10-Day Wonders of Korea and Japan Tour: Seoul, Busan, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka | Changdeokgung Palace, Bulguksa Temple, Tokyo Skytree, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Todaiji

What you'll experience

Highlights

10 days

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 — Seoul

   Welcome to Korea! You'll be transferred to your hotel and have some free time. In the afternoon, you'll receive information about the start of your tour.
   
   * Note: All mentioned hotels below are for your reference only, you might also check-in other same-level hotels.

   Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Mercure ambassador hongdae(Yanghwa-ro, 144 Mapo-gu, Seoul, Corea del Sur)
2. 2

   Day 2 — Seoul - Busan

   Total distance covered: 395 km (by high-speed train)
   
   08:30 a.m. – Today we include an extensive sightseeing tour of Seoul lasting approximately five hours. We will visit Changdeokgung Palace (admission included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a complex of palaces set within a large park. Afterwards, we will stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional historic neighborhood of small houses. We then visit the War Memorial of Korea (admission included), an impressive war museum that illustrates the conflicts experienced in Korea throughout history, especially the Korean War, in which soldiers from many countries participated under the United Nations.
   
   * Note on Bukchon Hanok Village: Due to regulations established to protect the residential environment, we are only allowed to park in designated areas and must complete an approximate 900-meter walk to reach this historic neighborhood. For operational reasons, this visit may be replaced by Namsangol Hanok Village, also featuring traditional Korean architecture, while still guaranteeing the cultural content planned in the itinerary.
   
   13:00 p.m. – Lunch included at a local restaurant.
   
   14:00 p.m. – We continue to the Gangnam District, one of the city's busiest areas, home to numerous shopping and entertainment centers. To conclude the day, we stop at Lotte World Tower, an impressive 550-meter-tall building, where you will have free time to go up the tower (admission not included) or to stroll through its park or luxury shopping areas.
   
   16:30 p.m. – Departure to the train station to board the high-speed train (included). After approximately three hours of travel, we arrive in Busan. Arrival, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay.

   

   Changdeokgung Palace

   

   War Memorial of Korea

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Ramada encore busan station(10 Jungang-daero 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, Corea del Sur)
3. 3

   Day 3 — Busan - Haedong Yonggung - Songdo - Gamcheon Culture Village - Busan

   Total distance covered: 85 km
   
   * Note: We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes for the walk to the entrance of Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and for strolling through Gamcheon Cultural Village.
   
   08:30 a.m. – Departure from Busan.
   09:15 a.m. – Arrival at Haedong Yonggungsa. Visit of this 14th-century Buddhist temple located on the coastal cliffs of Busan. Along the main access path to the temple, there is a row of stone statues representing the twelve figures of the Chinese zodiac, which, according to Eastern philosophy, are considered guardian deities.
   
   10:15 a.m. – Departure from Haedong Yonggungsa.
   11:15 a.m. – Arrival in Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea, and city tour. We will visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (entrance included), where people from many different countries are buried. We will then head to the largest fish market in the country, located next to Nampo Port. Lunch included at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we walk to Yongdusan Park, home to its impressive 120-meter pagoda.
   
   14:30 p.m. – Departure to Songdo Beach, which features the country's first maritime cable car (included, subject to weather conditions), offering spectacular views of the bay. We then continue to one of Busan's most picturesque neighborhoods, Gamcheon Cultural Village, filled with brightly colored buildings, labyrinth-like alleyways, art galleries, pottery workshops, and charming cafés.
   
   18:45 p.m. – Departure from Gamcheon Cultural Village. Return to Busan.
   19:15 p.m. – Arrival at the hotel in Busan. Overnight stay.

   

   United Nations Memorial Cemetery

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Ramada encore busan station(10 Jungang-daero 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, Corea del Sur)
4. 4

   Day 4 — Busan - Seokguram Buddhist Grotto - Bulguksa Temple - Gyeongju - Daegu

   Total distance covered: 225 km
   Scenery: We travel through beautiful forest landscapes.
   
   08:00 a.m. – Departure from Busan.
   10:00 a.m. – Arrival at Seokguram. Visit to this Buddhist Grotto (entrance included), an artificial cave carved into the rock in the 8th century and located on the slopes of Mount Tohamsan. It houses a monumental stone statue of Buddha facing the sea.
   
   11:00 a.m. – Departure from Seokguram.
   11:30 a.m. – Arrival at Bulguksa Temple (entrance included). Visit to this temple, considered one of the most beautiful in the country and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The temple houses seven National Treasures of Korea and is a masterpiece from the height of Buddhism during the ancient Silla Kingdom.
   
   12:15 p.m. – Departure from Bulguksa Temple.
   13:00 p.m. – Arrival in Gyeongju. Visit to this coastal city, the former capital of the Silla Kingdom, which lasted longer than any other dynasty in Korean history, for a total of 992 years under the rule of 56 kings. We will have the opportunity to photograph the beautiful wooden Woljeonggyo Bridge along the Namcheon River. Lunch included. We then continue to the Tumuli Park, where the tombs of the kings of the ancient Silla Kingdom, more than 1,500 years old, are located. We will visit one of these tombs (entrance included). Walking, we will reach Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory, the oldest in East Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
   
   16:00 p.m. – Departure from Gyeongju.
   17:30 p.m. – Arrival in Daegu, the fourth-largest city in Korea. Before heading to the hotel, we will visit Dongsan Cheongna Hill, a historic site where Christian missionaries once lived, and Dongseong-ro Shopping Street, the city's liveliest area, with fashion shops, cafés, and restaurants, as well as the Yangnyeongsi Museum of Traditional Medicine (entrance included), famous for its history of medicinal herbs in Eastern medicine.
   
   20:00 p.m. – Approximate arrival at the hotel and overnight stay.

   

   Seokguram Grotto

   

   Bulguksa Temple

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Daegu prince hotel(Daemyeong 2-dong, Daegu, )
5. 5

   Day 5 — Daegu - Andong - Hahoe Village - Byeongsan Seowon - Seoul

   Total distance covered: 287 km
   Scenery: We travel through beautiful forests, valleys, and fields of rice and ginseng.
   
   08:00 a.m. – Departure from Daegu.
   09:30 a.m. – Arrival in Andong. We will visit the traditional village of Hahoe Village (admission included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located on the outskirts of the city. Free time to stroll through the streets of this rural village that seems frozen in time. We will also visit the excellent World Mask Museum, featuring masks used for dances, medical practices, religious ceremonies, and theatrical performances. Lunch included at a local restaurant.
   
   13:30 p.m. – Departure from Hahoe Village (Andong).
   13:45 p.m. – Arrival at Byeongsan Seowon, a Confucian academy founded in the 16th century. We visit this site, located beside a river in an idyllic setting full of peace and tranquility.
   
   14:30 p.m. – Departure from Byeongsan Seowon.
   18:30 p.m. – Arrival in Seoul in the late afternoon. Overnight stay.
   
   * Note: The order of visits may be modified without affecting the planned content of the itinerary.

   

   Andong Hahoe Village

   

   Byeongsan Seowon

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Mercure ambassador hongdae(Yanghwa-ro, 144 Mapo-gu, Seoul, Corea del Sur)
6. 6

   Day 6 — Seoul - Tokyo

   After breakfast, we'll provide a transfer to the airport for your flight to Tokyo (included).
   
   Welcome to Japan! After completing border procedures, an assistant (usually Spanish-speaking, though sometimes English-speaking) will be waiting for you. You'll then be transferred by shared shuttle bus to the hotel. Free time.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Shinagawa prince hotel(10-30 Takanawa 4-chome, Minato-ku)
7. 7

   Day 7 — Tokyo

   In the morning, we'll take a long guided tour-about five hours-through this simply stunning city! Its vibrant energy and cutting-edge neighborhoods coexist with areas full of peace and tranquility.
   
   We'll make a short stop at Zojoji Temple to capture the most beautiful view of the Tokyo Tower. You'll notice hundreds upon hundreds of Jizo statues, stone-carved deities considered guardians of children, adorned with knitted hats, bibs, and pinwheels.
   
   Next, we'll head to the famous Shibuya Crossing, said to be the busiest intersection in the world. Then we'll visit Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife.
   
   We'll continue our tour by bus along the elegant Omotesando Avenue, explore the most scenic part of the Imperial Palace and its gardens, and stop to visit the famous Nijubashi Bridge.
   
   We'll drive through Akihabara, the "Electric City,"  known as the center of Japanese manga and anime culture. Then we'll head to Tokyo Skytree (admission included), Japan's tallest structure, where we'll enjoy an unmatched panoramic view of the city.
   
   We'll end our visit in Asakusa, where we'll explore Sensoji Temple and the famous Nakamise Street. Afterwards, we'll return to the hotel.
   
   18:30 p.m. – We'll meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the subway (tickets included) to the Shinjuku area. From there, we'll enjoy a walk through this lively district before heading to a local restaurant for dinner (included). We'll return to the hotel by subway, accompanied by our guide.
   
   * Note: The order of the visits may vary depending on the admission time for Tokyo Skytree. In case of bad weather or other exceptional circumstances, access to Tokyo Skytree may be limited. In that case, an alternative visit to another iconic city viewpoint will be offered.

   

   Akihabara

   

   Tokyo Skytree

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: IncludedStay: Shinagawa prince hotel(10-30 Takanawa 4-chome, Minato-ku)
8. 8

   Day 8 — Tokyo - Kyoto

   Total distance covered by bullet train: 430 km.
   
   07:00 a.m. - Departure from the hotel. We'll transfer to Tokyo Station to board a high-speed bullet train. The journey will take approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.
   
   * Note: You'll be accompanied to the station, but during the train journey, a guide will not travel with you if the group for this section of the trip has fewer than 15 people. Upon your arrival at Kyoto Station, our guide will be waiting to continue the tour.
   
   10:30 a.m. - Kyoto. We'll meet our main guide and begin exploring this historic city, which served as Japan's capital from 794 to 1868 and hosted the Imperial Court. Remarkably, Kyoto was the only major Japanese city spared from bombing during World War II, allowing it to preserve its extraordinary artistic and cultural heritage. Kyoto is also known as the site where the 1997 Kyoto Protocol was signed, a treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
   
   Our tour will cover some of Kyoto's most iconic landmarks, including the Kinkakuji Temple - commonly known as the "Golden Pavilion"-surrounded by its stunning gardens and the Imperial Palace. Free time for lunch. Afterwards, visit the breathtaking Shinto Shrine of Fushimi Inari. Transfer to Gion will be included. This lively, traditional district is renowned for its Geisha culture and offers a glimpse into Kyoto's historic charm. Enjoy free time to explore. The return to the hotel will not be accompanied; we recommend taking a taxi, and the guide will provide instructions on how to do so.

   

   Fushimi Inari Shrine

   

   Kyoto Imperial Palace

   

   Golden Pavilion

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: New miyako hotel(17, Nishikujo-Inmachi Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8412, Japan)
9. 9

   Day 9 — Kyoto - Nara - Osaka

   Total distance covered: 125 km.
   
   08:00 a.m. - Departure from Kyoto.
   09:00 a.m. - Nara. Our visit will take us to Todaiji Temple, a spectacular Buddhist site built in 752. The temple houses a giant Buddha statue and is surrounded by a serene park where you can interact with the friendly deer that roam freely. This will be your chance to take photos and enjoy the unique atmosphere of this historic area.
   
   10:30 a.m. - Departure from Todaiji Temple.
   11:15 a.m. - Horyuji Buddhist Temple. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a glimpse into Japan's ancient spiritual heritage. Here, you can explore its seminary, monasteries, and temples, including the iconic main pagoda, one of the world's oldest wooden buildings and the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan. Horyuji remains an important place of worship and historical significance.
   
   12:45 p.m. - Departure from Horyuji. Lunch will be included at a local restaurant before we continue to Osaka.
   14:30 p.m. - Osaka. Arrival in Japan's second-largest city, known for its modern skyline and vibrant culture. After check-in, you'll have free time to explore.
   
   In the evening, we'll visit Dotonbori, a bustling and colorful district famous for its lively nightlife, neon signs, and excellent dining options. Enjoy the evening at your leisure.

   

   Todai-ji

   

   Horyu-ji Buddhist Temple

   

   Dotonbori

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Candeo osaka namba(2-2-5, Higashishinsaibashi, Chiuo-ku, Osaka)
10. 10

    Day 10 — Osaka

    After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.

    Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: Excluded

What's included

Cancellation policy

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