Itinerary
- Day 1
Seoul
You'll be transferred to your hotel from the airport and have time to get settled in. Later in the afternoon, your tour guide will meet with you to go over what you'll be doing for the rest of the trip.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
- Day 2
Seoul - DMZ Cheorwon - Seoul
Head out early toward Cheorwon and the DMZ to see the Second Tunnel, Cheorwon Peace Observatory looking toward North Korea, the abandoned Woljeong-ri railway station, and the Baek Ma Battle Memorial. Stop by a local makgeolli producer before heading back to Seoul. In the evening, check out City Hall's architecture, then see Deoksugung Palace lit up at night and walk around Myeongdong shopping district. Dinner is included at a local restaurant before you return to the hotel by metro.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
Included Activities
- Visit Second Tunnel in DMZ Cheorwon
- Visit Cheorwon Peace Observatory
- Visit abandoned Woljeong-ri railway station
- Visit Baek Ma Battle Memorial
- Visit local makgeolli distillery
- Visit City Hall
- View Deoksugung Palace
- Walk through Myeongdong district
- Metro ticket included for return to hotel
Landmarks DMZ 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 exploring Seoul. Start at Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO site, then pass through Bukchon Hanok Village with its traditional homes. Walk through the War Memorial of Korea to learn about the country's conflicts. After lunch at a local restaurant, head to Gangnam District with its shops and entertainment, finishing at Lotte World Tower where you can go up (ticket separate) or explore the park and shops around it. You'll have free time back at the hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Ambassador Hongdae)
Included Activities
- Visit Changdeokgung Palace
- Pass by Bukchon Hanok Village
- Visit War Memorial of Korea
- Visit Gangnam District
- Visit Lotte World Tower area
Optional Activities
- Go up Lotte World Tower (ticket not included)
Landmarks Changdeokgung Palace Bukchon Hanok Village War Memorial of Korea Gangnam District Lotte World Tower - Day 4
Seoul - Suwon - Jeonju
Start at Gyeongbokgung Palace, which has over 600 years of history, and if timing works out, watch the changing of the guard ceremony. Travel south to Suwon, the former capital, to see its UNESCO World Heritage walls and Hwaseong Haenggung summer palace. After lunch, continue to Jeonju where you'll wander through the historic Hanok Village with traditional houses, shops, and art galleries.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Best Western Plus Jeonju)
Included Activities
- Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Visit Hwaseong Haenggung summer palace
- Explore Jeonju Hanok Village
Optional Activities
- Watch ceremonial changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung Palace (if timing permits)
Landmarks Gyeongbokgung Palace Suwon Fortifications Hwaseong Haenggung Jeonju Hanok Village 
- Day 5
Jeonju - Damyang - Haeinsa - Busan
Head to Sunchang Gochujang Village at the base of Mount Amisan for a hands-on class making gochujang using traditional methods. Move on to Damyang to walk through Juknokwon Bamboo Forest and check out the Bamboo Museum. Lunch features a local specialty of rice cooked inside a bamboo stalk. Next, arrive at Haeinsa, a major Buddhist temple and UNESCO site from 802 with 80,000 carved wooden tablets. Then travel to Busan for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk, local specialty)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada Encore Busan Station)
Included Activities
- Hands-on experience learning how to make gochujang
- Walk through Juknokwon Bamboo Forest
- Visit Bamboo Museum
- Visit Haeinsa Buddhist Temple
Landmarks Sunchang Gochujang Village Juknokwon Bamboo Forest Bamboo Museum Haeinsa 
- Day 6
Busan
Start the morning at Haedong Yonggung, a 14th-century temple right by the sea. Return to Busan and visit the UN Memorial Cemetery and the country's largest fish market near Nampo Port. After lunch, stroll through Yongdusan Park with its 120-meter pagoda. Head to Songdo Beach to ride the country's first marine cable car (ticket included, weather permitting) for bay views. Finish at Gamcheon Culture Village with colorful buildings, alleyways, art galleries, pottery workshops, and cafes before returning to Busan.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada Encore Busan Station)
Included Activities
- Visit Haedong Yonggung temple
- Visit UN Memorial Cemetery
- Visit country's largest fish market at Nampo Port
- Visit Yongdusan Park
- Ride marine cable car at Songdo Beach (weather permitting)
- Visit Gamcheon Culture Village
Landmarks Haedong Yonggung UN Memorial Cemetery Nampo Port Fish Market Yongdusan Park Songdo Beach Gamcheon Culture Village - Day 7
Busan to Tokyo
Transfer to the airport for your included flight to Tokyo. Once you clear customs, an assistant will meet you (usually Spanish-speaking, sometimes English). Take a shared shuttle bus to your hotel and spend free time settling in and getting oriented to the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
- Day 8
Tokyo - Kamakura - Enoshima - Odawara
Travel from Tokyo to Kamakura, which was Japan's capital for two centuries. At Hokoku-ji Zen Temple, walk through the bamboo forest and have green tea. See Sugimoto-dera, founded in 734 and the oldest temple in the area. You'll have free time in the city center before visiting the Great Buddha. Head along a scenic coastal road by the Pacific with time for lunch and a walk on Enoshima island. Continue to Odawara to see the impressive castle, a restored medieval fortress from the Edo period, then stay overnight.
Included Activities
- Stroll through Hokoku-ji Zen Temple bamboo forest
- Enjoy green tea at Hokoku-ji
- Visit Sugimoto-dera temple
- Visit Great Buddha (Daibutsu)
- Visit Odawara castle
Landmarks Hokoku-ji Zen Temple Sugimoto-dera Great Buddha (Daibutsu) Enoshima Odawara Castle 
- Day 9
Odawara - Mount Fuji - Kawaguchiko - Tokyo
Travel toward Hakone, a region of lakes and mountains near Mount Fuji. Go up to Owakudani, the Valley of Hell, a volcanic crater with steam vents and bubbling mud (note: this may close due to volcanic activity, and if so you'll visit Arakurayama Sengen Park instead). Continue to Oshino Hakkai village with eight ponds and views of Mount Fuji. Head to Kawaguchiko beside its lake for a scenic boat ride. Begin ascending Mount Fuji along the road to the Fifth Station at 2,305 meters (7,562 feet) with forest and mountain views (note: the road often closes in winter, so you'll go as far as conditions allow). Return to Tokyo by evening.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Owakudani (Valley of Hell)
- Visit Oshino Hakkai
- Scenic boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko
- Ascent toward Mount Fuji Fifth Station
Optional Activities
- Visit Arakurayama Sengen Park (if Owakudani is closed due to volcanic activity)
Landmarks Owakudani Oshino Hakkai Lake Kawaguchiko Mount Fuji Arakurayama Sengen Park 
- Day 10
Tokyo
Start with a long five-hour guided tour through Tokyo where vibrant neighborhoods mix with quieter areas. Stop at Zojoji Temple for views of Tokyo Tower and see hundreds of Jizo statues in knitted clothing. Visit the famous Shibuya Crossing, the world's busiest intersection, and Meiji Shrine. Travel by bus down Omotesando Avenue, see the Imperial Palace and gardens, and cross the famous Nijubashi Bridge. Drive through Akihabara, the Electric City, then visit Tokyo Skytree for panoramic views. Explore Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street in Asakusa before heading back. At 6:30 p.m., meet your guide at the hotel lobby and take the subway to Shinjuku for a walk through this lively district, then dinner at a local restaurant before returning by subway.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Zojoji Temple
- Visit Shibuya Crossing
- Visit Meiji Shrine
- Tour along Omotesando Avenue
- View Imperial Palace and gardens
- Visit Nijubashi Bridge
- Drive through Akihabara
- Visit Tokyo Skytree
- Explore Sensoji Temple
- Walk through Nakamise Street
- Walk through Shinjuku district
- Subway tickets included
Landmarks Zojoji Temple Tokyo Tower Shibuya Crossing Meiji Shrine Omotesando Avenue Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge Akihabara Tokyo Skytree Sensoji Temple Nakamise Street Shinjuku - Day 11
Tokyo to Kyoto
Early in the morning, take the bullet train to Kyoto, covering almost 500 km in just over two hours. You'll have the full day to explore Kyoto, Japan's former capital from 794 to 1868 and home to the Imperial Court. Kyoto was the only major Japanese city that avoided bombing during World War II, so it has rich artistic heritage. See iconic spots like Fushimi Inari Shrine with its famous red torii gates, the Imperial Palace, and Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion, with its surrounding gardens. Enjoy free time to walk through Gion, Kyoto's traditional district known for geishas and nightlife.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (New Miyako Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Visit Imperial Palace
- Visit Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
- Explore Gion district
Landmarks Fushimi Inari Shrine Imperial Palace Kinkakuji Temple Gion 
- Day 12
Kyoto - Nara - Osaka
Travel to Nara to visit Todaiji, a Buddhist temple built in 752 with a giant Buddha statue. Take photos and interact with the friendly deer that roam the park freely. After lunch, see Horyu-ji Buddhist Temple, a UNESCO site with a seminary, monasteries, and temples. Its ancient pagoda is one of the oldest wooden structures in the world and Japan's oldest Buddhist temple. Continue to Osaka, arriving in the evening in this vibrant modern city and Japan's second-largest urban area. Later, walk through Dotonbori, a lively colorful district popular for its nightlife.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Candeo Osaka Namba)
Included Activities
- Visit Todaiji Buddhist temple
- Interact with deer in Todaiji park
- Visit Horyu-ji Buddhist Temple
- Visit Dotonbori district
Landmarks Todaiji Temple Horyu-ji Temple Dotonbori 
- Day 13
Osaka
After breakfast, your trip comes to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories of Korea and Japan.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
