Classic Japan & Korea

Upon arrival at the airport, our representative will meet you and assist you to board your transfer to your hotel.

Explore Tokyo like a local would. 

Learn how to purify yourself at the entrance of Meiji-jingu shrine. Stroll down colorful Takeshita street in Harajuku with its youthful fashionable atmosphere and Kawaii culture. You may even run into some cosplayers all decked out as their favourite anime character. Next is the elegant tree lined Omotesando with its high style buildings and one of a kind architecture housing designer luxury boutiques.

The Asakusa traditional district in the northwest section of the city boasts the magnificent Senso-ji temple and its five story pagoda. Here, incense burning worshippers are oblivious to the selfie taking tourists. Let our guide help translate the good fortunes printed on your Omikuji and save as a souvenir of Tokyo. Some shopping time for souvenirs or Japanese rice crackers is in order along Nakamise shopping street which leads to the outer gate of the temple. 

Free day at leisure to explore on your own.

Free day at leisure to explore on your own.

This morning our guide will meet you at your hotel and you will board the Odakyu Romancecar at Shinjuku station and head west of Tokyo by train for about 100km to Hakone, part of the Fuji, Hakone, Izu National Park.

Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan and is known for its graceful conical form. It is the country’s sacred symbol with temples and shrines located around and on the mountain. Hakone is famous amongst the locals for its hot springs and magnificent views of Mount Fuji.

From Hakone-Yumoto station, board the scenic Hakone Tozan train which climbs the steep mountainside through numerous switchbacks. The tracks end at Gora station where you now switch to a cable car to continue the climb to the highest point at Sounzan. Here you will hop onto the Hakone Ropeway gondola traversing the Okuwadani valley with views of the active sulphuric hotsprings below. The 30 minute gondola ride ends at Togendai station on the shores of lake Ashinoko. You continue to explore the area on a boat ride across Lake Ashinoko with spectacular views of Mount Fuji (weather permitting). 

On arrival at your ryokan, you will be warmly welcomed by the staff. You will experience the deeply rooted Japanese custom of Ometenashi (to whole heartedly look after guests). Your stay here will be a most unique Japanese experience from how you dress, sleep and bathe. Relax and embrace the experience and do as the locals do. 

Travel by bullet train / local train from Hakone to Kyoto (~2 hours 10 minutes).

Upon meeting our guide, you will head to the south of Kyoto to Fushimi Inari Taisha. This shrine dedicated to the Shinto God of rice is famous for its thousands of vermillion colored torii gates leading through the wooded forest to Mount Inari.  Next, you will visit Kiyomizudera (pure water) temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994. Make your way up to the wooden stage of the main hall with beautiful views of city of Kyoto and the surrounding mountains.

The tour ends in Gion, the most famous Geisha neighborhood of Kyoto. Here you will see the many well preserved traditional wooden houses (machiya) of old Japan, many of which are tea houses where Geishas entertain their well to do clientele. 

The  way of tea includes many elements of Japanese culture and has influenced the aesthetic sense of Japan. At a traditional Kyoto townhouse, we’d like to provide you with a tranquil moment to get acquainted with the world of tea ceremony and enjoy a cup of tea. It would be an unforgettable memory in Kyoto. Learn the heart of Japanese hospitality through the tea ceremony.

Free day at leisure to explore on your own.

Transfer by airport limousine bus from hotel to the airport for your flight to Seoul (not included).

Upon arrival in Seoul, meet our representative and transfer to your hotel.

mbark on a captivating day tour through Seoul, blending rich history, vibrant culture, and delectable cuisine. Begin your journey at Gyeongbokgung Palace, the grandest of the Five Grand Palaces, where you can witness the ceremonial Changing of the Guard at the main gate. After exploring the palace grounds, take a short walk to Bukchon Hanok Village, a picturesque neighborhood showcasing traditional Korean hanok houses. Stroll through its narrow alleys, where the juxtaposition of ancient architecture and modern cityscape creates a unique atmosphere. 

As the day progresses, head to Gwangjang Market, one of Seoul’s oldest traditional markets, renowned for its vibrant street food scene. Indulge in local delicacies like bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), mayak gimbap (miniature rice rolls), and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), offering a true taste of Korean culinary heritage. Conclude your tour with a visit to N Seoul Tower on Namsan Mountain. Take the scenic cable car ride up to the tower, enjoying panoramic views of the city. At the top, the observatory provides a 360-degree view.

Today, you will head to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a region that stands as a poignant symbol of the peninsula’s division and the enduring hope for reunification. Your tour commences at Imjingak Park, located approximately 7 km from the Military Demarcation Line. Established in 1972, this park houses several monuments, including the Unification Bridge, which was the last route for prisoners of war returning to South Korea post-Korean War. The park’s Pyeonghoa-Nuri Park area offers a reflective space with its symbolic structures, such as the Freedom Bridge and the Mangbaedan Altar, where separated families perform rituals to honor their ancestors across the border.

Next, delve into the clandestine history of the DMZ with a visit to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, discovered in 1978. This 1,635-meter-long tunnel, capable of accommodating 30,000 soldiers per hour, was one of several dug by North Korea beneath the DMZ. Visitors can don helmets and descend into the tunnel to witness its construction and understand its strategic significance. Afterward, ascend to the Dora Observatory atop Mount Dora, where telescopes provide views into North Korean territory, including the city of Kaesong and the Kaesong Industrial Complex. For a unique perspective, opt for the cable car ride to Camp Graves, a former U.S. military base located just 15 minutes from the North Korean border. This aerial journey offers a rare vantage point of the DMZ’s landscape. 

Free day at leisure to explore on your own.

Transfer by airport limousine bus from hotel to the airport for your next flight.