From Seoul's Wonders to Tokyo's Charm
Begin in Seoul – end in Tokyo – on a 16–day adventure blending Korea’s history with Japan’s timeless culture. In Seoul, tour stately palaces and Bukchon, plus a moving DMZ visit. Continue south for Suwon’s fortress and Jeonju’s hanok lanes, try gochujang making and visit UNESCO–listed Haeinsa. In Busan, browse the fish market before flying to Japan. Visit Miyajima and Hiroshima’s Peace Park, soak at Dogo Onsen, and admire Ritsurin Garden and Naruto’s whirlpools. Stay in a Mount Koya monastery, explore Kyoto’s icons, spot snow monkeys and unwind in hot–spring towns – then finish with skyline views and big–city buzz in Tokyo.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more.
Tour Overview
Duration
16 daysHotel Rating
3-4 star hotelsStarts
SeoulEnds
TokyoMinimum Age
No minimum ageMaximum Age
Tours have upper age limits for several reasons, such as but not limited to: tour pace, activity level, and accommodation standards. If you fall outside of this age limit, we do have lots of other tours in South Korea that are suitable for all ages!
Arrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
NoTour Guide
Yes - English speaking guides (guiding may be in additional languages to English)Countries
South Korea, JapanPassengers
£4,985.00
£300.00
Tour Style
Group Size
Min 2 / Max 65
Trip Type
Large Coach Tours
Range
This tour is operated by our trusted local partner and has been handpicked by us to deliver you an unforgettable trip.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Tour Guide
Yes - English speaking guides (guiding may be in additional languages to English)Group Size
Min 2 / Max 65Range
This tour is operated by our trusted local partner and has been handpicked by us to deliver you an unforgettable trip.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Trip Type
Large Coach ToursPlaces You'll See
Seoul
Suwon
Jeonju
Damyang
Haeinsa
Busan
Busan - Shimonoseki Ferry
Shimonoseki
Iwakuni
Itsukushima
Hiroshima
Matsuyama
Kotohira
Takamatsu
Naruto
Kobe
Osaka
Mount Koya
Kyoto
Tsumago
Matsumoto
Nagano
Monkey Park
Kusatsu
Ikaho
Nikko
Tokyo
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Day 1 - Seoul
Welcome to Korea – on arrival in Seoul, we’ll meet you and transfer you to your hotel. After check-in, you’ll have free time to rest or start getting a feel for the neighbourhood at your own pace. In the afternoon, we’ll hold a brief orientation to share key details about the itinerary, meeting points and timings, and to answer any questions so you’re set for the days ahead.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.
Day 2 - Seoul
This morning we head to Aegibong Observatory in Gimpo, close to the border with North Korea, where we can clearly see across into North Korean territory. We then continue to the Paju Demilitarised Zone at Imjingang, with lunch included. Here we visit the National Memorial and Mangbaedan Altar, and the Imjingak Pavilion Temple, a symbol of peace, before taking the included cable car for elevated views towards the Military Demarcation Line. We finish at the Freedom Bridge, long associated with hope and reunion. Please bring your passport – it is mandatory. The DMZ is an active military area and may close without notice; if so, an alternative tour will be provided.Later, with our guide, we go to the square by City Hall to view its striking building with an undulating design. Opposite stands Deoksugung Palace, particularly atmospheric when illuminated at night. We then walk to Myeongdong, the city’s largest commercial and entertainment district. Dinner is included at a local restaurant, and we return by Seoul’s modern subway – ticket included. Overnight stay.
Day 3 - Seoul
We set out on an in-depth tour of Seoul – around five hours – starting at Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage complex set within expansive gardens, with entrance included. We then stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village to see its lanes of traditional wooden houses. Next, we visit the War Memorial of Korea – entrance included – whose exhibits explain the nation’s conflicts, especially the Korean War. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.In the afternoon, we continue to the Gangnam district, one of the city’s busiest areas for shopping and entertainment, before finishing at Lotte World Tower, which rises 550 metres above the city. You can use your free time here to go up to the observation deck – admission not included – or wander the surrounding park and luxury shopping centres. We return to the hotel and the rest of the day is free.
Day 4 - Seoul - Suwon - Jeonju
This morning in Seoul, we visit Gyeongbokgung Palace – admission included – a landmark with over 600 years of history. If timings allow, we’ll watch the ceremonial changing of the guard. We then leave the city and head south to Suwon, a former capital renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage fortress walls. We’ll view these impressive defences and visit Hwaseong Haenggung, the summer palace – entrance included. Lunch is included.Afterwards, we continue to Jeonju to explore its historic centre – Hanok Village – with its small traditional houses, shops and art galleries.
Day 5 - Jeonju - Damyang - Haeinsa - Busan
We depart Jeonju for Sunchang Gochujang Village at the foot of Mount Amisan – a hanok community where courtyards are lined with clay jars known as hangari. Here, master artisans make gochujang using traditional methods, and we take part in a practical session to learn how this famous chilli paste is prepared. We then continue to Damyang to walk the serene trails of the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest – entrance included – and visit the Bamboo Museum – entrance included – to see local bamboo craftsmanship. Lunch is included, featuring a regional speciality of rice steamed and served inside a bamboo stalk. Travelling through mountain and forest scenery, we arrive at Haeinsa Temple – entrance included – one of Korea’s most important Buddhist sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, founded in 802 and home to the Tripitaka, a major collection of Buddhist scriptures carved on 80,000 wooden tablets. We continue to Busan, Korea’s second largest city, for the night.
Day 6 - Busan - Fukuoka
In the morning, we leave Busan to visit Haedong Yonggungsa, a Buddhist temple set by the sea and founded in the 14th century. Back in the city, we visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (entrance included), which honours service members from many nations, then continue to the country’s largest fish market beside Nampo Port. Lunch is included. Afterwards, we transfer to the airport for our included flight from Busan to Fukuoka, Japan – on arrival, we transfer to the hotel.
Day 7 - Fukuoka - Iwakuni - Itsukushima - Hiroshima
We travel to the small city of Iwakuni to see the beautiful, historic Kintai-kyo Bridge, then continue to Miyajima, crossing by ferry to the island known as the place where men and gods coexist. We visit the Itsukushima Shrine, dedicated to the guardian of the seas and built partially over the water. You’ll have time to explore the shrine and the town centre at your own pace and to have lunch. Later we continue to Hiroshima – a city sadly known for the 1945 atomic bombing that destroyed it – where we walk through the Peace Memorial Park, see the Atomic Bomb Dome and visit the Peace Memorial Museum. Dinner is included.
Day 8 - Hiroshima - Matsuyama
We travel by ferry from Hiroshima to Shikoku – a pleasant crossing of around two and a half hours. On arrival in Matsuyama, we ride the cable car to visit its impressive castle, then continue to Ishiteji, a beautiful Buddhist temple and popular pilgrimage site. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Later in the afternoon, we include admission to Dogo Onsen – a traditional Japanese bathhouse dating from the 19th century.
Day 9 - Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe
From Matsuyama we travel to Kotohira to visit the Shinto shrine dedicated to the protection of sailors, an important pilgrimage site on Mount Zōzu reached by climbing 785 steps. We then continue to Takamatsu to explore Ritsurin, considered one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Later in Naruto we stop at the impressive sea bridge, where we learn about its construction and walk along the section with a glass floor to view the powerful whirlpools from 45 metres above the water. We follow a scenic route across bridges linking the islands and arrive in Kobe for the night.
Day 10 - Kobe - Osaka - Mount Koya
This morning in Kobe we visit the Earthquake Memorial Museum – a thoughtful tribute to the 1995 disaster and the city’s remarkable recovery. We then continue via Osaka to Mount Koya, the spiritual centre of Shingon Buddhism with around 120 temples and monasteries. Here we visit the Okuno Mausoleum – a vast, forested cemetery with over 200,000 graves – and the historic Kongobuji Temple, founded in 1593.We stay overnight in a Buddhist monastery, where the monks lead a Zen meditation session known as Ajikan. A vegetarian dinner is included. If you wish, you can attend the temple’s religious ceremony before breakfast.Please note – on certain dates the Earthquake Memorial Museum visit may be replaced by the Sake Museum or an ascent of Kobe Tower. Monastery stays are simple in traditional tatami rooms without private bathrooms – facilities are shared. Meditation may not be available at peak times. Due to limited capacity on Mount Koya, accommodation may instead be arranged in nearby hotels with half board.
Day 11 - Mount Koya - Kyoto
We start with a traditional Japanese breakfast at the temple, then depart early for Kyoto – Japan’s imperial capital from 794 to 1868 and the venue for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Spared from wartime bombing, the city preserves an exceptional cultural and artistic heritage.On arrival we tour key sights: Fushimi Inari Shrine with its long avenues of vermilion torii; the historic Imperial Palace; and Kinkakuji Temple, the Golden Pavilion, mirrored by its elegant gardens. You’ll have free time to explore before we continue to Gion, the traditional district known for its geisha culture, where you’ll have additional time at leisure to soak up the atmosphere.Note: If you have already visited Kyoto as part of your tour, our guide will provide tips and recommendations so you can discover other areas independently.
Day 12 - Kyoto - Tsumago - Matsumoto - Nagano
We leave Kyoto and travel through countryside scenery to Tsumago, a small village renowned for its wooden houses and considered one of the prettiest places in Japan. You will have free time to explore – and lunch is included. We then continue to Matsumoto to visit its impressive 16th century castle, known as The Crow. Afterwards, you will have free time to discover the city at your own pace before we continue to Nagano for the night.
Day 13 - Nagano - Monkey Park - Kusatsu - Ikaho
In Nagano we visit Zenko-ji Temple – a major pilgrimage site that houses Japan’s first Buddhist image – and take part in the Gomakuyo ceremony, a traditional ritual intended to attract good fortune. We then head into the Japanese Alps to Jigokudani Monkey Park and walk along forest trails by rivers and hot springs to see the Japanese macaques that live and bathe there.We continue through striking high mountain scenery – reaching 2,172 metres and passing semi active volcanoes – to Kusatsu, a renowned hot-spring town with a lively central square. We take a gentle stroll through the town park, which features open air onsen, and you have free time for lunch.Our journey ends in Ikaho, another characterful hot-spring town, where we wander its old centre known for traditional stone stairways. We stay overnight in a ryokan – a traditional Japanese inn – and you can enjoy the hot-spring baths. Traditional Japanese dinner included.Please note that in autumn the movement of the monkeys can be unpredictable and the park may close if they do not descend. The visit to Kusatsu may also be cancelled due to weather conditions from November to April.
Day 14 - Ikaho - Nikko - Tokyo
From Ikaho we continue to Nikko, where we visit the impressive Nikko Toshogu Temple – famed for its room with the sound of a dragon. We also explore the Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum, then stroll along the Kanmangafuchi Abyss, where hundreds of Jizo statues watch over the riverbanks. You’ll have free time to wander the town centre before we return to Tokyo, arriving at around 18:30.
Day 15 - Tokyo
This morning we take a seven-hour guided tour of Tokyo – a city where cutting-edge districts sit alongside tranquil historic areas. We begin at Zojoji Temple for one of the best views of Tokyo Tower and to see the rows of Jizo statues – guardians of children – dressed with knitted hats, bibs and pinwheels. From there we view the famous Shibuya Crossing from the bus before visiting Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife. We then head to Tokyo Skytree, with admission included to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres for sweeping city views. We finish in Asakusa to explore Sensoji Temple and stroll Nakamise Street, then return to the hotel via Akihabara – the Electric City and centre of manga and anime culture – and Ginza.At 6.30 pm we meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the subway – tickets included – to Shinjuku. We’ll enjoy a walk through this lively district before dinner at a local restaurant – included. We return to the hotel by subway with our guide.Please note – the order of visits may vary depending on our timed entry to Tokyo Skytree. In the event of bad weather or other exceptional circumstances, access to the Skytree may be limited – if so, we will visit another iconic city viewpoint instead.
Day 16 - Tokyo
After breakfast, we conclude our journey in Tokyo – we hope you leave with lasting memories.
Tour Reviews
Extras and add-ons
If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.
Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.
Post-Tour Accommodation - Tokyo
Double
Twin
Triple
Single
Pre-Tour Accommodation - Seoul
Double
Twin
Triple
Single
Hotels
The hotels listed below are examples which we frequently use on this tour. Alternative hotels of a similar standard may be used instead.
Confirmation of the hotels used may not be available until 48 hours before the tour departs.
If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.
Prices & Dates
Departure dates are guaranteed with 2 travellers. 'Double/Twin' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to anyone wanting the privacy of their own room. 'Triple' prices are per person when there are 3 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Shared' prices are for solo travellers who are happy to share with another solo traveller of the same sex in a twin room - a single room will be provided at no additional cost if there are no suitable travellers to share with.
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