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South Korea and Japan, 15 Days · Classic tour
From Seoul to Tokyo
From
£4,418
-3%
£4,290
Departure on 28/06/2025 from London
A fascinating journey through Korea and Japan
Fancy going on a trip? Get ready for the holiday of a lifetime... A spectacular tour of South Korea and Japan's most evocative places. Seoul, the city that wows its visitors, historic Jeonju and mythical Busan, where we catch a ferry to Japan, then on to Miyajima and its serene torii on the sea, Hiroshima and its Peace Park, Matsuyama and its hot springs, Mt. Koya, one of the spiritual hearts of the country, the always beautiful and serene Kyoto and, finally, Tokyo, the most evocative with its neon lights and shrines and a reference point for cutting edge developments.
Ready for it?
Departure date
Departures from April 2025 till December 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. Rest of the day free. Accommodation.
Seoul - DMZ - Seoul
Breakfast. Early departure for the Cheorwon region and its section of the DMZ, the demilitarised zone that marks the separation between the two Koreas. We explore the Second Tunnel, secretly dug by the northern army and discovered in 1975. We then drive to the Cheorwon Peace Observatory, which offers a panoramic view of the DMZ and the first villages of North Korea. Inside there is a small museum about the war between the two Koreas. The tour continues with a visit to the disused Woljeong-ri railway station. We will also visit the memorial of the Battle of Baek ma, which tells of the intervention of a French UN battalion during the fighting. Lunch included. Lastly, we visit a place where the typical Korean rice liquor ‘makgeolli’ is made. Return journey to Seoul. Once in the city, we head to City Hall to see this tsunami-shaped building. 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. Return to the hotel by metro. Accommodation. Please note: it is essential to bring your passport when visiting the DMZ. The DMZ is a militarised zone that could be closed without warning, in which case an alternative route would be taken.
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. 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. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to the Gangnam district, one of the busiest areas of the city, where there are numerous shopping and entertainment centres. Our last stop is at the Lotte World Tower, an impressive 550-metre high building, where we'll have free time to go up (entrance fee not included) or stroll through the park and shopping malls in the area. Rest of the day free. Accommodation.
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. From the bus you can also see the impressive city 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. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation.
Jeonju - Damyang - Haeinsa - Busan
Breakfast. Visit to the village of Sunchang Gochujang. This traditional village is located at the foot of Amisan Mountain, with its hanok and courtyards filled with clay pots, known as ‘hang-a-ri’. It is home to the skilled artisans of gochujang, a Korean chilli paste. Enjoy the experience of learning how this traditional sauce is prepared. Later we head to Damyang, where we visit the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest, whose paths have been declared the most beautiful in the country, perfect for quiet meditation and taking in a cool breeze. You can find all kinds of products made from this tree, which is studied and venerated in centres such as the Bamboo Museum. Lunch is included, during which we will sample the traditional rice served and cooked on a bamboo stalk. 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. Onward journey to Busan. This is the fast-paced second city of South Korea. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation. Please note: comfortable shoes are recommended for walking to the entrance of Haeinsa Temple.
Busan - Shimonoseki
Breakfast. Morning departure from Busan to visit Haedong Yonggung, a fourteenth-century Buddhist temple by the sea. Return journey to Busan. We visit the United Nations Memorial and 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. Afterwards, we walk to Yongdusan Park, where there is a huge 120-metre pagoda. Transfer to the port to complete boarding procedures. The time limit for check-in is 5.30 p.m. Departure is scheduled at 9.00 p.m. Overnight ferry across the Sea of Japan, in double cabins with en-suite facilities. Some cabins may be in traditional Japanese style with tatami mats. Please note: it is possible that the crossing to Japan may be by fast ferry or plane to Fukuoka. In that case, the visit to Haedong Yonggung Temple would take place the day before and the night on board the ferry would be exchanged for a night in a hotel in Fukuoka.
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 included. Return journey to the hotel. Accommodation. Please note: if the total number of passengers in the group is 9 or fewer, the section from Shimonoseki to Hiroshima could be covered by high-speed train. In this case, the stop at Iwakuni would be removed and the order of the visits to Miyajima and Hiroshima would be reversed.
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 included. 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 included. 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 - Mount Koya
Breakfast. 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, we drive to the sacred mountain of Koya, the most important centre of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. This mountain is a place of pilgrimage and magic and is home to 120 temples and monasteries. We visit the Okuno Mausoleum, a spiritual place and an immense natural cemetery with more than 200,000 graves. We also visit the Kongobuji Temple, which was 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). Vegetarian dinner included. If we wish, we can attend the religious ceremony of the temple at dawn. Please note: Due to the shorter daylight hours in winter, there may not be enough time to enter the Kongobuji Temple. We cannot guarantee the meditation practice on busy tourist dates. The capacity of the shukubos is limited, so it may be replaced by a hotel in a nearby location.
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. Kyoto is the only major Japanese city that was not bombed during World War II. For this reason, it retains a rich artistic heritage. The Kyoto Protocol, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, was signed here in 1997. We'll also see the city's main tourist attractions. 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 catch a glimpse of the elusive geishas. Free time. Return to the hotel on your own. Accommodation.
Kyoto - Tokyo
Breakfast. 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. Free time. Accommodation.
Tokyo
Breakfast. We dedicate the morning to an extended, five-hour tour of this impressive city, accompanied by our guide. The frenetic buzz and ultramodern neighbourhoods of the city coexist in harmony with fantastically peaceful areas. We start with a brief stop at the Zojoji Temple to take a good photo of the Tokyo Tower. In this temple hundreds of jizo statues stand out, serving as guardian stone deities of children, to whom wool hats, bibs and windmills are given as offerings. 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. 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. We will cross the neighbourhood of Akihabara, known as the city of electronics and the home of manga and Japanese anime; we then pass by the Kokugikan, the Sumo stadium, the king of Japanese sport. We will also pay a visit to the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, also known as Asakusa Kannon, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo with its 55-metre-high pagoda, and the Nakamise Shopping Street, full of small stalls ideal for buying souvenirs. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return journey to the hotel. In the evening, we'll meet our guide for a metro ride to Shinjuku, where we'll head to a local restaurant to enjoy dinner. Return journey to the hotel. Accommodation. Please note: if the total number of passengers in the group is 5 or fewer, the city tour will be carried out by hop-on, hop-off tourist bus.
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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Ferry crossings as per the itinerary.
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Train sections as per the itinerary.
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Overnight stay in the listed hotels, or similar.
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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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Visits on regular tours that are mentioned and not listed as optional.
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Bilingual Spanish- and English-speaking local guides.
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Transport of 1 suitcase of standard dimensions up to 30 kg per person.
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Diet: 12 breakfasts, 8 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.
- It is essential to bring your passport when visiting the DMZ. The DMZ is a militarised zone that could be closed without warning, in which case an alternative route would be taken.
- It is possible that the crossing to Japan may be by fast ferry or plane to Fukuoka. In that case, the visit to Haedong Yonggung Temple would take place the day before and the night on board the ferry would be exchanged for a night in a hotel in Fukuoka.
- If the total number of passengers in the group is 9 or fewer, the section from Shimonoseki to Hiroshima could be covered by high-speed train. In this case, the stop at Iwakuni would be removed and the order of the visits to Miyajima and Hiroshima would be reversed.
- 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 the shorter daylight hours in winter, there may not be enough time to enter the Kongobuji Temple. We cannot guarantee the meditation practice on busy tourist dates. The capacity of the shukubos is limited, so it may be replaced by a hotel in a nearby location.
- If the total number of passengers in the group is 5 or fewer, the city tour in Tokyo will be carried out by hop-on, hop-off tourist bus.
- 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.
- If your reservation includes accommodation in a ryokan, please note that it may have a traditional setup with futons or a semi-western setup with beds, depending on the ryokan.
- 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.