13-Day Exploring Japan and Korea Tour from Tokyo

What you'll experience

Highlights

13 days

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 — Tokyo

   
   Welcome to Japan! After completing customs procedures, you’ll be transferred to your hotel by shared shuttle bus. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. In the afternoon, you’ll receive details about the start of your tour.
   
   IMPORTANT:
   - Please note that hotel check-in time is usually at around 03:00 p.m. If you require earlier room availability, consider booking an additional night at the beginning of your trip.
   
   
   - The schedules provided in this itinerary are indicative. The guide may adjust them as needed to enhance the trip experience.
   
   
   
   Note: All mentioned hotels below are for your reference only, you might also check-in other same-level hotels.

   Stay: Shinagawa prince hotel(10-30 Takanawa 4-chome, Minato-ku), Tokyo dome hotel(1 Chome-3-61 Koraku, Bunky333;)
2. 2

   Day 2 — Tokyo

   In the morning, we’ll take a long guided tour—about seven 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, that we will see from the bus. It is known as the busiest intersection in the world. Then we’ll visit Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife.
   Then we’ll head to Tokyo Skytree (admission included up to Tembo Deck at 350 meters high), 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 passing by Akihabara district, the "Electric City", known as the center of Japanese manga and anime culture; and Ginza district.
   
   6:30 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.
   
   
   

   Meals: D：IncludedStay: Shinagawa prince hotel(10-30 Takanawa 4-chome, Minato-ku), Tokyo dome hotel(1 Chome-3-61 Koraku, Bunky333;)
3. 3

   Day 3 — 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.

   Stay: New miyako hotel(17, Nishikujo-Inmachi Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8412, Japan), Miyako kioto hachijyo(MINAMI WARD, NISHIKUHO INMACHI, 1)
4. 4

   Day 4 — 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.
   02:30 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.
   

   Meals: L：IncludedStay: Candeo osaka namba(2-2-5, Higashishinsaibashi, Chiuo-ku, Osaka), Holiday inn express osaka city centre - midosuji(4-1-12 Kitakyuhojimachi, Osaka, 541-0057 Japan)
5. 5

   Day 5 — Osaka - Busan

   We’ll provide a transfer to Osaka for the included flight to Busan.
   
   Welcome to Korea! Upon arrival, you’ll be taken to the hotel, and you’ll have some free time to explore. We’re in one of the country’s most vibrant cities, the second largest in South Korea.
   
   Later in the day, the group we’ll be joining will arrive, and we’ll meet our guide for the remainder of this trip.
   

   Stay: Ramada encore busan station(10 Jungang-daero 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, Corea del Sur), Asti busan station(7-8 Jungang-daero 214beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, Corea del Sur)
6. 6

   Day 6 — Busan – Seokguram Buddhist Grotto - Bulguksa Temple – Gyeongju - Daegu

   Total distance traveled: 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 (admission 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.
   01:00 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.
   
   04:00 p.m. – Departure from Gyeongju.
   05:30 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.
   
   08:00 p.m. – Approximate arrival at the hotel and overnight stay.
   

   Meals: L：IncludedStay: Susung daegu (106-7 Yonghak-ro, Suseong District), Daegu grand(305 Dongdaegu-ro, Suseong District, Daegu, Corea del Sur)
7. 7

   Day 7 — Daegu – Andong – Hahoe Village - Byeongsan Seowon – Seoul

   Total distance covered: 387 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.
   
   01:30 p.m. – Departure from Hahoe Village (Andong).
   01:45 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.
   
   02:30 p.m. – Departure from Byeongsan Seowon.
   06:30 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.
   

   Meals: L：IncludedStay: Mercure ambassador hongdae(Yanghwa-ro, 144 Mapo-gu, Seoul, Corea del Sur), Hilton garden inn seul gangnam(253, Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu)
8. 8

   Day 8 — Seoul - DMZ - Seoul

   Total distance covered: 150 km
   
   Important Note: Please remember to bring your passport; it is mandatory. The DMZ is a military area and may be closed without prior notice. If this happens, an alternative tour will be provided.
   
   08:30 am – Seoul. Departure.
   
   09:30 am – Aegibong Peace Ecological Park (Gimpo)
   Arrival at this symbolic space created to bring together peace, ecology, history, and culture, while promoting the values of Korean unification and collective memory. Observatory visit: From this viewpoint, it is possible to see North Korean territory at a very short distance across the river. This is a truly unique experience.
   
   11:30 am – Aegibong Peace Ecological Park (Gimpo). Departure.
   
   12:30 pm – Local restaurant. Arrival. Lunch included.
   
   01:30 pm – Local restaurant. Departure.
   
   02:00 pm – Paju Demilitarized Zone (DMZ Imjingang). Arrival at the border area that divides South Korea and North Korea. We will visit the National Memorial and Mangbaedan Altar, the Imjingak Pavilion, a symbol of peace, and take a cable car ride (included) to observe from above the areas near the Military Demarcation Line. Finally, we will visit the Freedom Bridge, a former railway bridge over the Imjin River that, after the war, was used to return prisoners of war to South Korea. Today, it stands as a historic symbol of hope. This site allows us to understand Korean history from a human perspective: family separation, war, the hope for reunification, and the contrast between natural beauty and historical wounds.
   
   04:00 pm – Paju Demilitarized Zone (DMZ Imjingang). Departure to Seoul
   
   Later, with our guide, we will visit the City Hall building, known for its wave-like (tsunami-shaped) design. Across from City Hall is Deoksugung Palace, where we can appreciate the coexistence of tradition and modernity in Korea. We will then walk to the Myeongdong district, the country’s largest commercial and entertainment area; its name means “bright tunnel.” Dinner included at a local restaurant. Return by Seoul’s modern subway system (ticket included).
   
   09:30 pm – Hotel. Arrival and overnight stay.
   

   Meals: D：Included, L：IncludedStay: Mercure ambassador hongdae(Yanghwa-ro, 144 Mapo-gu, Seoul, Corea del Sur), Hilton garden inn seul gangnam(253, Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu)
9. 9

   Day 9 — Seoul

   08:30 am – Today we include an extensive sightseeing tour of approximately five hours in Seoul. We will visit Changdeokgung Palace (entrance included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a palace complex set within a large park. Afterwards, we will stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional historic neighborhood of small, well-preserved houses.
   We will then visit the War Memorial of Korea (entrance included), an impressive museum that illustrates the conflicts experienced by Korea throughout its history, especially the Korean War, in which soldiers from many countries participated under the United Nations.
   
   01:00 pm – Lunch included at a local restaurant.
   
   12:00 pm – We continue to the Gangnam District, one of the busiest and most vibrant areas of the city, home to numerous shopping malls and entertainment venues. 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 to the tower (admission not included) or to stroll through its park or luxury shopping centers.
   
   04:30 pm – Return to the hotel and free time.
   
   Important note regarding Bukchon Hanok Village: Due to regulations established to protect the residential environment, our vehicle may only park in designated areas, and we will 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, ensuring the cultural content of the itinerary is maintained.
   

   Meals: L：IncludedStay: Mercure ambassador hongdae(Yanghwa-ro, 144 Mapo-gu, Seoul, Corea del Sur), Hilton garden inn seul gangnam(253, Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu)
10. 10

    Day 10 — Seoul - Suwon - Jeonju

    Total distance covered: 227 km
    Scenery: Pleasant landscapes, rolling hills, and extensive cultivated areas.
    
    08:30 AM – Hotel. Departure from the hotel.
    
    09:00 AM – Gyeongbokgung Palace (entrance included). Arrival at this impressive palace with over 600 years of history, where we will attend the Changing of the Guard ceremony, if it is taking place.
    
    10:30 AM – Gyeongbokgung Palace. Departure from Seoul heading south toward South Korea.
    
    11:30 AM – Suwon. Arrival in the former capital of Korea, known for its impressive UNESCO World Heritage-listed fortress walls. We will visit the walls and their fortifications, as well as the Hwaseong Haenggung Summer Palace (entrance included), notable for its traditional architecture. Lunch included at a local restaurant.
    
    01:40 PM – Suwon. Departure.
    
    04:00 PM – Jeonju. Arrival. With our guide, we will explore its fascinating historic center (Hanok Village), with its traditional houses, local shops, and art galleries. After the walk, free time.
    

    Meals: L：IncludedStay: Best western plus jeonju(41, Hyeonmu 1-gil, Wansan-gu Jeonju-Si,), Jeonju signature(838 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, Corea del Sur)
11. 11

    Day 11 — Jeonju - Sunchang Gochujang Village - Damyang County – Haeinsa - Busan

    Total distance covered: 415 km
    Scenery: We travel through high mountains, enjoying especially beautiful landscapes in the Haeinsa area within the National Park.
    
    Note: We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes for the walk to the entrance of Haeinsa Temple.
    
    08:00 AM – Jeonju. Departure.
    
    08:40 AM – Sunchang Gochujang Village. Arrival. This traditional village is located at the foot of Amisan Mountain. With its hanok houses and courtyards filled with large earthenware jars known as hang-a-ri, it is home to expert gochujang (Korean chili paste) artisans who use traditional methods. We will enjoy a hands-on experience learning how this traditional sauce is prepared.
    
    09:40 AM – Sunchang Gochujang Village. Departure.
    
    10:00 AM – Damyang. Arrival. Visit to the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest (entrance included), whose paths are considered among the most beautiful in the country—ideal for peaceful walks and enjoying the cool breeze. We will find all kinds of bamboo-crafted products, and visit places such as the Bamboo Museum (entrance included), where this plant is studied and revered.
    Lunch included, featuring the local specialty of rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk.
    
    12:30 PM – Damyang. Departure.
    
    02:35 PM – Haeinsa Temple (entrance included). Amid impressive forest-covered mountain landscapes, we arrive at Haeinsa, one of the most important Buddhist temples in Korea and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 802, it houses the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, carved onto 80,000 wooden printing blocks.
    
    04:20 PM – Haeinsa. Departure.
    
    07:00 PM – Busan. Arrival in Korea’s second-largest city, known for its vibrant atmosphere. Overnight stay.
    

    Meals: L：IncludedStay: Ramada encore busan station(10 Jungang-daero 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, Corea del Sur), Asti busan station(7-8 Jungang-daero 214beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, Corea del Sur)
12. 12

    Day 12 — Busan – Haedong Yonggung – Songdo – Gamcheon Culture Village – Busan

    Total distance traveled: 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.
    
    02:30 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.
    
    06:45 p.m. – Departure from Gamcheon Cultural Village. Return to Busan.
    07:15 p.m. – Arrival at the hotel in Busan. Overnight stay.
    
    

    Meals: L：IncludedStay: Ramada encore busan station(10 Jungang-daero 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, Corea del Sur), Asti busan station(7-8 Jungang-daero 214beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, Corea del Sur)
13. 13

    Day 13 — Busan

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

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