16 Day South Korea And Japan Seoul Gyeongju Busan Tokyo Mt Fuji Matsumoto Takayama Shirakawago Kanazawa Kyoto Nara Osaka Time to get excited FROM $4,999 PER PERSON, TWIN SHARE Offering mesmerising landscapes and thousands of years of culture and history, these two countries are bound to delight you. A hidden gem within Eastern Asia, South Korea is full of surprises - from stunning seaside temples to thriving cities. Book Now TOUR ITINERARY The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be effected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 1300 88 66 88 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 1 TOUR ITINERARY DAY 1 Destination Home Seoul Meals included Hotel 4 Shilla Stay Guro, or similar Welcome to Seoul, the magnificent capital of South Korea. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by one of our representatives and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, take some time to relax after your flight or begin exploring the local area. Please note - some flights may depart the night before. DAY 2 Destination Seoul Meals included Breakfast Hotel 4 Shilla Stay Guro, or similar Today we will set out on a city sightseeing tour with our guide. Seoul is a huge metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples, palaces and street markets. We will begin at the N Seoul Tower, also known as the Namsan Tower, built in 1969. It is located on Namsan Mountain in central Seoul and operates as a communication and observation tower. At 236 metres, it marks the second highest point in Seoul. Next we will be visiting Namsangol Hanok Village, a traditional Korean village set in the foothills of Namsan Mountain that features Korean houses and pavilions, as well as a beautiful small pond. Walking through this quaint village is like walking back through time. From here our guide will take us to Gyeongbokgung Palace where we will witness the Changing Guard Ceremony. Built in 1395, this was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Next we will be visiting Bukchon Hanok Village, a picture-perfect historic village dating back almost 600 years. Following this we will take a stroll down Insadong Antique Street, a street that has been selling furniture since the '60's when U.S. soldiers sold their pieces before returning home. Our city tour will come to an end at Gwangjang Market, one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in South Korea, with more than 5000 shops. DAY 3 Destination Seoul Gyeongju Meals included Breakfast Hotel 4 Daemyung Resort Gyeongju, or similar Today we depart Seoul and head to the city of Gyeongju, once the capital of the 1,000-year-long Silla dynasty, and known for its extensive historical remains. Upon arrival we will tour Yangdong Folk Village with our guide. This is Korea’s largest The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be effected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 1300 88 66 88 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 2 TOUR ITINERARY traditional village, showcasing the intriguing culture of the Joseon Dynasty and the beautiful natural surroundings. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following this we will head to the Cheomseongdae Observatory, the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, and possibly even the world. Cheomseongdae means ‘star-gazing tower’ in Korean. From here our guide will take us to the Daereungwon Royal Tomb. Excavated in 1973, this ancient burial tomb of an unknown king contained 11,000+ artifacts. Our final stop today is Anapji Pond, a stunning artificial pond in Gyeongju National Park. It was constructed in 674 CE as part of the palace complex of ancient Silla. DAY 4 Destination Gyeongju Busan Meals included Breakfast Hotel 4 Commodore Hotel Busan, or similar We depart Gyeongju this morning after breakfast and begin our drive towards Busan. En route, we will be making a stop at Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple. Together, Bulguksa Temple, built in 774, and the Seokguram Grotto form a religious architectural complex of exceptional significance. Established in the 8th century on the slopes of Mount Toham, the Seokguram Grotto is an artificial grotto constructed of granite that comprises an antechamber, a corridor and a main rotunda. It also contains a monumental statue of the Buddha looking out towards the sea. After our tour here, we will continue on to Busan, a large port city known for its gorgeous beaches, sloping mountains and ancient temples. Upon arrival we will head to Ibagu-gil, or Story Road. Located near Busan Station, Ibagu-gil street was formed at the top of a hill after people started building houses back in the poor period. The night scene is especially beautiful here, as the lights from every house twinkle and gleam as the surrounding area gets darker. DAY 5 Destination Busan Meals included Breakfast Hotel 4 Commodore Hotel Busan, or similar After breakfast this morning we will be visiting the iconic Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a Buddhist temple situated on the coast of the north-eastern portion of the city. This temple complex was built in 1376 and is one of the few in Korea to be set on the seaside, offering stunning vistas over the ocean. Following a tour here we will head to the colourful and interesting Gamcheon Culture Village. This village is built right into the mountainside and is known for its steep streets, twisting alleys, and brightly painted houses. After a lovely stroll through this picturesque historical area, we will continue on to Gukje and Jagalchi Market, world famous for fresh fish and seafood to take away or eat at the informal stalls. Upon completion of our tour, the rest of the afternoon is yours to spend at leisure. The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be effected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 1300 88 66 88 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 3 TOUR ITINERARY DAY 6 Destination Busan Seoul Meals included Breakfast Hotel 4 Shilla Stay Guro, or similar Today we depart Busan and head back to the capital, Seoul. Here you will have a free day to spend exploring the city at your leisure, visiting any sights that you may have previously missed. Be sure to ask your guide for recommendations. DAY 7 Destination Seoul Tokyo Meals included Breakfast Hotel 3 Shinagawa Prince Hotel , or similar This morning we say farewell to wonderful South Korea as we depart Seoul for the airport where we will catch our domestic flight to Tokyo. Upon arrival you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, you may spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring as you please. DAY 8 Destination Tokyo Meals included Breakfast Hotel 3 Shinagawa Prince Hotel , or similar Welcome to Japan! The second half of our tour begins in the extraordinary capital city of Tokyo, the world’s most populated megalopolis – the Tokyo metropolitan area spreads over 3 prefectures and has 38 million habitants. Following breakfast this morning we will meet with our guide and set out on a full day coach tour of the city. We will begin at Meiji Jingu Shrine, located within a 170 acre forest in the centre of Tokyo. Constructed of cypress wood and copper, the shrine commemorates Emperor Meiji, Japan’s 122nd emperor, who presided over Japan’s industrial revolution and emergence onto the world stage. Next we will visit the Asakusa district where we will tour the beautiful Sensoji Temple. This ancient Buddhist temple is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant. We will take a brief break for lunch before we begin our splendid Sumida River Cruise, offering a striking new perspective of the city. After our cruise we will make a final stop at the Tokyo Tower, a communications and observation tower that at 332.9 metres is the second-tallest structure in Japan. The structure features an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice-work. Following this, the rest of the evening is yours to spend at leisure. The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be effected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 1300 88 66 88 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 4 TOUR ITINERARY DAY 9 Destination Tokyo Mt. Fuji Hakone Meals included Breakfast Hotel 4 Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka, or similar This morning we will be departing Tokyo to begin our scenic journey towards Hakone, making a stop at one of Japan’s most iconic destinations along the way. After enjoying a break for lunch, we continue on to the Mt. Fuji 5th station above the clouds, where you will view the sacred mountain’s enormous summit (if weather permits). Mt Fuji is the tallest and most picturesque mountain of Japan and an active volcano, peaking at 3,776 meters high. After an enjoyable tour here and many incredible photo opportunities, we will begin the final leg of our drive to Hakone.