Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Kanazawa – Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kyoto – Nara – Osaka – Busan – Gyeongju – Seoul
This meticulously crafted itinerary showcases the best of Japan and South Korea, two neighbours that have influenced each other in so many ways since time immemorial and yet still remain so distinct from each other. One of our most popular Asia tours, this extraordinary 17-day journey presents a perfect balance between the old and new giving the visitor a well-rounded introduction to two of Asia’s most successful modern economies rising out of the ashes of war and destruction.
Important Features
- Small group size (average 15, maximum 20)
- Expert tour leader and local guide(s)
- No shopping stops
- Tips for local guides and drivers included
- Quality local and Western cuisines
- Special dinner in Kyoto featuring maiko performance
- Optional sumo house tour & sushi making lesson available
- Optional day trip to Hiroshima & Miyajima available
- Visit to Demilitarized Zone near Seoul
Meal Code: B = breakfast / L = lunch / D = dinner
Day 1/Mon: Departing Home City
The journey begins with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. You’ll lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line.
Day 2/Tue: Arrival in Tokyo
Welcome to Tokyo!
Please make your way to the hotel on your own. Detailed information will be provided in the pre-trip update one month before departure.
Day 3/Wed: Tokyo (B/L)
Tokyo, literally meaning “eastern capital” and officially named Tokyo Metropolis, is one of the most populous mega-cities in the world with a population of 14 million (April 2022) in the city proper. Formerly known as Edo, the city has been the de facto seat of the Japanese government since 1603 when shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu chose the city for his headquarters. The shogun (general) was a hereditary commander ceremoniously appointed by the emperor but held real power over the country during the shogunate period between 1192 and 1867. Edo was renamed Tokyo after Emperor Meiji moved his seat from Kyoto in 1868 when the last shogun was forced to return power to the imperial court. The city covers an area of 2,187 square kilometres following the merger in 1943 of the city of Tokyo and Tokyo Prefecture.
Our full-day sightseeing begins at Senso-ji (Shallow Grass Temple), the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo dating back to 628.
We then drive through ritzy Ginza shopping district to arrive at the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace (the palace itself is closed to tourists) for a stroll.
After lunch, we tour the grounds of the tranquil Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852 -1912) and his wife.
We end the day with a visit to the observation deck inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. On a clear day, the visitor should be able to see the peak of Mount Fuji which is located about 84 km to the west.
Day 4/Thu: Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo (B/L)
We depart at 7:30 AM for a full-day excursion to Mt Fuji and Hakone.
Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain (3,776 metres) in Japan, is a two-hour drive from Tokyo. We stop by the Fujisan World Heritage Center to view the summit and learn about the history, formation and ecology of Mt. Fuji through exhibits and a short film. However, it is purely a matter of luck whether the summit is visible as Mt. Fuji is often shrouded in clouds. Our schedule does not include hiking the mountain – the trails are open between July and early September and it would take the average person at least six hours to hike to the summit even if one starts from the highest station at 2,305 metres above sea level.
We then proceed to Lake Ashi in Hakone for a short cruise across the lake. This is followed by a 10-minute cable car ride that transports us to the station overlooking the sulphur-spewing Owakudani Geothermal Valley. On a clear day, the cable car ride provides stunning views of Mt. Fuji and its surrounding mountain slopes.
We expect to arrive back at the hotel around 6:00 PM.
Day 5/Fri: Tokyo (B)
Today is set aside for you to recover from jet lag and explore at your own pace.
We highly recommend the museums centred around Ueno Park including the top-rated Tokyo National Museum and The National Museum of Western Art.
Sumo Morning Practice & Sushi Making Lesson
An optional half-day tour (8:00 am to 1:00 pm) combining a visit to a sumo stable and a sushi-making lesson is available. The visit to the sumo house allows you to watch up-close the giant athletes going about their morning practice while the sushi-making lesson also serves you lunch. The half-day tour costs US$225 or its CAD equivalent per person and requires a minimum of 6 participants to operate. Round-trip transfer by taxi is included.
Day 6/Sat: Tokyo – Kanazawa (B/L)
We ride the bullet train to Kanazawa this morning. The rail journey (Shinkansen Kagayaki #507, 08:36/11:04) is a perfect way to enjoy the beauty of Japan’s countryside.
Kanazawa is a jewel of Japanese tourism that is often overlooked by foreign tourists due to its relatively remote location. However, Japanese tourists come here in droves. Travellers coming here are richly rewarded with the well-preserved Edo-period city, where the samurai, merchants, geisha, and daimyo (lords) all left their mark. Kanazawa is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Crafts and Folk Art.
Our sightseeing in Kanazawa begins at Kenroku-en. One of the Three Great Gardens of Japan (Koraku-en in Okayama and Kairaku-en in Mito being the other two), Kenroku-en was developed from the 1620s to the 1840s by the Maeda clan, the daimyo that ruled the former Kaga Domain (also known as Kanazawa Domain). Kenroku-en means “garden which combines six characteristics”, referring to the six aspects considered most important in an ideal garden: spaciousness, serenity, venerability, scenic views, subtle design, and coolness – the source of the name is an essay by a Chinese scholarly named Li Gefei (?-1106) in praise of a garden in Luoyang.
From the garden we walk across a bridge to Kanazawa Castle, to which Kenroku-en Garden used to be a part of. The restored castle was first built in 1580 for Maeda Toshiie, the fourth son of a minor samurai family who entered the service of a powerful daimyo at the age of 15 and quickly rose through the ranks. The castle was reconstructed multiple times due to fire damages throughout its history. The last time a fire destroyed the castle was in 1881. The Hishi Yagura turret, Gojikken Nagaya warehouse and the Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura turret were faithfully restored in 2001 to their 1809 form using traditional construction methods. Today’s pillars are constructed from the Japanese Hinoki cypress along with the use of the massive American cypress as ceiling beams. The castle’s distinctive whitish roof tiles are made of lead.
Within a short distance from the castle is Nagamachi, a historical preservation zone where the residents still go about their daily lives among the remnants of a bygone age. A highlight of the neighbourhood is the restored Nomura Samurai House, whose small but supremely exquisite traditional garden delights visitors from around the world.
We wrap up the day with visit to Higashi Chaya Street. Higashi and chaya respectively translate to “eastern” and “tea house”. During the Edo Period, a chaya was found in designated entertainment district where geisha entertained male patrons with dance and music. Higashi Chaya Street today is a popular tourist attraction similar to Kyoto’s Gion district, with almost all of its businesses serving the needs of tourists (souvenirs, refreshments and so forth).
Day 7/Sun: Kanazawa – Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kanazawa (B/L)
We set out at 7:30 to embark on a full-day excursion by coach to Takayama and Shirakawa-go.
Famous for its inns, sake breweries, food festivals and local folk art, Takayama (118 km southeast of Kanazawa) is a delightful town nestled amongst the Japanese Alps. Our sightseeing takes in an open-air market, Sanno-machi Historic District, a sake shop and the historical Takayama Jin’ya – government house of the region during the Tokugawa shogunate period.
After lunch, we travel northbound in the direction of Kanazawa to visit Shirakawa-go (go in Japanese means township). Situated in a picturesque river valley, Shirakawa-go is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. The village we visit Shirakawa-go is called Ogimachi, the largest village in the township and the main attraction of Shirakawa-go. The village’s gassho-style large houses with steeply pitched thatched roofs are said to be the only examples of their kind in Japan.
Day 8/Mon: Kanazawa – Kyoto (B)
This morning we ride the express train (Thunderbird #12, 08:15/10:30) to Kyoto.
We tour the historical Nijo Castle on arrival. Nijo Castle is the site that witnessed the commencement and ending of the Tokugawa shogunate (1600 -1868). Lunch is on your own but you will find lots of choices available around the hotel.
We spend the rest of the day exploring the sprawling complex of Kiyomizu Temple, whose veranda provides stunning views of the city.
Day 9/Tue: Kyoto (B/L)
Nicknamed “City of Ten Thousand Shrines”, Kyoto (literal translation: capital city) served as Japan’s capital for more than one thousand years before the imperial court moved to Tokyo in 1868 with the onset of the Meiji Restoration (1868 to 1912, a historical period associated with the emergence of Japan as a modernized nation). Kyoto is a scaled replica of the Chinese Tang Dynasty’s capital Chang’an, present-day Xi’an. The Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) was a golden era in Chinese history and a time when Japanese adoption of Chinese culture reached its peak. Kyoto today, with a population of 1.5 million, forms a major part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area.
Morning sightseeing at Arashiyama (Storm Mountain) area takes in Tenryu-ji Temple and the Bamboo Forest. Located on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Arashiyama is famous for its immense natural beauty as well as its historical and cultural prominence due to the large number of well-preserved ancient Buddhist temples.
Afternoon sightseeing takes place at Kinkaku-ji (Temple of Golden Pavilion). This is a Zen Buddhist temple and one of 17 locations comprising the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site.
Day 10/Wed: Kyoto (B)
Today is set aside for you to explore on your own. Our recommendations include Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kyoto National Museum and Fushimi Inari Shrine (for hiking). The beautiful Kano River flowing through the city and the iconic Tokyo Railway Station are also popular among visitors. The traditional entertainment district known as Gion is a good place for tea ceremony but you may need to make a reservation for it.
Optional Day Trip to Hiroshima & Miyajima
Following breakfast, we embark on a full-day (11 hours total) excursion to Hiroshima and Miyajima. The modes of transportation include bullet train, local commuter train, ferry and taxi. This is a strenuous outing requiring the participants to walk at least 8 km or 5 miles at a brisk pace. Guests who doubt their ability for the challenge are encouraged to opt out. The optional day tour costs US$225 or its CAD equivalent and is subject to a minimum of 4 participants.
Hiroshima, literally meaning ‘broad island’, is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture and the largest city in the Chugoku region with a population of 1.2 million. Hiroshima is best known as the first city in history to be targeted by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on the city (and later on Nagasaki) at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, near the end of World War II. The highlight in Hiroshima, understandably but sadly, is the Peace Memorial Park which includes the Peace Memorial Museum, and the Atomic Bomb Dome that once served as the industrial promotion hall of the local prefect.
Miyajima Island, 30 minutes away from Hiroshima Station by commuter train, may be added as bonus if we sacrifice lunch time and also move fast. Officially known as Itsukushima, Miyajima is a small island (30 square kilometres, population 1,760) in Hiroshima Bay famous for its forests and ancient temples. The seaside Itsukushima Shinto Shrine on the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the “floating” torii gate in front of the shrine is the main reason for most visitors to come here.
Day 11/Thu: Kyoto – Nara – Osaka – Kyoto (B/L/D)
After breakfast we drive south for one hour to Nara and visit the magnificent Todai-ji temple on arrival. This ancient Buddhist temple is well-known not only for its splendid architecture and the huge bronze statue of the Buddha in the main hall but also for the 1,200 wild deer roaming freely on the grounds of the temple.
Nara is the capital city of Nara Prefecture and a former capital of Japan (710 – 794). With a population of roughly 370,000 and an area of 280 square kilometres, the city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture. Eight temples, shrines and ruins together with Kasugayama Primeval Forest collectively form “The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Afterwards we continue on to Osaka, where we visit the historic Osaka Castle the Dotomburi. Situated at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, Osaka is Japan’s third most populous city (after Tokyo and Yokohama) and plays a significant role in Japanese economy. Osaka was once known as the “nation’s kitchen” because of its function as Japan’s rice trading centre during the Edo period.
After a walking tour of Dotonbori, Osaka’s legendary shopping and entertainment district, we return to Kyoto arriving at the hotel around 5:00 PM.
Today’s traditional multi-course dinner (kaiseki) features performance by a maiko (geisha trainee).
Day 12/Fri: Kyoto – Busan (B)
Free morning to explore on your own.
The early afternoon flight to Busan takes one and half hours. We transfer to the hotel on arrival in Busan and have the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 13/Sat: Busan (B/L)
Busan, sometimes spelled as Pusan, is the largest port and second largest city in South Korea with a current population around 3.5 million. The city is known for its beaches, mountains and temples.
Today’s sightseeing begins with a visit to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery. Established in January 1951, the 35-acre burial ground contains 2,300 graves of fallen soldiers who fought on the side of the United Nations during the Korean War (Jun 25, 1950 – Jul 27, 1953). The majority of the interred soldiers were from the Commonwealth of Nations including the United Kingdom (886), Canada (378), Australia (281), New Zealand (34) and South Africa (11). A South Korean guard of honour carries out flag ceremonies daily.
We then proceed to Jagalchi fish market, the largest seafood market in South Korea. Today’s schedule ends with a leisurely walk at Haeundae Beach.
Day 14/Sun: Busan – Gyeongju – Seoul (B/L)
Following breakfast we drive 100 kilometres northeast to Gyeongju. The city was the capital of the 1,000-year-long Silla dynasty and is known for its extensive historical remains.
Our sightseeing in Gyeongju begins at the 8th-century Bulguksa, a magnificent Buddhist temple complex featuring stone pagodas, a series of wooden buildings on raised stone terraces, and a large bronze Buddha. A masterpiece of the golden age of Buddhist art in the Silla kingdom, the temple is classified as Historic and Scenic Site No. 1 by the South Korean government and is also listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The Gyeongju National Museum is next on our schedule. The museum houses a large collection of relics from the Silla era giving the visitor a deep insight into the ancient kingdom.
The afternoon train journey to Seoul takes just over 2 hours (KTX #40, 15:07/17:14, 300 km).
Capital of South Korea, Seoul is a huge metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples, palaces and street markets.
Day 15/Mon: Seoul (B/L/D)
We begin today with a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) located about 45 km from the hotel. The DMZ divides North Korea and South Korea and is one of the last remnants of the Cold War. The DMZ runs across the Korean Peninsula and roughly follows the 38th parallel north (popular name given to latitude 38° N) on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and the east end lying north of it. With over a million soldiers on watch each day, this stretch of land measuring 250 kilometres (160 miles) long and about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) wide is the most fortified border in the world.
We spend the rest of the day exploring, Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Mseum, and Bukchon Hanok Village (traditional residential area on top of a hill inside the city).
Day 16/Tue: Seoul – Home City (B)
Your memorable Japan and South Korea tour ends this morning. Transfer to Incheon International Airport, 50km west of Seoul, on your own. Taxi costs between 70,000 and 100,000 Korean won (US$56 to US$80) including expressway toll charge, but most travellers prefer the Airport Railroad Express which costs 9,500 won (US$7.50) one way per person.
Hotel List
| City | Nights | Hotel | Category |
| Tokyo | 4 | Tokyo Dome Hotel | 4 stars/first class |
| Kanazawa | 2 | ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa | 4 stars/first class |
| Kyoto | 4 | ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto | 4 stars/first class |
| Busan | 2 | Lotte Hotel Busan | 5 stars/luxury |
| Seoul | 2 | Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun | 5 stars/luxury |
| The hotels are subject to change without notice. |
|||
|
Dates and Prices
Check out our discount offer
| Depart | Return | Land Tour* | Single Supplement** |
| (Mon) | (Tue) | CA$/US$ | CA$/US$ |
| 2024 | |||
| 18-Mar | 02-Apr | $12,155/$9,350 | $3835/$2950 |
| 25-Mar | 09-Apr | $12,155/$9,350 | $3835/$2950 |
| 01-Apr | 16-Apr | $12,155/$9,350 | $3835/$2950 |
| 08-Apr | 23-Apr | $12,155/$9,350 | $3835/$2950 |
| 15-Apr | 30-Apr | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 06-May | 21-May | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 13-May | 28-May | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 20-May | 04-Jun | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 27-May | 11-Jun | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 03-Jun | 19-Jun | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 10-Jun | 25-Jun | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 17-Jun | 02-Jul | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 24-Jun | 09-Jul | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 30-Sep | 15-Oct | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 07-Oct | 22-Oct | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 14-Oct | 29-Oct | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 21-Oct | 05-Nov | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 28-Oct | 12-Nov | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 04-Nov | 19-Nov | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 11-Nov | 26-Nov | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
| 18-Nov | 03-Dec | $11,830/$9,100 | $3835/$2950 |
* Land tour price does not include international airfare except for the flight from Osaka to Busan.
** The single supplement can be meaningfully reduced if you accept a single room truly intended for singles (18 square meters or smaller with a single or double bed).
|
What the tour price includes:
|
What the tour price excludes:
See Terms & Conditions for more information. |
Passport & Visa
Your passport must have at least one blank visa page and six months validity at the end of the tour.
For stays of 90 days or less, visa is not required for citizens of Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and a host of Western countries.
However, effective Sep 21, 2021, visa-free eligible foreign visitors need to obtain Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) to entre Korea. You can apply for K-ETA via the official website (www.k-eta.go.kr) for 10,000 KRW (US$8/CA$11). Be ware of Non-Official websites and agencies for K-ETA. Please contact us if you need help.
Immunization
Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 may be required. We will update you on this around your balance due date.
No certificate of any other inoculation is required. If necessary, check with your family doctor or a travel medicine clinic to determine what precautions you should take. We recommend vaccination against hepatitis A and suggest that you check out advice provided by the Health Canada and the US CDC.
Travel Health
The cleanliness of Japan never fails to impress the visitor. South Korea is not too far behind.
Tap water is potable in both countries. Boiling it before drinking gets rid of the possible smell of chlorine.
Carry a roll of toilet paper and a bottle of hand sanitizer on you when you step out of the hotel. As a matter of precaution, this advice applies whenever we travel.
Local Currency & Credit Card
Japan: yen (JPY)
South Korea: won (KRW)
Withdrawing cash from local ATMs after arrival remains our recommended method of currency exchange. For transactions over $50 you are advised to use a credit card.
Keep your inventory of local currency low. Your tour fare already covers all the expensive items. You only need some cash for incidentals and meals not included in the tour price.
Reading List
The recommended reading list for this itinerary is being updated. Please check back with us if you are interested.
Travel Insurance – When to Buy
Your deposit will be kept as credit if you cancel for any reason. The transferrable credit has no expiration date. Therefore, it may be unnecessary to spend $30 to $50 on cancellation insurance just to protect the deposit.
However, purchase of trip cancellation & emergency medical insurance is strongly advised when your balance is due. If you don’t have proper coverage, the loss can be devastating in case of cancellation before or after commencement of the booked trip or in case of a serious medical emergency during the trip. Please ask us premium quotes when your balance due date is near.
