Japan & South Korea Tour

Istanbul to Tokyo

ISTANBUL – DUBAI – TOKYO

We meet at Istanbul Airport international departures terminal three hours before the flight. After baggage check-in, ticketing and boarding procedures, we depart for Dubai at 23:20 on Emirates Airlines flight EK118. Upon our arrival at 04:50 local time, after our layover, we continue our journey on Emirates Airlines flight EK312 to Tokyo, departing at 07:45. We spend the night on the plane.

Arrival in Tokyo

TOKYO

After our arrival at 22:25 local time, we transfer to our hotel by our private coach waiting for us. After check-in, free time to rest.

Shibuya and Tokyo

After breakfast, we set out for a city tour of Tokyo. Our first stop is Shibuya, known as the centre of entertainment and cultural experiences. One of Tokyo's most famous and lively districts, Shibuya is home to one of the world's busiest pedestrian crossings (Shibuya Scramble Crossing). Watching hundreds of people move at once with every change of the traffic lights offers a unique experience of feeling Tokyo's energy. We will see the Hachiko statue, built in memory of a dog famous for his loyalty and a popular meeting point for locals and tourists alike, as well as many famous shopping centres, and enjoy our free time there. During the tour we will also see Ueno Park and enjoy a panoramic view of Tokyo Tower. At the end of the tour, we transfer to our hotel and have free time to relax.

Sensoji to Ginza

TOKYO SENSOJI – YODOBASHI ELECTRIC TOWN AKIHABARA – GINZA - TOKYO

After breakfast, we depart from our hotel by private vehicle. First, we head to Sensoji Temple, built in 645 and the oldest temple in Tokyo, regarded as one of the city's most important religious centres since the Edo period. Following our visit here, we go to Yodobashi Electric Town, where we can find hundreds of electronics brands together at affordable prices. After the time set aside for shopping, we move on to Ginza, the district that reflects the sophisticated, refined side of modern Japan. Following our tour of this area, home to world-famous brands, Tokyo's largest shopping centres and the finest restaurants, you will have free time for dinner. At the time announced by our guide, transfer to our hotel and free time to rest.

Mount Fuji and Hakone

After breakfast, we will set off for Mount Fuji, located on Honshu Island southwest of Tokyo. It is one of the city’s symbols and Japan’s highest mountain. We will first travel to Hakone in the Kanagawa Region, known for its views of Mount Fuji and natural beauty. At the end of our boat trip on Lake Ashi, accompanied by views of Mount Fuji, we will take the cable cars up to the Mototsumiya Shrine observation hill. After a photo stop, we will travel by bus to Oshino Hakkai, where melting snow combines with underground water to form natural pools. As the water passes through volcanic rock, it is naturally filtered, giving the pools a crystal-clear appearance. You can see Mount Fuji reflected in these pools, which vary in size and depth. After exploring with our guide, we will continue to Gotemba Premium Outlets, one of Japan’s largest outlet shopping centres. At the time specified by our guide, we will transfer to our hotel and have free time to rest.

Bullet Train to Osaka

TOKYO – (SHINKANSEN) – DOTONBORI – Osaka

After breakfast, we depart from our hotel at the time set by our guide and head to the train station for our Shinkansen (bullet train) journey to Osaka. We only take our daily-use belongings with us. (Our large suitcases will be transferred separately to our Osaka hotel by the transfer company arranged by our firm.) After approximately two and a half hours on the bullet train, which can reach speeds of around 320 km per hour, we arrive in Osaka. We then go on a city tour of Osaka, Japan's second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. Our tour includes the Umeda Sky Building, consisting of two structures 173 metres tall. The Umeda Sky Building consists of two 40-storey towers, each 173 metres high, connected at the top by an "observation platform." During the tour, we go up to the observation deck on the 39th floor to take in the panoramic view of Osaka. After the Umeda Sky Building, we move on to the Dotonbori area, which became famous during the Edo Period for its theatrical performances and performing arts and has today become a lively and entertaining tourist attraction blending traditional Japanese culture with a modern entertainment spirit. Osaka is known as the culinary capital of Japan, and the Dotonbori area is full of restaurants that live up to this title. After the enjoyable time allotted in the area, we transfer to our hotel and have free time to rest.

Kyoto's Temples

OSAKA – ARASHIYAMA BAMBOO FOREST – KINKAKUJI TEMPLE – KIYOMIZU DERA – FUSHIMI INARI – OSAKA

After breakfast, we set off by private vehicle toward Kyoto, one of Japan's former capitals and one of the best-preserved centers of its traditional culture, famous for its temples, gardens, and traditional neighborhoods. Following our journey of approximately 1 hour, we begin our city tour. During World War II, Kyoto was the only place in Japan that was not bombed. The city of Kyoto is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We start our city tour at the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Visitors to the bamboo forest are welcomed by a 500-meter walking path. Along this walk, you will enjoy pleasant moments listening to the sound of the wind passing through the bamboo, and you will be able to take pictures of the forest. Next, we continue our tour with a visit to Kinkakuji Temple. Located in northern Kyoto, Kinkakuji Temple, a Zen temple with its top two floors completely covered in gold leaf, is also known as the Golden Pavilion. The impressive structure overlooking a large pond represents a different architectural style on each floor. We then proceed to Kiyomizu-dera. Kiyomizu-dera is an independent Buddhist temple located in the east of Kyoto. The temple, which is one of the historic monuments of ancient Tokyo, has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Just below the main hall is the Otowa Waterfall, and its waters flow into a lake through three channels. According to belief, these channels symbolize wisdom, health, and longevity, respectively. We then move on to another important temple of the city, Fushimi Inari. After our visit to this temple, which is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Japan and is especially known for its thousands of orange torii gates, we proceed to our final stop, the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After our temple visit accompanied by a beautiful panoramic view of Kyoto, transfer to our hotel and free time to rest.

Nara and a Tea Ceremony

OSAKA – OSAKA CASTLE - NARA – TEA CEREMONY – OSAKA

After breakfast, we set off for Osaka Castle. After viewing Osaka Castle from the outside and taking a photo break, we head out for our panoramic Nara tour. We begin our tour with the Todaiji Temple. The temple, built in 752, was constructed with the aim of serving as the head of all Buddhist temples. Over time, its influence grew, and in the 8th century the temple also began to affect politics. The main hall of Todaiji has entered the record books as the largest wooden structure in the world. The massive building houses one of Japan's largest bronze Buddha statues (Daibutsu). Next, we visit Nara Park, a large park in the centre of Nara. Established in 1880, it is home to most of Nara's main attractions, including Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji and the Nara National Museum. It is also home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. After taking the chance to have your photo taken with the deer wandering around, we attend a traditional Tea Ceremony wearing Kimono, Japan's local costume. After the enjoyable time allocated for the area, transfer to our hotel and free time to rest. After our temple visit, transfer to our hotel and free time to rest.

Osaka to Seoul

OSAKA – SEOUL

After breakfast, we complete the check-out procedures at the hotel. At the time announced by our guide, we transfer to the airport. We take a domestic airline flight to Seoul. Upon our arrival in Seoul, we begin our panoramic city tour. We set off for our Gangnam Square tour. Gangnam, which means "South of the Han River," is Seoul's third largest district. The district, which gained popularity after PSY's Gangnam Style song, includes Cheongdam Fashion Street, Gangnam Station, Bongeunsa Temple, and the Starfield Library, which can be seen during the panoramic tour. After a break for shopping, food and photos, free time until the transfer time announced by our guide. Then transfer to our hotel and free time to rest.

Homeward from Seoul

After breakfast, we depart for our Seoul city tour. During the tour, the places we will see panoramically include Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong Antique Street, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Myeongdong Street. Our first stop is Gyeongbokgung Palace, built in 1395. Compared with the neighboring palaces Changdeokgung (East Palace) and Gyeonghuigung (West Palace), it is situated the furthest north, so it is commonly known as the North Palace. Afterwards, we will visit Bukchon Hanok Village, whose name means North Village. Hanok are Korea's traditional houses, and this village contains around 700 hanok. Then we transfer to Myeongdong, Korea's most famous shopping and fashion district. On this street, where there are shopping and cosmetics stores as well as many restaurants, you can do any shopping you wish and sample local flavors before leaving the country. At the end of the tour, we transfer to the airport at the time announced by our guide. We depart for Dubai at 23:55 on Emirates flight EK323. After our arrival in Dubai at 04:25, our next flight, EK 123, departs for Istanbul at 10:40. After our arrival in Istanbul at 14:25 local time, our tour ends.