Program Schedule
 
DAY 01
ARRIVE IN TOKYO
 
Upon arrival at Narita Airport, transfer to your hotel for check in.
 
DAY 02
TOKYO CITY TOUR (B)
 
Breakfast will be provided at the hotel.
 
Embark on a morning tour in this exciting metropolitan city, visit Meiji Shrine nestled in a 175 acres tranquil forest, it is Japan’s most famous Shinto Shrine, dedicated to the deified spirits or Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. Wander through one of the vast inner gardens of the Imperial Palace before heading to Sensoji, the oldest and most popular Buddhist temple in Tokyo, built for the goddess of Kannon. Browse through Nakamise-dori shopping arcade, lined with many vendors offering typical Japanese souvenirs and traditional local snacks. Tour disbands on arrival at Tokyo Station. Return to hotel at your leisure. The afternoon is free for further exploration, shopping or relaxation.
 
DAY 03
TOKYO/ MT. FUJI/HAKONE (B/L)
 
Breakfast will be provided at the hotel.
 
Travel by coach to Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain at 12,388 feet. Stop at Mt. Fuji’s fifth station at 7,607 feet (weather permitting) , you will be inspired by the beauty of the landscape. After lunch, take a scenic cable car ride up Mt. Komagatake to the Owakudani volcanic valley, famed for its scenic views and kuro-tamago hot springs. Afterward, enjoy a boat ride across picturesque Lake Ashi before transferring to your hotel.
 
DAY 04
HAKONE/KYOTO (B)
 
Breakfast will be provided at the hotel.
 
At Odawara Station, board a Hikari Shinkansen (Bullet train via Shin-Yokohama Station) to Kyoto, the ancient imperial capital of Japan. In the afternoon, take a walking tour of the city. Visit the Kiyomizu Temple, famed for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 43 feet above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a spectacular view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall, as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance. Continue to Kodai-ji Temple, famous for its garden and tea house. Visit the unique Yasaka Shrine in the Gion District. The shrine’s main hall combines the honden (inner sanctuary) and haiden (offering hall) into a single building. In front of it stands a dance stage with hundreds of lanterns that get lit in the evenings. Finally, we arrive at Gion, the old Geisha Quarter, and Pontocho, whose cobblestone alleys vibrate with night life. Tour disbands on arrival at Gion, return to your hotel at leisure.
 
DAY 05
KYOTO/NARA/KYOTO (B)
 
Breakfast will be provided at the hotel.
 
In the morning, board a local train to Nara, the first permanent capital of Japan. Our walking tour includes Todaiji Temple, the Great Buddha, and Nara Park (Deer Park), home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Take a short walk to Kofukuji Temple, one of the city’s most beautiful and historic temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the tour, we will board a local train back to Kyoto for a free afternoon.
 
DAY 06
KYOTO/OSAKA/SEOUL (B)
 
Breakfast will be provided at the hotel.
 
At the appropriate time, transfer to Kansai International Airport for your flight to Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
 
DAY 07
SEOUL CITY TOUR (B)
 
Breakfast will be provided at the hotel.
 
Enjoy a morning tour for an introduction of Korea’s history, tradition and culture, beginning with a photo stop (outside) at the Blue House, the official residence of the South Korean president. We continue to the Gyeongbokgung Palace, famed for its exquisite beauty and grand sculptures dating back to the Joseon dynasty. Move on to the National Folk Museum and discover exhibits hailing from all over Korea that illuminate centuries of history. Learn about traditional methods for farming, hunting, weaving, cooking, and other housekeeping chores. Our tour ends at Insadong shopping street, a center for the arts and is a unique place full of folk crafts, pottery, and paintings. The afternoon is free at leisure. The best and fastest way to get around Seoul is by subway.
 
DAY 08
SEOUL (B)
 
Breakfast will be provided at the hotel.
 
Enjoy a free day at leisure or perhaps take our optional tour to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ which serves as a buffer zone between South and North Korea. It spans between the Southern and Northern limit lines. The Southern Limit Line extends from Imjingang River in the west to Dongho-ri in the east. Because of the high risk of military conflicts in the area, a phase line was established to control civilian access. Such restrictions, which have been in place for the last fifty years, have helped the ecological resources in the area to remain in an untouched state. As a result, the DMZ is also a unique natural ecosystem, one that is globally acknowledged for its ecological value.
 
DAY 09
SEOUL DEPARTURE (B)
 
Breakfast will be provided at the hotel.
 
At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.