Arrival
Welcome to the capital of South Korea - Seoul!
Upon arrival, you are met by your private driver, who transfers you to your hotel for the check-in. The rest of the day is at your own leisure to relax after the trip or start your independent exploration of the huge metropolis that has it all: from modern skyscrapers to pop culture, Buddhist temples, palaces and street markets.
Seoul Sightseeing
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your private guide and driver in the lobby to embark on a private city tour of Seoul.
Your start your exploration with a visit to the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main and first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty constructed in 1395. Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful, and remains the largest of all Five Grand Palaces own Seoul. Located inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, you also find the National Folklore Museum, presenting historical artefacts that were used in the daily lives of Korean people in the past. Through the displays, visitors can learn about the domestic and agricultural lifestyles, as well as Koreaan cultural beliefs.
You then proceed to the Insadong Antique Street. Insadong Street serves as the focal point of traditional Korean arts & crafts. Narrow alleyways contain a plethora of folk crafts, hand-made pottery and eclectic paintings. Afterwards, you stop at Namdaemun Market, the largest traditional market in Korea, where most of the good sold are made by the storeowners.
Namsangol Hanok Village, a village of traditional houses, is next on your list for today. The village allows its visitors to get a taste of the traditional life while escaping from the bustling city life of modern times. The five houses were remodelled after the traditional houses of Joseon Dynasty and over a range of social classes, from peasants to aristocrats.
Conclude your first sightseeing day by going up Seoul's first landmark, N Seoul Tower. N Seoul Tower was the first tower-type tourist attraction in Korea, offering an astonishing 360 degree panorama over the city. After enjoying the view, you are taken back to your hotel and have the evening at leisure.
DMZ Tour
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your private guide and driver in the lobby and head for the Imjingak Park, where you and your private guide join a shared coach for a DMZ tour and take the chance of going very close to the border between two Koreas.
DMZ is the s a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea. During the tour you learn about the division as well as the ongoing events surrounding the two Koreas.
At the Dora Observatory you can peer through the barbed wire fence put along the Military Demarcation Line, where, on a clear day, you will be able to see the villages and industrial parks of North Korea. During the tour you will also walk into the 3rd Underground Tunnel, built by the North Koreans so that 30,000 soldiers could invade the South per hour; this tunnel is so large that even tanks can pass through unobstructed.
After the tour, you meet with your private driver who takes you to your hotel in Seoul.
Note: it is a full-day tour with early pick-up.
Please, note: Please have your passports with you on this day for the tour. Please, note that there is a dress code at the DMZ; please do not wear any torn clothing (including torn jeans), no clothing with profanity or offensive writing, no leather pants, and no military uniforms.
Departure
After breakfast and check-out, you are met by your private driver in the hotel lobby and transferred to the train station or airport.
Arrival
Upon arrival, you are met by your private driver and transferred to your hotel for check-in.
After check-in, the rest of the day is free for you to enjoy Busan on your own.
Busan Sightseeing
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your private guide and driver in the lobby to embark on a private city tour of Busan.
Your start your exploration with the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, situated on the coast, which is not a typical location for a temple, hence its unique and amazing view. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple was first built in 1376 by the great Buddhist teacher known as Naong during the Goryeo Dynasty, and its sanctuary was reconstructed in 1970.
After that you visit the Jagalchi Market, Korea's largest seafood market, selling both live and dried fish. Visitors can eat fresh raw fish right at the market. After visiting the market, you continue to Nampodong Street, home to the Busan International Film Festival (PIFF).
Conclude your first sightseeing day by going up the Busan Tower, that is a symbol of Busan and offers great panoramic views of the city and its port. The top of the tower is modelled after the baldaquin of Dabotap Pagoda in Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju.
Gyeongju Historic Areas Tour
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your private guide and driver in the lobby to embark on a full day private tour to the Gyeongju Historic Areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Today you have a chance to explore Gyeongju, that is referred to be an open-air museum as it boasts a remarkable concentration of outstanding examples of Korean Buddhist art. The Korean peninsula was ruled for almost 1,000 years by the Silla dynasty, and the monuments of Gyeongju are a testimony to its cultural achievements. These monuments are of exceptional significance in the development of Buddhist and secular architecture in Korea.
During the tour you admire the Bulguksa Temple, a masterpiece of Buddhist art in the Silla kingdom. Then, you continue to Seokguram Grotto, one of Asia’s finest Buddhist shrines. You also visit the Royal Tumuli Park and see the Cheonmachong ancient tomb, one of the few excavated tombs. Afterwards, you see the Cheomseongdae Observatory, is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, and possibly even the world. Before heading back to Busan, you take a stroll along the enchanting Anapji Pond.
Upon return to Busan, you are transferred to your hotel and have the evening at leisure.
Departure
After breakfast and check-out, you are met by your private driver in the hotel lobby and transferred to the port for your departure.
Arrival
Upon arrival in Kyoto, a private driver meets you at the train station and takes you to the hotel.
The rest of the day you can enjoy free time and some independent sightseeing or feel free to book any optional activities with us.
Fukuoka City Tour
After breakfast meet your private guide and start the tour of Fukuoka. In the center of Fukuoka city, we will see a beautiful Japanese-style garden in "Yusentei"; which used to be Kuroda feudal family's villa until the mid 19th century. Then, let's try Nagahama ramen, which is one of the most popular ramen among the locals. In the afternoon, we'll move to Hakata district, the eastern side of Fukuoka city, and visit Tochoji Temple and Kushida Shrine. You shouldn't miss Fukuoka Daibutsu in Tochoji, the biggest seated wooden Budha in Japan. Kushida Shrine has been a guardian shrine for Hakata merchants since the 8th century, and it is famous for answering prayers for a good business, happy long life and staying young.
After the tour, you have free time.
Departure from Fukuoka
After breakfast and check-out, your private driver takes you to the airport or train station depending on where you travel next.
Arrival
Upon arrival in Hiroshima, your private driver takes you to your centrally located hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free.
Hiroshima City Tour with Miyajima Island
After breakfast at your hotel you are met by your private guide and go for an exciting tour of Hiroshima city. Here you visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park located in the area that used to be the political and commercial heart of the city, before the bomb. The main site at the park is the Peace Memorial Museum that focuses on the events of August 6: the dropping of the bomb and its outcome in human suffering. The exposition serves as a reminder that peace should not be taken for granted. The A-Bomb Dome, also known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, is what remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, it was one of the few buildings to remain standing when the bomb exploded. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the A-Bomb Dome today is a tangible link to Hiroshima's unique past.
After some time for lunch, together with your guide you take a ferry to Miyajima Island. The island is officially named Itsukushima, but more popularly known as Miyajima, literally "shrine island"; in Japanese, thanks to its most important attraction - the centuries-old Itsukushima Shrine. The shrine and its torii gate are unique for being built over water, as if floating in the sea during high tide.
After the tour you return back to your hotel.
Departure from Hiroshima
After breakfast and check-out, your private driver takes you to the airport or train station depending on where you travel next.
Arrival
Upon arrival in Osaka, your driver takes you to your centrally located hotel, you check in and have the evening at leisure.
Osaka City Tour
In the morning after breakfast you meet your private guide and to explore Osaka on a full day tour of the city. During the tour you use public transportation, just like a local.
First you visit the Umeda Sky Building, a high rise building that consists of two towers connected with each other by the "Floating Garden Observatory" on the 39th floor. The observatory offers great views of the city through its windows and from its open-air deck.
Then you have a chance to see the Osaka Castle. The construction of the original castle, that was intended to become the center of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule, started in 1583. It was the largest castle at the time. Your guide will share with you the history of the castle, that was destroyed and rebuilt since then.
After some time for lunch, you proceed to the Shinsaibashi shopping area, the best-known shopping area in Osaka, and a symbol of the city that has its own history of nearly 400 years. Among the numerous shops you can find here local specialties and great cafes and restaurants.
After having some free time at the Shinsaibashi, you return to your hotel.
Departure
After breakfast and check-out your private driver transfers you to the Osaka airport or train station depending on where you go next.
The Shinkansen train is the fastest train in Japan and one of the fastest ones in the world. It is an experience in itself and is the best way to get around Japan, especially from Tokyo to Osaka. 2nd class seats offer a solid level of comfort.
Arrival
Welcome to Tokyo - the ultramodern and the traditional at the same time capital of Japan! Your driver meets you at the arrivals hall and transfer you to your hotel.
Upon arrival at the hotel, you check in and have the rest of the day at leisure to relax after your trip or start exploring the vibrant city on your own.
Tokyo Sightseeing Tour
In the morning, you meet your private guide and start your first half-day tour of Tokyo.
First, you see from the outside the incredible Imperial Palace to get a taste of Japanese culture. Notably, The Imperial Palace has served as the residential place of successive Emperors since 1868.
Then you have a visit to the Tokyo Sky Tree, a television broadcasting tower, and the tallest structure in Japan. Its observation decks offering spectacular views over Tokyo are the highlights of the tower. You visit the deck located at the height of 350 meters (1148 feet), so make sure to have your camera and phone charged!
After that, you will visit Asakusa Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo, and learn the legend of how this temple was built. The temple is known to bring good luck in almost anything, so make sure to make a wish! Here you can feel the traditional Japanese culture the moment you step onto the temple grounds. After the tour, you return to your hotel.
Shinjuku and Inokashira Koen Gardens Tour
Embark on an immersive tour that combines the tranquility of Inokashira Koen Gardens with the vibrant energy of Shinjuku.
Begin your day with a leisurely stroll through the enchanting Inokashira Koen Gardens. Revel in the serenity of cherry blossoms (at certain period of the year), scenic walking paths, and the iconic Inokashira Pond.
Later arriving in Shinjuku, dive into the district's dynamic atmosphere. Step into Kabukicho, Shinjuku's vibrant entertainment hub, where lights and sounds create a dynamic atmosphere. Explore narrow alleys and lively streets blending traditional and modern Japan. Marvel at iconic skyscrapers and enjoy the unique ambiance of bars and entertainment venues. Amidst the urban hustle, discover the serene Hanazono Shrine. A hidden gem surrounded by towering buildings, this Shinto shrine provides a peaceful escape.
Departure from Tokyo
Today in the morning private guide/driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and takes you to the train station to continue your amazing trip!