Korea & Japan Highlights

12 days - Experience all the must-see locations of these two exciting and historic countries...

• Korea - Seoul City tour (3 nights)
• Korean Folk Village (optional tour 1)
• DMZ Panmunjeom Tour (optional tour 2)
• Japan Tokyo: city tour (3 nights)
• Mt Fuji tour
• Lake Ashi - Hakone
• Bullet Train
• Kyoto: city tour (4 nights)
• Guaranteed departure minimim 2 people

Itinerary & Prices below

Day 1
Depart from Heathrow or your preferred airport for a scheduled flight to Seoul, Korea. Meals on board.

Day 2 Seoul - Korea
Upon flight to Incheon Airport in Seoul, you are met by our Driver and transferred to your Hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Day 3 - Seoul (breakfast inc)
Morning city tour of seoul provides a facinating insight into ancient and modern Seoul. The tour includes Passing by the Blue House (Presidential residence), visiting Gyeongbok palace (built in 1395 by the first King of the Joseon Kingdom), Folklore Museum and Jogyesa Temple.

Day 4 - Seoul - Korean folk village or DMZ tour (optional) (breakfast inc)
Full day to explore the exciting city of Seoul or take one of the following optional excursions:

Option 1: After breakfast your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for your tour to a traditional Korean folk village. The Korean Folk Village is a living museum where you can enjoy live performances where highlights the traditional customs and culture of 19th century Chosun Dynasty Korea. The hand crafted reconstructed village provides an unique glimse into the diverse architectural structures of the wealthy aristocrats and the humble dwelling of the farmers.

Option 2: Full day Panmunjeom + Demilitarised zone (DMZ) tour. Panmunjeom is the historic location where the armistice was signed in 1953 ending the 3 year Korean War. Literally on the border between the democratic South and communist North, you will be able to look across the Border into the world's most sealed-off society, North Korea.

Note: All visitors to the DMZ must conform to the stict dress code, access may be denied to visitors wearing jeans, sandals, shorts, miniskirt, evealing clothes or military style outfits. You must also have your passport on hand. In any circumstance that Panmunjeom tour is not available due to military operation or meetings, the tour will be substituted with the Demilitarises zone tour (DMZ tour). The DMZ tour has the following itinerary: 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory, Station, Unification Village on the way to Imjinkak Pavilion & Freedom Bridge.

Day 5 - Seoul - Tokyo (breakfast inc)
Our Driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Incheon airport for your departure flight to Tokyo, Japan. Arrive at Narita Airport in Tokyo, you are met by your tour assistant and transferred to your hotel for a 3 nights stay. The rest day is at your leisure to adjust to the 9 hours time difference.

Day 6 Tokyo
Morning City tour of Tokyo visiting a number of the main highlights of this magnificent City. The tour includes a visit to the Tokyo Tower where you can enjoy panorama views across the city from the observation tower. We proceed to the peaceful picturesque setting of the Meiji Shrine considered to be one of the finest example of Shinto Architecture set in thick woodland. Next we visit the 'Akasaka Guest House' for a photo opportunity. The Guest House is a magnificent 'Western Style Palace' built in the Baroque Architectural style. We then drive alongside the imposing National Diet Building, which is home to the Japanese House of Parliament. Our tour continues across Tokyo to the Imperial Palace East Garden, where we enjoy a pleasant walk in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace, which is filled with scenic and historic beauty. (Alternatively for tours on Monday & Friday we will visit the Imperial Palace plaza and famous Double bridge instead of the East Garden, including a visit to the inner moat and towering Palace walls surrounded by pine trees). Our tour will continue with a drive and stroll along Ginza high street, the famous shopping area of Tokyo. Our tour will disband at Ginza giving you the opportunity for shopping (we also recommend you visit the Sony Centre building to see the futuristic electronics on display. Ginza is also convenient for the subway to explore further.

Afternoon - free to explore Tokyo at your leisure or take an optional tour excursion (ask for details at time of booking). We recommend you take the leisurely 30 minute Sumida river cruise to the famous Asakusa Kannon Temple, or why not visit Ueno amusement & shopping district & Akihabara shopping district famous for selling all kinds of electronic products where bargaining is expected.

Day 7 Tokyo - (Nikko optional tour)
Free day to explore Tokyo at your leisure or purchase an optional full day tour excursion to Nikko (ask for details at time of booking). The optional tour involves taking a Deluxe motorcoach to Nikko National park, a designated World Cultural Heritage site and home to some of the most spectacular examples of ancient 17th-century Architecture in Japan. The tour includes a visit to the magnificent Toshogu shrine, which houses the Mausoleum of the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. We will see the Five-Story Pagoda, Niomon Gate, Three Monkeys, Yomeimon Gate and Main Sacred Hall. We then travel along the scenic Irohazaka hairpin driveway for Japanese style lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we travel to the spectacular Kegon waterfall which is 100 meters in height. We continue our tour with a scenic drive alongside Lake Chuzenji (reported to be 161.5 meters deep) and MT Nantai.

Day 8 Tokyo - MT Fuji - Hakone - Kyoto
You shall be picked up from your hotel and driven by deluxe motorcoach on Mount Fuji. Along the way you will enjoy scenery of rural Japan, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and mountainous peaks. From our vantage point on the 5th station on MT Fuji, we will enjoy spectacular views (weather permitting). Lunch will be provided at a Hotel/Restaurant in Hakone. In the afternoon we proceed to the Hakone National Park where we will take a cable car ride with the opportunity to see the magnificent volcanic Hakone mountain range below. We will then travel to the Owakudani Boiling Valley where you will see ancient volcanic craters with sulfurous fumes and clouds of steam spiraling from crevasses across the mountain side giving a truly mystical image. We then proceed with our tour for a boat cruise on Lake Ashi, which is set in serene natural beauty, where weather permitting spectacular views of Mount Fuji can be seen silhouetted in the lake. Proceed to Odawara and take the Shinkansen (Bullet train) to Kyoto. Accommodation at the New Miyako hotel or similar (includes: Lunch).

Day 9 Kyoto
Morning site seeing tour of Kyoto including a visit to the Kinkakuji temple (Golden Pavilion) centred around one of the best examples of a Japanese Zen gardens in the world, Nijo Castle residence of the Tokugawa Shogun built in 1603, Nijo Castle is noted for its Ornate interior and 'nightingale floor' designed to sing when stepped upon to warn of Ninja assassins.(When closed visit Ryoanji temple). We then travel to the Old Kyoto Imperial Palace (on Sat/Sun & national holidays visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine or Hagashi Honganji temple instead). Finally we explore the Kyoto Handicraft Center where we enjoy demonstrations of Japanese traditional arts and crafts. Tour ends at the handcraft centre who provide an optional free return to your hotel in Kyoto or take optional tour to Nara (enquire at time of booking to include this tour in your itinerary). The optional afternoon tour included lunch at the Kyoto handicraft centre, visit to the Todaiji temple housing the Great Buddha, Kasuga Shinto Shrine with 3,000 lanterns and Nara Deer Park.

Day 10 Kyoto
Day free at Leisure to explore the fascinating city of Kyoto or purchase an optional afternoon tour to the colourful Heian Shrine and inner garden and ponds, Sanjusangendo Hall, a renowned long wooden hall housing all of 1,001 statues that date back to the 13th century and magnificent Kiyomizu Temple with spectacular views across the entire city. (This highly recommended afternoon tour can be prearranged at time of booking).

Day 11 Kyoto
Day free at Leisure to explore the fascinating city of Kyoto or join an optional full day tour to Hiroshima. Visit the Peace Memorial Park, the Island of Miyajima and Torii Gate.

Day 12 Osaka to UK
You will be met at the hotel and transferred to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for your departure to the UK. Arriving UK later the same day.

We also provide longer and more detailed tours to various areas in South Korea, which can be tailored into a multi-Country tour package. For details of our other tours to Korea see our Korean tour section, or contact us for details.

Weekly Monday Departure Dates & Price 2009 - 2010 (£)

This tour and these options can be arranged on any date (except festivals etc please check with us) minimum 2 people.

The price shown may vary around the bank holidays in the UK, and the festivals period in Japan. Please contact us for confirmation. The single supplement is based on 3 people in 1 group. The hotel upgrade price is based on twin share, for single room upgrade please contact us.

We can also arrange private tour or tailor made departure according to this itinerary, please contact us to discuss your requirement.

Price Includes (The prices shown above are 'per person')

• Airport/hotel transfers in Japan and Korea.
• Sightseeing tours by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• Selections of quality accommodation in well furnished hotel rooms with private facilities.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.
• Free luggage transfer from hotel to hotel between Tokyo & Kyoto.

Price Does Not Include

Why choose to travel with Magical Japan?
From the moment you talk to our travel consultants, who have all travelled extensively in Japan, our experience ensures you will have a magical holiday.Our service includes meet & greet at airport and free luggage transfer from hotel to hotel etc. There are no additional entrance fees or transportation costs on any sightseeing tours that are already listed in our programme. Your tours are with officially qualified professional English speaking tour guides. Transfers are by air-conditioned deluxe coach and you will have time to enjoy each sightseeing place on foot. The tour itineraries are regularly checked and provide an ideal length of time to show you the sights, with free time to explore according to your own interests. Most inportantly we Guarantee departure with minumum 2 people.

Flights As agents of many airline consolidators, we can obtain flights in various classes with reputable airlines such as BA, Virgin, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair etc. We will book airline tickets according to availability unless you specify at the booking stage. We can also provide land-only tours if you prefer to organise your own flights and save airmiles. For the cheapest deal we recommend you book your international flights at time of booking, as this can save you £££s off your final holiday price.

Your Meals in Japan: Breakfast at hotel can be booked in advance. Alternatively, there are many places around the hotels where you can buy meals. Breakfast in Korea is included.

Tours Nijo Castle (Kyoto) is closed (Tue in Jul & Aug), therefore if your tour falls on these dates, we will visit Ryoanji Temple instead. Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed on weekends and national holidays, we will visit Kitano Tenmangu, or Ryoanji Temple instead.

In Korea the DMZ tour does not operate during military operations and certain festive and holiday periods. Seoul morning city tour - Gyeongbok Palace will be replaced with a visit to Deoksu palace on Tuesdays.

Suitable for all age travellers. Add on tours and city extension available in Japan, for details visit optional tours page.

The itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of flights schedules available, although occasionally the sequence in which cities are visited and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. - We reserve the right to change or amend our tour itinerary to suit unforseen events, ie due to heavy traffic conditions, unforeseen closures of intinerary tour locations or bad weather. We reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary, although we will act in your best interests to handle any amendments. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.

Thank you to Korea Tourist Organisation for use of photographs in this web site.