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South Korea and Japan, 14 Days · Classic tour
From Seoul to Tokyo
A fascinating journey through Korea and Japan
Fancy joining us? Get ready because you're about to have the holiday of a lifetime... A spectacular tour through the most enticing places of South Korea and Japan: Seoul, the city that never ceases to amaze visitors, historical Gyeongju and the mythical Busan, from where we'll take a ferry over to Japan. We'll then head to Miyajima with its serene torii standing in the sea, Hiroshima with the Peace Memorial Park, Matsuyama with its thermal springs, Tokushima and Mt. Koya, one of the country's spiritual hearts. We'll also go to the always beautiful and tranquil Kyoto, and end up in the ever-intriguing Tokyo with its neon lights and shrines, and which has become a beacon at the vanguard of global development.
Ready for it?
Departure date
Departures from December 2024 till March 2025
From
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow...
Travel details
City of origin - Seoul
Departure with destination Seoul. Night on board.
Seoul
Arrival in Seoul and transfer to hotel by public transport. Welcome from our guide. Late in the afternoon, we'll head out with our guide to explore the capital of this fascinating country, travelling on the modern and efficient underground system to see the tsunami-shaped City Hall. Opposite is the Deoksugung Palace, which is lit up at night, meaning we can admire ultra-modern and traditional Korea in the same place. We'll then stroll over to the Myeongdong district, the liveliest and biggest shopping area in the whole of Korea and whose name means 'bright tunnel'. Dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation.
Seoul
Breakfast. Today includes a five-hour sightseeing tour of Seoul. We'll visit Changdeokgung Palace, a complex built within an enormous park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.After that, we'll wander around Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional historical village dotted with pocket-sized houses. Next stop will be Gyeongbokgung Palace, an impressive 600-year-old building where we'll hopefully get to see the changing of the guard ceremony. Later on, we'll visit the War Memorial. This intriguing museum describes the conflicts that have taken place in Korea throughout the course of history, with a particular focus on the Korean War, which involved troops from several United Nations member states. And our final stop will be at Lotte World Tower, a striking 550-metre-high building that we'll have time to climb, or we can take a walk through the nearby park and shopping area. Lunch at a local restaurant included. Rest of the day at leisure and overnight stay in Seoul.
Seoul - Suwon - Jeonju
Breakfast. Today, we'll get to know Gyeongbokgung Palace, an impressive palace with six hundred years of history, where we'll attend - if it takes place - the changing of the guard ceremony. We'll then leave Seoul towards to south of the country. First stop will be Suwon, the former capital of Korea, famous for its impressive walls that enjoy World Heritage status. We'll also see the impressive wall with its fortifications and then visit Hwaseong Haenggung, the summer palace. Lunch included. Onward journey to Jeonju and see its fascinating historic centre (Hanok Village), with all its houses, traditional shops, and art galleries.
Jeonju - Haeinsa - Daegu - Busan
Breakfast. Amongst stunning landscapes of mountains carpeted in forests, we'll arrive at Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple constructed in the year 802 and home to the Tripitaka, the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, recorded on 80,000 wooden blocks. We'll visit the temple and the Tripitaka museum. We'll then continue to Daegu, where we'll explore the traditional medicine market with its different herbs and the Museum of Oriental Medicine. Lunch included. Onward journey to Busan. This is the fast-paced second city of South Korea. On arrival, we'll stop at the fantastic Doosan Haeundae complex, with its skyscrapers over three hundred metres tall and its marina. Accommodation.
Busan - Haedong Yonggung - Busan - Shimonoseki
Breakfast. Morning departure from Busan to visit the fourteenth-century Haedong Yonggung Buddhist temple by the sea. Return journey to Busan. We'll visit the United Nations Memorial, with its cemetery where people from many countries are buried. We'll then head to the country's largest fish market, near the port of Nampo. Lunch included. Later, we'll stroll from there to Yongdusan Park, home to an immense pagoda of 120 metres. Transfer to the port to carry out boarding procedures (Note: Latest check-in for the ferry is 5.30 pm). Expected departure from Busan at 9.00 pm, crossing the Sea of Japan. Night on board the ferry in double cabins with bathroom. Note: Due to the limited capacity of double cabins on the ferry, we'll sometimes take a fast ferry departing from Busan at 3.00 pm and arriving in Fukuoka at about 6.30 pm (border crossing, time at leisure in Fukuoka, and overnight stay).
Shimonoseki - Iwakuni - Itsukushima - Hiroshima
At 8.00 am, we'll dock in the port of Shimonoseki and officially cross the border. Once in Japan, we'll set off for Iwakuni, a small city where we'll cross the Kintai-Kyo Bridge. Onward journey to Miyajima, which we'll reach by ferry. Miyajima is a sacred island 'where men and gods live'. It's home to the shrine of Itsukushima, dedicated to the guardian of the seas and built partially on the waters of the bay. After this, we'll drive to Hiroshima, the city sadly known for the atomic bombing of 6 August 1945. We'll stroll through Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where we can see the Atomic Bomb Dome and visit the museum. Dinner and overnight stay in Hiroshima.
Hiroshima - Matsuyama
Breakfast. Today we take a ferry to the island of Shikoku, a pleasant journey of about two and a half hours. In Matsuyama, we'll take a cable car up to its magnificent castle. Afterwards, we'll visit Ishiteji, a stunning Buddhist temple and place of pilgrimage. Lunch at a local restaurant. We will end our afternoon in Dogo Onsen, a traditional Japanese hot spring built in the 19th century. Accommodation.
Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe
Breakfast. We'll set off for Kotohira, the site of a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of sailors and a place of pilgrimage. Built atop Mount Zozu, we'll get there by climbing 785 steps. Later on in Takamatsu, we'll head over to Ritsurin Garden, one of the most beautiful in Japan. Lunch at a local restaurant. Once in Naruto, where an impressive bridge crosses the sea, we'll stop to learn about its construction and step out onto its glass walkway, taking in the dramatic whirlpools in the sea below from a height of forty-five metres. Afterwards, having driven across huge bridges from island to island, we'll arrive in Kobe. Accommodation.
Kobe - Osaka - Mount Koya
Breakfast. We'll leave first thing in the morning and travel along a pretty motorway that includes enormous bridges spanning the sea. In Kobe we visit the Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum, which serves as a memorial to the tragic earthquake that devastated the city in 1995 and a record of its impeccable reconstruction. After passing through Osaka, time at leisure. Departure at 1.00 pm towards the sacred Mount Koya, the most important centre of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. This mountain, a place of pilgrimage and magic, boasts 120 temples and monasteries. We'll visit the Okuno Mausoleum, a spiritual site and a vast cemetery surrounded by nature that is home to over 200,000 tombs. We'll then visit the Kongobuji Temple, built in 1593. We will also visit the temple of Kongobuji, which was built in 1593. We'll then spend the night in a Buddhist monastery, where the monks will give us a lesson in Zen meditation (Ajikan). Evening meal included (vegetarian). If we wish, we can attend the religious ceremony of the temple at dawn. Note: Due to the shorter daylight hours in winter, there will not be enough time to enter the Kongobuji Temple.
Mount Koya - Kyoto
Japanese breakfast at the temple. Early morning departure to Kyoto. We'll have all day to spend in the city that was the capital of Japan from 794-1868, when the seat of the Imperial Court was located there. This was the only major Japanese city that escaped bombing in the Second World War, and has therefore retained its rich artistic heritage. What's more, the Kyoto Protocol, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, was signed here in 1997. We'll also get to see the main sights in the city. We'll visit the wonderful Shinto shrine of Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace, and the Kinkakuji Temple, better known as the Golden Pavilion, with its truly magnificent gardens. After that, we'll take a stroll through Gion, the city's most traditional neighbourhood and where, if we're lucky, we might spot some elusive geishas. Free time. Accommodation.
Kyoto - Tokyo
After breakfast, we'll head back to Tokyo by bullet train. Our train will leave early. We'll cover the five hundred kilometres between the two cities in little over two hours. Arrival in Tokyo. Late in the afternoon, we'll head out to explore this fascinating city by taking the underground (tickets included) to the Shinjuku area. We'll be able to see the sheer number of people who use this ultramodern and efficient public transport system, and we'll also soon discover that Shinjuku is one of the liveliest places to visit at night. We'll head up the Metropolitan Government Building to marvel at the breathtaking city views from its 46th-floor observation deck. Dinner at a local restaurant included. Return to hotel. Accommodation. Note: This transfer make take place the night of arrival in Tokyo or after the panoramic visit the following day.
Tokyo
Breakfast. In the morning, we'll set out on a five-hour tour of this impressive city with our guide. The city's frenetic activity and ultramodern neighbourhoods stand alongside in perfect harmony with fantastically peaceful areas. We start with a brief stop at the Zojoji Temple to take a good photo of the Tokyo Tower. This temple is home to hundreds of jizo statues (stone deities that act as guardians of children), to which knitted hats, bibs and windmills are given. We will then go to the famous Shibuya crossing, the busiest crosswalk on the planet. We'll pay a visit to the Meiji Shinto shrine, which is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife. We'll then head on to the lively Harajuku neighbourhood, where we'll find some of the most dramatic street fashion in the city, with shops and boutiques displaying the most eccentric styles. From there we continue with our bus through the elegant Omotesando Avenue, which serves as an important commercial hub. We will skirt the Imperial Palace and its gardens and make a stop to visit the famous Nijubashi Bridge. Afterwards, we'll cross through the Akihabara district, known as Electronics City and the centre of Japanese manga and anime. Later, we'll pass by the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium, the sport of sports in Japan. We'll also pay a visit to the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo with its 55-metre-high pagoda, and the Nakamise Shopping Street, full of cute stalls ideal for picking up some souvenirs. Lunch at a local restaurant included. Afternoon at leisure. Accommodation.
Tokyo - City of origin
Breakfast. Free time until the agreed time for the transfer to the airport. Flight with destination the city of origin. Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
Your trip includes
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Return flight.
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Overnight stay in the listed hotels, or similar.
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Ferry segments and High-speed train, as per itinerary
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Transport in vehicles appropriate to the size of the group.
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Transfers according to the itinerary.
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Regular tours mentioned in the itinerary, not stated as optional.
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Bilingual Spanish- and English-speaking local guides.
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Transport for 1 suitcase of standard dimensions up to 30 kg per person.
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Diet: 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 4 dinners.
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Insolvency protection.
Your trip doesn't include
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Any other service not previously mentioned as included.
Destinations Visited
Expected Hotels (or similar)
In this section you will find a selection of hotels according to the category specified in the itinerary.
Flight
Overnight stay on board.
Important remarks
- Triple rooms in South Korea are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in South Korea.
- Depending on the return flight, the trip may be one day longer.
- Check-in time at the hotel on the day of arrival depends on each establishment, but in no case will it be before 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.
- The Samsung Innovation Museum visit is not always guaranteed; if it isn't possible, we'll visit the Samsung D'Light exhibition centre in Seoul instead.
- Due to the shorter daylight hours in winter, there is not enough time to enter the Kongobuji temple.
- Sleeping in a monastery is an experience of great experiential value. The existing rooms are simple, without private bathrooms and designed in a traditional Japanese style with tatami mats. In addition, the dinner is vegetarian.
- Due to high hotel occupancy and limited availability in some seasons, hotels selected may be different from those mentioned.
- To make it easier to meet up with the transfer staff, we will need your mobile phone number.
- Triple rooms in Japan are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in Japan.
- In Japan double beds are not common. If you want to have rooms with double beds during your trip, you must let us know in advance. We will do everything possible so that you can enjoy them, but we can not guarantee their use in advance in any case; They will always be subject to availability upon arrival at each of the hotels. Individual rooms may be, in some cases, smaller than the double rooms.
- In general, people with tattoos are not accepted in the onsen for cultural reasons. If they're small tattoos, they could be covered with a plaster, but access isn't guaranteed if the tattoos are large.
- The order of the itinerary may be altered for logistical reasons, without prior notice, but no scheduled trips will be cancelled (except in the case that adverse weather conditions prevent its realisation).
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Prices are calculated based on admission fees to the sights as of the date of publication. If there is an increase in these prices, you will be promptly informed.
- If you are a person with reduced mobility, please contact us to confirm the suitability of the trip.
- Consult the necessary documentation to enter the destinations visited and for transit in the countries where air stopovers are made.