Essential Japan & South Korea - 25 days

Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Tokyo

   Tokyo Show on map

   Meals

   Dinner (Sushi dinner from your sushi-making class creations)

   Included Activities

   • Sushi-making class
   • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building visit

   Optional Activities

   • Local bar evening with fellow travelers

   Landmarks
   Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

   

2. Day 2

   Tokyo

   Tokyo Show on map

   Meals

   Breakfast (Sashimi at Tsukiji Outer Market)

   Included Activities

   • Tsukiji Outer Market visit
   • Sensoji Temple visit
   • Nakamise-dori street walk

   Optional Activities

   • Sumo experience with ex-wrestlers and chanko nabe lunch
   • Tokyo Skytree city views
   • Sumida River cruise
   • Samurai Museum visit
   • Themed maid café in Akihabara
   • Shopping in Ginza boutiques and luxury brands
   • Batting cages
   • Japanese bathhouse

   Landmarks
   Tsukiji Outer Market
   Sensoji Temple
   Nakamise-dori
   Tokyo Skytree
   Sumida River
   Samurai Museum
   Akihabara
   Ginza

   

3. Day 3

   Tokyo

   Tokyo Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Meiji Shrine visit
   • Harajuku exploration
   • Shibuya Crossing visit

   Optional Activities

   • Kartoon Karting on city streets
   • teamLab Planets immersive art experience
   • Imperial Palace gardens walk

   Landmarks
   Meiji Shrine
   Harajuku
   Shibuya Crossing
   teamLab Planets
   Imperial Palace

   

4. Day 4

   Tokyo - Mount Fuji - Tokyo

   Tokyo - Mount Fuji - Tokyo Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Fujikawaguchiko day excursion
   • Arakurayama Sengen Park visit
   • Tenku no Torii hike to viewpoint
   • Haha no Shirataki waterfall hike

   Optional Activities

   • Farewell drinks with the group

   Landmarks
   Mount Fuji
   Arakurayama Sengen Park
   Tenku no Torii
   Haha no Shirataki waterfall

   

5. Day 5

   Tokyo to Kamakura

   Tokyo to Kamakura Show on map

   Meals

   Lunch

   Included Activities

   • Calligraphy class in local temple

   Optional Activities

   • Kotoku-in's Great Buddha visit
   • Hokokuji Temple and bamboo grove visit
   • Beach time and sunset viewing

   Landmarks
   Kotoku-in
   Hokokuji Temple

6. Day 6

   Kamakura to Hakone

   Kamakura to Hakone Show on map

   Meals

   Lunch, Dinner (Buddhist vegetarian dinner)

   Included Activities

   • Old Tokaido route hike
   • Sightseeing cruise on Lake Ashi
   • Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani
   • Japanese onsen visit
   • Sake tasting party

   Optional Activities

   • Black eggs tasting at Owakudani

   Landmarks
   Lake Ashi
   Owakudani
   Moto-Hakone

7. Day 7

   Hakone to Kyoto

   Hakone to Kyoto Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Kamo River orientation walk

   Optional Activities

   • Higashi Hongan-ji temple visit
   • Shosei-en Garden stroll
   • Sanjusangendo - 1,001 Kannon statues
   • Mandarake collectibles browsing
   • Group karaoke evening

   Landmarks
   Kamo River
   Higashi Hongan-ji
   Shosei-en Garden
   Sanjusangendo

   

8. Day 8

   Kyoto

   Kyoto Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Higashi Hongan-ji Temple visit
   • Fushimi Inari Shrine visit
   • Kiyomizu-dera Temple visit
   • Gion walking tour

   Optional Activities

   • Fushimi Inari viewpoint hike
   • Fushimi Inari street food tasting
   • Pontocho Alley wander
   • Gion Corner show
   • Yasaka Shrine night visit

   Landmarks
   Higashi Hongan-ji
   Fushimi Inari Shrine
   Kiyomizu-dera
   Gion
   Pontocho Alley
   Gion Corner
   Yasaka Shrine

   

9. Day 9

   Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto

   Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto Show on map

   Meals

   Lunch

   Included Activities

   • Todaiji Temple visit
   • Nara Park excursion

   Optional Activities

   • Tea ceremony with a geisha
   • Arashiyama bamboo grove exploration
   • Tenryu-ji temple visit
   • Arashiyama monkey park
   • Kimono rental for photos
   • Pokémon Center visit
   • Manga Museum visit

   Landmarks
   Todaiji Temple
   Nara Park
   Arashiyama
   Tenryu-ji

10. Day 10

    Kyoto to Hiroshima

    Kyoto to Hiroshima Show on map

    Meals

    Lunch

    Included Activities

    • Cycle tour of Kyoto
    • Meditation class at Daisen-in Temple
    • Traditional tea ceremony
    • Kinkaku-ji visit
    • Imperial Palace pass

    Optional Activities

    • Group dinner at Okonomiyaki Village

    Landmarks
    Daisen-in Temple
    Kinkaku-ji
    Imperial Palace

11. Day 11

    Hiroshima - Miyajima - Hiroshima

    Hiroshima - Miyajima - Hiroshima Show on map

    Meals

    Lunch

    Included Activities

    • Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum tour
    • Atomic Bomb Dome visit
    • Ferry to Miyajima Island
    • Itsukushima Shrine visit
    • Miyajima Ropeway ride

    Landmarks
    Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
    Atomic Bomb Dome
    Miyajima Island
    Itsukushima Shrine

12. Day 12

    Hiroshima to Osaka

    Hiroshima to Osaka Show on map

    Meals

    Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner at Shinsekai)

    Included Activities

    • Guided exploration of Osaka

    Optional Activities

    • Osaka Castle and city views
    • Umeda shopping
    • National Museum of Art visit
    • Final drinks in Shinsaibashi

    Landmarks
    Shinsaibashi
    Osaka Castle
    Umeda
    National Museum of Art
    Shinsekai
    Tsutenkaku Tower

    

13. Day 13

    Osaka to Seoul

    Osaka to Seoul Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Self-guided exploration of Seoul

    

14. Day 14

    Seoul

    Seoul Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Group welcome dinner)

    Included Activities

    • Taekwondo class
    • Namsan Mountain cable car
    • Welcome dinner at Myeongdong

    Optional Activities

    • N Seoul Tower visit

    Landmarks
    Myeongdong
    Namsan Mountain
    N Seoul Tower

    

15. Day 15

    Seoul

    Seoul Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Gyeongbokgung Palace visit
    • Royal Guard Changing Ceremony

    Optional Activities

    • Hanbok rental
    • Bukchon Hanok Village visit
    • Insadong Art Street stroll
    • Gangnam shopping
    • Han River cycling
    • HiKR Ground visit
    • Makgeolli-making class
    • Group dinner and drinks

    Landmarks
    Gyeongbokgung Palace
    Bukchon Hanok Village
    Insadong Art Street
    Gangnam
    Han River

16. Day 16

    Seoul - DMZ - Seoul

    Seoul - DMZ - Seoul Show on map

    Included Activities

    • DMZ day trip
    • Dora Observatory visit
    • Third Tunnel descent
    • North Korean defector presentation

    Optional Activities

    • K-pop dance class
    • Hongdae nightlife

    Landmarks
    DMZ
    Imjingak
    Dora Observatory
    Third Tunnel
    Hongdae

17. Day 17

    Seoul to Sokcho

    Seoul to Sokcho Show on map

    Meals

    Lunch, Dinner (Dinner at fish markets or local favourite such as Manseok)

    Included Activities

    • Seoraksan National Park visit and hike
    • Abai village visit
    • Food market walk
    • Fish market or local restaurant dinner
    • Traditional liquor tasting

    Optional Activities

    • Ulsanbawi Rock hike for panoramic views
    • Waterfall trail hike
    • Cable car ride to scenic peak

    Landmarks
    Seoraksan National Park
    Ulsanbawi Rock
    Sokcho
    Abai Village

18. Day 18

    Sokcho to Gyeongju

    Sokcho to Gyeongju Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Buddhist vegetarian dinner)

    Included Activities

    • Golgulsa Temple stay
    • Orientation
    • Meditation
    • Communal work
    • Sunmudo training
    • Buddhist vegetarian dinner

    Optional Activities

    • BTS bus stop photo stop

    Landmarks
    Golgulsa

19. Day 19

    Gyeongju

    Gyeongju Show on map

    Meals

    Breakfast (Early breakfast at temple)

    Included Activities

    • Meditation and chanting
    • Early breakfast
    • Guided cycle tour of Gyeongju
    • Cheonmachong Ancient Tombs visit
    • Cheomseongdae Observatory visit
    • Anapji (Wolji Pond) evening visit

    Optional Activities

    • Bulguksa Temple UNESCO site visit
    • Traditional tea-house visit
    • Gyeongju National Museum visit
    • Traditional Korean set meal at a hanok

    Landmarks
    Bulguksa Temple
    Gyeongju National Museum
    Daereungwon Tumuli Park
    Cheonmachong
    Cheomseongdae Observatory
    Anapji (Wolji Pond)

20. Day 20

    Gyeongju to Busan

    Gyeongju to Busan Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Half-day city tour of Busan
    • Gamcheon Culture Village visit
    • Songdo Beach marine cable car

    Optional Activities

    • BIFF Square shopping and street food
    • Snow crab dining

    Landmarks
    Gamcheon Culture Village
    Songdo Beach
    BIFF Square

21. Day 21

    Busan

    Busan Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Haedong Yonggungsa Temple visit

    Optional Activities

    • Jjimjilbang (traditional bathhouse) visit
    • Harbour boat trip for Haeundae and Gwangan Bridge views
    • Karaoke

    Landmarks
    Haedong Yonggungsa
    Haeundae
    Gwangan Bridge

22. Day 22

    Busan to Jeju Island

    Busan to Jeju Island Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Beach breakfast and swim or volleyball
    • Morning cooking class
    • Haeundae Blueline Park coastal monorail
    • Huinnyeoul Culture Village wander

    Landmarks
    Haeundae Blueline Park
    Huinnyeoul Culture Village

    

23. Day 23

    Jeju Island

    Jeju Island Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Jeju Olle Trail walk
    • Jeongbang Waterfall visit
    • Seongsan Ilchulbong hike

    Optional Activities

    • Haenyeo performance at 13:30
    • Jungmun Beach relaxation
    • Cheonjiyeon Waterfall visit
    • Maritime Park exploration
    • Saeyeongyo Bridge visit
    • The Cliff sunset drink

    Landmarks
    Jeju Olle Trail
    Jeongbang Waterfall
    Seongsan Ilchulbong
    Jungmun Beach
    Cheonjiyeon Waterfall

    

24. Day 24

    Jeju Island

    Jeju Island Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Farewell Jeju black pork barbecue dinner by the sea)

    Included Activities

    • Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliffs visit
    • Yacht sailing tour
    • Farewell black pork barbecue dinner

    Landmarks
    Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliffs

25. Day 25

    Jeju Island

    Jeju Island Show on map