01days
Tokyo
—
Arrive in Tokyo, transfer to the hotel, and the rest of the day is free.
02days
Tokyo
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Dinner
18:30We’ll meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take the subway (tickets included) to the Shinjuku area. more
From there, we’ll enjoy a walk through this lively district before heading to a local restaurant for dinner (included). We’ll return to the hotel by subway, accompanied by our guide.
03days
Tokyo - Hiroshima - Itsukushima - Hiroshima
860 km
Dinner
07:30Departure from the hotel. We’ll transfer to Tokyo Station and board a high-speed bullet train. The journey will take just over four hours.
12:30Hiroshima. This city is somberly remembered for the atomic bombing it endured in 1945. more
We’ll walk through the Peace Memorial Park, see the Atomic Bomb Dome, and visit the powerful Peace Memorial Museum. Afterward, you’ll have free time for lunch.
18:00Departure from Miyajima. We’ll board the ferry and continue to our hotel. Dinner will be included.
04days
Hiroshima - Matsuyama
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Lunch
12:00Matsuyama – arrival. We’ll take a cable car or chairlift to visit its impressive castle. more
Afterward, we’ll visit Ishiteji, a stunning Buddhist temple and important pilgrimage site. Lunch will be included.
05days
Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe
345 km
Lunch
07:30Departure from Matsuyama.
10:00Kotohira. We’ll visit a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors, a pilgrimage site located on Mount Zozu, accessible by climbing 785 steps. more
For those who prefer not to climb, the base of the mountain offers a lively tourist area and a small sake museum (Japan’s traditional distilled beverage).
12:00Departure from Kotohira.
13:00Takamatsu. We’ll visit Ritsurin, one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan. Lunch will be included at a local restaurant.
15:00Departure from Takamatsu.
16:15Naruto. We’ll stop at an impressive bridge that crosses the sea. more
Here, we’ll explore its fascinating construction and walk on its glass floor to admire the stunning sea whirlpools (visible depending on the schedule and tides) from 45 meters above.
17:15Departure from Naruto. Enjoy beautiful scenery as we cross large suspension bridges.
19:00Kobe. A modern city by the sea, where you’ll have the chance to stroll through its lively downtown area.
06days
Kobe - Osaka - Mount Koya
140 km
Dinner
10:30Departure from Kobe and continuation toward Osaka.
11:15Osaka, Japan´s second-largest city. We’ll make a brief technical stop in Osaka only if required for the start or end of a tour for any passenger.
23:30Departure from the city toward the sacred mountain of Koya, the most important center of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. We’ll stop for lunch along the way. more
This magical pilgrimage site is home to 120 temples and monasteries. We’ll visit the Okuno Mausoleum, a deeply spiritual place and vast cemetery set in nature, with over 200,000 graves. We’ll also visit the Kongobuji Temple, built in 1593.
07days
Mount Koya - Kyoto
130 km
07:15Departure for Kyoto.
10:30Kyoto. We’ll spend the entire day exploring this historic city, which served as Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868 and was the seat of the Imperial Court. more
Remarkably, Kyoto was spared from bombing during World War II, allowing it to retain its incredible artistic and cultural heritage. The famous Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions was signed here in 1997.
08days
Kyoto - Eihei-ji – Katsuyama - Kanazawa
302 km
07:30Departure from Kyoto. Following one of Japan’s largest lakes, we’ll make a brief stop at a small lakeside shrine called Shirahige Ginra.
11:00Arrival at Eihei-ji, a temple-monastery founded in 1244 and a central hub of Zen Buddhism in Japan (admission included). more
Its surroundings, architecture, gardens, and spiritual ambiance make it a key training center for monks who practice Zazen meditation and follow a strict daily diet.
12:30Departure from Eihei-ji.
13:15Katsuyama. We’ll visit three main attractions: the Dinosaur Museum, located at Japan’s largest dinosaur fossil site, where you’ll have free time for lunch and to explore its educational exhibits, featuring over 40 skeletons of various dinosaurs. more
Afterwards, we’ll visit the Great Buddha of Echizen and its grand temple, along with a five-story pagoda, which we can climb to enjoy the view.
17:30Departure from Katsuyama.
19:00Arrival in Kanazawa in the late afternoon.
09days
Kanazawa
10 km
08:30Full day in Kanazawa. In the morning, we’ll include a city tour. more
Throughout history, Kanazawa rivaled both Kyoto and Tokyo, and during World War II, it was spared from destruction during the air raids. We’ll visit the castle area, with its impressive walls, and stroll through the historic Nagamachi district, where samurais and their families once resided. This area preserves its historical atmosphere with remaining residences, earthen walls, private entrance gates, narrow alleys, and water canals. We’ll include admission to Kenrokuen, one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. We’ll finish the tour in Omicho, a traditional market brimming with life and many places to have lunch. The return to the hotel will be on your own. We recommend taking a taxi, and your guide will explain how to do so. Free afternoon.
10days
Kanazawa – Ainokura – Shirakawa-go – Takayama
138 km
08:00Departure from Kanazawa. We’ll journey through stunning mountain scenery, forests, and traditional villages as we explore the Gokayama and Shirakawago regions. more
These villages are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and their traditional houses with steeply sloped roofs are known as “praying hands” for their resemblance to monks´ hands joined in prayer—designed to withstand heavy winter snowfalls.
09:15Arrival in Ainokura, a charming small village.
10:30Departure from Ainokura.
11:00Arrival in Shirakawa-go Ogimachi, the largest village in the area, showcasing rural Japan with houses that are masterpieces of carpentry. more
You’ll have time to stroll around and enjoy lunch.
13:30Departure from Shirakawa-go.
14:15Arrival in Hida Folk Village Museum, a peaceful open-air museum displaying over 30 traditional houses from the Edo Period (1603-1868). more
These buildings were relocated from their original sites to create this museum in 1971, offering a glimpse into everyday life from the past through the tools and utensils exhibited. We’ll then have time to explore the old town, known for its wooden houses and traditional shops.
15:30Departure from Hida Folk Village.
15:45Arrival in Takayama for accommodation.
11days
Takayama - Hida Furukawa – Matsumoto – Tokyo
334 km
10:00Departure from Takayama.
10:30Hida Furukawa. We’ll stroll through the charming old town. more
This city’s festival has been declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, known for its large drums and beautifully decorated floats. We’ll include admission to the museum, which showcases the festival’s floats, costumes, and drums.
12:00Departure from Hida Furukawa.We’ll continue our journey, crossing the Japanese Alps. Stop for lunch en route (lunch not included).
15:30Upon arrival in Matsumoto, we’ll visit the city’s impressive castle, known as the "Crow Castle" due to its black color, dating back to the 16th century. more
Afterward, you’ll have free time to enjoy lunch and explore the town.
17:00Departure from Matsumoto.
20:30Arrival in Tokyo
12days
Tokyo - Busan
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Tokyo to Busan. The day is arranged by the local guide; no fixed schedule is published.
13days
Busan – Seokguram Buddhist Grotto - Bulguksa Temple – Gyeongju - Daegu
225 km
Lunch
08:00Departure from Busan.
10:00Arrival at Seokguram. Visit to this Buddhist Grotto (admission included), an artificial cave carved into the rock in the 8th century and located on the slopes of Mount Tohamsan. more
It houses a monumental stone statue of Buddha facing the sea.
11:00Departure from Seokguram.
11:30Arrival at Bulguksa Temple (entrance included). Visit to this temple, considered one of the most beautiful in the country and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. more
The temple houses seven National Treasures of Korea and is a masterpiece from the height of Buddhism during the ancient Silla Kingdom.
12:15Departure from Bulguksa Temple.
13:00Arrival in Gyeongju. Visit to this coastal city, the former capital of the Silla Kingdom, which lasted longer than any other dynasty in Korean history, for a total of 992 years under the rule of 56 kings. more
We will have the opportunity to photograph the beautiful wooden Woljeonggyo Bridge along the Namcheon River. Lunch included. We then continue to the Tumuli Park, where the tombs of the kings of the ancient Silla Kingdom, more than 1,500 years old, are located. We will visit one of these tombs (entrance included). Walking, we will reach Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory, the oldest in East Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
16:00Departure from Gyeongju.
17:30Arrival in Daegu, the fourth-largest city in Korea. Before heading to the hotel, we will visit Dongsan Cheongna Hill, a historic site where Christian missionaries once lived, and Dongseong-ro Shopping Street, the city’s liveliest area, with fashion shops, cafés, and restaurants, as well as the Yangnyeongsi Museum of Traditional Medicine (entrance included), famous for its history of medicinal herbs in Eastern medicine.
14days
Daegu – Andong – Hahoe Village - Byeongsan Seowon – Seoul
387 km
Lunch
08:00Departure from Daegu.
09:30Arrival in Andong. We will visit the traditional village of Hahoe Village (admission included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located on the outskirts of the city. more
Free time to stroll through the streets of this rural village that seems frozen in time. We will also visit the excellent World Mask Museum, featuring masks used for dances, medical practices, religious ceremonies, and theatrical performances. Lunch included at a local restaurant.
13:30Departure from Hahoe Village (Andong).
13:45Arrival at Byeongsan Seowon, a Confucian academy founded in the 16th century. more
We visit this site, located beside a river in an idyllic setting full of peace and tranquility.
14:30Departure from Byeongsan Seowon.
18:30Arrival in Seoul in the late afternoon. Overnight stay.
15days
Seoul - DMZ - Seoul
150 km
Lunch Dinner
08:30Seoul. Departure.
09:30Aegibong Peace Ecological Park (Gimpo) Arrival at this symbolic space created to bring together peace, ecology, history, and culture, while promoting the values of Korean unification and collective memory. more
Observatory visit: From this viewpoint, it is possible to see North Korean territory at a very short distance across the river. This is a truly unique experience.
11:30Aegibong Peace Ecological Park (Gimpo). Departure.
12:30Local restaurant. Arrival. Lunch included.
13:30Local restaurant. Departure.
14:00Paju Demilitarized Zone (DMZ Imjingang). Arrival at the border area that divides South Korea and North Korea. more
We will visit the National Memorial and Mangbaedan Altar, the Imjingak Pavilion, a symbol of peace, and take a cable car ride (included) to observe from above the areas near the Military Demarcation Line. Finally, we will visit the Freedom Bridge, a former railway bridge over the Imjin River that, after the war, was used to return prisoners of war to South Korea. Today, it stands as a historic symbol of hope. This site allows us to understand Korean history from a human perspective: family separation, war, the hope for reunification, and the contrast between natural beauty and historical wounds.
16:00Paju Demilitarized Zone (DMZ Imjingang). Departure to Seoul Later, with our guide, we will visit the City Hall building, known for its wave-like (tsunami-shaped) design. more
Across from City Hall is Deoksugung Palace, where we can appreciate the coexistence of tradition and modernity in Korea. We will then walk to the Myeongdong district, the country’s largest commercial and entertainment area; its name means “bright tunnel.” Dinner included at a local restaurant. Return by Seoul’s modern subway system (ticket included).
21:30Hotel. Arrival and overnight stay.
16days
Seoul
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Lunch
08:30Today we include an extensive sightseeing tour of approximately five hours in Seoul. more
We will visit Changdeokgung Palace (entrance included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a palace complex set within a large park. Afterwards, we will stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional historic neighborhood of small, well-preserved houses.
Lunch included at a local restaurant.
12:00We continue to the Gangnam District, one of the busiest and most vibrant areas of the city, home to numerous shopping malls and entertainment venues. more
To conclude the day, we stop at LOTTE WORLD TOWER, an impressive 550-meter-tall building, where you will have free time to go up to the tower (admission not included) or to stroll through its park or luxury shopping centers.
16:30Return to the hotel and free time.
17days
Seoul - Suwon - Jeonju
227 km
Lunch
08:30Hotel. Departure from the hotel.
09:00Gyeongbokgung Palace (entrance included). Arrival at this impressive palace with over 600 years of history, where we will attend the Changing of the Guard ceremony, if it is taking place.
10:30Gyeongbokgung Palace. Departure from Seoul heading south toward South Korea.
11:30Suwon. Arrival in the former capital of Korea, known for its impressive UNESCO World Heritage-listed fortress walls. more
We will visit the walls and their fortifications, as well as the Hwaseong Haenggung Summer Palace (entrance included), notable for its traditional architecture. Lunch included at a local restaurant.
13:40Suwon. Departure.
16:00Jeonju. Arrival. With our guide, we will explore its fascinating historic center (Hanok Village), with its traditional houses, local shops, and art galleries. more
After the walk, free time.
18days
Jeonju - Sunchang Gochujang Village - Damyang County – Haeinsa - Busan
415 km
Lunch
08:00Jeonju. Departure.
08:40Sunchang Gochujang Village. Arrival. This traditional village is located at the foot of Amisan Mountain. more
With its hanok houses and courtyards filled with large earthenware jars known as hang-a-ri, it is home to expert gochujang (Korean chili paste) artisans who use traditional methods. We will enjoy a hands-on experience learning how this traditional sauce is prepared.
09:40Sunchang Gochujang Village. Departure.
10:00Damyang. Arrival. Visit to the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest (entrance included), whose paths are considered among the most beautiful in the country—ideal for peaceful walks and enjoying the cool breeze. more
We will find all kinds of bamboo-crafted products, and visit places such as the Bamboo Museum (entrance included), where this plant is studied and revered.
12:30Damyang. Departure.
14:35Haeinsa Temple (entrance included). Amid impressive forest-covered mountain landscapes, we arrive at Haeinsa, one of the most important Buddhist temples in Korea and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. more
Built in 802, it houses the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, carved onto 80,000 wooden printing blocks.
16:20Haeinsa. Departure.
19:00Busan. Arrival in Korea’s second-largest city, known for its vibrant atmosphere. Overnight stay.
19days
Busan
85 km
Lunch
08:30Departure from Busan.
09:15Arrival at Haedong Yonggungsa. Visit of this 14th-century Buddhist temple located on the coastal cliffs of Busan. more
Along the main access path to the temple, there is a row of stone statues representing the twelve figures of the Chinese zodiac, which, according to Eastern philosophy, are considered guardian deities.
10:15Departure from Haedong Yonggungsa.
11:15Arrival in Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea, and city tour. more
We will visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (entrance included), where people from many different countries are buried. We will then head to the largest fish market in the country, located next to Nampo Port. Lunch included at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we walk to Yongdusan Park, home to its impressive 120-meter pagoda.
14:30Departure to Songdo Beach, which features the country’s first maritime cable car (included, subject to weather conditions), offering spectacular views of the bay. more
We then continue to one of Busan’s most picturesque neighborhoods, Gamcheon Cultural Village, filled with brightly colored buildings, labyrinth-like alleyways, art galleries, pottery workshops, and charming cafés.
18:45Departure from Gamcheon Cultural Village. Return to Busan.
19:15Arrival at the hotel in Busan. Overnight stay.
20days
Busan
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The tour ends in Busan; transfer to the airport for your flight.
The transfer to the airport on the last day is not in the fare. It can be added at booking, where its price is shown.
Route, coach distances, timed stops and included meals as confirmed by the operator.