12 Day Japan and South Korea Trip

• We were fortunate to help some of our recent travelers plan an excellent trip to Japan and South Korea.  The purpose of the trip was to visit some family over there and also do quite a bit of exploring on their own. We were able to assist them with their flights, accommodations, excursions and other recommendations.  The trip was an amazing experience for them as they were able to explore both countries over the two weeks!

 

• Days 1-4 – Tokyo

  • Our travelers kicked off their trip in the great city of Tokyo.  They were excited to get started on this adventure.   They stayed at the  beautiful Park Hotel, which is located in the bustling neighborhood that is is a 2-minute walk from Shinbashi Station, 1 km from Tsukiji fish market and 2 km from Tokyo Tower.

  Tsukiji Fish Market  

 

• Days 4-7 – Kyoto

  • Our travelers next stop was Kyoto, which is on the Island of Honshu.  It’s famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It’s also known for formal traditions such as kaiseki dining, consisting of multiple courses of precise dishes, and geisha, female entertainers often found in the Gion district.
  • They took a full day trip with a local guide to explore the best of Kyoto.  The tour includeda visit to Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), which was originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun. After his death, it became a Buddhist Temple at his request and is now one of Kyoto`s most famous temples.
  • Nijo Castle is an ornamental castle was built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate as his Kyoto residence and is surrounded by stunning surrounding gardens. The main building was completed in 1603 and is famous for its architecture, decorated sliding doors and chirping nightingale floors.

• They also explored the Nishiki Market, a narrow, five blocks long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants. Known as Kyoto`s Kitchen, this lively retail market specializes in all things food related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware, and is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood, and sushi.

 

• Days 7-8 – Fukuoka

  • After enjoying some time in Kyoto, they moved on to explore Fukoka for a night. This is located on Kyushu Island and our clients enjoyed a special dinner there at a local Yakitori restaurant (which is a must while visiting).  This was a quick stop on their journey, as the next destination was Seoul!

 

• Days 8-12 – Seoul

  • After a quick flight, they had arrived in South Korea to explore with some family located there.  They enjoyed the city and also toured the JSA/DMZ while there, which was quite the experience to say the least.

 

 

 

• Days 12-14 – Jeju Islands

  • It was time for a little bit of relaxation on the final couple of nights on the trip.  The Jeju Island is an island in Jeju Province of South Korea. The island contains the natural World Heritage Site Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes. They stayed at the Ramada Plaza in a stunning ocean front room.

 

 

   

• Client Feedback on Trip

  • They had a wonderful experience working with our team on planning this getaway!
  • Appreciated the detailed itinerary and recommendations from our team.
  • The local guide for bullet train fantastic!!! It made it SOO easy and stress free.
  • Request non-smoking rooms and confirm at check-in for both Japan and South Korea!
  • Tour guides in Kyoto and pick up in Jeju were great!! They were incredibly helpful and went above and beyond. The Kyoto guide even helped us buy bug spray since we couldn’t figure it out in the store and needed it before the bamboo forest.
  • The wine was also a wonderful surprise when we arrived!

Ready for your trip to Japan and South Korea?  Let our team help you today!   Contact us today!