This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
This tour is categorised as 4 out of 5
Packed itinerary with maximum exploration: Embark on a whirlwind sightseeing tour with minimal downtime. This tour maximises your exploration, keeping you on the move and ticking off must-see locations. A good fitness level and mobility are required to keep pace with this action-packed adventure!
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
✓ Incredible sightseeing, including Kyoto's Fushimi Inari and Golden Pavilion, Seokguram Grotto, marvel at sacred Mount Fuji, discover the dazzling cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul
✓ Tour the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic venues
✓ Explore the UNESCO Heritage Site of the Tomb of King Muryeong and the Royal Tombs in Gongju-si
✓ 12 nights in central 3 and 4-star accommodation throughout Japan and South Korea
✓ Breakfast daily
✓ International flight from Tokyo to Seoul
✓ Fully escorted by professional English-speaking tour guides
✓ Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
✈ Needing international airfares to accompany your Inspiring Vacation? You will be able to access our flight portal after securing your package to add international airfares to your booking.
Explore the best two exciting countries—Japan and South Korea—on this lively-paced tour. Tick off Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul icons, including Kyoto's Fushimi Inari and Golden Temple, Gyeongju’s UNESCO-listed Seokguram Grotto, and Jinju’s historic Jinjuseong Fortress.
Upon arrival into Tokyo, please make your own way to the starting point hotel. Take the evening to relax after your flight and prepare for your first full day of touring tomorrow.
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
Arrival & Check-in information
Haneda International Airport (HND). The easiest and most convenient way to travel from Haneda International Airport (HND) to Tokyo Central is by train or by Monorail. The airport is also serviced by many 'Limousine Bus' services which offer shared shuttle bus service from around 1300 Yen per person.
Narita International Airport. The best way to travel from Narita International Airport to Tokyo Central is by the Narita Airport Express. The journey to most Tokyo stations takes approximately 1hr and the ticket costs 4070 Yen. The airport is also serviced by many 'Limousine Bus' services which offer shared shuttle buses from around 1300 Yen per person.
Hotel Check-in
Travellers will be arriving at various times throughout the day. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotels discretion.
Enjoy breakfast this morning before you meet your group and Tour Leader at 08:30am in the hotel lobby (Day 1 hotel) to meet your other travellers and to have your tour briefing.
After this, set off for the day. Our day starts with a stop at Oishi Park on the shores of Lake Kawaguchi, well known for its serene, flower-lined walking path and its spectacular view of Mount Fuji.
Then, we stop by the eight ponds at Oshino Hakkai, a small village in the Fuji Five Lake region fed by the snow melt from the nearby mountains. See traditional thatched roof farmhouses in the shadow of the iconic Mount Fuji.
After our day in the Mount Fuji area we continue to Hamamatsu. Enjoy an evening at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours
After breakfast, we head to Nagoya, famous for the historic 17th-century Nagoya Castle. The castle is the most iconic landmark in Nagoya and is an impressive sight.
We then continue to Osaka, where we’ll enjoy a walking tour of the Dōtonbori area. One of Osaka's most popular tourist destinations, this street runs parallel to the Dōtonbori canal and is a hugely popular destination for shopping, street food, bars and entertainment. At night the streets here are illuminated by hundreds of colourful neon lights and mechanised signs, including the famous running Glico Man sign and the Kani Doraku crab sign.
Enjoy an evening at leisure in Osaka.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours
After breakfast, we’ll see the sights of ancient Kyoto this morning, starting with Kyoto’s famed Fushimi Inari Shrine – known throughout the world as the ‘Path of the Red Gates.’ Take time to appreciate the quieter corners of the shrine, and if you’re feeling fit, a walk to the halfway point provides stunning city views.
We’ll continue on to some of Kyoto’s most iconic sites, like Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). This is a Zen temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with two floors covered entirely in thin layers of pure gold, set within a beautiful classical Zen garden.
Afterwards, stand amongst the soaring stalks of bamboo at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. It’s green, peaceful and the seemingly endless boughs make for a serene experience, even with the tourist crowds. Take in the sound of rustling bamboo as you stroll these paths – if there’s a bit of wind, the groves will gently sway back and forth which only adds to the magic.
Before leaving Kyoto, we visit the authentic Gion district. This historic area is home to many geisha and is packed with bars, restaurants and cafes.
We head back to Osaka for another evening at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours
This morning after breakfast we will depart Osaka for Shizuoka. On the way, we will travel to Nara, famous for it's many temples and free-roaming deer. Here, we will visit Todaiji (Great Eastern Temple), one of Japan's most famous temples. This massive building houses one of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu).
We will then carry on to visit the Ninja Museum of Igaryu where you can see a ninja trick house, ninja museum and experience a ninja show (if time permits, at own expense).
Afterwards, we will continue to Shizuoka for an evening at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours
After breakfast we travel back to Tokyo, where we embark on a tour of this energetic city.
In a city of such frenetic pace, a stop at the charming Asakusa neighbourhood is a refreshing taste of older Tokyo. It’s home to the ancient seventh-century Sensō-ji Temple. Built in the Asuka era, it’s the oldest and most important Buddhist temple in Tokyo – be prepared for crowds! It’s known for its imposing entrance gate, Kaminarimon (also known as ‘Thunder Gate’), with its magnificent red lantern.
We’ll walk along Nakamise, the shopping street connecting the front gate and main hall of the temple. It’s a wonderful atmosphere, with food stalls and souvenir shops, selling authentic Japanese items like traditional crafts. You’ll find great souvenirs here. We’ll then stop at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for late afternoon panoramic city views.
Afterwards, we check-in to our hotel for an evening at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours
Today, you will make your own way to Tokyo Airport in time for your flight from Tokyo to Seoul.
Upon arriving into Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, you will be transferred (included) to your accommodation in the nation’s capital.
This evening you will have a briefing regarding your itinerary throughout South Korea.
Special Information
Departure airport transfers in Tokyo are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
Arrival transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel.
After breakfast, we make our way to Jeonju.
En route, we visit the UNESCO listed Tomb of King Muryeong and the Royal Tombs. Dating back to 500AD, the tomb complex was only re-discovered in 1927 and gives an insight into the Ungjin Period.
We then visit the impressive Gongsanseong Fortress before continuing to Buyeo, an ancient capital of the Baekje Dynasty.
We continue to Jeonju where we spend the night.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours
After breakfast at our hotel, we continue our journey to Gwangju, the leading city of Honam, the region and birthplace of a modern democratic movement in Korea. Here we visit May 18th National Cemetery dedicated to those who participated in the Gwangju Uprising in 1980.
Our journey continues to Suncheon where we will visit Suncheon Bay Garden. Afterwards, we travel to Yeosu, where we tour the modern port city before checking into our hotel.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours
NOTE: Suncheon Bay Garden will be closed on the last Monday of every month staring from April and will be replaced to Suncheon Nakaneupseong Folk Village.
After breakfast, our first stop is the Jinjuseong Fortress, historically linked to the Japanese invasion in 1592.
We then continue to Busan and visit the Jagalchi-Fishery Market, Busan’s largest seafood market, before seeing Haeundae Beach and Dongbaek Park. Our tour continues to the historic coastal city of Gyeongju where we check in to our hotel before an evening at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours
After breakfast, our first destination is the Unesco World Heritage-listed Seokguram Grotto. The religious site was constructed between 742 and 765 AD and still serves as a significant site for Korean and international Buddhists for its ceremonial and artistic value.
We then visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bulguksa Temple before continuing to Andong Hahoe Folk Village, which has preserved the housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon Dynasty. Moreover, the Village was naturally formed with people who actually live there. It has become world-famous for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
From here, we continue to Pyeongchang - home of the 2018 Winter Olympics and the Woljeongsa Temple, a 9-storey octagonal pagoda.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours
After breakfast, we visit the venues of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.
Continue onto Seoraksan National Park - the peaks of the Seoraksan Mountains break through the clouds while jade-like water flows through the valleys, creating breathtaking views and making this Korea's most famous national park. Due to the many rare species found here, UNESCO designated this national park a Biosphere Preservation District in 1982. You have the opportunity to take a cable car to the summit (additional expense) before we transfer back to Seoul for our final evening in South Korea.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours
Please note: due to unforeseen circumstances dictated by the local government, the National Park may not be visitable. Alternative touring may be arranged by our local representatives.
Today marks the end of your spectacular journey through Japan & South Korea.
After breakfast, join your included transfer to the airport for your flight home or embark on your own independent onward journey.
Special Information
Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight.
✓ 12 nights in 3 and 4-star accommodation throughout Japan and South Korea
✓ Breakfast daily
✓ International flight from Tokyo to Seoul
✓ Dedicated tour leader in Japan
✓ Dedicated local guides in South Korea
✓ Coach transportation throughout
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
Payment Information
This product requires a $99 deposit per person and full payment within 48 hours to secure your booking.
Once you have created your booking you will be directed to your invoice to choose your preferred payment method.
Where 'last minute' bookings are available within 90 days from departure, the cooling-off period does not apply and bookings are immediately non-refundable.
Cooling Off Period
A refund will be available within the 7-day cooling-off period unless otherwise restricted by the purchased product.
Where 'last minute' bookings are available within 71 days of departure, the cooling-off period does not apply and bookings are immediately non-refundable.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Please review our terms and conditions here: https://www.inspiringvacations.com/au/page/terms-and-conditions
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