Splendid Seoul to Kyoto Adventure

On arrival in Seoul – South Korea’s dynamic capital – we’ll transfer you to your hotel. You’ll have free time to unwind after your journey or explore the area at your own pace. In the afternoon we’ll hold a short welcome briefing with practical information about the start of your tour – meeting points, timings and what to expect over the coming days.
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.

This morning we visit the Aegibong Observatory in Gimpo, close to the border, with clear views across into North Korea. We then transfer to the Paju Demilitarised Zone at Imjingang – lunch included. Here we see the National Memorial and Mangbaedan Altar, visit the Imjingak Pavilion Temple – a symbol of peace – and take the included cable car for elevated views near the Military Demarcation Line. We finish at the Freedom Bridge, a long-standing symbol of hope and reunion. Please bring your passport – it is mandatory. The DMZ is a military area and may close without notice; if this happens, an alternative tour will be provided.Later, with our guide, we head to the square by City Hall to view the building’s wave-like – tsunami-shaped – design from the outside. Opposite stands Deoksugung Palace, especially striking when illuminated at night for its blend of tradition and modernity. We then stroll to Myeongdong, Seoul’s largest shopping and entertainment district – its name means bright tunnel. Dinner is included at a local restaurant, and we return using Seoul’s modern subway – ticket included.

We set out on an in‑depth five‑hour tour of Seoul, beginning at Changdeokgung Palace – entrance included – a UNESCO World Heritage Site set within expansive parkland. We then stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, a historic neighbourhood of well‑preserved traditional houses. Next is the War Memorial of Korea – entrance included – an impressive museum that examines the country’s conflicts, with particular focus on the Korean War and the United Nations’ involvement. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.In the afternoon we continue to the Gangnam District, one of the city’s liveliest areas with countless shopping and entertainment options. To round off the day, we stop at Lotte World Tower, a striking 550‑metre landmark, where you’ll have free time to go up to the observation deck – admission not included – or to explore the surrounding park and luxury shopping centres. We then return to the hotel and you have free time.

This morning we visit Gyeongbokgung Palace (entrance included) – a grand royal complex with more than 600 years of history. If timings allow, we’ll watch the ceremonial changing of the guard. We then leave Seoul and travel south to Suwon, a former capital known for its UNESCO World Heritage city walls. We’ll view these impressive fortifications and visit Hwaseong Haenggung, the royal summer palace (entrance included). Lunch is included. We continue to Jeonju to explore its historic centre – Hanok Village – with its traditional houses, craft shops and small galleries.

We depart Jeonju for Sunchang Gochujang Village at the foot of Mount Amisan, where hanok houses frame courtyards filled with hang‑a‑ri clay pots. Here we meet master artisans and enjoy a hands‑on experience learning how to make gochujang, Korea’s famed chilli paste. We then continue to Damyang to stroll the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest – entrance included – and visit the Bamboo Museum – entrance included – with time to see the wide range of bamboo products. Lunch is included today, featuring a local speciality of rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk.In the afternoon we travel through mountain scenery to Haeinsa Temple – entrance included – one of Korea’s most important Buddhist sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 802, it houses the Tripitaka carved on 80,000 wooden tablets. We then continue to Busan, Korea’s second‑largest city, for the night.

In the morning we leave Busan for Haedong Yonggungsa, a 14th–century Buddhist temple set dramatically by the sea. We then return to the city to visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (admission included), the resting place of UN personnel from many countries. Next we explore the country’s largest fish market by Nampo Port, followed by an included lunch. We continue on foot to Yongdusan Park to see its striking 120–metre pagoda–like tower, then head to Songdo Beach for a ride on Korea’s first maritime cable car – admission included and weather permitting – with wide views over the bay. We finish in the colourful lanes of Gamcheon Culture Village, dotted with galleries, pottery workshops and cafés, before returning to the hotel. Overnight in Busan.

We’ll transfer you to the airport for your included flight to Tokyo. On arrival in Japan and after border formalities, our assistant – usually Spanish speaking, sometimes English speaking – will meet you, and we’ll organise a shared shuttle bus to your hotel. You then have free time.

We leave Tokyo for Kamakura, Japan’s former capital for two centuries, known for its shrines, temples and gardens. At Hokokuji Temple we stroll through its bamboo grove – admission included – and enjoy a cup of green tea. We continue to Sugimotodera, founded in 734 and considered the city’s oldest temple. You’ll have some free time in the pleasant city centre before we visit the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) – admission included.We then follow a scenic coastal road along the Pacific to Enoshima, a small island linked to the mainland by a bridge – you’ll have free time for lunch and a walk. Later we continue to Odawara to visit Odawara Castle – admission included – a medieval fortress from the Edo period, restored in the 20th century and regarded as one of Japan’s most important castles. Overnight in Odawara.

From Odawara we travel by road into the Hakone region, a landscape of lakes and mountains near Mount Fuji. We ascend to Owakudani – the “Valley of Hell” – to see its steam vents, bubbling pools and sulphur gases. Note: access can close at times due to volcanic activity or air quality – if so, we visit Arakurayama Sengen Park instead.We continue to Oshino Hakkai, a small village with eight clear ponds that frame striking views of Mount Fuji, before heading to Kawaguchiko, a town set beside its beautiful lake. Here we enjoy a scenic boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko.Later, we begin the climb towards Mount Fuji along the road to the Fifth Station at 2,305 metres, passing through forested slopes with wide views. Note: in winter or during adverse weather, the road is often closed – in that case, we go as far as conditions allow. We return to Tokyo at the end of the day.

A full day in Tokyo – around seven hours of guided touring – reveals the city’s dynamic contrasts. We make a brief stop at Zojoji Temple for the classic view of Tokyo Tower and to see the rows of Jizo statues, guardians of children. We then pass Shibuya Crossing – viewed from the bus – before visiting Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife. Admission is included at Tokyo Skytree up to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres for sweeping city views. We finish in Asakusa to explore Sensoji Temple and stroll along Nakamise Street. On the return to the hotel we pass Akihabara, the Electric City known for manga and anime culture, and the elegant Ginza district.At 6.30 pm we meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the subway – tickets included – to Shinjuku for a walk through this lively district, followed by 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 the Skytree admission time. In bad weather or other exceptional circumstances, access to Tokyo Skytree may be limited – in this case an alternative viewpoint will be offered.

Early this morning we take the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto – a swift journey of just over two hours covering nearly 500 kilometres. On arrival, we spend the day exploring Kyoto, Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868 and home to the Imperial Court – spared from bombing in the Second World War and known for its preserved artistic heritage – and the city where the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. We visit key landmarks including Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji Temple, the Golden Pavilion, set within beautiful gardens. Afterwards we stroll through Gion, Kyoto’s traditional district celebrated for its geishas and lively atmosphere, then you have free time.

Leaving Kyoto, we travel to Nara to visit Todaiji, a magnificent Buddhist temple built in 752 and home to a giant Buddha statue. We also spend time in Nara Park, where you can take photos and, if you wish, interact with the friendly deer that roam freely. Lunch is included. In the afternoon we continue to the Horyuji Buddhist Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site that includes a seminary, monasteries and temples – its central pagoda is one of the oldest wooden structures in the world and the complex is considered Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple and an important place of worship. We then continue to Osaka, arriving in the evening for accommodation in this vibrant, modern city – Japan’s second largest urban area. Later, we visit Dotonbori, a lively and colourful district renowned for its bustling nightlife.

After breakfast, we conclude the tour in Osaka – we hope you leave with lasting memories of your journey.