Japan and Korea Tour, 8 Nights with Optional Tours

Meet at the international departures terminal of Istanbul Airport three hours before the flight. Turkish Airlines TK90 leaves for Seoul at 01:45 and lands at 18:20 local time.

After you collect your baggage, a vehicle takes the group to the hotel. The evening is free for rest.

The day is free after breakfast. Guests who wish can join an optional Seoul city tour for 150 EUR, which is not part of the price.

The tour passes Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village and Myeongdong, among the places seen panoramically. Gyeongbokgung dates from 1395. It lies furthest north of the nearby palaces, so it is also known as the Northern Palace.

Bukchon means Northern Village, and about 700 traditional Korean houses, called hanok, stand there. The tour finishes in Myeongdong, Korea's best known shopping and fashion district. Then guests return to the hotel.

After breakfast you take a flight to Tokyo. Passport and baggage checks come first, then a private coach begins the Tokyo city tour, which is included in the price.

Shibuya is the first stop. Its Scramble Crossing is among the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world. Nearby are the statue of Hachiko, a dog remembered for its loyalty, and several shopping centres. There is free time here.

Ueno Park and Tokyo Tower are seen from the coach. The tour ends back at the hotel.

After breakfast, guests who wish can join an optional tour of Tokyo, Sensoji, Akihabara and Ginza for 150 EUR. It is not part of the price.

Sensoji Temple is first. It dates from 645, making it the oldest temple in Tokyo, and has been a leading religious site since the Edo period. Then comes Yodobashi Electric Town, known for its electronics stores, with time to shop.

The tour closes in Ginza, known for its polished, modern side, with international brands, big shopping centres and restaurants. Free time is left for a meal. The guide sets the time for the return to the hotel.

After breakfast, guests who wish can join an optional tour of Mount Fuji, Hakone and Oshino Hakkai for 200 EUR. It is not part of the price.

The tour heads southwest of Tokyo towards Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak. Hakone is first, a spot known for its Fuji views. A boat tour on Lake Ashi and a photo break follow.

Next is Oshino Hakkai, where snowmelt and groundwater form natural ponds. The water is filtered by volcanic rock and is very clear, and Mount Fuji reflects in it. The tour continues to Gotemba Premium Outlets, one of the largest outlet malls in Japan. At a time set by the guide, guests transfer back to the hotel.

After breakfast, at a time set by the guide, the group goes to the station. Carry only a bag for one night. Large suitcases travel separately and arrive directly at the Osaka hotel.

The Shinkansen reaches up to 320 km/h, and the ride takes about 2.5 hours. Osaka is the second largest metropolitan area in Japan after Tokyo. The Osaka city tour is part of the price.

It takes in the Umeda Sky Building, a pair of 40-storey towers 173 metres tall. A platform joins them, and the observatory on the 39th floor has panoramic views of Osaka. Then comes Dotonbori, famous for its theatres in the Edo period and now a blend of traditional culture and modern entertainment. Osaka is often called Japan's food capital. After some time there, the group returns to the hotel.

After breakfast, guests who wish can join an optional Kyoto tour for 200 EUR. It covers the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkakuji, Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari. It is not included in the price.

Kyoto is about an hour from Osaka. It is Japan's former capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city. The tour opens at the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, which has a 500 metre path. Next is Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, a Zen temple whose top two floors are covered in gold leaf.

The third stop is Kiyomizu-dera, on the UNESCO list. Below its main hall, the Otowa waterfall runs in three channels, said to stand for wisdom, health and long life. The last stop is Fushimi Inari Taisha, known for thousands of orange torii gates. Then you return to the hotel in Osaka.

After breakfast, guests who wish can join an optional tour of Osaka Castle, Nara and a tea ceremony for 200 EUR. It is not part of the price.

The tour continues to Nara. Todaiji comes first. It was built in 752 as the head of all Buddhist temples. Its main hall is listed as one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, and it holds the Daibutsu, one of Japan's largest bronze Buddha statues.

The next stop is Nara Park, where hundreds of deer wander freely and you can take photos with them. Guests then put on a kimono for a traditional tea ceremony. The tour ends with the ride back to the hotel in Osaka.

After breakfast you check out of the hotel. Osaka Castle is the first stop, and you see it from the outside. The five-storey castle is about 450 years old, and its colours and decorated floors make it a fine example of traditional Japanese architecture.

The group then stops at a large outlet mall for last purchases. At a time announced by the guide, the transfer to the airport begins.

The flight reaches Istanbul at 05:50 local time the next day, and the tour ends.