Itinerary
- Day 1
Tokyo
You'll clear customs and hop on a shared shuttle that takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and get acclimated. Later in the afternoon, you'll get information about how the tour officially kicks off.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
- Day 2
Tokyo
A five-hour guided tour walks you through Tokyo's mix of old and new. You'll start at Zojoji Temple, then head to Shibuya Crossing to see the controlled chaos of thousands crossing at once. From there, Meiji Shrine and the Imperial Palace gardens give you quieter moments. Akihabara shows you the manga and anime shops, and you'll ride up Tokyo Skytree for views across the city. After lunch on your own, Sensoji Temple and the shops along Nakamise Street in Asakusa come next. By evening, you take the subway to Shinjuku for a walking tour of the neon-lit streets before grabbing dinner at a local spot.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tokyo (approximately 5 hours)
- Zojoji Temple visit
- Shibuya Crossing visit
- Meiji Shrine visit
- Omotesando Avenue visit
- Imperial Palace and gardens exploration
- Nijubashi Bridge visit
- Akihabara district drive-through
- Tokyo Skytree admission and visit
- Sensoji Temple visit
- Nakamise Street exploration
- Shinjuku district walk
- Subway tour to Shinjuku area
Landmarks Zojoji Temple Shibuya Crossing Meiji Shrine Tokyo Tower Omotesando Avenue Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge Akihabara Tokyo Skytree Sensoji Temple Nakamise Street Shinjuku 
- Day 3
Tokyo to Kyoto
An early morning bullet train gets you to Kyoto in just over two hours, covering nearly 500 km. You spend the full day exploring Japan's former capital. Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of red torii gates takes your morning, then the Imperial Palace and the famous Golden Pavilion at Kinkakuji with its reflecting garden. After that, you get free time to walk through Gion and see the traditional wooden machiya houses and geisha district at your own pace.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (New Miyako Hotel)
Included Activities
- Bullet train journey from Tokyo to Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari Shrine visit
- Imperial Palace visit
- Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) visit
- Gion district exploration
Landmarks Fushimi Inari Shrine Imperial Palace of Kyoto Kinkakuji Temple Gion 
- Day 4
Kyoto to Osaka
You head to Nara first to see Todaiji Temple, a massive Buddhist structure from 752 that holds a giant bronze Buddha inside. The park around it has friendly deer that'll follow you around looking for treats. Next comes Horyu-ji, a UNESCO site with an ancient wooden pagoda that's one of the oldest buildings in Japan. Later you travel to Osaka and spend the evening checking out Dotonbori, the lively nightlife area packed with restaurants, shops, and neon signs reflecting off the water.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Candeo Osaka Namba)
Included Activities
- Todaiji Temple visit
- Deer park interaction
- Horyu-ji Buddhist Temple visit
- Dotonbori district visit
Landmarks Todaiji Temple Horyu-ji Temple Dotonbori 
- Day 5
Osaka to Busan
You transfer to Osaka airport for an included flight to Busan, South Korea. Once you land, transportation takes you to your hotel and you have free time to explore on your own. Later in the day your tour guide meets up with you as the rest of the group arrives.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada Encore Busan Station)
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Busan
- Day 6
Busan to Gyeongju to Daegu
Starting early, you visit Seokguram Buddhist Grotto, an 8th-century site carved into a mountainside, then move to Bulguksa Temple, one of Korea's most important Buddhist structures. In Gyeongju, Korea's longest capital, you photograph the wooden Woljeonggyo Bridge and walk through Tumuli Park where ancient royal burial mounds dating back 1,500 years sit. You can go down inside one of the tombs to see what it was like. Cheomsongdae Astronomical Observatory, the oldest in East Asia, comes next before you end the day in Daegu, checking out Dongsan Cheongna Hill and the busy Dongseong-ro shopping street.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Daegu Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Seokguram Buddhist Grotto visit
- Bulguksa Temple visit
- Woljeonggyo Bridge viewing and photography
- Tumuli Park visit and tomb exploration
- Cheomsongdae Astronomical Observatory visit
- Dongsan Cheongna Hill viewing
- Dongseong-ro commercial street viewing
Landmarks Seokguram Buddhist Grotto Bulguksa Temple Woljeonggyo Bridge Tumuli Park Cheomsongdae Astronomical Observatory Dongsan Cheongna Hill Dongseong-ro 
- Day 7
Daegu to Seoul
In Daegu, you start at the Yangnyeongsi Museum of Traditional Medicine and browse the surrounding herbal market with its premium herbs and remedies. Then you drive north to Andong to see Hahoe village, a UNESCO site that feels like stepping back in time with traditional architecture and narrow streets. The Hahoe Mask Museum shows off a remarkable collection from around the world. Byeongsan Seowon, a 16th-century Confucian academy sits peacefully by a river and you'll tour that before heading to Seoul in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
Included Activities
- Yangnyeongsi Museum of Traditional Medicine visit
- Herbal Medicine Market exploration
- Hahoe village exploration
- Hahoe Mask Museum visit
- Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy visit
Landmarks Yangnyeongsi Museum of Traditional Medicine Herbal Medicine Market Hahoe Village Hahoe Mask Museum Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy 
- Day 8
Seoul
An early departure gets you to the DMZ near Cheorwon on North Korea's border. You explore the Second Tunnel, which North Korea secretly dug and which was found in 1975, then visit the Cheorwon Peace Observatory for views into North Korea's villages and a small museum about the Korean War. The abandoned Woljeong-ri railway station and the Baek Ma Battle Memorial honoring French soldiers round out the morning. At a local makgeolli producer, you'll see how traditional rice liquor gets made. Back in Seoul by evening, you see City Hall's distinctive wave-like design, catch Deoksugung Palace lit up at night, and walk through the crowded Myeongdong shopping district before heading back to your hotel by metro.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
Included Activities
- DMZ Cheorwon Second Tunnel visit
- Cheorwon Peace Observatory visit
- DMZ museum visit
- Woljeong-ri railway station visit
- Baek Ma Battle Memorial visit
- Makgeolli distillery visit
- City Hall visit
- Deoksugung Palace viewing
- Myeongdong district exploration
Landmarks DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Second Tunnel Cheorwon Peace Observatory Woljeong-ri Railway Station Baek Ma Battle Memorial City Hall Deoksugung Palace Myeongdong 
- Day 9
Seoul
A five-hour tour covers Seoul's highlights. Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO site, sits in a large park and you'll spend time walking the grounds. Bukchon Hanok Village shows traditional homes packed closely together on hillside streets. The War Memorial of Korea is an extensive museum about Korea's military history and conflicts. You then head to Gangnam District, the trendy area famous for shopping and nightlife. Lotte World Tower, a 550-meter skyscraper, lets you either go up for views or spend time in the surrounding parks and luxury shopping malls.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
Included Activities
- Changdeokgung Palace visit
- Bukchon Hanok Village pass-by and exploration
- War Memorial of Korea visit
- Gangnam District exploration
- Lotte World Tower vicinity exploration
Optional Activities
- Lotte World Tower ascent (ticket not included)
Landmarks Changdeokgung Palace Bukchon Hanok Village War Memorial of Korea Gangnam District Lotte World Tower - Day 10
Seoul to Suwon to Jeonju
You start at Gyeongbokgung Palace, over 600 years old, and if the schedule works out you might catch the changing of the guard ceremony. After breakfast, you drive south to Suwon, a former capital known for its UNESCO-listed fortress walls that are remarkably well preserved. The Hwaseong Haenggung summer palace is nearby. Then you continue to Jeonju to explore the historic Hanok Village with traditional houses, local shops, and art galleries where you can wander around at your own pace.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Best Western Plus Jeonju)
Included Activities
- Gyeongbokgung Palace visit
- Changing of the guard ceremony viewing (if scheduled)
- Suwon walls viewing
- Hwaseong Haenggung summer palace visit
- Jeonju Hanok Village historic center exploration
Landmarks Gyeongbokgung Palace Suwon Fortifications Hwaseong Haenggung Jeonju Hanok Village 
- Day 11
Jeonju to Damyang to Busan
You start at Sunchang Gochujang Village at the base of Mount Amisan, where traditional hanok houses and clay pots dot the area. There's a hands-on session where you'll make gochujang, the Korean chili paste, using traditional methods so you understand how it's done. Next is Damyang where you walk through Juknokwon Bamboo Forest, which has meditation paths winding through the thick bamboo groves, and the Bamboo Museum. Lunch is a local specialty, rice served inside a bamboo stalk. Later you reach Haeinsa, one of Korea's most important Buddhist temples built in 802, which houses 80,000 wooden tablets containing Buddhist scriptures. By evening you arrive in Busan for your accommodation.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with local specialty: rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada Encore Busan Station)
Included Activities
- Sunchang Gochujang Village visit
- Hands-on 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 Temple 
- Day 12
Busan
Your morning starts at Haedong Yonggung, a 14th-century Buddhist temple built right on the rocky coast with waves crashing below. You then return to Busan and visit the UN Memorial Cemetery honoring soldiers and support staff from many countries. The country's largest fish market at Nampo Port comes next, where you can see the daily catch and bustling vendors. Yongdusan Park has a 120-meter pagoda you can see from around the city. At Songdo Beach, weather permitting, you can ride the country's first marine cable car for views across the bay. The day finishes at Gamcheon Culture Village, where colorful houses climb up the hillside and maze-like alleyways connect art galleries, pottery workshops, and cafes.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada Encore Busan Station)
Included Activities
- Haedong Yonggung Temple visit
- UN Memorial Cemetery visit
- Fish market visit
- Yongdusan Park exploration
- Songdo Beach marine cable car ride (weather permitting)
- Gamcheon Culture Village exploration
Landmarks Haedong Yonggung Temple UN Memorial Cemetery Nampo Port Fish Market Yongdusan Park Songdo Beach Gamcheon Culture Village - Day 13
Busan
After breakfast, your tour ends here, and you'll head out with memories of the places you've seen and experienced across Japan and South Korea.
- Meals
- Breakfast
