South Korea & Japan Discovered

Fly to welcoming Seoul, South Korea’s sprawling capital and a mix of futuristic architecture and ancient Buddhist temples.    

Once you’ve had breakfast, join your tour manager for a discovery of the city. The day will start at Daereungwon Tomb complex, a ring of pretty gardens which host a series of ancient royal burial mounds. Here, you can see the Cheonmachong Tomb, famed for its elaborate burial practices and well-preserved artefacts. A gold crown, in particular, is recognised as the largest and most remarkable gold crowns unearthed in Korea. You’ll also see the neighbouring Gyeongju National Museum, which showcases Korea’s national heritage with its vast array of relics dating back to the Silla dynasty.   

Your next stop will be Hwangridangil Street, a picturesque sprawl of hanoks (traditional Korean dwellings), where you’ll have time to explore its local shopfronts and perhaps find lunch at a local café or restaurant. From here, further immersion awaits in delightful Gyochon village where Korea’s Joseon history comes alive with living exhibits and its original clan houses. View the shopfront of an authentic Gyodong Beopju (rice wine) brewery and learn about the lives of one of the country’s most influential families, the Gyeongju Choi Clan.   

Another highlight on today’s itinerary is Cheomseongdae, the oldest astronomical observatory in East Asia, constructed in the 7th century. Cylindrical and composed from stone, this lofty building was used to see celestial bodies and track the seasons. It also consists of 365 stones, symbolising the number of days in a year.  

The day will come to an end with stops at Dong Palace and Wolji Pond, a 7th-century royal palace complex from the Silla Dynasty. The landscaped grounds, adorned with colourful flowers, are particularly stunning in spring and autumn. As you explore the artificial, oval pond with its three islands and traditional pavilions, take a moment to appreciate its unique curved design, which creates the illusion of an expansive open sea.    

This evening, settle back into the hotel with time at leisure and dinner with your fellow guests.

Once you’ve had breakfast, check out of the hotel and join your tour manager for further discovery of the city. The Seokguram Grotto, positioned on the slopes of Mount Toham is the starting point, which forms part of the Bulguksa Temple complex. Dating back to the 8th century, this grotto houses an impressive stone statue of the Buddha seated in meditation and enclosed by intricately carved bodhisattvas and guardian deities. Bulguksa Temple was built in the same era, despite having undergone several renovations, and both landmarks are UNESCO World Heritage Sights. As you walk around the grounds, you can view the pagodas and intricate stone carvings. 

Later this morning, make the journey to the south coast for the lively port city of Busan. Enjoy an introduction to one of South Korea’s most enchanting seaside hubs, starting with a visit to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a Buddhist shrine built onto the cliffs with spectacular views over the waves below. This temple complex encompasses an assortment of shrines, statues and stone carvings.   Swapping Busan’s skyscrapers for a green oasis, the tour will then head to the centuries-old Ahopsansup Forest, a verdant stretch of diverse trees, including bamboo, pine and cedar. Your tour manager will lead you on a gentle trail through its idyllic centre, teaching you about the conservation efforts to preserve the area, which has also provided the backdrop for various TV series and film. The forest is remarkably enchanting in spring and autumn, when vivid colours transform the landscape.  

From here, travel to Haeundae Beach where you’ll have some time to relax at leisure before returning to the hotel. If you’d prefer, you can join an optional hanjeongsik (Korean table d’hôte) dinner experience at a local restaurant. Savour an array of regional delicacies and learn about the origins and local ingredients used in Busan’s diverse culinary scene. Alternatively, if you chose to return to the hotel, why not unwind with a treatment or two at the nearby Jjimjilbang (traditional Korean spa).

Have breakfast, check out of the hotel and depart for Busan port. Lunch will be enjoyed in the early afternoon. A hydrofoil ferry, Queen Beetle, will then transport you across the Korea Strait to Fukuoka port.  

Upon arrival in Fukuoka, you’ll be welcomed by a guide and driven to the next hotel in the centre of Fukuoka, located on the northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island. This evening will be free to relax and have dinner, perhaps in one of the neighbouring restaurants.  

Check out of the hotel after breakfast and board the coach for a tour of two nearby cities, Dazaifu and Oita.  

Upon arrival in the city, visit the Kyushu National Museum, one of only four national museums in Japan. Across the five sections, you’ll observe Japanese history, from the prehistoric period to the modern Edo and Meiji periods, brought to life by the museum’s artefact displays and interactive exhibits.

Heading further out, the tour will continue to Yabakei Gorge in Oita Prefecture, a nationally designated ‘Place of Scenic Beauty’. The unique rock formations formed by the Yamakuni River, cascading waterfalls, and craggy cliffs laden in greenery, make for a beautiful scene, even more vibrant in spring and autumn. You’ll then make your way to Kokonoe Yume Otsurihashi Suspension Bridge, Japan’s highest pedestrian suspension bridge, above the Naruko River. From the bridge, you can enjoy incredible views of the surrounding valley and mountainous scenery, with the colours of the seasons adding to the landscape. 

Finally, you’ll arrive in Beppu, one of Japan’s most famous hot spring resorts, popular for its therapeutic onsen baths. Several geothermal hot springs can be found here, each with distinctive characteristics, like calm blue waters or boiling mud.  

Dinner will be at a local restaurant tonight with your fellow travellers.  

Breakfast will be followed by a day of immersing yourself in one of Japan’s most popular pastimes, bathing in hot springs.  

Begin with a visit to Beppu's Jigoku or the Hells of Beppu, an assortment of hot springs famed for their dramatic colours and unique appearances. You can witness each of the seven hot springs, connected by walkways, including Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) with its bright blue shade and the blood-red Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell). Watch as the gas rises and the hot mud bubbles, learn about the high temperatures they reach (not suitable for swimming), and perhaps try a soft-boiled egg or baked pudding cooked from the steam.  

A ride on the Beppu Ropeway, is next, which will transport you up to the slopes of Mount Tsurumi. When you reach the summit, the views of Beppu Bay and the hot springs below are bound to impress. After returning down in this arial lift line, continue to Kako-no-Izumi, another famous hot spring, situated half-way up Mt. Garandake. This hot spring is one of the few in the country containing acidic sulfur, and you can enjoy a tranquil break soaking in the indoor and outdoor baths here, with views of the volcano crater.  

Later in the day, return to the hotel and join the other travellers for dinner at a local restaurant.

When you’ve had breakfast and checked out of the hotel, meet your tour manager in the lobby and take a short walk to Beppu station. Your large luggage will be sent to the hotel in Kyoto for the following night, but you’ll need to prepare a small hand-carried bag for the hotel this evening.  

Aboard an express train, make your way to Hiroshima, changing to a bullet train at Kokura station for the final leg of the journey. Once you’ve arrived at Hiroshima station, set off on a half-day tour, encompassing Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which exhibits artefacts, photographic displays, and personal accounts of the atomic bombing's impact on the city and its people.  

You’ll also see Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, with the A-Bomb Dome structure that symbolises the city’s resilience, peace efforts and is a remembrance of the atomic bombing during World War II. Lastly, visit the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Museum, a remembrance to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, housing models that illustrate the scale of destruction and human suffering caused by the bomb.  

This evening, check into your nearby hotel for an evening at leisure.  

Following breakfast, travel by ferry to Miyajima Island located in Hiroshima Bay. Covered in forests and interspersed with ancient temples, this island is home to Itsukushima Shrine. A ‘floating’ torii orange gate, which becomes partially submerged at high tide, serves as the entrance to this 12th-century shrine that you’ll visit. For lunch, make sure you sample okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake dating back to the pre-war period. 

The ferry will then return to the mainland, and you’ll head back to Hiroshima station for a bullet train ride to Kyoto, the country’s former imperial capital. The hotel is just a short walk from the station, and you’ll have the rest of the day to do some exploring on your own.  

Fuel up on breakfast before venturing by coach to the mountainside shrine, Fushimi Inari Taisha. This is one of the most well-known Shinto shrines, dedicated to Inari, the deity of rice, agriculture, and business prosperity. Famed for its thousands of red torii gates, which create tunnels through the wooded trails of Mount Inari, this sanctuary promises inspiring views of the city. You’ll also notice a variety of stone fox statues scattered around the grounds, as this creature is thought to be Inari’s messenger.  

Nijo Castle is next, and this UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in 1603 as the residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled the country for over 200 years. It later served as an imperial palace for visiting emperors. A highlight of this property is the Ninomaru Palace, a fine example of lavish Momoyama architecture. As you walk through the interior, you'll notice a unique feature known as ‘nightingale floors’, which are designed to chirp like birds, serving as a security measure against intruders. 

Another impressive landmark is Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, one of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks. Reflecting onto the Kyoko-chi (Mirror Pond), this 14-century Buddhist temple covered in shimmering gold leaf is surrounded by meticulously landscaped grounds. 

Arashiyama will follow, and this protected park area of trees, set along a river, encompasses temples and shrines, and is particularly popular during cherry blossom and autumn colour seasons. At the heart of the park, the famed Arashiyama Bamboo Grove can be found, with its serene pathways bordered by towering bamboo stalks. Embrace its mediative atmosphere as you walk, with the sunlight filtering through the leaves.  

Nearby, the Togetsu-kyo Bridge (Moon Crossing Bridge) spans the Hozu River, dates back to the 9th century, and is seen as the gateway to the Arashiyama area. You can stroll across this historic, wooden structure for the best views of the scenic landscape.  

Return to the hotel later for an evening at leisure.  

You can choose to explore Kyoto at your own pace today, or join an optional tour to Gion, the city’s entertainment and geisha district. This is one of the few places where you can still encounter these skilled entertainers or geiko (Kyoto’s term for geisha) in their traditional attire.  

Customary ochaya (teahouses) and preserved, wooden merchant houses can also be found here along the cobbled, lantern-lit streets. Many of these buildings have now been transformed into upmarket restaurants, and shops, which you can browse.  

Adjacent to Gion is the charming Old District, particularly around Higashiyama, one of the best-preserved historic areas in Kyoto. Here, the labyrinth of lanes, stone-paved streets, and wooden structures are reminiscent of Japan’s Edo Period (1603–1868). Highlights include walking along Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, two sloping streets that lead to the UNESCO-listed Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which offers a panoramic view of the old city.  

After browsing the stores, and perhaps picking up a handmade craft or souvenir, you’ll return to the hotel.

Say goodbye to Kyoto once you’ve had breakfast, and travel to Kyoto station. Aboard another bullet train, journey to Mishima, a picturesque city in central Japan, with a backdrop of Mount Fuji, the country’s tallest peak.  

On the way, call at the hill town of Hakone, overlooking Lake Ashinoko with a backdrop of Mount Fuji and a sprawling suspension bridge. You’ll have time to wander around, perhaps strolling along the street by the train station, lined with souvenir shops offering crafts, pottery and Japanese food products. 

If the conditions permit, you’ll make your way up to the Mount Fuji 5th station, approximately halfway up this iconic landmark. The vantage point here is breath-taking, and on clear days, you can see Lake Yamanaka and the Japanese Alps in the distance. 

Then, embark on a boat that will cruise across the waters of the crater lake, admiring the views of Mount Fuji that are particularly spectacular when there are no clouds. The striking Hakone Shrine, set on the shore with its red torii gate appearing to float above the surface, can also be observed. 

Back on land, the tour will proceed to Tokyo, Japan’s vibrant capital city, and you can check into the hotel.  

A last day of exploration is on the cards after breakfast, and your guide will take you around Tokyo by coach.  

To see the city from a different angle, head up to Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in Japan, standing at 634 metres. The Tembo Deck, located at 350 meters, is a floor-to-ceiling 360-degree viewpoint, allowing you to take in the sights, like Tokyo Nay and Mount Fuji. There is even a glass floor section if you’re feeling brave enough to look down.  

A change of pace will then be experienced as your guide leads you to the downtown district of Asakusa, where Tokyo’s rich past has been preserved. It’s here that Sensoji also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in the capital, can be found. Veiled by a mist of incense and featuring a five-story pagoda made up of rambling eaves, this ruby-hued monument honours the Buddhist goddess, Kannon. The street in front, Nakamise-dori, is fringed by shops selling trinkets, like folding fans and kimonos, and customary snacks and drinks. 

Continue on to explore one of Japan’s most famous landmarks, which encompasses an expanse of forested land, Meiji Shrine. Built in 1920 and dedicated to Japan's first modern emperor and empress, Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, this sprawling sanctuary is awash with traditional architecture and hosts many rituals and festivals throughout the year. 

Harajuku and Omotesando Street are two more popular areas in Tokyo, known for their contrasting but equally lively atmospheres. Harajuku has a youthful and quirky fashion scene, with shops selling unique and trendy clothing. Takeshita Street, at the centre of Harajuku, is where you can also find colourful street food and observe cosplay enthusiasts.  

Omotesando Street, on the other hand, is often referred to as Tokyo's ‘Champs-Élysées’. The shopping experience is more sophisticated and upscale here, with high-end boutiques, luxury brands, and art galleries lining the avenue.  

Later, head to the city’s major commercial and financial centre, Shibuya, home to two of the busiest train stations in the world. Also seen as the birthplace of many of the country’s entertainment and fashion trends, this pulsating hub is packed with restaurants, bars and shops, all illuminated by neon signs. You’ll get to navigate the ‘Shibuya Scramble Crossing’ its swell of people before returning to the hotel.  

This evening, you can also choose to venture out on an optional river cruise. Enjoy a truly unique dining experience as you tuck into authentic local flavours and delicacies against the backdrop of Tokyo’s evening skyline. From the Rainbow Bridge, shining in vibrant multicolour against the darkness, to the Tokyo Skytree, there’ll be no shortage of illuminated sights to see as night falls on the capital.  

You’ll arrive back in the UK after your once-in-a-lifetime holiday.