusan Park to see the 120-meter pagoda. Then head to the port for ferry check-in (latest at 5:30 p.m.). The ferry leaves Busan at 9:00 p.m. and you'll spend the night crossing the Sea of Japan in a double cabin with a private bathroom.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ferry Busan Shimonoseki)
Included Activities
- Haedong Yonggung Buddhist temple visit
- United Nations Memorial visit
- Fish market exploration
Landmarks Haedong Yonggung United Nations Memorial Nampo Port Fish Market Yongdusan Park - Day 7
Iwakuni - Miyajima - Hiroshima
You'll arrive at Shimonoseki Port at 8:00 a.m. (breakfast isn't included) and go through border crossing. Head to Iwakuni to see the historic Kintai-Kyo Bridge. Then it's a ferry to Miyajima, the island where 'gods and humans coexist,' home to Itsukushima Shrine dedicated to the guardian of the seas and partially built over water. Explore the shrine and walk through the town center, then continue to Hiroshima. You'll tour the Peace Memorial, see the atomic bomb dome, and visit the Peace Museum. Dinner's included.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Hiroshima), Hotel (Ana Crowne Plaza Hiroshima)
Included Activities
- Kintai-Kyo Bridge viewing
- Itsukushima Shrine exploration
- Miyajima town stroll
- Peace Memorial tour
- Atomic bomb dome viewing
- Peace Museum visit
Landmarks Kintai-Kyo Bridge Itsukushima Shrine Hiroshima Peace Memorial Genbaku Dome (Atomic Bomb Dome) Hiroshima Peace Museum 
- Day 8
Matsuyama
Take a ferry to Shikoku Island for a two-and-a-half-hour journey that helps you understand Japan's island geography better. In Matsuyama, ride the cable car up to visit the impressive castle. See Ishiteji, a beautiful Buddhist temple and popular pilgrimage spot. After lunch, you'll get admission to Dogo Onsen, a traditional Japanese bathhouse built in the 19th century.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ana Crowne Plaza Matsuyama), Hotel (Candeo Hotel Matsuyama)
Included Activities
- Matsuyama Castle cable car ride and visit
- Ishiteji Buddhist temple visit
- Dogo Onsen traditional bathhouse admission
Landmarks Matsuyama Castle Ishiteji Temple Dogo Onsen 
- Day 9
Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe
Head to Kotohira to visit an impressive Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors on Mount Zosu, which means climbing 785 steps. In Takamatsu, check out Ritsurin, one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan. After lunch, continue to Naruto to see an impressive bridge spanning the sea with a glass floor section where you can observe powerful sea whirlpools from 45 meters above. You'll take scenic routes across bridges connecting islands over the sea before arriving in Kobe.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel), Hotel (Candeo Kobe Torroad), Hotel (Monterey Kobe)
Included Activities
- Kotohira Shinto shrine visit and 785-step climb
- Ritsurin garden visit
Optional Activities
- Naruto Bridge glass floor walk and whirlpool observation
Landmarks Kotohira Shrine Mount Zosu Ritsurin Garden Naruto Bridge (Onaruto Bridge) 
- Day 10
Mount Koya
In Kobe, visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum honoring the devastating 1995 earthquake and the city's remarkable recovery. Then head to Mount Koya, the most important center of Shingon Buddhism in Japan with 120 temples and monasteries. See the Okuno Mausoleum, a spiritual cemetery in nature with over 200,000 graves, and the Kongobuji Temple originally built in 1593. You'll spend the night in a Buddhist monastery where monks lead a Zen meditation practice called Ajikan. Dinner's included and it's vegetarian.
- 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)
Optional Activities
- Religious ceremony attendance at temple (before breakfast)
Landmarks Earthquake Memorial Museum (Kobe) Mount Koya Okuno Mausoleum Kongobuji Temple 
- Day 11
Kyoto
Start with a traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple. Then head early to Kyoto, Japan's former capital from 794 to 1868 that was spared from World War II bombing. You'll visit the magnificent Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine, the historic Imperial Palace, and Kinkaku-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion) with its beautiful gardens. There's free time to explore before visiting Gion, the traditional district known for Geisha culture, where you'll have 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 at temple
- Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine visit
- Imperial Palace visit
- Kinkaku-ji Temple visit
Optional Activities
- Gion district exploration during free time
Landmarks Fushimi Inari Shrine Kyoto Imperial Palace Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) Gion 
- Day 12
Kyoto
After breakfast, your tour ends here, leaving you with some great memories from the past week.
- Meals
- Breakfast
