Japan & South Korea

Day 1:

Overnight Flight to Tokyo

Day 2:

Welcome to Japan!

• Meet your Tour Director at the airport
  

Day 3:

Explore Tokyo

• Guided by a local expert, experience Tokyo’s contrasts of sacred and stylish. Visit the Meiji Shinto Shrine’s towering torii gates, browse Harajuku’s bold fashion scene, and explore Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, alive with lanterns, incense, and tradition.
• Visit Akihabara Electric Town, where neon-lit towers overflow with anime, arcade machines, and gadgets you didn't know existed until now
  
• Visit a Japanese arcade and experience a fun, energetic slice of everyday culture
  

Day 4:

Tokyo - Kyoto

• Explore Shibuya Crossing, where the energy of Tokyo flows in every direction beneath giant screens and glowing towers
  
• Enjoy free time in Tokyo, with time to explore the city’s neighborhoods, cafés, and everyday rhythms at your own pace
  
• Travel by bullet train to Kyoto
  

Day 5:

Explore Kyoto

• Guided by a local expert, explore Kyoto’s quiet beauty and spiritual grace. Visit the gold-leafed Kinkaku-ji, where shimmering reflections dance on a tranquil pond
• Visit Nijō Castle, a former shogun residence known for its ornate interiors, “nightingale floors,” and peaceful gardens that reflect feudal power
  
• Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove to wander through towering stalks swaying in the breeze, an otherworldly escape just outside the city
  
• Sing your heart out during a classic karaoke experience with your group
  

Day 6:

Kyoto - Seoul

• Enjoy an excursion to Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital. Visit Todai-ji Temple to see the towering Great Buddha, stroll through Nara Park where friendly deer roam freely, and explore Kasuga Grand Shrine, known for its thousands of stone and bronze lanterns along forested paths
• Visit the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, where thousands of vermillion torii gates form a tunnel through the mountainside, leading to one of Japan's most sacred Shinto shrines
  
• Travel to the Osaka airport
  
• Fly to Seoul
  

Day 7:

Explore Seoul

• Explore Seoul on foot with your Tour Director, moving from royal palaces to street food stalls through a city where tradition meets innovation block by block
  
• Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace to stroll royal courtyards and pavilions before exploring the National Folk Museum’s cultural treasures
  
• Explore Bukchon Hanok Village, where traditional wooden homes, narrow alleys, and tiled rooftops preserve a glimpse of old Seoul
  
• Stroll through Insadong’s cultural district, where tea houses, street food, and artisan shops line the lantern-lit lanes
  
• View Seoul from the top of N Seoul Tower, with panoramic cityscapes stretching from downtown to distant mountains
  
• Free time or Optional Taekwondo class
• Opt to take a hands-on Taekwondo class led by professional instructors, learning the kicks, strikes, and stances of Korea's national martial art and the discipline behind its centuries-old tradition

Day 8:

Seoul - Busan

• Visit Bulguksa Temple, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece of Buddhist architecture nestled in the hills outside Gyeongju
  
• Wander the colorful alleyways of Gamcheon Culture Village, known for its hillside murals, art studios, and sweeping coastal views
  
• Explore Haeundae Beach, Busan’s lively waterfront lined with cafés, skyline views, and stretches of golden sand
  

Day 9:

Busan

• Visit the UN Memorial Cemetery and Peace Memorial Museum, honoring the international forces who served during the Korean War
  
• Ride the cable car over Songdo Beach for sweeping coastal views
  
• Visit Taejongdae Park, known for its dramatic cliffs and ocean vistas
  

Day 10:

Busan - Seoul

• Travel by train from Busan to Seoul, experiencing Korea’s efficient high-speed rail
  
• Visit the Odusan Unification Observatory to gain insight into the division of North and South Korea
  
• Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on Korean cooking class, preparing traditional dishes under the guidance of a local chef and sampling kimchi, the fermented staple found on every table in Korea
  

Day 11:

Depart for home