Japan and Korea Tour, 13 Days from Istanbul with Emirates

We meet at 19:00 at the International Departures Terminal of Istanbul Airport. After ticket and passport formalities, Emirates flight departs at 23:20 for Tokyo, Japan's capital, with a connection in Dubai. The night is spent in the air. Flight details: Emirates, Istanbul 23:20, connecting in Dubai, on to Tokyo.

We land in Dubai at 07:40 local time and, after a short wait, board the connecting flight to Tokyo. After a long journey we land at Tokyo Narita Airport at 22:35 local time. After customs and baggage formalities, the guide accompanies us on the transfer into the city by private vehicle. We check into the hotel and rest for the night. Flight details: Dubai 07:40, Tokyo Narita 22:35 local time. Accommodation: Shinjuku Washington Hotel, 4-star or similar.

After breakfast we begin a half-day city tour of Tokyo, Japan's most populous city. The first stop is Meiji Shrine, built to honor the spirit of Japan's first emperor, Meiji. A short walk along its forest paths leads through this sacred site. We continue to Tokyo Tower for a panoramic view of the skyline, passing the National Diet Building, Japan's parliament, along the way. The tour closes with free time on Ginza. The afternoon is free to explore Tokyo's streets at your own pace. Accommodation: Shinjuku Washington Hotel, 3-star or similar.

After breakfast we set off on a full-day tour of Mount Fuji, the symbol of Japan, and the scenic Hakone region. The tour departs the hotel at 07:30 by private coach for the foothills of Mount Fuji, a volcanic peak standing 3,776 meters high and considered sacred. Weather permitting, we climb to the 5th Station, around 2,300 meters, for views over the mountain. Lunch follows, featuring dishes from Japanese cuisine. We then continue into the UNESCO-protected area around Lake Ashi, formed by volcanic activity roughly 3,000 years ago, for a short boat tour taking in the mountain's reflection on the water. The Hakone area shows both Japanese culture and the power of nature through its hot springs, mountains and forest. We return to Tokyo in the late afternoon. Meals: Lunch included. Accommodation: Shinjuku Washington Hotel, Tokyo, 3-star or similar.

After breakfast we set off to explore Kamakura, known for its traditional, spiritual atmosphere. Once the political center of Japan in the 12th century, Kamakura carries a legacy of Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and historic houses from the country's samurai era. The first stop is Kotoku-in Temple, home to the great bronze Buddha cast in the 13th century. Known as the Daibutsu, the statue stands in the open, its scale striking. We continue to Hokoku-ji Temple, associated with Zen Buddhism and known for the bamboo garden behind it, where a short walk is followed by Japanese tea at a traditional tea house. We return to Tokyo by the end of the day. Accommodation: Shinjuku Washington Hotel, Tokyo, 3-star or similar.

At 09:00 we board the Shinkansen at Tokyo Station, one of the fastest and most comfortable trains in the world. The roughly two-and-a-half-hour journey, reaching speeds close to 300 km/h, is a showcase of Japanese engineering. Arriving in Osaka around midday, we begin a panoramic half-day city tour. We view Osaka Castle from the outside, a sixteenth-century landmark, and take a short walk through its gardens. We continue to Dotonbori, the city's liveliest district, for its neon lights, street food and shopping, then take a photo stop around the Umeda Sky Building, a symbol of the city's modern face. We wrap up the tour in the late afternoon and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation: Sarasa Hotel Osaka, 3-star or similar.

After breakfast we leave the hotel at 07:30 for the regions that best capture Japan's traditional culture. The first stop is Kyoto, Japan's capital for many centuries, known for its temples and gardens. We visit Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, built for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu according to Zen principles. Covered in gold leaf and set in a tranquil garden, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a striking example of Japanese aesthetics. Lunch is a buffet of traditional Japanese dishes. We then continue to Nara, one of Japan's earliest capitals, to see the giant bronze Buddha, the Daibutsu, at Todai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meeting the deer that wander freely through the temple grounds is one of the day's memorable moments. We complete the tour and return to Osaka in the late afternoon. Meals: Lunch included. Accommodation: Sarasa Hotel Osaka, 3-star or similar.

After breakfast we set off to explore Kobe, one of Japan's well-known port cities. After a roughly one-hour drive, the panoramic tour begins at the Earthquake Memorial Park, which carries traces of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, where we learn about the measures Japan has taken to withstand disasters and rebuild. We then walk through the Kobe Port area, taking in its modern architecture and harbor views. Lunch is at a local restaurant known for Japanese cuisine. Afterward we experience the cosmopolitan character of the city in Nankinmachi, Kobe's Chinatown, and visit the Hakutsuru Sake Museum to learn about the stages of sake production, with a tasting for those who wish. We return to Osaka in the evening. Meals: Lunch included. Accommodation: Sarasa Hotel Osaka, 3-star or similar.

Early this morning we leave the hotel for Osaka Airport. Asiana Airlines' 09:00 flight takes us to Seoul, the capital of South Korea, landing at 10:00 local time after roughly two hours in the air. After airport formalities we transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon we set out on a Seoul city tour. The first stop is Namsangol Hanok Village, with its traditional Korean houses from the Joseon Dynasty. We then climb Namsan Mountain for a panoramic view of Seoul from 262 meters. The tour closes in Gangnam, one of Seoul's liveliest and most modern districts, known for shopping and entertainment. Guests who wish can spend free time here or return to the hotel with the group. Flight details: Asiana Airlines, Osaka 09:00, Seoul 10:00 local time. Accommodation: Ramada Hotel or similar, 4-star.

After breakfast we set off on the Korean History and Heritage Village Tour for a deeper look at Korea's traditional culture. The first stop is Gyeongbokgung Palace, built during the Joseon Dynasty and preserved to this day. After watching the Changing of the Guard ceremony, the guide leads us through the palace courtyards and its history. We continue to Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, known for its traditional wooden Korean houses, its narrow streets carrying a sense of stepping back in time. Lunch follows at a local restaurant with Korean cuisine. In the afternoon we visit Insadong Street and the National Folk Museum of Korea. We return to the hotel at the end of the tour, with the evening free. Meals: Lunch included. Accommodation: Ramada Hotel or similar, Seoul, 4-star.

After breakfast we set off for the DMZ, the demilitarized zone that still divides Korea and carries the traces of the Korean War. We first visit Imjingak Peace Park and the Freedom Bridge, learning about the area's historical significance from the guide. We then explore the Third Tunnel, dug by North Korea for covert access into the South, and climb to the Dora Observatory for a view over North Korean territory through binoculars. Lunch is at a local restaurant with regional specialties. Afterward we visit the Korean War Memorial and its sections dedicated to the Turkish Brigade, learning about the contribution of Turkish soldiers during the Korean War. We return to the hotel in Seoul with the evening free. Meals: Lunch included. Accommodation: Ramada Hotel or similar, Seoul, 4-star.

Today is the last day in Seoul. After breakfast the day is free until flight time. At the time set by the guide we transfer to the airport by private vehicle and complete check-in. Emirates flight departs at 23:55 for Istanbul, connecting in Dubai. The night is spent in the air. Flight details: Emirates, Seoul 23:55, connecting in Dubai, Istanbul 04:25 the next day. Accommodation: Overnight on the plane.

We land in Dubai at 04:25 local time and, after a short wait, board the connecting flight to Istanbul. After a further four to five hours in the air we land at Istanbul Airport at 14:25. With passport and baggage formalities, the tour comes to an end. Important note: the lunches and dinners included in the program feature traditional Japanese and Korean cuisine, and different menu requests from participants generally cannot be accommodated. Flight details: Dubai 04:25, Istanbul 14:25 local time. ---