Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
You're starting your journey in Tokyo, where ancient temples and modern cities come together. Your adventure through Japan and South Korea begins here.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Aloft Tokyo Ginza)
- Day 2
Tokyo
You arrive in Tokyo today, but since arrival times vary, you have the whole day to yourself. Use it to get familiar with the city and adjust to your surroundings at your own pace.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Aloft Tokyo Ginza)
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Tokyo
- Day 3
Tokyo
This morning you'll take the subway like a local and walk to the Imperial Palace to see the Niju Bridge. After that, you have free time in the Ginza district, then you'll join everyone for a welcome dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Aloft Tokyo Ginza)
Included Activities
- Walk to the Imperial Palace and see the Niju Bridge
- Welcome dinner
Optional Activities
- Leisure time in the Ginza district
Landmarks Imperial Palace Niju Bridge - Day 4
Tokyo to Nemu
Head to Asakusa for a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, then check out Sensoji Temple and the shops on Nakamise street. Later you'll go to Tokyo National Museum to learn about the city's history. Your evening is open to explore on your own.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Nemu Resort)
Included Activities
- Traditional Japanese tea ceremony in Asakusa
- Visit Sensoji Temple
- Visit Tokyo National Museum
Optional Activities
- Browse Nakamise shopping street
- Independent evening exploration
Landmarks Sensoji Temple Nakamise shopping street Tokyo National Museum - Day 5
Nemu to Ise
You'll board the high-speed shinkansen bullet train heading through the countryside at 200 miles per hour, watching for Mt. Fuji along the way. You arrive at Ise Shrine, one of Japan's most important shrines, where you can walk around the thatched roofs and raw wood buildings before a traditional kaiseki dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional and delicious Japanese kaiseki dinner, an artfully prepared and presented, multi-course meal using ingredients at the absolute peak of freshness)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Nemu Resort)
Included Activities
- Shinkansen bullet train journey to Ise
- Visit Ise Shrine
- Traditional Japanese kaiseki dinner
Optional Activities
- Mt. Fuji viewing from the train
Landmarks Ise Shrine Mt. Fuji - Day 6
Ise to Shima
This morning you'll visit the Mikimoto Pearl Museum to see the history of ama pearl divers, watching them work in the water. Later, head to Azurihama Beach to dine in an ama hut where local seafood is grilled over charcoal and the divers share their stories.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dining at ama hut with local seafood grilled in charcoal fire and tales from ama women about their lives and profession)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (ANA Crowne Plaza)
Included Activities
- Visit Mikimoto Pearl Museum
- Watch ama pearl divers
- Dining experience at ama hut on Azurihama Beach with local ama women
Landmarks Mikimoto Pearl Museum Azurihama Beach - Day 7
Nara to Hiroshima
Travel to Nara Park and Todaiji Temple to see the massive bronze Buddha inside the sacred building. You'll wander the grounds and see the famous bowing deer, then take the shinkansen to Hiroshima. Later you'll join a cooking class to learn how to make okonomiyaki, Japan's savory pancake.
- Meals
- Dinner (Japanese okonomiyaki (savory pancake) cooking class and dinner at a local cooking studio)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (ANA Crowne Plaza)
Included Activities
- Visit Nara Park and Todaiji Temple
- View the huge bronze Buddha statue
- Explore Nara grounds and see the famous 'bowing' deer
- Shinkansen bullet train to Hiroshima
- Cooking class to learn okonomiyaki preparation and dinner
Landmarks Nara Park Todaiji Temple 
- Day 8
Hiroshima
Start by visiting Peace Memorial Park and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum where you'll hear firsthand accounts from someone who lived through the atomic bomb's devastation. After that, take a ferry to Miyajima Island to see the Itsukushima Shrine and its O-torii Gate in the water.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Monterey)
Included Activities
- Visit Peace Memorial Park and see the ruined Atomic Dome (UNESCO)
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
- Impact Moment with atomic bomb survivor
- Ferry to Miyajima Island
- Visit Itsukushima Shrine and O-torii Gate
Landmarks Peace Memorial Park Atomic Dome (UNESCO) Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Miyajima Island Itsukushima Shrine O-torii Gate - Day 9
Kyoto
You'll take the shinkansen to Kyoto, Japan's former capital. Once there, head to Fushimi Inari Taisha to walk through rows of orange torii gates in the forest. Later, go to Gion, Kyoto's geisha district, and wander its narrow cobblestone streets. Your evening is free to spend as you like.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Monterey)
Included Activities
- Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto
- Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Explore Gion geisha district
Optional Activities
- Spotting geishas in traditional regalia
- Evening leisure activities
Landmarks Fushimi Inari Taisha Gion 
- Day 10
Kyoto
Take a relaxed morning before going to the Arashiyama bamboo forest where you can walk among towering stalks. Then head to Kinkaku-ji Temple, the Golden Pavilion (UNESCO site). You'll try making sushi during an interactive class followed by dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Interactive sushi-making class and dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Monterey)
Included Activities
- Visit Arashiyama bamboo forest
- Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple (UNESCO)
- Interactive sushi-making class and dinner
Landmarks Arashiyama bamboo forest Kinkaku-ji Temple (UNESCO) - Day 11
Kyoto to Seoul
Visit Nishiki Market with your tour manager to see colorful stalls with fresh foods, pickles, dried seafood, and sushi. The rest of the day is yours to explore Kyoto independently. Later you'll fly to Seoul, South Korea, and have dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant in Seoul)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Courtyard Marriott Namdaemun)
Included Activities
- Visit Nishiki Market with Tour Manager
- Flight to Seoul
- Dinner at a local restaurant in Seoul
Optional Activities
- Return to Gion district
- Visit museums or Kyoto Imperial Palace
Landmarks Nishiki Market Gion Kyoto Imperial Palace - Day 12
Seoul DMZ Tour
Head to the Korean Demilitarized Zone this morning, the 150-mile stretch between North and South Korea that's been sealed off for 68 years. You'll tour Imjingak Park, the Bridge of Freedom, the DMZ Theater and Exhibition Hall, the Dora Observatory, and the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel. Your evening is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Courtyard Marriott Namdaemun)
Included Activities
- Tour of Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
- Visit Imjingak Park
- Visit Bridge of Freedom
- Visit DMZ Theater and Exhibition Hall
- Visit Dora Observatory
- Visit 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
Optional Activities
- Evening leisure activities
Landmarks Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Imjingak Park Bridge of Freedom DMZ Theater and Exhibition Hall Dora Observatory 3rd Infiltration Tunnel - Day 13
Seoul
Meet with a North Korean defector for a personal conversation where you'll learn about life in North Korea, their escape, and how they adjusted to living in the South. Later you'll stop at a local market to pick up ingredients before sharing a traditional Korean lunch with a local South Korean family at their home.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Home-hosted traditional Korean lunch with a local family)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Courtyard Marriott Namdaemun)
Included Activities
- Private talk with North Korean defector (Impact Moment)
- Visit local market
- Home-hosted traditional Korean lunch with local family
- Day 14
Seoul
Start at Gyeongbok Palace and tour the grounds while watching the ceremonial changing of the guard. Then head to Insadong Street, Seoul's charming shopping area with tea shops, boutiques, galleries, and cafes. Your afternoon is free, and later you'll have a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Courtyard Marriott Namdaemun)
Included Activities
- Tour Gyeongbok Palace
- Watch the ceremonial changing of the guard
- Visit Insadong Street
- Farewell dinner at a local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Visit Museum of Contemporary History
- Visit National Museum of Korea
- Afternoon leisure exploration
Landmarks Gyeongbok Palace Insadong Street Museum of Contemporary History National Museum of Korea - Day 15
Departure
You depart Seoul today, heading home with memories from your journey through Japan and moments from South Korea. Your adventure comes to an end as you return with countless stories from this trip.
- Day 16
Seoul Departure
Your final morning in Seoul gives you time to handle last-minute items before heading to the airport. After breakfast, you'll have a few hours to pick up any final souvenirs or grab lunch at a favorite spot from your trip. Then it's time to make your way to the airport for your departure flight, wrapping up your journey through Japan and South Korea with all the memories and experiences you've collected along the way.
