Highlights
- Ride the cable car up to N Seoul Tower for views of South Korea's capital
- Grill your own Wagyu beef and sample authentic Tokyo cuisine in Shinjuku
- Cruise on scenic Lake Kawaguchi with views of Mount Fuji reflected on the water
- Don full samurai armor at the Samurai & Ninja Museum in Kyoto
- Taste your way through "Japan's Kitchen" on a food tour of Osaka's Dotonbori
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Incheon (South Korea), Transfer to Seoul, Myeongdong Food Tour | Seoul |
| Day 2 | Tour Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon Village, Gwangjang Market & N Seoul Tower | Seoul |
| Day 3 | Discover Gangnam: Garosu-gil, K-Star Road & COEX Mall | Seoul |
| Day 4 | Korean Demilitarized Zone Tour | Seoul |
| Day 5 | Fly to Tokyo (Japan), Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku | Tokyo |
| Day 6 | Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple, Self-Guided Akihabara Exploration | Tokyo |
| Day 7 | Day Trip to Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi with Whisky Tasting | Tokyo |
| Day 8 | Train to Kyoto, Tea Ceremony & Samurai Museum | Kyoto |
| Day 9 | Kyoto Highlights: Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari-taisha & Nishiki Market | Kyoto |
| Day 10 | Bamboo Grove Rickshaw Tour with Monkey Park & Tenryu-ji Temple | Kyoto |
| Day 11 | Train to Osaka, Osaka Castle & Shinsaibashi Tour, Dotonbori Food Experience | Osaka |
| Day 12 | Depart Osaka |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Incheon (South Korea), Transfer to Seoul, Myeongdong Food Tour
Welcome to South Korea! Touch down in the dizzying capital, Seoul, where your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Get your first glimpse of this futuristic metropolis, a sprawling mass of towering skyscrapers set against decorative Buddhist temples, landscaped sculpture parks, and mazelike street markets. Fashion, tech, and karaoke loom large in Seoul, alongside historical palaces and museums.
Settle in and then spend the rest of the day resting at your hotel or exploring the neon streets of the city. Enjoy a cozy afternoon in one of the many themed cafés (from board game venues to cat cafés), wander around the artistic Mural Village, or visit a jjimjilbang (bathhouse) to soak in hot pools.
Save the evening for a self-guided tour of Myeongdong, home to the best street food in Seoul. It's hard to go wrong with the tasty bites along Myeongdong. A must-try is kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), which is especially delicious paired with garlicky kimchi (fermented and salted vegetables).
Day 2: Tour Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon Village, Gwangjang Market & N Seoul Tower
Discover the best of Seoul's culture and history during a full-day immersive city tour. After meeting your private driver, you'll visit the beautiful Gyeongbokgung, a palace dating from the 14th century. Here, you can rent a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) for professional photos, learn about the ancient Joseon Dynasty, and watch the traditional ceremonies, like the Changing of the Royal Guard, that occur daily.
You'll learn more about the Joseon Dynasty from your guide as you stroll through the picturesque Bukchon Hanok Village, with its narrow streets featuring over 900 traditional dynasty hanoks (houses) that now function as guesthouses, tea houses, cultural centers, and museums. Then it's time for lunch. Enjoy authentic Korean street food such as bibimbap (a rice-based dish) or mungbean pancakes at Gwangjang Market before visiting Namsan Park, where a cable car ride or hike will bring you to the iconic N Seoul Tower for 360-degree views of the city.
Day 3: Discover Gangnam: Garosu-gil, K-Star Road & COEX Mall
Explore the lively district of Gangnam in Seoul on today's full-day guided tour. Head to the ginkgo-lined streets of Garosu-gil, one of Seoul's trendy neighborhoods with cafés and designer shops galore. K-pop fans will revel in a visit to nearby K-Star Road for plenty of K-pop souvenirs and to snap a photo with the 10-foot-tall (3 m) giant hands of the PSY GangnamDol statue. Take a break from the modernity at the eighth-century temple of Bongeunsa, home to over 3,000 Buddhist sculptures, all in sharp contrast to the glistening skyline of skyscrapers.
Continue to explore the streets, then head to Starfield COEX Mall. This sprawling complex is home to the COEX Aquarium, which has 90 different exhibits, including shark and penguin feeding, a mermaid experience, and South Korea's largest shark habitat. While there, visit the incredible Starfield Library and take a break to read before heading back to your hotel.
Day 4: Korean Demilitarized Zone Tour
This morning, join your guide for a full-day tour beginning with a 30-mile (44 km) drive up to the border between South and North Korea, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Delve into the complex history and tensions between the "two Koreas" that characterize the area to this day and highlight the importance of peace. Your tour starts with a shuttle bus trip to the Third Infiltration Tunnel, an invasion tool dug by North Korea and discovered by South Korea in 1978 CE.
Next, you'll visit the Dora Observatory, where you can look through telescopes over North Korea and see sites, including the spooky Propaganda Village, People School, a statue of Kim Il Sung, and Geummamgol, a local cooperative farm. Be aware that clothing and camera regulations exist for this tour. Finally, gain insight into the history of the Korean War at the Imjingak Resort Unification Park, where you'll see the Freedom Bridge and an old, rusted steam train left from the war. Return with your guide to Seoul and spend your last evening relaxing at your hotel before your flight to Japan in the morning.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Fly to Tokyo (Japan), Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku
Welcome to Japan! Your 2.5-hour flight from Seoul lands in Tokyo, where you'll meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel. As Japan's capital and most populous city, Tokyo is all about the hustle and bustle, combining a decidedly urban vibe with a wealth of history and culture. The city is also known for its wide-ranging cuisine, and once you've checked into your hotel and had a chance to regroup, you'll meet up with a local guide for an evening food tour that explores the best of the city's gastronomy.
Visit the Shinjuku district, a hotspot for shopping, entertainment, and endless opportunities to sample Japanese cuisine. Wander with your guide and soak in the lively atmosphere, then visit a sushi restaurant for authentic omakase sushi prepared by the chef using fresh, seasonal ingredients right before your eyes.
Afterward, head to another spot for Wagyu beef yakiniku (thinly sliced and grilled meat), where you'll cook your own food tableside. Your guide will show you how to grill the meat so you can savor the delicate taste and textures. Wrap up your tour with dessert and drinks at a nearby dessert bar or snack restaurant, then return to your hotel to rest for tomorrow's adventures.
Day 6: Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple, Self-Guided Akihabara Exploration
Join your guide this morning for a full day exploring Tokyo's iconic landmarks, starting at the Meiji Jingu Shrine, built in 1920 CE. Step through the towering torii (gate) into the forested grounds and admire the ornate Japanese architecture. Continue your tour to the Tsukiji Outer Fish Market, a bustling hub with stalls offering seafood from sushi to grilled scallops. After the market, head to the Imperial Palace. Walk through the picturesque grounds, stopping at tea houses or bridges, including the famous double-arched Nijubashi Bridge.
Finally, visit Senso-ji, one of Tokyo's most significant Buddhist temples, built in the seventh century. Inside, stroll along the buzzing Nakamise-dori, lined with shops, until you reach the second gate, Hozomon. This gate leads to the temple's main hall and a five-story pagoda where you can pick up an omikuji (a Japanese fortune slip). At the end of your tour, return to your hotel and unwind.
End your day with a self-exploration of the vibrant Akihabara, known as "Electric Town," Japan's pop culture capital. Here, you can immerse yourself in the world of manga, animé, and gaming. Stroll through the streets, where you'll see neon-lit ads and enthusiastic cosplayers. Stop at the multistory Animate store to buy official merchandise, play games at GiGO Akihabara Building 3, and end the night at a maid café, where servers perform in elaborate costumes between serving your food and drinks.Day 7: Day Trip to Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi with Whisky Tasting
This morning, meet your driver and guide for a day trip to the Fuji Five Lakes region to see the iconic Mount Fuji. After two hours, you'll arrive at the famous Arakurayama Sengen Park. Ascend to the beautiful Chureito Pagoda perched on the hillside and surrounded by seasonal foliage, including cherry blossoms in spring. Enjoy panoramic views of the snowcapped mountain, then stroll around the eight ponds of Oshino Hakkai, created by snowmelt from the slopes of Mount Fuji itself.
In the afternoon, join your guide for a cruise on the picturesque lake Kawaguchi-ko. Pass charming lakeside villages with Mount Fuji as a backdrop reflected on the water. Or, savor the sights on the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway. Hop off at the observation deck under Mount Tenjo, which provides incredible panoramas of Fuji and the surrounding area. Finally, you'll stop at the Fuji Gotemba Distillery, which distills both malt and grain whiskies, to learn about the multiple stages of distilling and taste a glass of whisky before returning to Tokyo.
Day 8: Train to Kyoto, Tea Ceremony & Samurai Museum
Check out of your Tokyo hotel and catch a 2.5-hour bullet train to Kyoto, Japan's cultural capital. Overflowing with history and more traditional than its Tokyo counterpart, the pace of life is slower here, and the people tend to be more laid-back. This cultural powerhouse is known for its rich historical traditions, geisha entertainers, temples, gardens, and palaces.
Settle into your ryokan (traditional inn), then join your guide for a half-day tour to immerse yourself in the cultural sites of Kyoto. Begin with a traditional tea ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya, a historic townhouse in the Gion geisha district. When you arrive, change into a traditional kimono and learn about the Zen aspects of the ceremony, called sado or chanoyu. Sit down on a tatami mat, try some traditional Japanese sweets, and join in the ritual of matcha led by a knowledgeable tea master.
Day 9: Kyoto Highlights: Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari-taisha & Nishiki Market
Begin today with a full-day guided tour of Kyoto's top UNESCO World Heritage sites. Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and travel to Kinkaku-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple with a large golden pavilion. Walk the peaceful grounds here and visit the temple's two top floors, entirely covered in gold leaf. Then, head to the impressive Nijo Castle, built in 1603 CE for the first shogun of the Edo Period. Take in the grand design and beautiful decor, and roam the lovely garden with its elegant water features.
Then, join your guide for a tour of the famous Fushimi Inari-taisha, beginning with an enchanting hike through the 10,000 red torii gates. Follow the torii-lined route up to the observation deck for panoramic views of the gates and the surrounding forest. Walk back through the forest, discovering smaller shrines, moss-covered animal statues, and ancient stone tablets.
Having worked up an appetite after your tour, head to the 400-year-old Nishiki Ichiba Market. Mingle with the locals doing their food shopping as you walk among the 100 stalls crammed into this bustling, narrow street. Stop along the way to sample some of Kyoto's signature dishes, such as yu dofu (boiled tofu), nishin soba (noodles with dried herring), or delicious soy milk doughnuts.
Day 10: Bamboo Grove Rickshaw Tour with Monkey Park & Tenryu-ji Temple
Your guided tour of Kyoto continues with a drive to the scenic district of Arashiyama, located on the city's outskirts. Stroll through the verdant Sagano Bamboo Grove, a natural bamboo forest encompassing more than 3,800 acres (1,537 ha). Hop on a rickshaw to explore the paths and trails through the serene greenery of towering stalks as you discover gardens and shrines.
Then, cross the historic Togetsukyo Bridge, known as the "Moon Crossing Bridge," which ends at Iwatayama Monkey Park, home to a troop of over 100 wild Japanese macaques (snow monkeys). End your tour at the temple gardens of Tenryu-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of Kyoto's finest Zen temples, then return to your hotel in Kyoto.
Day 11: Train to Osaka, Osaka Castle & Shinsaibashi Tour, Dotonbori Food Experience
Meet your driver for a quick transfer to Kyoto's train station, where you'll board a 15-minute train to one of Japan's most vibrant cities, Osaka, often described as Tokyo's younger (and cooler) sibling. Today, your guide will help you tick off some of Osaka's famous sights, such as Osaka Castle and its blossom-filled grounds, on a half-day tour. Delve deep into Osaka's history at this striking landmark that bore witness to the bloody power struggles preceding the establishment of the Edo era in 1603 CE.
After exploring the castle, head to the vibrant Shinsaibashi Shopping District, which dates back 380 years and sells everything from kimonos to jewelry. Then, end the day with a self-guided street food tour of "Japan's Kitchen"—the lively Dotonbori (also the city's go-to area for entertainment). Sample conveyor-belt sushi and grilled crabs, then dive into a hot-pot experience. Try taiyaki (a fish-shaped dessert filled with sweet red bean paste), takoyaki (octopus balls), and okonomiyaki, a savory pancake.
Day 12: Depart Osaka
It's time to say goodbye to beautiful Japan. Depending on your departure time, you could take another quick stroll around the Dotonbori district or glimpse Osaka Castle from a different view before you head to Kansai International Airport. Safe travels, wherever the road takes you next!
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