Two of the world’s oldest civilisations, Japan and South Korea are an effortless blend of East and West, combining ancient traditions with dazzling modernity. And now is the perfect time to discover each country’s rich and unique culture with this outstanding 18-day package.
After landing in Tokyo, marvel at the city's world-famous landmarks, including the Tsukiji Outer Market and Meiji Shrine, on a sightseeing tour before taking in the scenery of Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko. Visit Japan's diverse countryside, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shirakawa-go region and explore the cultural and food capitals of Kyoto and Osaka.
Fly over to South Korea to uncover the temples, markets and villages of beautiful Busan and historical Gyeongju, home to countless ruins and artefacts. Whet your appetite in Jeonju, a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy and finish with a tour of the country’s cutting-edge capital, Seoul, renowned for its incredible fashion, innovation, street food and modern architecture juxtaposed with age-old temples and palaces.
With return international and one additional flight, 16 nights of accommodation, 16 meals and more, don’t miss your chance to discover two captivating destinations.
Today fly from Australia (or New Zealand) to one of the most captivating cities in the world - Tokyo, Japan. Upon arrival be transferred to your hotel in Tokyo.
Please note: Due to flight scheduling and availability, some departures may occur on Day 0. Affected customers must be at the airport the day before. Flight times will be indicated on your final documentation which you will receive 4-6 weeks prior to departure.
Overnight: Hotel Mystays Tachikawa, Tokyo (or similar)
Meals included: In-Flight
This morning enjoy an introductory tour of Tokyo, including a visit to Tsukiji Outer Market, where you can encounter many kinds of traditional Japanese cuisine.
Next, visit the stunning Meiji Shrine - a Shinto religious site that was dedicated to the Imperial Family in 1926. Walk among the serene gardens that surround the shrine as you learn details about its importance from your guide.
Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore this fascinating city.
Overnight: Hotel Mystays Tachikawa, Tokyo (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Today is free at leisure to explore Tokyo or take advantage of an optional tour.
Optional Activity: Tokyo Sightseeing Tour - 9,500 JPY (approximately $105 AUD)
Today head out on an optional sightseeing tour of this amazing city. Your Tokyo tour starts with a visit to Senso-ji Temple, a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo's most colourful and popular temples. Legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.
Afterwards, continue onwards to Asakusa for a glimpse of Old Tokyo and a visit to the craft shops along Nakamise Street. Asakusa (浅草) is the centre of Tokyo's shitamachi (literally 'low city'), one of Tokyo's districts, where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades survives.
Lastly, visit Tokyo Tower where you can view the city from the tower's observation deck. At 332.9 metres, it is the second-tallest structure in Japan.
Overnight: Hotel Mystays Tachikawa, Tokyo (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, today's drive of 225 kilometres will take you to Mt Fuji’s 5th Station. Located 2300 metres above sea level, it offers a commanding view of the Fuji Five Lakes area below, making it a popular spot even for those who do not intend on climbing the mountain, and features shrines, torii gates and souvenir shops.
Afterwards continue onwards to Lake Kawaguchiko in Southeastern Yamanashi to admire the scenery as you enjoy a short cruise across the lake. The waters are overlooked by surrounding mountains, including Mt Fuji and Mt Komagatake.
Arrive in Nagano region this afternoon, check into the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Route-Inn Suwa Inter, Nagano (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Today is a fun day to visit the countryside of Japan and see how local people live. Cover 286 kilometres during the drive to Shirakawa-go which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in 1995. The area is famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.
Lastly, visit Takayama Old Town and walk along Sannomachi Street, which survives in a particularly pretty state with many old homes, shops, and restaurants.
Finish the day in Gifu where you will check into your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Resol Gifu, Gifu (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning, depart the Gifu region for Kyoto, 184 kilometres away. Upon arrival, enjoy some free time to explore the ancient capital, or take the opportunity to join an optional tour of Kyoto (not included).
Leave Kyoto at around 17:00 to travel onwards to Osaka.
Optional Kyoto Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: 5,500 JPY (approximately $60 AUD)
The tour includes a stop at Fushimi Inari Shrine, an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It’s famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings.
The tour continues with a visit to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), a Zen temple in northern Kyoto which has gold leaf covered floors on the top two floors.
The last stop of the tour is the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, one of Kyoto's top sights and for a good reason: standing amid these soaring stalks of bamboo is like being in another world.
Overnight: Hotel Sobial Osaka Dome, Osaka (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Today you can relax at the hotel or take part in an optional tour to Hiroshima (not included).
Optional Hiroshima Day Trip: 50,000 JPY (approximately $540 AUD)
This morning transfer to Shin-Osaka train station, where your bullet train awaits. Climb aboard and marvel at the train’s incredible velocity during a two-hour ride to Hiroshima.
On arrival, continue the journey to Miyajimaguchi by coach or train, then board a boat travelling to the majestic Miyajima Island, otherwise known as Itsukushima, or Divine Island.
A landmass hailed as one of Japan’s most beautiful landscapes, discover the natural and cultural treasures of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Island for 45-minutes with your guide. See the shimmering Itsukushima Shrine then revitalise with a delicious lunch in a local eatery (not included).
Cruise back to Hiroshima to reflect on the history of the region. Take a moment of contemplation at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a historical site near to where the atomic bomb exploded. See exhibitions that articulate the destruction the bomb caused and marvel at the city’s regenerative recovery. Finally, board a bus to the Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome), a skeletal structure that miraculously survived the 1945 attack.
Return to the train station for the exhilarating return journey to Osaka on the bullet train, where the tour concludes.
Overnight: Hotel Sobial Osaka Dome, Osaka (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Today is a free day to explore Osaka at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Sobial Osaka Dome, Osaka (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Today at the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Busan, South Korea. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Please note: This flight is approximately 1.5 hours long and does not include meals.
Overnight: Asti Hotel or similar, Busan
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning you will enjoy a sightseeing tour of Busan.
Start by visiting the Yongdusan Dragon Head Park – it is called Yongdusan because the shape of the mountain resembles a dragon’s head emerging from the sea.
Then go to the iconic Busan Tower, a 120-metre high structure that provides a stunning bird’s eye view of the entire city of Busan, including islands and ships dotted in the distant seas.
From there visit the Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest of its kind in Korea and a popular 'must-see' site for tourists in Busan.
Afterward, travel to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, situated on the coast of the northeastern portion of Busan. This superb attraction offers visitors the rare find of a temple along the shoreline (most temples in Korea are located in the mountains).
Next, continue onwards to the Instagram-famous Gamcheon Culture Village. The village is formed by houses built in staircase fashion on the foothills of a coastal mountain, earning the nickname 'Machu Picchu of Busan'. Many alleys that cut through this community are vibrantly decorated with murals and sculptures created by the residents.
Finish the day back at your accommodation where you may enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Asti Hotel or similar, Busan
Meals included: Breakfast
Today is a free day at leisure to explore the beautiful city of Busan.
A popular option is for customers to join the Busan City Tour Bus, which takes travellers to a variety of locations of interest all across the city and will pick you up and drop you off at a station right near your hotel.
Overnight: Asti Hotel or similar, Busan
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning transfer to Gyeongju, the century-old historical Gyeongju City and 1,000-year-old capital of the Silla Dynasty. The Gyeongju Historic Areas were designated a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in 2000. The protected areas encompass the ruins of temples and palaces, outdoor pagodas and statuary, as well as other cultural artifacts left by the Silla Kingdom. The historic areas are also known as one of the largest outdoor museums in the world.
Start your city tour from Bulguksa temple, also known as 'The Buddhist Country Temple'. Alongside the neighboring Seokguram Grotto Hermitage, Bulguksa Temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in 1995. Lastly, visit Daereungwon, also known as Tumuli Park which has more than 20 large and small tombs from the Silla Period. Pass by Chomsongdae Observatory, constructed as the lunar calendar, and Tumuli park exhibiting the Royal tombs.
In the afternoon you will proceed to the celebrated village of Jeonju, an important tourist centre that is famous for its Korean food and historic traditional buildings. In May 2012, Jeonju was chosen as a Creative City for Gastronomy as part of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network. This honour recognises the city's traditional home cooking handed down through generations over thousands of years, its active public and private food research, its system for nurturing talented chefs, and its hosting of distinctive local food festivals. Jeonju is the birthplace of Bibimbap (rice with vegetables & meat). In 2011, it was ranked 40th on the world's 50 most delicious foods readers' poll compiled by CNN Travel. We highly recommend you enjoy excellent Bibimbap food during your stay (not included). Check into your accommodation on arrival.
Overnight: Best Western Plus Jeonju Hotel or similar, Jeonju
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, enjoy a walking tour of the Gyeonggijeon pavilion, the symbol of Jeonju’s Korean-style village. Gyeonggijeon is especially beautiful in the autumn. Historical dramas and movies use the surrounding landscape as a background.
Afterwards, proceed to the Traditional Wine Museum. Here, visitors can see the tools and machines used in the making of alcohol, and get a closer look at the different types of traditional Korean wine. Some of the most interesting displays at the museum are the alcohol preparation room and the fermentation room, where visitors can hear the amplified sounds of the fermentation process through loudspeakers.
Afterwards, visit Jaman Mural Village, situated on the hillside next to the Jeonju Hanok Village. Jaman Village used to be one of Jeonju’s poor hillside villages or shantytowns. Now, thanks to the murals drawn by the talented local artists, Jaman Village, or ‘Jaman Mural Village,’ has become one of the most popular attractions in Jeonju.
Finish the day at your centrally located hotel where you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Best Western Plus Jeonju Hotel or similar, Jeonju
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning visit the Hanji Industry Center (Korean traditional mulberry paper). As Korea’s first center specialising in paper, it has an extensive collection of 3000 artifacts and a database documenting the long history and superiority of Hanji.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to make Korean paper with wooden tools and bring it back home.
Afterwards, take a tour of Jeonju Hanok, the largest Korean village with various traditional cultural facilities in the downtown area. The tour will then depart for Seoul, South Korea’s bustling capital. Your accommodation is located in Insadong, the heart of the city, and one of the cultural and artistic hubs of Seoul. There is one main road in Insadong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, teahouses, and cafes.
The galleries are the heartbeat of Insadong. There are hundreds of them in the area offering every example of traditional Korean fine art, from paintings to sculptures. The most famous are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the centre of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Centre. The teahouses and restaurants are the perfect complement to the galleries. They are hidden deep within the twisting alleyways, making it feel like a treasure hunt. The shops in Insadong are very popular among all age groups providing a unique experience for every taste.
Overnight: Ibis Ambassador Hotel or similar, Insadong, Seoul
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning begin a Seoul city tour at the beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace to experience the most representative edifices of the Joseon Dynasty (more than 500 years old).
Afterwards, visit the National Folk Museum to learn about the country's unique culture and how Koreans used to live in the olden days.
Continuing onwards, enjoy a quick stop to witness the Traditional Royal Guard Changing Ceremony and the Presidential Blue House before arriving at the famous Bukchon Hanok Village.
Bukchon Hanok Village is a Korean traditional village in Seoul with a long history, located on the top of a hill between Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace and Jongmyo Royal Shrine. The traditional village is composed of many alleys and hanoks, preserved to showcase its 600-year-old urban environment. Here you will enjoy a guided walk and marvel at beautiful traditional homes.
After visiting the Bukchon Hanok village, you will enjoy a traditional Korean lunch where you will have the opportunity to try many dishes (vegetarian and vegan options available).
Finish the day with some time at leisure at the Dongdaemun open market, the largest of its kind in the Orient. Dongdaemun Market is a large commercial district of traditional markets and shopping centres that covers the entire area around Dongdaemun Gate, a prominent landmark in Korea. It is Korea’s largest wholesale and retail shopping district, featuring 26 shopping malls, 30000 specialty shops and 50000 manufacturers.
Return to your accommodation, where you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Ibis Ambassador Hotel or similar, Insadong, Seoul
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch
Today is a free day to explore Seoul at leisure or join the below optional tour (not included).
Optional Tour: Korean DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) Tour ($130 per person)
Nowhere is the tension between North and South Korea more palpable than in the no-man's-land known as the Korean Demilitarised Zone, or DMZ. Located on each side of the 38th parallel, this infamous border was established at the end of the war in 1953 at the signing of Panmunjom’s armistice in order to separate North and South Korea.
This morning head north towards the North Korean border. Upon arrival at the DMZ take the gondola to give a perfect bird's eye view of the Demilitarized Zone. Then enjoy a tour of Imjingak Resort, featuring various war-related artefacts as well as the spacious Pyeonghwa Nuri Park. The resort preserves the Freedom Bridge and Imjingang rail bridge from the Korean War to remind people of the past, along with a Memorial Hall, monuments, the Bell of Unification, Last Train Out, The Bridge of No Return, and recreational areas.
Afterwards, you will proceed through passport security control and enjoy a short introduction at the United Nations camp. Then visit Dora Observatory which is on the South Korean side of the 38th parallel. Situated on top of Dorasan in Paju, the observatory provides scenic views across the Demilitarised Zone. Visitors can see the North Korean territory through binoculars from the 304 square feet, 500-person capacity observatory. Continue onwards to Dorasan railway station which used to connect North Korea and South Korea and has since been restored. Afterwards discover Imjingak Park with the Memorial, the Liberty Bridge, and the Bell of unification.
Finish the day back in Seoul where you will enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Ibis Ambassador Hotel or similar, Insadong, Seoul
Meals included: Breakfast
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home.
Please note: Only one group airport transfer is included in this package, and, for this reason some travellers may have more time at Incheon Airport before their departure flight than others, depending on their flight time. Fortunately, Incheon Airport is constantly voted one of the best in the world and can provide hours of entertainment amongst its various shops, golf course, ice skating rink, gardens, casino and a lot more! Luggage storage options are also available at the airport.
Please note: If you have an evening transfer, you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception after check in and prior to your departure.
Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight
Please note: Some flights may depart Seoul on day 18 and arrive on day 18