japan and korea tours from canada

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Highlights of Korea and Japan     View Tours

Japan Deluxe Tours

Visit the must see sites of japan with group sizes ranging from 12 to 35 people..

These tours are great for first time visitors to Japan looking for comfortable accommodation with all entrance fees and most meals included. Our Japan Deluxe Tours are accomodated with professional tour guides, fluent in both Japanese and English, to ensure an educational and valuable visit. Air-conditoned, private coaches are also included, so you can enjoy a comfortable and hassle-free time in Japan. Our tours range from 7 to 21 days, to various regions of Japan.

Deluxe-Plus Small Group Tours

Experience the culture of japan at a slower pace with groups of 10 to 18 people. (smaller group departure available).

These tours combine enrichment, enjoyment, and education with time to truly absorb and appreciate your surroundings. Our Deluxe-Plus small group tours are created to cater to those who are interested in having a deeper understanding of Japan's culture. You will have the opportunity to participate in culturally rich activities and visit destinations only locals may know. Experience luxurious hotels and travel at a leisurely pace when you book a Deluxe-Plus small group tour.

Budget Group Tours

Our budget tours are designed for our guests who are on a limited budget..

Explore the must-see sights and enjoy the hassle-free trip to Japan at an affordable price. Our most cost-effective way to see the highlights of Japan while staying in budget-friendly accommodations. If you would like to have a quick stop to sample the must-see sights of Japan, or plan to explore Japan on your own but would like to take a short trip to learn about Japan before your self-guided journeys. These are the tours for you.

Active Small Group Tours

Travel japan more flexibly in groups of 6 to 13 people using public transportation..

Explore Japan off the beaten path via Japanese public transportation, walking, hiking, cycling and more. Take more time to enjoy local experiences and picturesque landscape. Our Active Small Group Tours combine the best of cultural destinations with off-the-beaten-path via Japanese public transportation, Discover the country of Japan the way the locals do and see Japan from a different angle. A focus on getting away from the crowds and into the real Japan, see the diversity of Japan’s countryside unfold before your eyes.

Group Tour | Deluxe Style

Highlights of korea and japan.

Korea (Andong - Gyeongju - Seoul ) Japan (Nara - Kyoto - Hakone - Mt Fuji - Tokyo)

Departure Months:

For those who love to explore and learn about differnt cultures, consider visiting these two major countries in Asia - Japan and South Korea! While the two countries share many similarities, they also have their own unique cultures. All Japan Tours has designed a special itinerary for guests, showcasing unique locales, “must see” tourist attractions, colorful cultural traditions, and delectable dining. Travel in comfort by private coach bus while your English-speaking guides show you t... View More

For those who love to explore and learn about differnt cultures, consider visiting these two major countries in Asia - Japan and South Korea! While the two countries share many similarities, they also have their own unique cultures. All Japan Tours has designed a special itinerary for guests, showcasing unique locales, “must see” tourist attractions, colorful cultural traditions, and delectable dining. Travel in comfort by private coach bus while your English-speaking guides show you the Highlights of South Korea and Japan. Begin your tour in the beautiful country of South Korea, staying in Seoul for your first night. You will then make your way to Andong Hahoe Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a river flowing along its borders. Travel to Gyeongju, known as the “museum without walls” for the amount of tombs, pagodas, rock carvings, Buddhist statuary, and palace ruins that can be found in the area. Here, you will have the opportunity to visit Gyeongju National Museum and also Cheomseongdae, the oldest astronomical observatory in Asia. Make your way back to Seoul, where you will stay for two nights, exploring the enormous city. Visit the chief temple of Korean Buddhism and visit Insa-dong Antique Street, where you can purchase handmade crafts. Before leaving South Korea to continue your Asia expedition, visit the DMZ, which serves as a buffer zone for North and South Korea. Once you have flown from Seoul to Osaka, you will start your tour of Japan by traveling to Nara, where you can see the giant statue of Buddha at Todaiji Temple, or make new friends with the hundreds of wild deer. In the ancient city of Kyoto, you will experience the best gardens, temples, and shrines. Enrich your cultural side by partaking in a traditional green tea ceremony hosted by an apprentice geisha (maiko). Travel towards Mt. Fuji, visiting Hikone, where the beautiful Hikone Castle is surrounded by cherry blossoms in spring, and stopping at Hakone to take in the amazing views of Mt. Fuji. Stay overnight at a Japanese-style hotel, where you can relax in the hotel's hot spring bath. Once you have reached the bustling city of Tokyo, enjoy a bird's eye view of the city from Tokyo Tower, learn to make your own sushi, and during spring, visit Ueno Park, where you can see over a thousand cherry trees. With exclusive access to gardens, temples, shrines, castles, museums and specialty shops, you will have a one of a kind experience and a chance to see why these countries are popular tourist destinations. Selected tours also include a visit to Hiroshima, where you will learn about the tragic history and bright future of the city. With tours based on seasonal attractions, and must see sites in every tour, you will truly enjoy your time in these two wonderful countries. We plan our tours based on seasonal attractions, with must see sites in every tour. Below are our Highlights of Korea and Japan Tour itineraries with seasonal changes:

Tour Highlights

• Enjoy a beginner expedition to two countries and visit their must-see sites.
• Perfect for travelers who would like to see the main features of South Korea and Japan.
• Stay one night at Japanese-style accommodation and unwind in the hot spring they offer.
• See the award-winning “Nanta Cookin’ Show” at a theater in Central Seoul.
• Experience kimchi making, a kimono fashion show, and a sushi making class.
• Select itineraries include opportunities to visit during the cherry blossom season or visit Hiroshima.
• Experience a traditional green tea ceremony hosted by an apprentice geisha (maiko).
• Visit the DMZ, a buffer zone between North and South Korea.

Spring (Mar - May)   (119)

Summer (Jun - Aug)   (48)

Autumn (Sep - Nov)   (95)

Winter (Dec - Feb)   (21)

May 2024   (1)

June 2024   (1)

October 2024   (1)

March 2025   (2)

April 2025   (1)

May 2025   (1)

June 2025   (1)

October 2025   (1)

March 2026   (2)

April 2026   (1)

May 2026   (1)

June 2026   (1)

October 2026   (1)

Deluxe   (222)

Deluxe-Plus   (21)

Ultra-Deluxe   (9)

Classic Tour   (31)

Cherry Blossoms   (73)

Autumn Leaves   (41)

Festival   (69)

Special Interest   (94)

less than 9 nights   (100)

9-14 nights   (158)

15 nights +   (25)

Hokkaido   (49)

Tohoku   (26)

Kanto   (238)

Chubu   (237)

Kansai   (238)

Chugoku   (110)

Shikoku   (96)

Kyushu   (32)

Okinawa   (0)

Kyoto Aoi Festival   (9)

Kawazu Cherry Blossoms   (4)

Lavenders   (11)

Snow Monkeys   (52)

Shirakawago   (85)

Gion Summer Festival   (4)

Awa Odori Dance Festival   (4)

Sapporo Snow Festival   (5)

Otaru Snow Light Path   (1)

Ice Breaker Cruise   (5)

Wakasagi Smelt Fishing   (5)

Shiretoko Nature Cruise   (8)

Blue Pond   (14)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest   (197)

Miho Museum   (109)

Ise Grand Shrine   (4)

Kumano   (6)

Koyasan   (20)

Himeji Castle   (98)

Kurashiki Canal Area   (99)

Miyajima Island   (106)

Shimanami Kaido   (88)

Takeda Castle   (2)

Motonosumi-Inari Shrine   (2)

Adachi Museum of Art   (6)

Naoshima Island   (12)

Tottori Sand Dunes   (2)

Kyoto Cuisine with Maiko   (35)

Shikoku Pilgrimage Route   (4)

Takachiho   (28)

Baby Blue Eyes Flowers   (7)

Wisteria   (11)

Takayama Festivals   (16)

Shibazakura Festivals   (10)

Tohoku 3 Great Summer Festivals   (3)

Green Tea Ceremony with Maiko   (163)

Sushi-Making   (196)

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route   (6)

Group Tour | Deluxe           Book Now & Save $100

Group Tour | Deluxe     Book Now & Save $100

12 Days 11 Nights | from US $4298.00

Korea (Andong / Gyeongju / Seoul), Japan (Nara / Kyoto / Koka / Hakone / Mt Fuji / Tokyo)

Explore two beautiful countries in asia - korea & japan in one tour..

Korea (Andong / Gyeongju / Seoul), Japan (Osaka / Nara / Kyoto / Koka / Hakone / Mt Fuji / Tokyo)

12 Days 11 Nights | from US $4498.00

Korea (Andong / Gyeongju /Seoul), Japan (Nara / Kyoto / Koka / Hikone / Hakone / Mt Fuji / Tokyo)

Explore korea & japan during the most beautiful time of the year - the cherry blossom season..

13 Days 12 Nights | from US $4598.00

Explore two beautiful countries in Asia - Korea & Japan in one tour, plus Expo 2025 Osaka!

Explore two beautiful countries in Asia - Korea & Japan in one tour, plus Expo 2025 Osaka.

15 Days 14 Nights | from US $5698.00

Japan (Tokyo / Mt Fuji / Hakone / Hikone / Koka / Kyoto / Nara / Osaka / Himeji / Kurashiki / Hiroshima / Shimanami Kaido / Obokekyo Gorge / Kotohira / Takamatsu / Kobe), Korea (Andong / Gyeongju /Seoul)

Explore japan & korea during the most beautiful time of the year - the cherry blossom season..

Spring Tours (Mar - May)

Summer Tours (Jun - Aug)

Autumn Tours (Sep - Nov)

Winter Tours (Dec - Feb)

Travel Styles

Deluxe-Plus

Ultra-Deluxe

Walking Tour

Cherry Blossom Tours

Autumn Leaves Tours

Festival Tours

Special Interest Tours

Seasonal Attractions

Cherry Blossoms

Takayama Spring Festival

Kyoto Aoi Festival

Shibazakura Festivals

Baby Blue Eyes Flowers

Lavenders in Hokkaido

Gion Summer Festival

Tohoku 3 Great Summer Festivals

Awa Odori Dance Festival

Autumn Leaves

Takayama Autumn Festival

Snow Monkeys

Sapporo Snow Festival

Ice Breaker Cruise

Wakasagi Smelt Fishing

Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival

Things Not to Miss

Shirakawago

Miho Museum

Naoshima Island

Himeji Castle

Shiretoko Nature Cruise

Sushi-Making Experience

Kyoto Cuisine with Maiko

Green Tea Ceremony with Maiko

Ise Grand Shrine

Most Beautiful Places in Japan

Otaru Snow Light Path

Tottori Sand Dunes

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Miyajima Island

Motonosumi-Inari Shrine

Adachi Museum of Art

Shimanami Kaido

Takeda Castle Ruin

Kurashiki Canal Area

Takachiho Gorge

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It is not easy for you to take a long distance flight from the West to the East, Why not experience these two neighboring distinctive countries together? Intertwined with a genuine and heart-warming hospitality, Japan and Korea awaits you! Early Bird $200 Saving!

NovalandTours has created a number of happy clients visiting Japan and Korea. Our Japan and Korea tour packages include from 10 days, 12 days, 14 days to over 21 days trips in both countries.

No matter what your travel budget & special requirements are, you can always find a tour package especially suitable for you from Novaland Tours.

We offer you wonderful tailor-made tour service at good value for money. Save Much of Your Time Now! Submit Simple Inquiry, Based on Your Personal Interests & Needs, Get a FREE Travel Guide Book & Your Tailor-made Japan Korea Tour Proposal in 24hrs, including itinerary, hotels, 1-on-1 travel consultant self-introduction, visa, tour price advices, how to save money, etc.

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TOUR CODE: JKA

16 days: japan 9 nights & korea 5 nights.

JAPAN : Tokyo, Lake Ashi Cruise, Hakone, Mt. Fuji, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima (Bullet Train), Nara, Osaka KOREA : Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul

• 2024 Departure Dates: May 14 (Fully Booked), Sep 10, Oct 14, Nov 5
• By Air Canada Non-Stop Flight

Tour Features

• Tour Leader from Canada
• Guaranteed Departures
• Air Canada Non-Stop Flight
• Osaka to Busan by Air
• Luxury Accomodaions
• Special Farewell Dinner
• One Free Bottled Water Daily
• Tokyo Skytree Observation Tower
• Free Group Photo in Skytree
• Tokyo National Museum
• Tsukiji Fish Market
• Oshino Hakkai
• Cruise on Lake Ashi
• Hiroshima with Bullet Train
• One Western Dinner
• Japanese Souvenir
• Seoul DMZ (Third Tunnel)
• Gyeongju UNESCO Sites
• Busan Gamcheon Culture Village
• Haeundae Costal Train
• The Painters Show (or Nanta)
• Seoul Night Market Tour
• Hanbok Experience
• Korea Special Dinner
• Korean Souvenir

Day 1 - Hometown / Tokyo (Japan) ( YVR/NRT AC003 1305/1500+1)

Fly with Air Canada to Vancouver from your hometown connecting Air Canada non-stop flight to Tokyo (Japan).  Start your worry-free vacation with our Canadian Tour Leader.

Day 2 - Arrived Tokyo

Cross the International Date Line and arrive in Tokyo. You will be greeted and transferred to the hotel.

Day 3 - Tokyo

After breakfast, visit Asakusa Kannon Temple (Sensoji Temple) and Nakamise Market . Then visit Tokyo Skytree Observation Deck for a skyline view of Tokyo and Group Photo . Visit Tokyo National Museum before dinner. ( B / L / D )

Day 4 - Tokyo

Morning visit Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine) , the most important and popular Shinto shrine in Tokyo. Then visit Tsukiji Fish Market, Imperial Palace and Nijubashi Bridge . In the afternoon, visit Ginza Shopping District, if time allows, explore Odaiba. ( B / L / D )

Day 5 - Tokyo ~ Hakone (Kanagawa Prefecture) ~ Mt. Fuji ~ Shizuoka

Leave Tokyo to Hakone, a 1.5-hour drive. Taking a calming, 30-minute Cruise on Lake Ashi . After lunch, drive to Mt. Fuji 5th Station (depending on weather conditions), if time allows, visit the eight springs Oshino Hakkai. Dinner at a local restaurant. ( B / L / D )

Day 6 - Shizuoka ~ Nagoya

After breakfast, drive to Nagoya (3.5 hours bus ride). After lunch, visit Nagoya Castle and Atsuta Shrine. Then proceed to visit Osu Kannon Temple / Shopping Arcade , a network of covered shopping streets with over 400 shops and restaurants. ( B / L / D )

Day 7 - Nagoya ~ Kyoto

After breakfast, take 2-hour bus ride to Kyoto. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and Heian Shrine . Then visit the district of Gion and Hanami-koji Street,   historic district with traditional buildings, kimono shops, restaurants and geisha.  Western Dinner at night. ( B / L / WD )

Day 8 - Kyoto

After breakfast, visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Togetsukyo Bridge . Then tour to Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) and Kiyomizu Temple . Dinner on your own arrangement.

Day 9 - Kyoto ~ Hiroshima ~ Osaka (by Bullet Train)

Take the morning Bullet Train from Kyoto to Hiroshima . Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum .  Then take the ferry to Miyajima Island,  visit Itsukushima Shrine  Lunch on your own arrangement. In the late afternoon, take the Bullet Train to Osaka . Dinner at a local restaurant. ( B / D )

Day 10 - Osaka ~ Nara ~ Osaka

Nara is an hour drive from Osaka. Visit Todaiji Temple , held the record as the largest wooden building in Japan. Onward to Nara Deer Park , home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Visit Kofukuji Temple and take a stroll in Naramachi , the former merchant district of Nara. Head back to Osaka and explore the largest shopping district Shinsaibashi. Enjoy a Special Dinner in Osaka.

( B / L / SD )

Day 11 - Osaka / Busan (Korea) by Air

After breakfast, take the flight to Busan. Greeted by a Korean local guide and straight to a tour of Oryukdo Skywalk and Taejongdae Cliff . Then visit Busan International Film Festival Square and the biggest Fish Market, Jagalchi Fish Market . Korean Hot Pot Dinner at a local restaurant. ( B / L / D )

Day 12 - Busan

Today, visit Gamcheon Culture Village, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple see the Cheongsapo Red and White Lighthouse . Then walk along Busan famous Haeundae Beach and get a ride on Haeundae Coastal Train . Enjoy a Korean Dinner at night. ( B / L / D )

Day 13 - Busan ~ Gyeongju

After breakfast, enjoy a ride to Gyeongju. Today visit 2 UNESCO Heritage sites – Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple . And then Cheomsongdae Observatory , Daerungwon Tomb Complex, and Gyeongju National Museum.   Buffet Dinner at Ashley Restaurant . ( B / L / SD )

Day 14 - Gyeongju ~ Seoul

In the morning, drive to Seoul. Upon arrival, have Korean Ginseng Soup with Rice for lunch. Then visit Gyeongbokgung Palace and experience wearing Korean Traditional Cloth – Hanbok. After, visit the National Folk Museum and Bukchon Hanok Village . Then watch The Painters show (or Nanta) and visit Dongdaemun-gu .  Dinner on your own arrangement. ( B  / L  )

Day 15 - Seoul

In the morning, visit DMZ Area to see the reality of divided nation in the world. Itinerary includes the Third Tunnel Experience . Afternoon, visit the War Memorial of Korea and Insadong. We will have a Special Farewell Dinner – Korean BBQ . Visit Myeongdong Night Market before going back to the hotel. ( B / L / SD ) 

Day 16 - Seoul / Hometown ( ICN/YVR AC064 1805/1210 )

After breakfast, take a closer look at N Seoul Tower (No observatory) and visit a Local Products Store then transfer to Incheon International Airport. Take the Air Canada non-stop flight to Vancouver, arrive home on the same day. 

Pricing & Availability

• Non-refundable deposit of C$500.00 per person must be made once client confirms the tour booking.
• A balance of the tour price shall be made in full 90 days prior to departure.
• Child (11 yrs. & under): 90% of the adult fare, sharing room with parent, no extra bed.
• Air Canada provides one check-in luggage (23kg) for free.
• Flight from Osaka to Busan provides one check-in luggage (15kg) for free
• Personal Insurance: purchase of personal travel and trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended. Please contact your travel agent.
• Tour Service Fee USD230/pp to be paid locally. (In Tokyo)
• If Air Canada Group Ticket is not available, land only can be arranged.

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• 16-Day South Korea and Japan Cultural Adventure Tour

Embark on an epic East Asian Adventure: explore South Korea and Japan with a 2-week expedition across Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Hakone, and Tokyo. Immerse yourself in the vibrant cultures of these mesmerizing destinations, witness world-famous landmarks, and discover historical cities. With our meticulously planned itinerary and knowledgeable guides, this leisurely tour guarantees unforgettable memories and a comprehensive experience of South Korea and Japan. Join us now for the journey of a lifetime!

• Best For: First-timers, families, food enthusiasts, lovers of Asian culture
• Departure date: up to you
• Sample Price: from US$ 8,499 each (2 per room); 4-6 persons, save US$ 600 each!

Journey Route

This is the perfect tour for those making their maiden journey to both South Korea and Japan, as well as for families. Enroll for your preferred segments of the tour or use the entire itinerary as inspiration, customizing each aspect to create a uniquely tailored experience for you.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family 's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Step into the rich history of Japan and South Korea: explore UNESCO sites and unveil hidden gems.

Compare ktx and shinkansen — south korea and japan bullet trains — on your journey., embrace cultural splendor in korean hanbok and japanese kimono ., soar above the sparkling seas: take a breathtaking cable car ride over busan's songdo bay., marvel at the enchanting seaside temple — haedong yonggungsa — an intriguing sight to behold... and discover, ascend the enchanting "machu picchu of busan" ., indulge in culinary delights : unleash your inner foodie on an osaka cuisine adventure., unleash your inner warrior with an authentic ninja experience ., discover hakone's awe-inspiring landscapes, traversing dynamic vistas that captivate the heart and spirit., relish the art of matcha-making in uji, immersing yourselves in tradition while crafting the revered green tea delicacy., indulge in the whimsical delight of a japanese anime café , reveling in a realm of beloved characters., experience tranquility at a traditional japanese ryokan in hakone, with a rejuvenating onsen (hot-spring bath), inviting serene relaxation., have your own guide and private vehicle during the guided day..

Explore similar itineraries: 16-Day South Korea and Japan Cultural Adventure Tour 16-Day Japan and China Discovery Tour

Itinerary in Detail

Craft your dream journey across South Korea and Japan with our team's expertise. A travel tapestry woven perfectly around your unique tastes and desires.

Welcome to vibrant Seoul, South Korea, a harmonious fusion of age-old traditions and futuristic innovation. From the bustling cityscape to the serene Buddhist temples, every corner is rich with dynamic experiences. Enjoy a comfortable ride to the hotel with our airport transfer service. Prepare to be enchanted by Seoul's captivating street food, iconic K-pop culture, and scenic Han River views. With our tailored itinerary and expert guidance, your journey is set to be truly unforgettable.

Upon landing in Seoul, your private guide will greet you warmly at the airport and escort you to your hotel, where you can unwind or begin your South Korean adventure at your leisure.

Embrace a day of wonder with our Seoul City Highlights Tour, guided by your dedicated local expert:

• Unveil the magnificence of Gyeongbok Palace , where Korean royalty's splendor unfolds.
• Engage in an enchanting Hanbok wearing experience , bringing centuries-old sartorial elegance of Korea to life.
• Wander the enchanting lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village , a charming nest of historical Korean houses.
• Lose yourself in Insadong 's bustling streets, a haven for art aficionados and antique collectors.
• Savor Seoul's bustling vitality and delectable culinary offerings at iconic Gwangjang Market .

Continue your journey with the cities of Suwon and Yongin, stepping further into the rich tapestry of Korean culture:

• Step back in time at Yongin Folk Village , where the customs and lifestyles of historical Korea are brought vividly to life.
• Explore the imposing Suwon Hwaseong Fortress , an icon of 18th-century military architecture and the Joseon dynasty's brilliant artistry.

This segment of the tour crafts a deeper understanding of Korea's cultural heritage, bringing history alive for your thrilling exploration.

Embrace another day of captivating discovery as you journey from Seoul to Gyeongju.

• Your day commences with a swift transfer to Seoul station, paving the way to your next adventure.
• By hopping onto the sleek KTX , Korea's high-speed train service, you'll quickly glide into the ancient city of Gyeongju.
• The city's regal past awaits at Daereungwon Tombs , where you'll unravel Korea's royal history.
• Ascend to the celestial heights of Cheomseungdae Observatory , constructed during the reign of Queen Seondeok (632–647) and one of the landmarks of Gyeongju.
• Bathe in the tranquil beauty of Wolji Pond  (known for centuries as Anapji ), a large walled pond with enchanting pavilions and an interesting history.

Venture into yet another pristine day drenched in cultural marvels and breathtaking sights in the heart of Busan.

• Start your expedition at the world-renowned Bulguksa Temple , renowned for its magnificent architecture and spiritual serenity.
• Marvel at the mystique of Seokguram Grotto , where sublime Buddhist artistry resides amidst serene mountains.
• Transfered to Busan and Visit the exquisite Haedong Yonggungsa Temple , a unique seaside temple offering an extraordinary blend of spiritual sanctity and natural beauty.
• End your day soaking up the vitality of Haeundae Beach , a premier hotspot for sunbathing, water sports, or simple relaxation.

Prepare for a vibrant day in Busan, reveling in its eclectic blend of art, local flavors, and thrilling vistas.

• Start your day at colorful Gamcheon Culture Village , often known as Korea's Santorini, for its splendid array of art-infused hillside houses.
• Dive into the lively atmosphere of Jagalchi Fish Market , Korea's largest seafood market, and the bustling Gukje Market to discover Busan's pulsating heart of local life.
• Cap your day with a breathtaking Songdo Cable Car ride, soaring on high to capture a panoramic view of Busan's mesmerizing skyline.

This day offers you a unique insight into Busan's culture, from its charming art village and buzzing markets to the stunning cityscapes from an aerial vantage point.

On the seventh day, get ready to embrace the style of your next destination — the historic charm of Osaka, Japan. To ensure a seamless transition:

• You'll be taken from your Busan accommodation to the airport with a hassle-free airport transfer.
• Upon arrival in Osaka, another reliable transfer awaits to take you to your hotel.

Immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of Osaka for an unforgettable day:

• Begin your journey at the historical gem of Osaka Castle Park , where you'll witness centuries-old architecture amidst lush greenery.
• Uncover the layered narratives of Japanese art at the Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum .
• Indulge in an exciting Ninja experience , delving into the mystique of these legendary warriors.
• Culminate your day with a gastronomic adventure in Shinsekai , Osaka's vibrant food district, savoring a range of scrumptious local delicacies.

Continue onwards on this spellbinding journey on a day that takes you from Osaka to Kyoto via the culturally-rich city of Nara.

• Begin your adventure with a matcha-making experience , where you'll craft and savor the quintessential Japanese tea.
• Explore enchanting Nara Park , home to friendly deer and lush greenery.
• Visit the majestic Todai-ji Temple , an architectural masterpiece housing the world's largest bronze Buddha statue.
• Engage in an authentic Japanese tradition at the Gekkeikan Sake Brewery , tasting the perfection of meticulously crafted sake.
• Your day culminates at mesmerizing Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, with its iconic red torii gates leading you into a spiritual journey.

From experiential tea ceremonies, temple visits, and sake tasting to shrine explorations, this day offers a rich immersion in Japan's spiritual tradition, drinking culture, and tranquil beauty.

Immerse yourself in a day steeped in Kyoto's rich history and culture, featuring the city's cherished highlights.

• Start with a visit to the storied Nijo Castle , a splendid example of Edo Period architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Journey through the sensory delights of Nishiki Market , experiencing the kaleidoscopic array of local cuisine and goods.
• Revel in the tranquility of the Golden Pavilion — Kinkaku-ji Temple , a Zen Buddhist temple overlaid with gleaming gold leaf.
• Slip into the graceful attire of a traditional kimono , absorbing the essence of Japan's cultural heritage. This thoughtful prelude perfectly sets the stage for your visit to the next destination...
• Clothed in your kimono, you'll visit the revered Pure Water Temple . With its impressive wooden stage and panoramic views of Kyoto, you're assured remarkable photo opportunities, ensuring this day remains an everlasting memory.

Indulge in the freedom and excitement of three independent (but well-planned-and-prepared) adventure days visiting Hakone. To facilitate a seamless journey:

• Your Shinkansen bullet-train tickets and 3-Day Hakone Pass — a passport to explore the region's diverse and captivating attractions — will be handed to you in advance by our guide.
• You'll be briefed fully on their usage, leaving no room for confusion and ensuring a smooth journey.
• On the day, independently navigate your way to Kyoto Station and board the Shinkansen bound for Odawara.
• Upon arrival at Odawara Station, making your way to your Hakone accommodation will be a breeze, thanks to the detailed instructions provided beforehand.

The day's journey, while not guided, has been thoughtfully coordinated to offer you the exhilarating thrill of exploring at your own pace, without any logistical worries.

• Experience the joy of personal discovery as you embark on an independent exploration of Hakone, aided by your 3-Day Hakone Pass . The pass grants you flexible access to a host of transport options across the region, including trains, buses, boats, and cable cars.
• Whether you're drawn to the natural beauty of Lake Ashi , the stunning vistas from Owakudani Volcano , the serenity of Hakone Shrine , or the masterpieces at the Hakone Open-Air Museum , this day in Hakone is yours to design at will.
• Remember the Hakone Pass is your key to unlocking Hakone's treasures, offering unlimited travel and special discounts at select attractions, boosting your freedom to explore at your own pace and as the mood takes you.

Conclude your independent travel adventure with a seamless journey from Hakone to vibrant Tokyo.

• Your day begins with a journey to Odawara Station using your Hakone Pass.
• Once there, your reserved Shinkansen ticket will take you onto the sleek bullet train bound for Tokyo.
• Upon your arrival in Tokyo's pulsating cityscape, navigate your way to your hotel based on directions and advice given to you before the trip to Hakone.

This journey, while free of guides, has been orchestrated to ensure a smooth and convenient transition allowing you to immerse yourself in the thrill of independent travel. Take in first impressions of Tokyo's electrifying charm uninfluenced and at your own pace.

Prepare for a thrilling exploration of Tokyo's iconic landmarks with your private guide and convenient transfer services.

• Begin your journey at serene Meiji Jingu Shrine , Tokyo's most famous Shinto shrine, tucked away in a peaceful forest.
• Wander at leisure along Omotesando , often dubbed Tokyo's Champs-Elysées, dotted with high-end boutiques and haute couture.
• Immerse yourselves in the energetic vibes of Shibuya , a hotspot for fashion and nightlife, and famed for the bustling Shibuya crossing.
• Experience the vibrance of Senso-ji , Tokyo's oldest and most symbolic Buddhist temple, located in the historic Asakusa district.
• Cap off your day with a visit to Tokyo Skytree , Japan's tallest tower, offering breathtaking, panoramic views of the cityscape.

Accompanied by an expert guide and well-planned transfer services, this day promises a fascinating dive into the city's historic roots, contemporary culture, and commanding views.

Embark on a day steeped in Tokyo's vibrant culture and tantalizing flavors.

• Begin your exploration at Tsukiji Fish Market , a bustling hub offering a glimpse into Tokyo's seafood industry.
• Adorn the hat of a sushi chef for a hands-on sushi-making experience , following which you'll feast on your creations for lunch.
• Find tranquility amidst the city's hustle in the beautifully landscaped Hama-rikyu Gardens .
• Step into the whimsical world of a Japanese anime café , an immersive playground for fans of this uniquely-Japanese pop-culture phenomenon.

As your remarkable journey draws to a close, a convenient transfer will be arranged from your hotel to the airport. This ensures you conclude your exploration of South Korea and Japan on a relaxed note, as you're comfortably escorted to your onward flight.

This grand adventure might be ending, but the memories and experiences you've gathered will echo for a lifetime.

Ideas for Making This Trip Uniquely Yours

Special experiences can be added to brighten a honeymoon trip, a family vacation, a birthday, or satisfy personal interests.

Hand-Picked Hotels

We have selected hotels with different styles and for different budgets. Let us know your preferences and we will help you find the right one.

Tour Price:

• The price is based on a private tour for 2 people during the low season.
• The price varies based on program, travel date, number of people.
• We could also price a tour including both 4-star and 5-star hotels for you.
• We accept payments in multiple currencies (GBP, AUD, CAD, EUR...).

Price Includes:

• Privately-driven air-conditioned vehicle with ample space (except where stated)
• English-speaking local guide for the sightseeing
• Attraction tickets and itinerary activities
• Accommodation for all nights
• Flights/trains between itinerary cities
• Hotel breakfasts and itinerary lunches/dinners
• 24/7 helpline while touring
• Governmental taxes

Price Excludes:

• International flights not mentioned in the itinerary
• Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Overweight luggage more than 20 kg per person
• Visa fee, if applicable
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Personal expenses

Tour code: ah-ea-2

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South Korea & Japan: Seoul to Tokyo

You have up to 60 days to get a full refund

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Two sought-after countries. Twice the cultural cachet.

On the global pop culture scene, South Korea’s star has steadily risen in recent years. That’s thanks in part to sensationally popular Korean TV shows and films, foods, beauty trends, and pop bands that have taken the world by storm—and piqued travelers’ curiosity about the country in the process. Korea’s easterly neighbor, Japan, offers up rich history, cultural immersion, and impeccable hospitality that’s always in high demand. Spend two weeks getting to know these neighboring Asian nations, from their neon-lit cities to their rural villages to their serene, natural landscapes. If you want to venture a little farther off the beaten path, extend your tour and explore Hokkaido, Japan’s mountainous, northernmost island.

Your tour package includes

• 13 nights in handpicked hotels
• 13 breakfasts
• 4 dinners with beer or wine

Included highlights

• Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul
• Visiting with Buddhist monks at Bulguksa Temple
• UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan
• Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan
• Kushida-jinja Shrine in Fukuoka

An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.

Day-by-day itinerary

Board your overnight flight to Seoul today.

Welcome to South Korea! Settle in to your hotel this evening.

Meet up with your local guide and get to know South Korea’s capital city, Seoul. Situated in the northwestern reaches of South Korea, the thriving metropolis is home to modern skyscrapers, ornate Buddhist temples, grand palaces, and nearly 10 million residents. It’s also the perfect place to experience many of the fun and dynamic Korean cultural trends—from K-pop music to novelty foods—that have flourished around the world throughout the last decade.

• Step inside the 14th-century, 7,700-room Gyeongbokgung Palace, which was built by King Taejo and is widely considered the most beautiful of Seoul’s five grand palaces.
• Watch the Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, a reenactment of the guard-changing procedure that took place during the Joseon dynasty; the ceremony features colorful reproduction costumes, as well as instruments and weapons, based on historical records.
• Visit the National Folk Museum of Korea to learn about traditional ways of life, which are rapidly disappearing as a result of modernization and urbanization.
• Enter bustling Gwangjang Market, the city’s oldest traditional market, where you’ll find everything from street food to silks to hanbok—traditional Korean clothing whose origins date back more than 2,000 years.
• Enjoy a tasting of the market’s not-to-be-missed street food, followed by free time to shop and explore on your own.
• Get to know your fellow travelers over an included welcome lunch, served with beer or wine.

Enjoy a free evening in Seoul or add an excursion.

Kimchi-Making Class & Dinner

From $155 per person

Enjoy a free day in Seoul or add an excursion.

History of the Korean War: DMZ Visit

From $119 per person

Board a high-speed bullet train bound for the city of Gyeongju. Often referred to as the “museum without walls,” Gyeongju is home to several impressive archaeological sites and three UNESCO World Heritage sites.

• Climb aboard your coach for a short transfer to Bulguksa Temple; the treasured head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism was established on the slopes of Mount Toham in the eighth century.
• Explore the temple with a monk as your guide, then choose to make prayer beads or a lotus flower lantern.

Sit down with your group this evening for an included dinner served with beer or wine.

Spend the morning exploring the Daereungwon Tomb Complex, the final resting place of nobility of the Silla Kingdom, or Golden Kingdom, which ruled from 57 B.C.–935 A.D. You’ll have a chance to enter one of its burial mounds and view some of the 11,000 artifacts and royal crowns that showcase the lavish lifestyles of Korean royalty.

Later, travel to the mountainous, seaside city of Busan, where you’ll visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery. Learn about the history and impact of the Korean War, and pay your respects to those buried in the cemetery.

Enjoy an included dinner this evening served with beer or wine.

Meet up with a local guide to explore Busan, a dynamic port city at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Home to roughly 3.5 million people, Busan is the country’s second-largest city. Here, visitors will find a little bit of everything, from bustling city streets to scenic beaches to excellent restaurants.

• Pass through the heart of the city to popular Yongdusan Park and make a photo stop at its nearly 400-foot-tall Busan Tower, which features an observation deck and cafe.
• Travel to colorful Gamcheon Culture Village and learn how it evolved from a downtrodden destination for Korean War refugees to a must-see destination known for its colorful dwellings and labyrinthine alleyways.
• Head back to the city and visit the vast Jagalchi Fish Market, whose vendors sell just about every kind of fish and seafood imaginable.
• Enjoy free time for shopping and lunch along Gwangbok-dong Cultural & Fashion Street, whose shops sell everything from bargain finds to luxury goods.

Busan Harbor Cruise & Korean Barbecue Dinner

Today, fly to Fukuoka, the largest city on Japan’s Kyushu Island. Then, join a local guide for a tour of the city, which was formed in 1889 when the castle town of Fukuoka and the port city of Hakata merged.

• Visit the eighth-century Kushida-jinja Shrine, whose highlights include a fountain where people pray for eternal youth.
• Learn about the shrine’s famous Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, which takes place every July and culminates with residents of seven Hakata neighborhoods racing beautifully decorated floats along a three-mile course through the city.
• Wander along the Naka River to Nakasu, a small island packed with stalls selling street foods such as Hakata ramen and yakitori.

Head to a local restaurant this evening for an included dinner, served with beer or wine.

Travel to Nagasaki this morning and meet up with your local guide. Set out to explore the area, which was Japan’s early gateway to trade with the West, as well as the target of an atomic bombing by the United States in 1945. Today, the area’s unspoiled beaches and islands attract swimmers, divers, and sea kayakers.

• Visit Nagasaki Peace Park, which serves as both a symbol of hope and a reminder of the horrors of war.
• Explore the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum’s exhibits, which shed light on the city’s devastating history and post-war life.
• Sit down for an included lunch this afternoon at a local restaurant.
• Set off on a walking tour through the city, including its cosmopolitan center, as well as historic neighborhoods, like Dejima, which was constructed in the 17th century as a man-made island to segregate Portuguese residents from the Japanese population.

Board a high-speed bullet train to Kyoto this morning. Then, get to know the city that served as the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years and is still considered its spiritual capital.

• Start in western Kyoto’s historic Arashiyama district, which is known for its temples, shrines, and stunning natural beauty.
• Step inside the UNESCO-listed Tenryū-ji temple, which was originally constructed in the 12th century and is considered one of Kyoto’s most important sites.
• Wander through the famous and photogenic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, whose towering, 160-foot-tall bamboo stalks flank a singular pathway.
• Take in views of the rolling, tree-covered hills that surround the Hozu River.
• Cross the wooden Togetsukyo Bridge, which was originally built more than 1,200 years ago and stretches nearly 170 feet across a river that’s known as the Hozu to the west and the Katsura to the east.
• See the famous, 14th-century Kinkaku-ji temple, widely known as the Golden Pavilion, which sits at the edge of a tranquil reflecting pond and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Enjoy a free day in Kyoto or add an excursion.

Fushimi Inari Walking Tour & Tea Ceremony

From $95 per person

Board a high-speed bullet train to Tokyo, then spend the afternoon exploring Japan’s bustling capital with your Tour Director leading the way. Ancient shrines and temples, peaceful parks, and modern skyscrapers make up the tapestry of the city, which is home to nearly 14 million people.

• Snap photos of the Imperial Palace, which occupies the site of the original Edo Castle and is home to Japan’s emperor; its impressive grounds feature moats and massive, stone walls.
• Pass through the Shinjuku District, a major hub for shopping and nightlife with neon signs as far as the eye can see.
• Ride an elevator to the top of the Metropolitan Building—a soaring structure with twin towers and observation decks—to enjoy bird’s-eye views of the city.

Join a local guide and get to know more of Tokyo, from its historic past to its vibrant present.

• Drive through central Tokyo to iconic Shibuya crossing and snap photos of the world’s busiest crosswalk—some 3,000 people cross from all directions simultaneously during rush hour—from an elevated viewing point.
• Stop inside Shibuya Station to view “The Myth of Tomorrow,” Japanese artist Tarō Okamoto’s famous 1960s mural that depicts the explosion of an atomic bomb.
• Drive to Yoyogi Park—one of the city’s biggest public parks—and take a short walk to Meiji Imperial Shrine, the final resting place of Emperor Meiji.
• Stroll through the colorful Harajuku neighborhood, where Tokyo’s history and present-day pop culture intertwine.
• Explore Tokyo’s old town, including the ancient Asakusa Kannon Temple, the city’s oldest and most sacred temple.
• Peruse a vibrant variety of handmade crafts and local fare at the centuries-old Nakamise Shopping Arcade.

Enjoy a free afternoon in Tokyo or add an excursion.

Japanese Cooking Class & Dinner

From $125 per person

Enjoy a free day in Tokyo or add an excursion.

Celebrate your trip during a farewell dinner this evening, served with beer or wine.

Aokigahara Forest & Mount Fuji

Transfer to the airport to board your flight home, or choose to continue your adventure with a visit to Hokkaido.

Today, fly to Sapporo—the capital of Japan’s mountainous Hokkaido island and one of the country’s youngest major cities (in 1857, its population clocked in at a mere seven people). The city also played host to the Olympics in 1972. Spend the afternoon exploring the city alongside your Tour Director.

• Enjoy a comforting bowl of Sapporo’s famous ramen—the iconic Japanese noodle soup originated here—during an included lunch.
• Walk through Odori Park—the sprawling green space separates the city into north and south—and enter the iconic Sapporo TV tower, which dates back to the 1950s, and take in panoramic views of the city from the observation deck.
• Pass Sapporo’s clock tower, the city’s oldest building, as you make your way to Niko Market.

Travel to the charming harbor city of Otaru. Here, you’ll take a short walking tour alongside your Tour Director, cruise along the city’s canals, and enjoy free time to explore at your own pace.

Later, visit the local brewery and enjoy a guided tour through the brewery where you’ll learn how the best ingredients are chosen, view the fermentation process, and see how the beers are manufactured and packaged. End the tour with a tasting of fresh off-the-line beer before enjoying free time for the rest of the day.

Enjoy a free day in Sapporo or add an excursion.

Volcanic Hokkaido

From $99 per person

Board a flight back to Tokyo and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy free time for the rest of the day or add an excursion.

Tokyo Dinner & Karaoke

From $105 per person

Enjoy a free morning in Tokyo. Then, transfer to the airport to board your flight home.

Book for just $99 down

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Hotels, flights & FAQ

This downtown hotel is located in Seoul’s vibrant Myeongdong district. Guests enjoy the fitness center, city views, and on-site cafe. Nearby you’ll fi...

This grand hotel is located in historic city of Gyeongju. Guests enjoy the beautifully manicured gardens, outdoor pools, and on-site coffee house. Nea...

This contemporary hotel is located a few minutes walk from Busan’s beautiful Haeundae Beach. Guests enjoy the fitness center, spacious rooms, and on-s...

This boutique hotel is located the vibrant Sanjo district of Kyoto. Guests enjoy the thoughtfully designed décor, on-site restaurant, and the 1867 bar...

This comfortable hotel is located on Odaiba Island, Tokyo. Guests enjoy a fitness center, restaurant, and room service. Nearby, you’ll find Pallete To...

This modern hotel is located in Fukuoka’s Nakasu neighborhood. Guests enjoy the on-site restaurant and tea lounge, as well as Tempur-pedic pillows. Ne...

This centrally located hotel is in the heart of Sapporo. Guests enjoy the two different restaurants featuring Western and Japanese cuisine, bike renta...

• Round-trip flight for your tour
• Airport transfers at your destination
• A great price locked in today
• 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
• Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
• Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
• Find out more about flights
• In order to enter South Korea and Japan, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of return.
• We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
• Beginning January 1, 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must purchase an individual visa from the South Korean government’s Electronic Travel Authority website www.k-eta.go.kr prior to departure.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact South Korea’s and Japan’s consulates for your specific entry requirements.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code SKJ.
• You will walk for about 2.5 hours daily across mostly flat terrain, including paved roads and gravel paths, with few hills. You may need to climb stairs when visiting temples.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
• You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of trains and small boats.
• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Directors who accompany your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Directors is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and they cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
• You will have two separate Tour Directors on this tour: one in South Korea and another in Japan.
• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Seoul and depart from Tokyo. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
• High-speed train transfers from Seoul to Gyeongju, Fukuoka to Kyoto, and Kyoto to Tokyo, as well as a flight from Busan to Fukuoka, are included in the price of your tour. The tour extension also includes a round-trip flight between Tokyo and Sapporo.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• Travelers may only bring personal items or carry-on sized luggage on the train transfers. Any large-checked luggage will be transferred for you from Fukuoka to Kyoto and from Kyoto to Tokyo directly.
• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
• A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
• You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
• It is preferable not to visit temples or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov .
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
• In South Korea, typical foods include rice, noodles, kimchi (a traditional Korean side dish made from fermented cabbage, radish, or cucumber and seasoned with ingredients like fish sauce and chili flakes), and bulgogi—a popular Korean barbecue dish.
• Most Japanese meals are based around rice or noodles with fish, meat, and vegetables flavored with soy sauce and miso. You may recognize popular dishes like sushi, tempura, and hot pot.
• Japan operates on 100 volts and uses a Type A plug, the same as in the U.S.
• South Korea operates on 220 volts and uses Type C and F plugs.
• The strength of the air conditioning in Asian hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what one might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
• Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
• All destinations visited are 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
• When it’s noon in New York, it’s 1am on the following day on tour.
• You will use the the Korean won in South Korea and the Japanese yen in Japan.
• Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
• We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
• You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
• Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
• Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
• Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information. International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.

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Best of Korea & Japan

Japan and South Korea make a great pairing — though whether they’d agree about that is another question.

Like bickering siblings, Japan and Korea want you to know they’re unique — and they are. But at the same time neither can escape their shared history, which has shaped everything about them from their food and drink to their philosophy. This trip is about exploring similarities, noticing differences, and celebrating two distinct but equally fascinating cultures.

Transport in detail

In South Korea, transport will be by private car with a driver. In Japan, you’ll use the bullet train network to get around. Between the two, you’ll have a connecting flight (not included).

What's great

This itinerary explores classic destinations from different angles, combining well-known sights with lesser-known highlights

There’s a fantastic variety of destinations, both traditional and modern, spanning cities, countryside and coast

You’ll experience first-hand the subtle cultural differences between these close neighbours

Things to consider

Though we’ve included some more unusual experiences, all the destinations on this itinerary are well-trodden classics

Though we’ve included some day trips to get you into the countryside, this is a fairly city-focussed itinerary

The experience

Prefer to stick to one or the other? Check out the rest of our Japan and Korea itineraries — or have us design one just for you. Asia is your oyster.

Your adventure begins in Seoul, one of the most underrated capitals in Asia. A full day with a guide will help you get your bearings — perhaps including the traditional hanok district of Bukchon, the antique stores and sweet shops of back-alley Insadong, or street food and people-watching among the fashionistas in glitzy Myeongdong. The possibilities for your time here are endless, but be sure to make a stop at one of the city’s palaces (Gyeongbok is the biggest and most impressive) and check out sprawling Gwangjang Market, where you can eat your way through endless soondae sausage, bite-sized rice rolls and mung bean pancakes.

See (and hear!) the historical reenactment of the changing of the guards at Gyeongbok Palace

Visit a workshop and make your own wooden sujeo (chopstick & spoon set) to use on your travels

Make an optional day trip to Suwon, home of World Heritage Hwaseong Fortress

Your next destination will whisk you away from cutting-edge Seoul and back to the days of the Joseon Dynasty (or as close as you can get in modern Korea). Hahoe is a preserved clan village dating back to the 16th century, but it’s no museum: this is a living, working place with a sense of authenticity that’s often lacking in Korea’s reconstructed “folk villages”. Explore with a guide to demystify the local history and customs, then take the ferry across the river to Buyongdae Cliff for epic views. On your way back to Andong, stop at a World Heritage Confucian academy and the lovely Wolyeonggyo Bridge, arriving back in time to make the most of the city’s many bars and restaurants.

Visit the Hahoe Mask Museum and learn how the locals keep their heritage alive through ritualistic mask dances and traditional festivals

See stunning views of Hahoe Village and the Nakdong River from Buyongdae Cliff

Spend a night in a traditional hanok house by the river, sleeping in a thatched cottage around a packed-earth courtyard

It’s indisputable: Busan is the coolest kid in Korea. Kick off your exploration with an after-hours tour that’ll take in BIFF Square (the heart of Korean Hollywood), delicious street food, and markets brimming with K-Pop merch and knock-off Dolces. Then, go on a morning tour the slum-turned-Instagram-hotspot Gamcheon Village, with its jumble of steep, multicoloured alleys overflowing with sculptures, murals, craft shops, cafés, and amazing views. The rest of your time is yours to spend as you choose — whether that’s sipping a beer on Haeundae Beach, grabbing a famous giant hamburger at Gukje Market, or heading to the beautiful seaside temple of Haedong Yonggungsa.

See the mesmerising light show projected on Busan Tower at Yongdu Mountain Park

Explore the hidden shops and cafés of many-coloured Gamcheon Culture Village

Eat nakji octopus tentacles and sample fish soup at Busan’s famous Jakgalchi Market

You’ve tasted the best of Korea, now it’s time to see how Japan measures up. Where better to begin than Kyoto, the heart of Japanese traditional culture? Spend a full day with a guide exploring the hidden temples, shrines and gardens of this former imperial capital, then have tea with a real-life maiko (fledgling geisha): a privilege even few Japanese can boast. Kyoto has enough gold-clad temples, hidden moss gardens and bamboo groves to keep you busy for a lifetime, but if you do fancy a change of scenery it’s an easy day trip to the friendly deer in Nara, the street-food and nightlife of party-happy Osaka, or the wooded walking trails of nearby Mount Hiei.

Enjoy an exclusive private audience with a maiko and learn about the “floating world” of the geisha

Explore the World Heritage temples and shrines of Kyoto with an expert guide to bring history to life

Escape the crowds with an optional day trip to traditional Nara — or embrace them with a day in the throng in buzzing Osaka

It may have begun life as a samurai’s hot-spring retreat, but Hakone today is a wacky wonderland of awesome art museums, upmarket resorts, pirate ship rides and Venetian glass forests (and that’s just for starters). A ryokan stay — complete with elaborate, traditional kaiseki feast — is de rigeuer, but the rest is up to you. Use the well-oiled network of boats, cablecars, funicular railways and buses to explore the region, passing through stunning mountain scenery swathed in forest, with Lake Ashi at its heart. Don’t miss the incredible Hakone Open-Air Museum — packed with interactive artworks, it’s often an unexpected highlight.

Take the cablecar to sulphur-spewing Owakudani, where visitors boil black eggs in the bubbling hot springs

Relax in a private hot-spring bath at your ryokan inn, where you’ll eat kaiseki food and sleep in tatami-mat rooms

If you’re lucky, get a fabulous view of Mount Fuji — most often sighted in the clear weather of autumn and winter

Finally, Tokyo. What a place to conclude your trip. For us, it’s a contender for greatest city in the world. Throw yourself headlong into the local culture with an evening of food-sampling and bar-hopping with one of our resident connoisseurs — then spend a full day with a local guide to get the most out of the city. You might choose to spend it exploring the incense-wreathed temple and market stalls of traditional Asakusa, boat tripping on the Sumida River to hidden Hamarikyu Gardens, or exploring the blazing neon arcades and manga shops of Akihabara. Shops, bars, shrines, restaurants, art museums, karaoke: however you want to see out your trip; Tokyo's the place to do it in style.

Visit vermilion Senso-ji Temple in the old-fashioned district of Asakusa or go tech-mad in neon-drenched Akihabara

Discover some of Tokyo’s lesser-known districts, such as the thrift shops of Shimokitazawa or the legendary ramen joints of Takadanobaba

Spend an evening izakaya-hopping through Shinjuku with one of our food-and-drink experts

The finer detail

• Breakfast every day
• Four full-day guided tours in Seoul, Andong, Kyoto and Tokyo
• Three half-day experiences: chopstick & spoon making, Gamcheon culture village tour, afternoon tea with a maiko
• Two evening experiences: Busan Night market tour, evening izakaya experience
• Hakone Free Pass for transport in the Hakone region
• Portable Wi-Fi device
• Preloaded T-money transport card for local transport in South Korea
• Preloaded IC transport card for local transport in Japan
• Seven-day Japan Rail Pass
• All entrance fees to sites included in guided experiences
• All internal transport & accommodation

Car transfer from Incheon airport to Seoul (50 minutes)

Car transfer from Seoul to Andong (2 hours 40mins)

Car transfer from Andong to Busan (2 hours 40 mins)

Car transfer from Busan to Gimhae Airport (40 mins)

Flight from South Korea to Japan (not included)

Car transfer Kansai airport to Kyoto ( 90 mins)

Train transfer from Kyoto to Odawara (Hakone) (2 hours 10 minutes)

Train transfer from Odawara to Tokyo (40 minutes)

Shared minibus transfer from Tokyo to Narita/Haneda airport (30 - 90 minutes depending on the airport)

• International flights
• Any meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Entrance fees to any sites not included in guided experiences
• Tips for guides & porters

APRIL SALE:   Book now and get   up to 60% off!

Lights of Japan and Korea

• In-depth Cultural
• Fully Guided
• Coach / Bus

Places You’ll See

• Introduction
• Day 1 Seoul
• Day 2 Seoul
• Day 3 Seoul, Suwon, Jeonju
• Day 4 Jeonju, Haeinsa, Daegu, Busan
• Day 5 Busan, Ferry Busan Shimonoseki
• Day 6 Ferry Busan Shimonoseki, Shimonoseki, Iwakuni, Itsukushima, Hiroshima
• Day 7 Hiroshima, Matsuyama
• Day 8 Matsuyama, Kotohira, Takamatsu, Naruto, Kobe
• Day 9 Kobe, Osaka, Mount Koya
• Day 10 Mount Koya, Kyoto
• Day 11 Kyoto, Tsumago, Matsumoto, Nagano
• Day 12 Nagano, Monkey Park, Kasatsu, Ikaho
• Day 13 Ikaho, Nikko, Tokyo
• Day 14 Tokyo
• Day 15 Tokyo

Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Operated by europamundo.

Your vacations are really important! Your trip should be a success: a few days that you can really enjoy. This is an opportunity for you to experience our wonderful planet accompanied by our extremely professional team. Choose the best journey for you! Europamundo is a company of the JTB group, the largest company of tourism and travel in Asia. JTB was founded over 100 years ago and has always been characterized by searching for excellence in the travel industry. “Perfect moments always” is our motto and our commitment. In our buses, you can see the world: not only for the popular destinations but also by the people with whom you plan to visit. Europamundo has many other catalogs. Every year more than 125,000 people from 22 different countries are traveling with Europamundo. Europamundo is the only coach tour operator company in the world affiliated to the UNWTO, a United Nations travel division agency. Our company was accepted as our mission, vision and values are aligned with those of the UN World Tourism Organization.

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Supporting Destinations

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Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Good 3.7
• Itinerary Excellent 4.1
• Guide Excellent 4.3
• Transport Excellent 4.4
• Accommodation Excellent 4.3
• Food Good 3.3
• Tour Operator Europamundo 3.9
• Most Recent
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Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024
• December 2024
• January 2025
• February 2025
• Monday 29 Apr, 2024 Monday 13 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,005 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Monday 6 May, 2024 Monday 20 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,005 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• 1 Other Unavailable Departure
• Monday 13 May, 2024 Monday 27 May, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,005 Confirm Dates
• Monday 20 May, 2024 Monday 3 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,005 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Monday 27 May, 2024 Monday 10 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,005 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
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• Get Instant Confirmation Monday 10 Jun, 2024 Monday 24 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,005 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
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• Get Instant Confirmation Monday 1 Jul, 2024 Monday 15 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,005 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h

Frequently Asked Questions

We are there for you! If you have any questions about this tour, then please don't hesitate to contact us 24/7 and we will get back to you latest within 2 hours!

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Good to Know

• Currencies ¥ Yen Japan ₩ Won South Korea

As a traveller from USA, Canada you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F. As a traveller from England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types A, B, C, E, F.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Hepatitis A - Recommended for Japan and South Korea. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis B - Recommended for Japan and South Korea. Ideally 2 months before travel.
• Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Japan and South Korea. Ideally 1 month before travel.
• Typhoid - Recommended for South Korea. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Tuberculosis - Recommended for South Korea. Ideally 3 months before travel.
• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 5th June 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 5th June 2024, a minimum payment of €600 is required to confirm your booking with Europamundo. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 40 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Europamundo will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "Europamundo" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Japan Trips & Tour Packages

Beautiful landscapes? Check. Cultural experiences? Check. Tastebud-tingling food? Check. Our Japan tours have it all.

There’s a certain allure to Japan – a place where eastern tradition and western modernity collide among otherworldly scenery that’ll take your breath away and refuse to give it back. Add mouthwatering cuisine, a fascinating history, and a multifaceted culture into the mix and it's easy to understand how Japan continues to captivate travellers. From enjoying a sake tasting at a local brewery and soaking in a steaming hot onsen to marvelling at World Heritage-listed temples thousands of years old, our tours in Japan promise the ultimate adventure: one you’ll continue to think about long after you return home. 

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Japan at a glance

Capital city.

Tokyo (population approximately 37 million)

Approximately 123.1 million

(GMT+09:00) Osaka, Sapporo, Tokyo

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type A (North American/Japanese 2-pin) Type B (American 3-pin)

Learn more about Japan

Culture and customs.

Japan is a multifaceted country made up of many different cultures, rituals, and traditions influenced by Confucianism (introduced in AD285), Buddhism (introduced in AD552), and Shintoism (Japan’s ritualistic native religion). The rise of technology and international trendsetting has also played a part in the culture of Japan today as the younger generation embraces fashion-forwardness, online personas, and high-tech gadgets.

This is in direct contrast to the Confucian-influenced, old-school Japanese culture that the older generations still live by, with a larger emphasis on modesty, respect, and discipline. This can sometimes cause conflict between the two demographics, however, there are still some traditions that are considered sacred regardless of age – tea ceremonies, bowing, kendo, geisha, and sumo.

Visit ancient temples and walk history-laden pilgrim routes on a 8 day Koya-san & Kumano Trek.

History and government

Japan has had an interesting past with its ancient history, pre-modern history, and 20th-century history, all influencing the country we all know and love today.

Ancient history

While there is evidence the archipelago has been occupied by humans for around 35,000 years, what we know now as ‘Japan’ began to take shape about 1700 years ago as disparate tribes started to unify.

Pre-modern history

Over the centuries, Japan has alternated between feudal, empirical, religious and government rule, with each period birthing different styles of art, architecture and spirituality. Buddhism and Confucianism, introduced in 552 BC and AD 285, respectively, both proved massively influential on the class structures and governance of pre-modern Japan. You can still visit and stay in many Buddhist temples in Japan today.

20th century

It’s difficult to discuss the emergence of modern Japan without talking about WWII. During the war, the Empire of Japan used aggressive military tactics in an attempt to expand its reach and control in Asia and elsewhere. In response, the US Army instigated a strategic bombing campaign that included the notorious use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The result of these attacks was mass human and structural devastation.

These bombings, along with depleted armed forces and the looming threat of invasion from the Soviet Union, led the Empire of Japan to surrender unconditionally to the Allies in September 1945.

The ‘Empire of Japan’ became ‘Japan’ as part of the extensive terms of surrender, and the nation faced the prospect of rebuilding and reinventing itself in the second half of the 20th century.    

Reflect on the historic and sobering sites of Hiroshima and Nagasaki while on an 24 day Ultimate Japan tour.

After WWII, Japan found its feet operating as a free-market economy based around the manufacture and export of automobiles and electronics, experiencing particularly rapid growth between 1960 and the late 1980s. The late 20th century saw the country emerge as an economic superpower, and with that came the flourishing of several cultural sectors, such as the arts and cuisine. 

Experience Japan's historic sites on a 13 day Land of the Rising Sun tour.

Top places to visit in Japan

One minute you’re walking through a former black-market quarter, the next you’re paying your respects at a 1400-year-old temple. Eclectic Tokyo is an essential part of any visit to Japan. Wander through the streets of Tokyo on our 12 day Classic Japan tour.

If you’ve ever eaten at a sushi train restaurant, you’ve got the underrated city of Osaka to thank! The motto in this city is 'kuidaore' which roughly translates as ‘eat until you drop’ . You can consider that a (friendly) order. Experience Osaka on our 12 day Japan Family Holiday.

The home of temples, palaces and the Gion district (where geisha live and work), Kyoto is also where you’ll find the famed Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. Spot Geisha in Kyoto on our 9 day Japan Express tour.

4. Kanazawa

A great place to see a slice of old Japan, with classic sculpted gardens, a restored Old Town and well-preserved architecture from a variety of eras. Explore Kanazawa on our 11 day Cycle Japan tour or on our 10 day Essential Japan adventure.

5. Hiroshima

Most travellers visit Hiroshima to see the Peace Memorial Park, constructed around the hypocentre of the atomic bomb that destroyed the city in 1945. Follow this up with nearby Miyajima, a tranquil island where tame deer roam the streets. 

6. Yudanaka

This quaint resort town is best experienced in the winter, when snow coats the normally evergreen trees and Japanese macaques come down from the mountains to bathe and groom each other in the steaming natural hot springs of Jigokudani (Hell Valley).

Geography and environment

Japan is an archipelago of more than 6000 islands located in the Pacific Ocean in Asia . The main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. Lying on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is prone to destructive earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity. The most famous volcano, Mount Fuji , is also Japan's highest peak and only 100km from Tokyo.

Japan has plenty of forested, mountainous terrain that is unsuitable for agriculture and development, so much of the population lives in the coastal cities. This has led Japan to become one of the most densely populated countries in the world and the majority of its inhabitants are used to living in very small spaces, with a heavy reliance on public transport.

Although life is fast-paced and crowded in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, rural areas typically feature low-density, traditional housing and a slower pace of life surrounded by greenery such as lush forests and plenty of moss-covered boulders. 

Traverse mountains, cycle coastlines and meander through forests on a 12 day Japan: Hike, Bike and Kayak tour.

Shopping in Japan is fun but expensive, so be sure to have a budget for souvenirs planned in advance! In cities like Tokyo, there are loads of quirky stores and funky galleries showcasing the works of independent fashion designers and gadget creators. From the outlandish to the kitsch, you're guaranteed to find loads of colourful clothing and edgy art that you won't be able to find elsewhere. 

If you’re planning to bring back leaf tea or any other perishable or edible items, it's a good idea to check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to bring certain items back into your home country. Australia and New Zealand, in particular, have strict quarantine laws.

What to buy

• Kimonos This quintessential Japanese souvenir looks great hung on the wall as an interesting decorative piece. If you plan on wearing one, make sure you do so respectfully and learn the correct way to fold the garment.
• Paper lanterns, kites and fans Japanese paper goods make great, relatively inexpensive souvenirs. Choose from high-quality, traditionally-made kites or delicate rice paper lanterns.
• Electronics Shops in Japan are bursting with the latest tech gadgets. Just be sure to check that they are compatible for use at home.
• Fashion Have fun with the amazing diversity of popular street culture fashion available in Japan. Vibrant, brash and sometimes bizarre – find something that no one back at home will be wearing.
• Anime and manga paraphernalia Another inexpensive gift option, even for people who can’t read Japanese. Pick up a book, magazine, t-shirt or print from one of Japan’s many anime and manga stores.

Festivals and events

If you want an adventure with a point of difference, consider planning your travels to coincide with these popular festive events in Japan. 

Sapporo Winter Festival

Held every February since 1950, this festival features hundreds of statues and ice sculptures, snow slides and mazes, regional food and artistic performances. Winter in Japan is truly amazing, and the Sapporo Winter Festival is a magical way to celebrate.

Hadaka Matsuri

Head to Okayama to watch thousands of men wearing nothing but loincloths vie to touch the chosen 'naked man'. It may look like a bizarre male-bonding exercise but it's actually a historic cleansing ritual dating back thousands of years. Dates change yearly.

Fuji Rock Festival

Held annually in the stunning surroundings of the Naeba Ski Resort, this outdoor music festival is huge and draws in big-name acts and local bands Thousands of music lovers flock to Naeba for three days of camping, music and partying in the summer months. 

Read more about festivals in Japan

Further reading

For inspiring stories to prepare you for your Japan adventure, check out these books:

• The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle – Haruki Murakami
• Sembazuru – Yasunari Kawabata
• Moshi Moshi – Banana Yoshimoto
• Goodnight Punpun – Inio Asano
• Okinawa Notes – Kenzaburo Oe
•  A History of Japan – George Sansom
• Embracing Defeat – John W Dower

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Japan travel FAQs

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before travelling?

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

Do I need a visa to travel to Japan?

Under current restrictions, a visa is required to enter Japan as a tourist. We recommend you apply for your visa no later than one month before your departure date. Please contact your local consulate or embassy for more information.

This page is for general information only and may be subject to change. It is your responsibility to obtain relevant visa and travel information required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region you visit on your trip. You should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. 

Last updated: 15 June, 2023 

Is tipping customary in Japan?

Tipping isn't customary in Japan and is not expected – in fact, it will sometimes be considered impolite. Some inns or ryokans may leave a small envelope in your room where a small gratuity can be left for housekeeping staff.

What is the internet access like in Japan?

Internet access is excellent in Japan, with one of the most developed high-speed internet networks in the world. Internet cafes and wi-fi hotspots are easily found in most cities and major towns.

Can I use my mobile while in Japan?

Mobile phone coverage is excellent in Japan but be aware that talking loudly on your phone in public places (like in train carriages) is frowned upon. You will be expected to hide your mouth behind your hand if you must take a call in public. If you want to use your mobile phone, ensure global roaming is activated before you arrive (but be aware of the fees this may incur).

What are the toilets like in Japan?

In Japan, toilets range from high-tech bidets to standard western-style flushable toilets to squat toilets, which are still common outside the city. Sometimes you may need to pay for toilet paper, which can usually be purchased from a vending machine nearby.

What will it cost for a...?

Japan's unit of currency is the yen:

• Bento box = YEN 550
• Bowl of ramen = YEN 650-1,200
• Can of beer = YEN 250
• Coffee = YEN 100-600
• Convenience store snack = YEN 200-500

Can I drink the water in Japan?

Drinking water from taps in Japan is considered safe. For environmental reasons, try to use a refillable water bottle rather than buying bottled water. Major cities often have water fountains in train stations.

Are credit cards widely accepted in Japan?

Major credit cards are accepted by some stores; however, Japan is still very much a cash culture and as such, some places may not accept credit cards. Ensure you carry enough cash to cover purchases.

What is ATM access like in Japan?

ATMs are common in Japan but unfortunately many of them don't accept foreign-issued cards. However, you can access cash from non-Japanese bank accounts via the Cirrus and Maestro systems at all post office ATMs around the country, as well as ATMs at 7-Eleven convenience stores.

What public holidays are celebrated in Japan?

• 1 Jan: New Year's Day
• *Coming of Age Day
• 11 Feb: National Foundation Day
• 23 Feb: Emperor's Birthday
• *20 Mar: Vernal/Spring Equinox Day
• 29 Apr: Showa Day
• 3 May: Constitution Day
• 4 May: Greenery Day
• 5 May: Children's Day
• *Jul: Marine Day, also known as Sea or Ocean Day
• 11 Aug: Mountain Day
• *Sep: Respect-for-the-Aged Day
• *23 Sep: Autumnal Equinox Day
• *Oct: Health and Sports Day
• 3 Nov: Culture Day
• 23 Nov: Labour Thanksgiving Day

* Please note, Japan public holidays may vary.

When is the best time to travel to Japan?

March, April and May are excellent months to holiday in Japan and, as a result, are the busiest. The weather is usually fine and beautiful cherry blossoms are in full bloom. September, October and November are also great months to visit Japan on holidays, as the days are warm but not humid and the autumn colours are out. Winter, while cold, offers great conditions for skiing, snowboarding, going to snow festivals and admiring the stunning mountain scenery. The summer months can be quite humid, but tourist areas are generally quieter and there are many fun festivals and fireworks displays to enjoy.

What is the weather like in Japan?

• Spring (March to May): temperatures range from 10 to 20°C, with conditions getting sunnier and clearer towards the end of the season.
• Summer (June to August): temperatures range from 21 to 32°C depending on where you are. It’s warmer in the south than in the north. You can expect some rain in June, and it can get quite humid towards the end of the season.
• Fall (September to November): temperatures range from 7 to 20°C. The humidity starts to calm down in September, but days stay warm until October. Nights can be chilly.  
• Winter (December to February): break out the coats, temperatures during winter range from 0 to 15°C. The mountains and the north experience snowfall .

How safe is Japan?

Japan is generally safe and is rated among the safest countries in the world. Reports of crime such as theft are very low and travellers are often stunned by the fact that locals leave belongings unaccompanied in cafes and bars (though we certainly don’t recommend it!). 

Is Japan safe for LGBTQIA+ travellers?

LGBTQIA+ travellers shouldn’t have any issues visiting Japan with violence, outright hostility or overt discrimination extremely rare. However, Japan’s older generation still holds conservative values when it comes to LGBTQIA+ sexuality and non-binary gender expression, especially those that live in regional areas.

Same-sex relationships are considered legal in some districts (such as Tokyo); however, same-sex marriage hasn’t been legalized yet. Public displays of affection are often frowned upon, regardless of sex, gender, or sexual orientation so keep that in mind when you’re out in public. 

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting  Equaldex  or  ILGA  before you travel.

Is Japan accessible for travellers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

The needs of travellers with mobility issues, including wheelchair users, are considered in the infrastructure in major cities. Train stations have lifts (elevators), wide turnstiles and (for the most part) raised platforms so that wheelchair users can glide onto the train without being assisted.  Sidewalks in Japanese cities are sometimes sloped towards the road, which can make travelling a straight line difficult for wheelchair users or people with vision impairment.

It is common practice in Japan to remove shoes when entering a home. Wheelchair users should carry something to wipe down their wheels in respect of this custom. Apply the same logic for other mobility aids such as canes.

Ryokans and other traditional accommodation can be difficult to navigate for people with limited mobility, but accessible hotel options are plentiful in the major cities.

Travellers with vision impairment may find the tactile yellow strips that guide the way to various places in train stations helpful, though please note that there is no barrier between the train tracks and platforms.

If you have a battery-operated hearing aid, it’s a good idea to bring extra batteries or familiarise yourself with the Japanese equivalent of the batteries it takes.

If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.

What should I wear in Japan?

Summer months can be incredibly hot and sticky, so loose, lightweight and breathable clothing is essential.

Spring and autumn can be crisp and cold, so you might want to pack thermal layers in addition to your coat and boots. 

Outside of Hokkaido and the mountains, the winter temperatures in Japan are manageable as long as you have regular cold-weather clothes like a good coat, pair of gloves, a winter hat and a scarf. 

The style of dress common for women in Japan may be a little more covered up than you are used to, particularly outside the major cities.

Packing comfortable trousers is essential as you may find yourself sitting cross-legged on the floor during your stay. 

What are some common phrases/words I should learn before my trip to Japan?

Having a basic understanding of the language and culture of the country you're visiting can go a long way when it comes to, not only communicating efficiently but your overall trip experience as well. Some common phrases you need to learn are: 

• 'hello' - Konnichiwa
• 'good morning' - Ohayō 
• 'thank you' - Arigatou Gozaimasu
• 'please' - Onegaishimasu

What religions do they practice in Japan?

There are two dominant religions in Japan - Shinto and Buddhism. The majority of Japanese people practice both simultaneously, however, there is a small number of the population that practise other religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam. 

What are the best places to visit in Japan?

From the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the peaceful nature of the Japanese Alps, there are plenty of bucket-list destinations to include on your itinerary of Japan. We know it's hard to see everything but here are a few of our favourite places to visit in Japan: 

What are the best things to see in Japan?

Japan isn't short of spectacular attractions to wander through and fascinating historical landmarks to marvel at but it's pretty hard to do it all on your trip to Japan. So you don't miss the things you simply have to see, we've put together a short list of parks, temples, and monuments worth visiting. Happy exploring! 

• Hiroshima Peace Park 
• Cherry blossom trees
• Osaka Castle
• Himeji Castle

What should I eat in Japan?

Food lovers, including  vegetarians and vegans , will be more than satisfied with the variety and quality of Japanese cuisine. With a focus on fresh, seasonal produce that is prepared meticulously and presented beautifully, dining in Japan is a memorable experience.

What drinks should I try in Japan?

From craft beer to sake, Japan has plenty of tasty liquids to keep you hydrated throughout your travels.

How do I stay safe and healthy while travelling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

What is it like travelling on a small group tour?

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or you’re about to embark on your first trip, travelling can be as intimidating as it is exciting. That's the beauty of a small group tour. From handling the logistics and organizing amazing cultural activities to local leaders who know each destination like the back of their hand (like which street has the best markets and where to get the most authentic food), travelling on a small group tour with Intrepid will give you unforgettable travel experiences without the hassle that comes with exploring a new place. Plus, you'll have ready-made friends to share the journey with. All you have to do is turn up with a healthy sense of adventure and we’ll take care of the rest.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

Does my Intrepid trip include airfare?

While our Intrepid trips include many modes of transport, from tuk-tuks to overland vehicles, bullet trains, and feluccas, airfare to and from your home country is not included in your tour package.

Pay in full discount

from pp Twin Share

Single Traveller

18 Day Authentic Japan & South Korea

This tour is fully escorted by an expert English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout the tour.

This tour is conducted at a medium-fast pace. Some long travel days may be required to complete this itinerary and you will typically spend two nights at each destination, with some one night stays required. This trip includes a mix of sightseeing and free time to explore at your own pace. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and some activities will be conducted on uneven or steep terrain. You will be required to handle your own luggage.

✓ Limited Time Offer – Add return international airfares from only $1,099 ✓ Incredible sightseeing including breathtaking Mt Fuji, UNESCO World Heritage Sites Golden Pavilion and Atomic Bomb Dome, the floating Torii gate of Miyajima Island, Tokyo’s buzzing metropolis, Bulguksa Temple, Jeonju Hanok Village and much more ✓ Internal flight from Osaka to Seoul ✓ 17 nights in central 3 and 4- star accommodation ✓ Breakfast daily and 1 lunch ✓ Fully escorted by professional, English-speaking tour guides ✓ Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout ✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary

Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.

Day 1 Tokyo

Upon arrival into Tokyo, please make your own way to the starting point hotel. Take the evening to relax after your flight and prepare for your first full day of touring tomorrow.

Arrival & Check-in information

Haneda International Airport (HND). The easiest and most convenient way to travel from Haneda International Airport (HND) to Tokyo Central is by train or by Monorail. The airport is also serviced by many 'Limousine Bus' services which offer shared shuttle bus service from around 1300Yen per person.

Narita International Airport. The best way to travel from Narita International Airport to Tokyo Central is by the Narita Airport Express. The journey to most Tokyo stations take approximately 1hr and the ticket costs 4070 Yen. The airport is also serviced by many 'Limousine Bus' services which offer shared shuttle busses from around 1300Yen per person.

Hotel Check-in. Travellers will be arriving at various times throughout the day. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotels discretion.

Day 2 Tokyo

After breakfast this morning your English-speaking guide will meet you to begin your full-day coach tour of Japan’s ultramodern capital – Tokyo. 

Our exploration of Tokyo begins with a visit to Asakusa Sensoji temple–the oldest temple in Tokyo–famous for its huge lantern hung at the Kaminarimon gate (Thunder Gate).

We’ll drive-by the Imperial Palace, the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. Previously home to samurai warriors, it’s a sprawling complex with beautiful 17th-century parks in the heart of the city. 

Next, we'll venture into the vibrant neighbourhood of Shibuya, allowing you some time to explore at your leisure and discover a delightful local eatery for lunch (at your own expense). Nearby, we will visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Surrounded by green trees it’s a great place to escape the crowds and enjoy some peaceful time exploring before retiring to our hotel for an evening at leisure.

Day 3 Tokyo

Today is a full free day in Tokyo. There is no end to the spectacular sightseeing and activities available to you, as Tokyo truly has something for everyone. Take as much time as you like to relax at your leisure, explore the city, shop for souvenirs and eat the delectable cuisine. Be sure to ask your guide for recommendations on more must-see spots around the city.

Today, learn the Shodo - the way of writing. Experience the traditional Japanese calligraphy - from the preparation of the ink, to the writing with a brush. Start time approx: 10:30am Finish time approx: 12:00pm

Escorted by your tour leader, take a short Shinkansen ride to Atami (including transfers to and from the station). Atami is a famous resort town surrounded by mountains and the sea. You'll enjoy a walking tour around one of the main streets along with sweet and craft shops and you will enjoy a seafood lunch at a local restaurant (included in the cost).

Start time approx: 9:00am Finish time approx: 4:00pm

Day 4 Tokyo Hakone

After breakfast today we depart Tokyo and travel to Hakone. Away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Hakone offers tranquillity among stunning natural scenery. 

Upon arrival at Hakone, enjoy a boat trip across the serene Ashinoko Lake, followed by taking a cable car up the mountains to the sulphur vents of Owakudani. You’ll have spectacular views, and on a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of Mt Fuji in the distance.

Day 5 Hakone Takayama

Our journey continues to Takayama, a charming Edo period town located in the Japanese alps. Upon arrival in Takayama, take a walk with your leader who will point out examples of beautiful traditional architecture as you explore the old part of town. During the walk, you will visit a local sake brewery and try different kinds of sake. You also learn how the town’s isolated location caused it to develop a unique culinary scene. The area is particularly famous for Hida beef, which comes from a black-haired Japanese cattle breed that has been raised in the Gifu Prefecture for at least 14 months. Stop off on your tour to sample delicious Hida beef sushi or skewers (own expense).

Day 6 Takayama Kyoto

Before leaving Takayama this morning we'll visit the Hida Folk Village, also known as Hida no Sato, which serves as an open-air museum that showcases over 30 traditional houses from the Hida region. Creating a charming village-like ambiance, the museum encompasses various structures including a former village leader's residence, logging huts, storage buildings, and numerous gassho-zukuri farmhouses. The term "gassho-zukuri" translates to "hands folded in prayer," aptly describing the steep thatched roofs resembling hands joined in prayer. These distinctive farmhouses were transported from nearby Shirakawago, a location renowned for its gassho-zukuri houses, which contributed to the region's recognition as a World Heritage site.

Then, we travel to Kyoto where the afternoon is at leisure.

Day 7 Kyoto

We’ll see the sights of ancient Kyoto this morning, starting with Kyoto’s famed Fushimi Inari Shrine – known throughout the world as the ‘Path of the Red Gates.’ Take time to appreciate the quieter corners of the shrine, and if you’re feeling fit, a walk to the halfway point provides stunning city views. 

We’ll continue onto some of Kyoto’s most iconic sites, like Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). This is a Zen temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with two floors covered entirely in thin layers of pure gold, set within a beautiful classical Zen garden.

This afternoon, you have free time to explore the city on your own.

Tonight, enjoy your experience of an Izakaya - a typical Japanese casual pub where Japanese go for a drink after work. You will be picked up from your guide at your hotel and will head to a local Izakaya to try the life style of a local while enjoying different type of alcoholic beverages and tradtional Japanese pub food. Start time approx: 6:00pm Finish time approx: 8:00pm

Also called Chado, "the way of tea" is the traditional and ceremonial preparation and presentation of Matcha. You will be shown how to prepare the tea and be able to experience preparing it as well. Your guide will be able to provide you with directions to the venue.

Start time approx: 3:00pm Finish time approx: 4:00pm

Today, experience Ikebana - the Japanese art of flower arrangement that dates back to the 7th century. The tradition believes that by arranging the flowers you give a new life to the flowers - Ike (live) Hana (flower). Head to a master's classroom where you will be able to try hands-on the art of flower arrangement in Japan

Start time approx: 4:00pm Finish time approx: 5:00pm

Day 8 Kyoto Hiroshima Miyajima Island Hiroshima

After breakfast this morning, we spend the day travelling to Hiroshima.

Upon arrival in Hiroshima, visit Miyajima, an island known for its forests and ancient temples. Just offshore, there's a 'floating' torii, which becomes partially submerged at high tide. It marks the entrance to the Itsukushima Shrine, which was first built in the 12th century. 

Later, check in your hotel and relax in the evening. You might want to try a local famous dish okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake of egg, cabbage, soba noodles, and meat or seafood.

Day 9 Hiroshima Osaka

This morning we'll visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, otherwise known as the Genbaku Dome, or the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Museum. A shell of a building that was one of very few left standing after the United States bombed Hiroshima in 1945. In Hiroshima today, locals have mixed feelings about the UNESCO World Heritage-listed structure: some see it as a reminder of war, while others consider it a tribute to the lost that ensures we'll never forget the tragic events that took place here.

Afterwards, we continue our Japan adventure to Osaka. Upon arrival, you have free time to explore Osaka.

Day 10 Osaka

Today we enjoy a coach tour with our guide, beginning by driving by the spectacular Osaka Castle, before making our way to Nara. Our first stop will be to the impressive Todaji Temple, which holds a world record as the largest wooden building in the world, and houses one of Japan’s largest buddha statues. You’ll then have some time to stroll Nara Park amongst the wild roaming holy deers, where you’ll then have some time to enjoy lunch (at your own expense).

We’ll also enjoy a walking tour of the Dōtonbori area. One of Osaka's most popular tourist destinations, this street runs parallel to the Dōtonbori canal and is a hugely popular destination for shopping, street food, bars and entertainment. At night the streets here are illuminated by hundreds of colourful neon lights and mechanised signs, including the famous running Glico Man sign and the Kani Doraku crab sign.

Celebrate the end of your Japan adventure with a casual meal at Izakaya, followed by a visit to a karaoke bar for that quintessential Japanese experience! Start time approx: 6:00pm Finish time approx: 9:00pm

Day 11 Osaka Seoul

At the appropriate time, make your way to Osaka Kansai Airport for your flight to Seoul. On arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 12 Seoul

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for a full day sightseeing in Seoul and surrounds. Our first stop is at the Jogyesa Temple, which is the centre of Korean Buddhism. We then continue to Gyeongbokgung Palace to witness the changing of the guard ceremony before a visit to the National Folk Museum.  After lunch, we travel to the Korean Folk Village on the outskirts of Seoul. Here, you will experience the culture of the late Joseon Dynasty as we wander through the village of over 260 different types of historical houses and buildings.

Day 13 Seoul Gongju Buyeo Jeonju

After breakfast we leave Seoul to travel to Gongju. Here we visit the UNESCO listed Tomb of King Muryeong and the Royal Tombs. Dating back to 500AD, the tomb complex was only re-discovered in 1927 and gives an insight into the Ungjin Period. We then visit the impressive Gongsanseong Fortress before continuing to Buyeo, an ancient capital of the Baekje Dynasty.  We continue to Jeonju where we spend the night at leisure.

Day 14 Jeonju Gwangju Suncheon Yeosu

After breakfast at our hotel we continue our journey to Gwangju, the leading city of Honam, the region and birthplace of a modern democratic movement in Korea. Here we visit May 18th National Cemetery dedicated to those who participated in the Gwangju Uprising in 1980.

Our journey continues to Suncheon where we will visit Suncheon Bay Garden.  Afterwards, we travel to Yeosu, where we tour the modern port city before checking in to our hotel.

Day 15 Yeosu Jinju Busan Gyeongju

Our first stop today is the Jinjuseong Fortress, historically linked to Japanese invasion in 1592.

We then continue to Busan and visit the Jagalchi-Fishery Market , Busan’s largest seafood market, before seeing Haeundae Beach and Dongbaek Park . Our tour continues to the historic coastal city of Gyeongju where we check in to our hotel before an evening at leisure.

Day 16 Gyeongju Andong Pyeongchang

Today is a real highlight and our first destination is the Unesco World Heritage-listed Seokguram Grotto. The religious site was constructed between 742 and 765 AD and still serves as a significant site for Korean and international Buddhists for its ceremonial and artistic value. We then visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bulguksa Temple before continuing to Andong Hahoe Folk Village, which has preserved the housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon Dynasty. Moreover, the Village was naturally formed with people who actually live there. It has become world-famous for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. 

Afterwards we continue to the scenic city of Pyeongchang, renowned for its breathtaking scenery and for being the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Pyeongchang boasts a wealth of attractions, from world-class ski resorts to enchanting natural wonders.

Day 17 Pyeongchang Seoraksan National Park Seoul

Today we visit t he venue of 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

We then p roceed to Mt. Seorak National Park. The peaks of the Seoraksan Mountains break through the clouds while jade-like water flows through the valleys, creating breathtaking views and making this Korea's most famous national park. Due to the many rare species found here, UNESCO designated this national park a Biosphere Preservation District in 1982. You have the opportunity to take a cable car to the summit (additional expense) before we transfer back to Seoul for our final evening in South Korea.

Day 18 Seoul

Today you will be transferred to Seoul Airport (ICN) in time for your departure flight.

What's Included

• Incredible sightseeing including breath-taking Mt Fuji, UNESCO World Heritage Sites Golden Pavilion and Atomic Bomb Dome, the floating Torii gate of Miyajima Island,Tokyo’s buzzing metropolis, Bulguksa Temple, JeonjuHanok Village and much more
• Internal flight from Osaka to Seoul
• 17 nights in central 3-4 star accommodation
• Breakfast daily and 1 lunch
• Fully escorted by a professional English-speaking tour guides
• Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout
• In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary

Sightseeing Highlights

• Tokyo - Enjoy the buzz and energy of one of the world’s great cities
• Tokyo – Drive-by the Imperial Palace, the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan
• Tokyo – Visit Asakusa Sensoji temple–the oldest temple in Tokyo–famous for its huge lantern hung at the Kaminarimon gate (Thunder Gate)
• Hakone – Cruise on Lake Ashi with views of Mt Fuji
• Hakone – Ride a cable car up the mountains to the sulphur vents of Owakudani
• Kyoto – See this ancient capital’s most famous temples and shrines including the Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari
• Hiroshima – Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Genbaku Dome to understand the tragedies of Japan’s past
• Miyajima – See the famous floating torii gate
• Takayama – Experience the rustic charm of this quaint city with a walk through its beautifully-preserved old town and a visit to Hida Folk Village
• Takayama - Visit a local sake brewery and try different kinds of sake
• Osaka – Visit the expansive grounds of Osaka Castle, a grand monument of feudal Japan
• Osaka – Stroll through lively, colourful Dōtonbori and Shinsaibashi
• Seoul - See the changing of the guards at Gyeongbokgung Palace
• Experience the culture of the late Joseon Dynasty at the Korean Folk Village
• Visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Gongsanseong Fortress and Muryeong Gongsanseong Fortress
• Discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed cave temple of Seokguram Grotto

Payment Terms

Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person. Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options. Instalment Schedule:

• At the time of booking pay a $99.00 deposit per person.
• Pay a 1st installment of $2,119.00 per person within 28 days.
• Pay a 2nd installment of $1,437.00 per person within 90 days.
• You will then be invoiced for final payment 120 days prior to departure.

Flight Information & Booking Options

This package is a flight add-on package

This package has the option of adding international airfares to your booking when selecting your departure city. Select your departure city after clicking ‘Book Now’ and a cost will be stated next to your selected departure city. This cost will then be added to your booking and international flights will be added to your booking.

Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.

Visa & Passport

It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return. Visas may be required for your destination. For further visa information, click here .

Important Information

Fitness Requirements While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.

As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.

This particular tour is categorised as a ”3”

• Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.

Tipping  A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.

You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Suggested amount for your guide, 500Y per person per day. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Accommodation The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard.

Twin Share Bedding Configuration At any time, bedding configuration is subject to confirmation by the hotel and based on availability. While you have the option to select either twin or double bedding at time of booking, our recommendation when travelling to Japan is to choose twin bedding, as the rooms are often bigger than those that have a double bed. If insisting on double bedding, please note that the rooms will be smaller and more narrow. As a general expectation, we cannot always guarantee bedding at all hotel stays.

Single Supplement Single supplement is $2,269.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.

Triple Share Not available.

Travel Insurance Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.

We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE .

Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.

Group Size Japan: Maximum of 40 people South Korea: You will travel with a maximum of 40 travelers in South Korea. You may travel with several different groups of people throughout your journey.

Children Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.

Tour Style To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels: 

• Group Tour - Offers unparalleled value for money and are the perfect style of travel for those on a budget, though still eager to pack as much into their itinerary as possible. These tours tick all the boxes with an abundance of inclusions such as sightseeing highlights, expert tour guides, quality accommodation, transfers, coach transportation, some meals and more. Please note that the maximum group size will vary between deals and will be mentioned within the Fine Print of each deal page.

Cherry Blossoms Please note: cherry blossoms are weather dependent and it is not guaranteed that they will be in bloom at the time of your arrival.  

Health & Mobility Requirements

All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.

Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.

It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.

Pre and Post-Tour Accommodation & Extra Services

You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:

Post Tour Accommodation

• $239.00 per room, per night for double and twin share
• $220.00 per room, per night for solo travellers

Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.

Optional Tours

To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are per person):

• Calligraphy Class (Day 3) - $138 per person
• Izakaya Night tour in Kyoto (Day 7) - $236 per person
• Half Day Atami Tour by Shinkansen (Day 3) - $228 per person
• Green Tea Ceremony (Day 7) - $122 per person
• Flower Arranging in Kyoto (Day 7) - $127 per person
• Izakaya and Karaoke Experience (Day 10) - $57 per person

Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online.

Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 70 days before departure, Optional tours are unable to be purchased whilst on tour, therefore we suggest you book before you go to avoid disappointment. We appreciate your understanding.

Please note that transportation to and from each optional tour is not included in the price. You will be required to make your own way to the starting point of the optional tour, as well as back to your hotel. Your tour guide can provide you with the direction and guidance needed to make your own way.

• International Airfares (Optional)
• Airport Transfers (in Japan)
• Visas (if needed)
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
• Optional activities
• Personal expenses

What Climate to Expect

Click HERE for more information on weather in Japan

Click HERE for more information on weather in South Korea

Departure Dates for 18 Day Authentic Japan & South Korea

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From sights to scenery and five-star fare, Japan is the ultimate Asian all-rounder   Japan is undoubtedly one of the hottest destinations in the world right now, and for good reason. This geographically blessed country is spectacular year-round, easy to navigate and packed with ancient sights. In between attractions, d...

Five books to read before your trip to Japan

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Eat like the Japanese: five must try regional dishes

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The four seasons: when should I travel to Japan?

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When is the best time to visit Japan

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Japan is one of East Asia's most beloved countries, with a cherished ancient culture and exquisite sights. But, when is the best time to go?     Japan is an island country full of contrasts. From ultra-sleek modern cities, to soaring alps, traditional villages and ancient shrines. And with four distinct seasons that e...

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Land of the Rising Sun

Welcome to Japan! This is a land of intriguing contradictions. Japan is an archipelago made up of more than 6,800 islands with three quarters of the land being either forest or mountains, leaving little for residential, industrial, or farming areas. Yet it is densely populated for its size. Its leaders have ranged from the samurai to the shogun to the emperor. Its highest point – Mt. Fuji – is beautiful and sacred, as are its many temples and shrines. Its capital city – Tokyo – is a bustling metropolis containing anything one might desire, from food to entertainment to art and culture. Kyoto is filled with serene religious buildings and glorious gardens. A Japan trip awaits with open arms!

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Destination must-see's.

Until the 19th century, Tokyo was known as Edo. It started out as a fishing village but grew to become the seat of a feudal government in the early 17th century. Emperor Meiji moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo in 1868 and renamed it Tokyo, or “Eastern Capital.” By then it had become one of the world’s most populous cities. After World War II it was completely rebuilt. Today, Tokyo is more than just a large city – it is a metropolis with 23 wards. Learn all about the city’s fascinating history and culture through artwork and antiques in Tokyo’s National Museum. Travelers dive even deeper into Tokyo’s ancient roots with a visit to the Zojoji Temple, the center of Japanese Buddhism. From the Ginza district to the Sumida River there’s something for everyone in Tokyo.

Kyoto was home to the emperor from 794 to 1868. It was Japan’s political and cultural center for 1,100 years, until the capital was moved to Tokyo. Kyoto was largely spared from damaging air raids of World War II and numerous temples, shrines, castles, and palaces are still standing today. Among them is the Golden Pavilion, a Zen temple whose top two stories are completely covered in gold leaf. Once the lavish retirement home of a shogun (military dictator), it was converted to a Zen temple in the 1400s. It has survived wars, been rebuilt after fires, and still stands as an impressive piece of historic architecture. Nijo Castle, another impressive monument, was built in 1603 as the residence of Tokugawa leyasu – the first shogun of the Edo Period. Kyoto is also well-known for Gion – its most famous Geisha district where you may be lucky enough to see a woman dressed in full, traditional geisha regalia.

Hiroshima will forever be remembered for the devastating event of August 6, 1945: the dropping of the first atomic bomb. Nearly everything within a mile of where the bomb fell was destroyed, and some 80,000 people perished. There were predictions that the city would no longer be habitable. Today, Hiroshima has been rebuilt and a large park was constructed, containing several memorials to the victims. The Peace Memorial Museum focuses on the dropping of the bomb and its aftermath; the Atomic Bomb Dome was one of the few buildings to remain standing afterward; and the Memorial Cenotaph is an arched tomb for those who died. Also worth a visit is Hiroshima Castle. Originally built in 1589, it was five stories tall and was surrounded by a moat. It was destroyed in 1945, rebuilt in 1958, and is now a museum featuring Samurai culture.

Takayama means “tall mountain,” and is a city in the mountainous Hida region. During the feudal ages, it became known for its high-quality timber and skilled carpenters. Yet it was kept fairly isolated due to the surrounding mountains. Today it is known for its well-preserved old town. The Hida-Kokubunji Temple is the oldest structure, originally built in 746. It features a huge ginko tree, said to be 1,200 years old, and a three-storied pagoda. The Hida no Sato Folk Village, with its traditional wooden farm houses, is an open-air museum. There are also two morning markets, or Asaichi, held on a daily basis, as well as sake breweries. It is the perfect place for a walk.

Destination Must-Do's

Japanese Cuisine:

No trip to Japan would be complete without experiencing its flavorful dishes. A bowl of gohan, or cooked rice, is a central part of Japanese meals. From there we go to sushi, famous both outside of and inside Japan. Sushi is made from cold boiled rice, moistened by vinegar and typically combined with seafood and vegetables. Sashimi is thinly sliced raw food – most often seafood. (Japan is an island, after all.) The most popular noodles are soba (buckwheat flour), udon (wheat flour), and ramen, a noodle soup dish. Tempura is lightly battered, deep-fried seafood and vegetables. Yakatori refers to grilled chicken skewers you can try at a yakitori-ya. Be sure to enjoy green tea with your meal, as the Japanese do.

The Tokyo Skytree:

The Tokyo Skytree is the perfect way to get a panoramic view of the city and beyond. A television broadcasting tower, this Tokyo landmark is almost 1,200 feet high and is the tallest structure in Japan. A large shopping complex and an aquarium are at its base, but it’s the two observation decks that warrant a visit. Head to the “world’s highest skywalk” for views that will take your breath away!

Temples and Shrines:

Temples and shrines are found all over Japan, with most municipalities having at least one temple. (Kyoto has 1,200.) Temples are Buddhist places of worship, and they store and display sacred objects. They typically consist of a main hall, a lecture hall, a pagoda, gates, bells, and a cemetery. Some were monasteries in the past, and some still are. Shrines are Shinto places of worship. They are the dwellings of the kami, or Shinto gods. Sacred objects are stored in the innermost chamber, and are not to be seen by anyone. People visit shrines to pay respect to the kami, or to pray for good fortune. The approach to the shrine is marked by Torii gates; the komainu, a pair of guardian dogs or lions, is found on each side of the shrine’s entrance.

Hakone has been a hot springs resort for centuries. There are more than a dozen hot springs, with Yumoto being the most famous. There is much natural beauty to be appreciated here. Lake Ashinoko, or Lake Ashi, was formed in a volcanic caldera after an eruption 3,000 years ago; it is the perfect place for a scenic boat ride with views of Mt. Fuji. The Hakone Shrine, on the shores of Lake Ashi, is Hakone’s most famous Shinto shrine. Three striking Torii gates mark the approach to the shrine. Odawaro Castle is the closest castle to Tokyo, some 60 miles away. Originally built in the 15th century, it has been rebuilt twice since then. Hakone remains a popular destination for the Japanese and tourists alike.

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SPORTS ALERT: Washington Commanders select LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second pick in the NFL Draft

Indonesia and Japan advance at U23 Asian Cup. South Korea out of contention for Paris Olympics

The Associated Press

April 25, 2024, 6:15 PM

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DOHA, Qatar (AP) — South Korea will miss the men’s soccer tournament at the Olympics for the first time since 1984 after losing a penalty shootout to Indonesia at the Under-23 Asian Cup quarterfinals on Thursday.

The top three teams will qualify for the Paris Games, and Indonesia reached the last four by winning the shootout 11-10 after the score remained tied 2-2 through extra time.

Rafael Struick put Indonesia ahead after 15 minutes only for Komang Teguh’s own goal to level the scoreline after 45 minutes. There was still time before the break, however, for Struick to score again.

Jeong Sang-bin equalized with 14 minutes remaining despite Korea being reduced to 10 men minutes earlier when Lee Young-jun was shown a red card.

Lee Kang-hee missed in the shootout, leaving Pratama Arhan to score the winner.

Earlier, Japan knocked out host Qatar 4-2 after extra time to stay on course for an eighth straight Olympic appearance.

Fuki Yamada scored early for Japan but Ahmed Al-Rawi and Jassem Gaber netted to put Qatar ahead.

Seiji Kimura made it 2-2 midway through the second half and after the tie went into extra-time, Mao Hosoya put Japan ahead once more and Kotaro Uchino scored after 113 minutes to secure the win for Japan.

On Friday, defending champion Saudi Arabia faces Uzbekistan, while Iraq meets Vietnam.

The team that finishes fourth will face Guinea in a playoff in May with a place in Paris at stake.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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Minister Ng strengthens trade relations with Republic of Korea through Team Canada Trade Mission

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, has concluded her visit to Seoul after leading a Team Canada Trade Mission to South Korea. As a key initiative under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, these missions provide opportunities for Canadian and local companies to establish valuable connections with important players.

April 25, 2024 - Seoul, Republic of Korea - Global Affairs Canada

In Seoul, Minister Ng welcomed more than 240 people representing over 160 Canadian organizations from various priority sectors, including:

• agriculture and processed foods (including fish and seafood)
• clean energy and clean technologies
• creative industries (audio-visual and interactive and digital media subsectors)
• information and communications technologies
• life sciences

Since the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) entered into force in 2015, the trade relationship between Canada and the Republic of Korea has grown significantly.

While in Seoul, she witnessed the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), which exemplify the successful efforts of Team Canada in promoting international trade and business connections in the Indo-Pacific region.

The first MOU involved Calgary-based cleantech company TRIUM Environmental and South Korean artificial intelligence company BizData. Their innovative collaboration aims to address environmental challenges through cutting-edge technologies.  The second MOU was between Toronto-based Blimey VR Studios and South Korea’s XrisP, a multi-platform digital entertainment powerhouse. This partnership signifies the fusion of creativity and technology, opening up new avenues for both companies.  Finally, Minister Ng witnessed the signing of the MOU between Calgary-based Kanata Clean Power & Climate Technologies and Korean company GS Engineering & Construction Corporation (GS E&C) to co-invest in Kanata Clean’s Blue Ammonia project in Alberta. This project highlights Canada and Korea working together for a brighter, more sustainable future.

Minister Ng noted the importance of Canada’s energy resources and expertise in supporting the Republic of Korea’s energy transition goals. For example, LG Energy Solution (LGES), recently invested $5 billion in Canada through the establishment of an electric vehicle battery-cell manufacturing plant in Windsor, Ontario.  The plant is expected to create 2500 full-time jobs. She visited the Samsung Innovation Museum and met with Samsung Electronics senior executives to advance discussions on future collaboration. Minister Ng also visited Krafton, a South Korean gaming company that has made a substantial investment in Canada. She took that opportunity to emphasize Canada’s commitment to fostering more partnerships and investment opportunities in the creative industries sector.

Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality and sustainable products also supports the Republic of Korea’s food security goals. Minister Ng participated in a dynamic culinary showcase that promoted high-grade ingredients from Canadian companies supplying South Korean consumers with delicious food, including fruit, grains, pulses, meat, fish and other seafood products.

Partnership with business organizations is key to connecting Canadian businesses with South Korean partners and strengthening collaboration between the 2 countries. Minister Ng helped to make these connections at networking events, including with the Business Council of Canada, the Federation of Korean Industries and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Korea. At these events, Minister Ng encouraged Canadian and South Korean companies to work together, share their experiences and make meaningful connections to provide further economic benefits for Canadians and South Koreans alike.

While participating in the CKFTA Joint Commission meeting, Minister Ng invited Inkyo Cheong the Republic of Korea’s Minister for Trade, to Canada to co-chair the next meeting of the Joint Commission in 2025. Minister Ng also held separate bilateral meetings with Minister Cheong and Dukgeun Ahn, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, where they discussed implementing the Canada-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and deepening the 2 countries’ close commercial and investment ties.

Minister Ng also announced the dates for the next Team Canada Trade Mission. The mission to the Philippines and Indonesia will take place from December 1-6, 2024 and will build on the success of the previous Team Canada Trade Missions. This will give Canadian companies an opportunity to expand their presence in these dynamic markets and strengthen Canada’s position in global supply chains.

“Through this Team Canada Trade Mission, we’ve helped Canadian businesses find new opportunities to grow in the Republic of Korea. During the last 4 days, I saw for myself why the Republic of Korea is such a great market for Canadian companies. I watched as Canadian businesses from different sectors made lasting connections and expanded their networks in the Republic of Korea. Canada’s strong trade ties with the Republic of Korea mean more opportunities for trade and investment, creating good jobs for Canadians across the country.” - Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development

Quick facts

The Indo-Pacific is Canada’s second-largest regional export market, after the United States, with annual 2-way merchandise trade valued at $257 billion in 2023.

Launched in November 2022, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy creates opportunities to expand trade and investment, grow good jobs and build supply chain resilience.

As of 2023, the Republic of Korea was Canada’s seventh-largest merchandise trading partner, eighth-largest export partner and sixth-largest import partner.

Since it entered into force in 2015, the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) has benefitted businesses, workers and communities on both sides of the Pacific.

In 2023, merchandise trade stood at $20.8 billion, an increase of almost 83% from pre-CKFTA days. Exports were valued at $6.9 billion and imports $13.9 billion for the same year.

South Korean direct investment in Canada was valued at $7.6 billion in 2022. South Korean direct investment in Canada is concentrated primarily in finance and insurance (39%), wholesale trade (31%) and manufacturing (10%).

Thanks to the CKFTA, 99% of Canada’s exports to the Republic of Korea have been eligible for duty-free access since January 1, 2024. By 2032, Korean tariffs will be eliminated on 99.75% of Canada’s exports.

Exports to the Republic of Korea supported over 20,000 Canadian jobs in 2020. Top sectors included mining (except oil and gas extraction), transportation and warehousing, and wholesale trade.

South Korea is the fourth Indo-Pacific market to host a Team Canada Trade Mission, following Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam.  Since launching these large-scale missions in 2023 under the Indo-Pacific Strategy, more than 400 Canadian organizations have been exposed to the market potential in the region. Participating businesses have already indicated valuable outcomes, including possible business and partnership deals in each market and MoUs signed on the ground in Vietnam and Korea.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Yoon Suk Yeol designated 2024 to 2025 as the Year of Cultural Exchanges between Canada and the Republic of Korea. To build momentum in the context of these exchanges, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Taleeb Noormohamed, led Team Canada’s creative industries delegation to promote the economic and export interests of the creative industries sector.

In September 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Yoon upgraded relations between Canada and the Republic of Korea to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on 5 shared priorities in the areas of values, security, prosperity, sustainability and beyond.

Minister Ng also made a stop at the War Memorial of Korea, where she paid tribute to the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers who defended peace and freedom during the Korean War.

Associated links

• Team Canada Trade Mission to South Korea
• Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
• Canada-Korea relations
• Doing business in Korea
• Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement
• Minister Ng strengthens trade relations with Vietnam as Team Canada Trade Mission concludes
• Minister Ng strengthens trade relations with Malaysia during first Team Canada Trade Mission to Southeast Asia
• Minister Ng celebrates successful Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan
• The Republic of Korea and Canada: Stronger Together—Joint leaders’ statement

Huzaif Qaisar Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development 343-575-8816 [email protected]  

Media Relations Office Global Affairs Canada [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @CanadaTrade Like us on Facebook: Canada’s international trade - Global Affairs Canada

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Upcoming K-pop concerts, tours and music festivals in Asia: SEVENTEEN, aespa, NCT and more

Get all the info (venues, dates, ticket prices, and more) on 2024 tours by RIIZE, XG, IU and more

Borders are open, live music is back and the K-pop touring cycle is in full swing. Stars including SEVENTEEN, aespa and NCT Dream are touring the world with new tunes in tow – and hitting Asia very soon.

While some of those artists are staging their own headline shows, others are on the line-ups of music festivals with both multi-genre and Hallyu-only line-ups. The announcements have been coming thick and fast of late so NME ‘s decided to help with a handy list of K-pop concerts and music festivals in Asia for 2024.

Scroll down to see if your favourite K-pop artist is touring Asia and get info on cities, dates, venues, tickets and more.

‘The Dream Show 3’ World Tour – Seoul, Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila

May 2024 Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 – Seoul, South Korea, Gocheok Sky Dome Saturday 11 to Sunday 12 – Osaka, Japan, Kyocera Dome Saturday 18 – Jakarta, Indonesia, GBK Stadium Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 – Tokyo, Japan, Tokyo Dome

June 2024 Sunday 2 – Nagoya, Japan, Vantelin Dome Nagoya Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 – Hong Kong, China, AsiaWorld Arena Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 – Bangkok, Thailand, Rajamangala National Stadium Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 – Singapore, Singapore, Indoor Stadium

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August 2024 Saturday 10 to Sunday 11 – Manila, The Philippines, SM Mall of Asia Arena

NCT Dream have announced a series of shows across Asia as part of their upcoming ‘The Dream Show 3’ world tour, which will officially begin in May with concerts in eight cities across the continent through to August. Specifics regarding venues and ticketing have yet to be announced; keep tabs on this page for the latest updates.

2024 ‘RIIZING Day Fan-Con’ World Tour – Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta

May 2024 Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 – Seoul, South Korea, Jamsil Indoor Stadium Saturday 11 to Sunday 12 – Tokyo, Japan, Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium

June 2024 Saturday 1 – Hong Kong, China, AsiaWorld-Expo Hall 8 &10 Saturday 15 – Taipei, Taiwan, New Taipei City Exhibition Hall

July 2024 Sunday 14 – Manila, Philippines, Smart Aranetra Coliseum Saturday 20 – Singapore, Singapore, Expo Hall 7 Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 – Bangkok, Thailand, Thunder Dome

August 2024 Saturday 31 – Jakarta, Indonesia, ICE BSD City Hall 5

SM Entertainment rookie boyband RIIZE are set to embark on their first fan-con world tour this April with stops across Asia and the US. The group will make stops in cities such as Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore and more from April through to August, making it their first overseas headline shows since debut. More dates and stops are expected to be added soon, meanwhile ticketing information will be announced “at a later date”. Check this page for the latest updates.

‘Bunnies Camp 2024’ Fanmeet – Tokyo

June 2024 Wednesday 26 to Thursday 27 – Tokyo, Japan, Tokyo Dome

In a surprise announcement revealing plans to make a Japanese debut sometime this year, NewJeans also announced a two-day fan-meet to be held at the Tokyo Dome in the Japanese capital city this June. The five-piece also announced a world tour slated for 2025, however more details have yet to be disclosed. Information regarding ticketing and more for the Bunnies Camp concert in Tokyo have also yet to be announced. Keep tabs on this page for the latest updates.

‘Show What I Have’ 2023-2024 world tour – Hong Kong and Manila

July 2024 Saturday 6 – Hong Kong, China, AsiaWorld-Arena Saturday 13 – Manila, the Philippines, SM Mall of Asia Arena

Tickets are available via LiveNation .

Following their ‘Prom Queens’ Asia tour in 2023 and the release of their mini-album ‘I’VE MINE’, top rookie girl group IVE are setting off on their first-ever world tour. The sextet will be touring Asia from January to early March next year before heading to the US and Europe, before returning in July for shows in Hong Kong and Manila.

BABYMONSTER

#BABYMONSTER PRESENTS : SEE YOU THERE SCHEDULE #베이비몬스터 #BABYMONSTERPRESENTS #SEEYOUTHERE #SCHEDULE #YG pic.twitter.com/KAUhHzPmUr — BABYMONSTER (@YGBABYMONSTER_) April 17, 2024

2024 ‘See You There’ Fanmeet – Tokyo, Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei and Bangkok

May 2024 Saturday 11 to Sunday 12 – Tokyo, Japan

June 2024 Saturday 8 – Jakarta, Indonesia Saturday 15 – Singapore, Singapore Sunday 23 – Taipei, Taiwan Saturday 29 – Bangkok, Thailand

YG Entertainment rookies BABYMONSTER announced their first-ever overseas fanmeet tour on March 18, with a handful of stops in major cities around Asia. The seven-piece are scheduled to visit Tokyo, Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei and Bangkok sometime this year, however specifics regarding venues and ticketing information will be shared by the label at a later stage. Keep tabs on this page for the latest updates.

2024 ‘Moonshot’ world tour – Seoul and Yokohama

July 2024 Saturday 20 to Sunday 21 – Seoul, South Korea Saturday 27 – Yokohama, Japan

ARTMS announced several dates in Asia and North America for their upcoming ‘Moonshot’ world tour, which will begin with two shows in Seoul and one in Yokohama, before the five-piece embark on the North American leg of the tour. Venues and ticketing information have yet to be announced. Keep tabs on this page for the latest updates.

2024 ‘Zeneration II’ world tour – Seoul, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Macau, Kuala Lumpur

July 2024 Friday 12 to Sunday 14 – Seoul, South Korea

August 2024 Saturday 17 to Sunday 18 – Bangkok, Thailand Saturday 24 – Jakarta, Indonesia Sunday 25 – Manila, the Philippines Saturday 31 – Macau, China

September 2024 Saturday 7 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

THE BOYZ recently announced plans to go on an expansive world tour dubbed ‘Zeneration II’, which will take them to North America, Europe and Asia. So far, the band has announced six cities for the tour’s Asian leg, however more dates have yet to be revealed, per their initial announcement. More information such as ticketing, venues and more have yet to be announced – keep tabs on this page for the latest updates.

NCT’s Ten

2024 ‘1001’ Asia Fan-con tour – Jakarta

April 2024 Saturday 27 – Jakarta, Indonesia, The Kasablanka Hall

Fans can look forward to hearing some of his previously released solo tracks like ‘Dream in a Dream’ and ‘Paint Me Naked’, as well as cuts from his upcoming record.

NCT’s Doyoung

‘Dear Youth,’ solo concert – Seoul

May 2024 Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 – Seoul, South Korea, Kyunghee University Grand Peace Palace

NCT vocalist Doyoung will be playing his first-ever solo headline show for two nights at Kyunghee University’s Grand Peace Palace this May. The concerts will be in support of his upcoming solo debut album ‘Youth’, due out April 22. Information on how to purchase tickets have yet to be announced by SM Entertainment.

‘Born to Be’ World Tour – Tokyo, Taipei, Manila and Hong Kong

May 2024 Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 – Tokyo, Japan, Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium

July 2024 Saturday 20 – Taipei, Taiwan, Taipei Arena

August 2024 Saturday 03 – Manila, the Philippines, SM Mall of Asia Arena Saturday 10 – Hong Kong, China, AsiaWorld-Arena

In support of their second studio album ‘Born to Be’, ITZY have announced a massive world tour in 2024. The girl group will kick off the tour this February in Seoul, before hitting several Asian cities throughout the year between their shows in Oceania, North America and Europe.

2024 ‘The First Howl’ world tour – Osaka, Yokohama, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila, Taipei

May 2024 Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 – Osaka, Japan, Osaka-Jo Hall Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 – Yokohama, Japan, K-Arena Yokohama

TBA Bangkok, Thailand Seoul, South Korea Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Singapore, Singapore Manila, the Philippines Taipei, Taiwan

The South Korean-based Japanese girl group announced their highly anticipated first-ever world tour since debut, dubbed ‘The First Howl’ and slated to kick off with shows in Osaka and Yokohama this May. Details for the tour’s remaining Asian stops, which include cities such as Seoul, Singapore and Bangkok, remain scarce, with more specifics such as venues and dates to be announced at a later stage. Check this page for the latest updates.

‘SYNK: Parallel Line’ World Tour – Seoul, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Saitama, Osaka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Jakarta, Macau, Bangkok

June 2024 Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 – Seoul, South Korea, Jamsil Indoor Stadium

July 2024 Saturday 6 to Sunday 7 – Fukuoka, Japan, Marine Messe Fukuoka Wednesday 10 to Thursday 11 – Aichi, Japan, Aichi Sky Expo Sunday 14 to Monday 15 – Saitama, Japan, Saitama Super Arena Saturday 20 – Singapore, Singapore Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 – Osaka, Japan, Asue Arena Osaka

August 2024 Saturday 3 – Hong Kong, China Saturday 10 – Taipei, Taiwan Saturday 17 to Sunday 18 – Tokyo, Japan, Tokyo Dome Saturday 24 – Jakarta, Indonesia

September 2024 Saturday 21 – Macau, China Saturday 28 to Sunday 29 – Bangkok, Thailand

The four-piece recently announced the Asian and Australian legs of their upcoming world tour dubbed ‘SYNK: Parallel Line’, slated to kick off in late June. The tour will bring them across 11 cities in Asia, including several in Japan and Southeast Asia. More information regarding venue and ticketing have yet to be announced by organisers – check this page for the latest updates.

‘A Sweet Experience: Bench Fun Meet’ – Manila

May 2024 Tuesday 28 – Manila, The Philippines, SM Mall of Asia Arena

As part of their partnership with fashion brand Bench, ENHYPEN will be having a fanmeeting event in Manila in late May. General admission tickets are acquired through purchases made at select Bench stores in the Philippines, and fans must keep their receipts in order to purchase tickets from SM Ticket outlets. Check this for more information.

‘SHINee World Ⅵ – Perfect Illumination : SHINee’S BACK’ encore concert – Seoul

May 2024 Friday 24 to Sunday 26 – Seoul, South Korea, Inspire Arena

SHINee recently announced a three-night residency at Seoul’s Inspire Arena for encore concerts for their recently concluded tour ‘SHINee World VI: Perfect Illumination’. The tour brought them on an expansive tour across Asia, beginning in June 2023 and concluding with a final show in Hong Kong in March. Ticketing details have yet to be announced.

SHINee’s Key

2024 ‘Keyland On: And On’ Asia tour – Bangkok, Jakarta, Macau, Kaohsiung

July 2024 Sunday 14 – Bangkok, Thailand, MCC Hall Saturday 20 – Jakarta, Indonesia, The Kasablanka Hall Sunday 28 – Macau, China, Macau Broadway Theatre

August 2024 Saturday 17 – Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Kaohsiung Music Center

The SHINee soloist has announced a four-stop tour of Asia planned for the coming year, with a show in Bangkok to kick off the brief tour in mid July, until the tour officially concludes in the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung in mid-August. Ticketing information for existing stops have yet to be announced, while it currently remains unclear if Key has any plans to expand the tour to various other cities.

2024 ‘HEREH’ world tour – Jakarta, Hong Kong, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Osaka and Seoul

April 2024 Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 – Jakarta, Indonesia, ICE BSD Hall 5-6

May 2024 Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 – Hong Kong, China, AsiaWorld-Arena

June 2024 Saturday 1 – Manila, the Philippines, Philippine Arena Saturday 8 to Sunday 9 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Axiata Arena Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 – Bangkok, Thailand, Impact Challenger Hall 1

July 2024 Saturday 6 to Sunday 7 – Osaka, Japan, Asue Arena Osaka

September 2024 Saturday 21 to Sunday 22 – Seoul, South Korea, Seoul World Cup Stadium (encore concerts)

Ahead of her next album, IU has finally announced her massive, first-ever world tour. The singer will kick off the tour with two weekends of shows in Seoul, before heading to Yokohama, Taipei, Singapore, Jakarta and Hong Kong in the following months, playing two shows at each stop.

Between shows in Europe and the US, she will also head to Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Osaka. She will then be returning to Seoul for two nights of encore concerts in order to wrap the tour up.

2023-2024 ‘Follow Again’ encore tour – Osaka and Yokohama

May 2024 Thursday 18 to Friday 19 – Osaka, Japan, Yanmar Stadium Nagai Thursday 25 to Friday 26 – Yokohama, Japan, Nissan Stadium

Shortly after concluding their tour’s original 20 dates with concerts in the Philippines and Macau this month, boy band SEVENTEEN have announced an encore leg of their ‘Follow’ tour in Incheon, Osaka and Yokohama as a “token of gratitude” towards their fans. Look forward to performances of their hits like ‘Super’, ‘Very Nice’ and more.

EXO’s Suho

2024 ‘Welcome to SU:HOME’ Asia tour – Seoul, Manila, Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur

May 2024 Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 – Seoul, South Korea, Olympic Hall

June 2024 Saturday 22 – Manila, the Philippines, Araneta Coliseum

July 2024 Saturday 6 – Hong Kong, China, AsiaWorld-Expo Hall 10 Saturday 13 – Taipei, Taiwan, Taipei Music Center Saturday 20 – Bangkok, Thailand, Royal Paragon Hall Sunday 28 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mega Star Arena

The EXO leader recently announced a two-night residency at Seoul’s Olympic Hall for an upcoming solo concert dubbed ‘Welcome to SU:HOME’ in May. He’ll then go on to tour select cities across Asia from June to July, with stops in Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Manila and Kuala Lumpur so far.

EXO’s D.O

2024 ‘Bloom’ Asian Fan Concert Tour – Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Bangkok, Malaysia, Manila, Singapore

June 2024 Saturday 8 to Sunday 9 – Seoul, South Korea, KBS Arena Saturday 22 – Taipei, Taiwan, Tianmu Gymnasium Saturday 29 – Hong Kong, China, AsiaWorld-Expo Hall 10

July 2024 Friday 12 – Jakarta, Indonesia, Kasablanka Hall Thursday 18 – Tokyo, Japan, Tachikawa Stage Garden Friday 19 – Nagoya, Japan, Niterra Hall Sunday 21 – Osaka, Japan, Grand Cube Osaka

August 2024 Saturday 10 – Bangkok, Thailand Saturday 17 – Malaysia Saturday 31 – Manila, the Philippines

September 2024 Saturday 28 – Singapore, Singapore

The EXO vocalist will be embarking on a tour of Asia this coming year, with two kick-off shows in Seoul, South Korea in early June before he’s set to visit cities in Japan, China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Other information such as venues and how to purchase tickets have yet to be announced; check this page for the latest updates.

EXO’s Baekhyun

2024 ‘Lonsdaleite’ Asia tour – Fukuoka, Taipei, Kobe, Sendai, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Bangkok

April 2024 Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 – Fukuoka, Japan, Fukuoka Convention Centre

May 2024 Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 – Taipei, Taiwan, NTSU Arena Saturday 11 to Sunday 12 – Kobe, Japan, Kobe World Memorial Hall Thursday 16 to Friday 17 – Sendai, Japan, Miyagi Sports Park General Gymnasium

June 2024 Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 – Jakarta, Indonesia, Istora Senayan Saturday 8 to Sunday 9 – Hong Kong, China, AsiaWorld-Summit Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 – Bangkok, Thailand, Impact Exhibition Hall 7-8 Muang Thong Thani

EXO vocalist Baekhyun has announced a huge solo world tour, complete with a massive Asian leg. The singer kicked off the ‘Lonsdaleite’ tour in Seoul in March, before heading to the rest of East and Southeast Asia in the following months. Fans can look forward to hearing his solo hits like ‘Candy’ and ‘Bambi’ live.

MONSTA X’s I.M

2024 ‘Off The Beat’ world tour – Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo, Bangkok and Macau

May 2024 Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 – Seoul, South Korea

September 2024 Thursday 19 – Taipei, Taiwan Sunday 22 – Tokyo, Japan Tuesday 24 – Bangkok, Thailand Sunday 29 – Macau, China

Earlier this week, MONSTA X rapper I.M announced his 2024 ‘Off The Beat’ world tour in support of his recently released mini-album of the same name. The expansive solo tour will kick off with a two-night residency in Seoul, before he embarks on the Europe and North American legs of the tour in July and August. The idol will then visit four cities in Asia before wrapping up the tour in September. View the full list of tour dates here .

MBC Music Core in Japan

‘MBC Music Core in Japan’ 2024 – Tokorozawa

Day One Line-Up: ENHYPEN Fantasy Boys ILLIT NiziU NMIXX P1Harmony RIIZE SHINee’s Taemin

Day Two Line-Up: &TEAM ATEEZ (G)I-DLE ILLIT NCT WISH NMIXX n.SSign PLAVE Stray Kids

June 2024 Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 – Tokorozawa, Japan, Belluna Dome

MBC Music Core is set to take place as a one-off event in the city of Tokorozawa this year, set to take place at the Belluna Dome. While the full line-up has yet to be announced, some acts set to take the Belluna Dome stage this June include Stray Kids, NMIXX, ILLIT, ENHYPEN and more.

Seoul Jazz Festival

The 16th Seoul Jazz Festival – Seoul

Day One Line-Up: Lauv Day6 Jungle Tones And I Joshua Redmann Group (featuring Gabrielle Cavassa) Hiromi’s Sonicwonder Mac Ayres SG Lewis Jessie Reyez Elijah Woods Alaina Castillo Sunwoo Junga (with From Beyond) Paul Kim Lee Young-ji Kohsangji Band Lim Kim Danny Koo X Yooseung Cho Trio So Soo-bin Jason Lee Kik5o

Day Two Line-Up: Melody Gardot FKJ Bruno Major JANNABI Gayle JP Saxe Car, the Garden MeloMance Cho Min-gyu BIBI Stella Jang Yunseokcheol Trio Wonstein Anna of the North Wave to Earth Golden Swing Bang (featuring Song Ha-chul) Yujinkim Extraordinary Jimindorothy

Day Three Line-Up: Lauv (with special guests) Gipsy Kings (featuring Nicolas Reyes) John Scofield Trio Lianne La Havas Jeremy Zucker Tom Grennan Cory Wong Jang Ki-ha Zion.T Kwon Jin-ah Alexander23 Ha Hyun-sang Etham Cautious Clay Lee Jin-ah Jeong Dong-hwan (and the Funk Messengers) HongJinho Quintet The Ska Jazz Unit

May to June 2024 Friday 31 to Sunday 2 – Seoul, South Korea, Olympic Park

The Seoul Jazz Festival will be returning for its 16th run this year for three nights from May 31 to June 2, boasting a varied roster of artists from local indie acts such as Car, The Garden and Kwon Jin-ah to renowned South Korean artists such as Day6, BIBI, Zion.T, Lee Young-ji and more. The festival will also be bringing in acclaimed indie talents from abroad, including the likes of Bruno Major, Mac Ayres, Lauv and more.

KCON Japan 2024

Line-Up for ‘KCON Japan 2024’: 8TURN AIMERS B.D.U BOYNEXTDOOR ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo DXMON DXTEEN eite E’LAST EL7Z UP EPEX Hi-Fi Un!con ILLIT INI IS:SUE JO1 CNBLUE’s Jong Yong-hwa Kep1er SHINee’s Key LIMELIGHT LUN8 ME:I Isaac Hong NCT WISH NiziU NOWADAYS n.SSign P1Harmony Red Velvet Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon TEMPEST THE NEW SIX TIOT TRENDZ TWS VANNER VVUP WAKER WHIB woo!ah! xikers Choi Yena YOUNITE ZEROBASEONE &TEAM

May 2024 Friday 10 to Sunday 12 – Chiba, Japan, ZOZO Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe

Over the past weekend, KCON finally announced its long-awaited performing line-up for this year’s iteration in Japan, slated to be held in the city of Chiba this May. K-pop acts confirmed to be performing at the festival include top artists such as Red Velvet, ZEROBASEONE and more. Keep tabs on this page for the latest information about KCON Japan 2024 and how to purchase tickets.

2024 Weverse Con Festival

Line-Up for 2024 ‘Weverse Con Festival’: 10cm Billlie BOYNEXTDOOR Chuu ENHYPEN fromis_9 ILLIT imase JD1 JUST B Kim Jae-joong J. Y. Park (with special guests) Kwon Eun-bi Lee Sung-kyoung LE SSERAFIM PLAVE SEVENTEEN THE NEW SIX Tomorrow X Together TWS XIA YOASOBI &TEAM

June 2024 Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 – Incheon, South Korea, Inspire Entertainment Resort and Inspire Arena Discovery Park

This year’s iteration of the annual Weverse Con Festival will take place this June in Incheon, South Korea, with acts such as LOONA’s Chuu, TWS and more set to take the stage. While more information about pre-sale and general ticketing have yet to be announced, check this page for early bird day pass sales and the latest updates for the upcoming festival.

MAMAMOO’s Hwasa

2024 ‘Twits’ solo fancon tour – Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore

May 2024 Saturday 11 – Hong Kong, China, AsiaWorld-Expo Hall 10

June 2024 Saturday 16 – Taipei, Taiwan, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1 Saturday 22 – Singapore, Singapore, The Star Theatre

MAMAMOO powerhouse vocalist Hwasa is set to embark on a short tour of Asia for the ‘Twits’ solo fancon tour, with shows scheduled in three cities so far: Hong Kong, Taipei and Singapore for May and June. More dates and stops are teased to be announced at a later stage, while venue, time and ticketing information for the existing stops are set to be revealed in the coming weeks. Keep tabs on this page for the latest updates.

MAMAMOO’s Wheein

2024 ‘Whee In The Mood’ world tour – Tokyo

May 2024 Wednesday 1 – Tokyo, Japan, Zepp DiverCity

MAMAMOO singer Wheein has finally announced her first-ever solo world tour, named after her 2023 studio album ‘In The Mood’. The singer will kick off the tour with a two-night concert in Seoul this February, before heading to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Manila and more.

Jung Eun-ji

2024 ‘Eunji’s Bookstore’ Fanmeeting – Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong

May 2024 Saturday 25 – Seoul, South Korea, Ewha Women’s University Samsung Hall

June 2024 Saturday 15 – Taipei, Taiwan, NTU Sports Center 1F Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 – Hong Kong, China, Macpherson Stadium

Jung Eun-ji of Apink has announced a brief Asia tour for her upcoming fanmeeting event, called ‘Eunji’s Bookstore’. The tour will kick off with two showings on May 25 in Seoul, before she’s due to host the fanmeeting in Taipei and Hong Kong in June.

2024 ‘P1ustage H : UTOP1A’ world tour – Seoul

April 2024 Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 – Seoul, South Korea, Olympic Hall

K-pop boyband P1Harmony announced their upcoming P1ustage H : UTOP1A world tour, which will kick off with shows in Seoul, before they embark on the North American leg of the tour. Ticketing information for the kick-off concert in Seoul are also to be announced – check this page for the latest updates.

2024 ‘HIGHLIGHT LIVE: Lights Go On, Again’ Asia tour – Seoul, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kaohsiung, Tokyo

May 2024 Friday 10 to Sunday 12 – Seoul, South Korea, KSPO Dome

June 2024 Saturday 22 – Hong Kong, China Sunday 30 – Bangkok, Thailand

July 2024 Saturday 6 – Kaohsiung, Taiwan Friday 19 to Sunday 20 – Tokyo, Japan

Boyband HIGHLIGHT are set to embark on their first headline tour of Asia in about two years this summer, after hosting a three-night residency at Seoul’s KSPO Dome in May. The tour currently consists of only four stops so far, beginning with a performance in Hong Kong this June.

The band will also notably be able to perform past BEAST songs after successful negotiations with CUBE Entertainment over the rights to their previous group name and discography. Further details such as venues and ticketing information have yet to be announced.

iKON’s DK

‘DK Asia Fan Event Tour’ – Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta

April 2024 Sunday 21 – Bangkok, Thailand, Dongki Mall Thonglor Saturday 27 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Lalaport BBCC Sunday 28 – Jakarta, Indonesia, Sasono Langen Budoyo

iKON vocalist DK will be heading on a four-stop tour of Asia later this month for a ‘fan event tour’ . The news comes fresh off the conclusion of iKON’s limited tour of Asia, which concluded with a final show in Bangkok on April 7. Further details such as venue and ticketing have yet to be shared by the band’s label.

‘2024 Hype Up’ Tour – Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Macau

May 2024 Friday 24 – Hong Kong, China, Star Hall

June 2024 Saturday 1 – Bangkok, Thailand, Thunderdome Friday 7 – Singapore, Singapore, Capitol Theatre Sunday 9 – Manila, the Philippines, SM North EDSA Skydome Saturday 15 – Jakarta, Indonesia, The Kasablanka Hall

July 2024 Saturday 13 – Macau, China, Broadway Macau

The K-pop soloist has announced the first six shows of his newly announced 2024 ‘Hype Up tour’, which will take him to cities across Asia such as Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and more. According to the announcement, more stops and dates will be announced at a later stage, while ticketing information for existing stops has yet to be disclosed.

EVNNE 2024 ‘SQUAD:R’ Asia fan-concert tour – Osaka and Yokohama

May 2024 Thursday 2 to Friday 3 – Osaka, Japan, Festival Hall Monday 6 – Yokohama, Japan, Pia Arena MM

Rookie boy band EVNNE have announced their first-ever concert tour, which kicks off in Seoul this March. The boy band will then head to Singapore, Taipei and Bangkok, as well as Japan in the following months.

Super Junior’s Kyuhyun

2024 ‘Restart’ Asia tour – Yokohama, Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta

April 2024 Friday 26 – Yokohama, Japan, Pacifico Yokohama National Grand Hall

May 2024 Saturday 4 – Taipei, Taiwan, New Taipei City Exhibition Hall Saturday 11 – Bangkok, Thailand, MCC Hall The Mall Lifestore Bangkapi Saturday 18 – Jakarta, Indonesia, Tennis Indoor Senayan

Super Junior vocalist Kyuhyun has announced his brand-new ‘Restart’ Asia tour, which will kick off this March in South Korea. The singer will then head on to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Southeast Asia.

2024 ‘CNBLUENTITY’ Asia tour – Singapore

April 2024 Saturday 27 – Singapore, Singapore, Indoor Stadium

South Korean band CNBLUE has announced their new ‘CNBLUENTITY’ Asia tour, beginning this March. The beloved pop-rock band will head to Hong Kong first, before performing in Bangkok, Kaohsiung, Macau and more.

2024 ‘Reboot’ Asia tour – Manila, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta

May 2024 Saturday 4 – Manila, The Philippines, SM Mall of Asia Arena Saturday 18 – Hong Kong, China, AsiaWorld-Arena Friday 24 to Sunday 26 – Bangkok, Thailand, Impact Arena

June 2024 Saturday 22 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Axiata Arena Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 – Jakarta, Indonesia, Arena GBK Senayan

Presented by YG Entertainment and promoted by Live Nation, TREASURE are set to embark on the ‘Reboot’ tour of Asia, which will bring them to cities such as Manila, Hong Kong and more in May and June this year. This tour comes after their 2023 ‘Hello’ tour, which saw them perform shows in Taipei and Singapore, among other cities. Information about how to purchase tickets have yet to be announced; keep tabs on this page for the latest updates.

Super Junior

2024 ‘Super Show Spin-off: Halftime’ Asia tour – Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Hong Kong and Jakarta

June 2024 Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 – Seoul, South Korea, KSPO Dome

July 2024 Saturday 6 to Sunday 7 – Bangkok, Thailand, Impact Challenger Hall 1 Sunday 14 – Singapore, Singapore, Indoor Stadium Sunday 28 – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Phu Tho Indoor Sports Stadium

August 2024 Saturday 3 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Axiata Arena Saturday 17 to Sunday 18 – Taipei, Taiwan, Taipei Arena

September 2024 Friday 6 to Saturday 7 – Hong Kong, China, AWE Arena Saturday 14 – Jakarta, Indonesia, BCIS

2024 is looking to be a busy year for Super Junior, with the full group announcing their new ‘Super Show Spin-off: Halftime’ tour in addition to tours by subunit L.S.S and member Kyuhyun. Ticketing information for all stops have yet to be announced.

2024 ‘dOpamine’ world tour – Southeast Asia and Oceania

July 2024 Hong Kong Indonesia Malaysia The Philippines Thailand Vietnam

Korean boyband OnlyOneOf have announced six Asian countries as well as Australia as stops for their upcoming ‘dOpamine’ world tour, slated to run throughout July. However, dates, cities, venues and ticketing information have yet to be announced by the band.

2024 ‘The Flag: A to V’ tour – Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo, Hong Kong

April 2024 Friday 26 to Sunday 28 – Seoul, South Korea, Yes24 Live Hall

May 2024 Friday 10 – Taipei, Taiwan Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 – Tokyo, Japan

July 2024 Monday 1 – Hong Kong, China

The K-pop boyband have announced a brief tour of Asia with shows in four cities so far announced, billed as the last live shows from VANNER before member Sungkook before he enlists for mandatory military service on May 7. The rest of VANNER will proceed with the scheduled overseas shows without Sungkook, however venue and ticketing information have yet to be announced. Meanwhile, tickets to the Seoul dates are on sale now from  the official Yes24 website .

2024 ‘Fiat Lux: 熙’ Asian Fancon Tour – Jakarta, Taipei, Manila, Hong Kong

May 2024 Saturday, 11 – Jakarta, Indonesia

June 2024 Sunday, 2 – Taipei, Taiwan Saturday, 15 – Manila, the Philippines

TBA Hong Kong, China

Former NCT member Lucas Wong has announced his first-ever overseas tour as a soloist, fresh off the announcement of his solo debut with ‘Renegade’. The first batch of stops announced so far have yet to have their venues and ticketing information shared. Originally slated for April 13, Lucas’ Hong Kong show has been indefinitely postponed “after careful discussion”, with a new date still unannounced. Keep tabs on this page for the latest updates.

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Japan Tours from Vancouver, Canada

Japan tours from Vancouver – that’s what we have been offering for many years. If Japan tours from Vancouver are indeed what you are looking for, you’ve just found the right tour company in Laurus Travel. We are a Vancouver based tour company focusing on travel to East Asia and consider Japan one of our key destinations. 

Direct Flights to Japan from Vancouver There are four airlines offering direct flights between Vancouver and Tokyo. They are Air Canada, WestJet, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways. But beginning in March 2024 , a new carrier, ZIPAIR from Tokyo will join the fray. The low-cost Japanese airline offers something very enticing. For less than $3,000, you can fly between Vancouver and Tokyo roundtrip with a lie-flat seat with the catch being you’ll have to pay for checked luggage and in-flight meals.

Our Japan tours are sold as land packages but upon request we can include international flights with any of the above-mentioned air carriers. We are particularly proud of our record in tracking down the best business class deals available.

Our Japan tours are run in a small group (10-20 participants) environment. They are conducted by professional Japanese and Canadian guides carefully chosen by the owners of Laurus Travel. We stay at centrally located first-class and boutique hotels. Included group meals are quality Japanese and Western fares in decent restaurants where you normally don’t see other tour groups.

Among the current Japan tours we offer, the 18-day Class Japan Tour has been popular among customers from Vancouver. If you find none of our scheduled tours meet your needs, we’d be glad to create a customized itinerary for you.

Classic Japan Tour from Vancouver (18 days)

Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Kanazawa – Shirakawa-go – Kyoto – Nara – Osaka – Hiroshima – Nagasaki – Naha – Tokyo

Conducted by expert guides, this tour is your quintessential introduction to the ancient land of the Rising Sun. The itinerary focuses on culture, history, good food and hiking. 

The participant is required to be physically fit and adhere to our one-bag-per-traveller policy which restricts the weight to 20 kilos (44 lbs). We are unable to accommodate travellers who have problems with chopsticks or sashimi (raw fish).

Important Features

• Small group size (average 15, maximum 20)
• Expert tour leader and local guide(s)
• No shopping stops
• Tips for local guides and drivers included
• Quality local and Western cuisines
• Special dinner featuring maiko performance

Options Available

• Half-day sumo house tour & sushi making lesson

Meal Code: B = breakfast / L = lunch / D = dinner

Day 1/Mon: Departing Home City The journey begins with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. You’ll lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line.

Day 2/Tue: Arrival in Tokyo Welcome to Tokyo!

Please make your way to the hotel on your own. Detailed information will be provided in the pre-trip update one month before departure.

Day 3/Wed: Tokyo (B/L) Tokyo, literally meaning “eastern capital” and officially named Tokyo Metropolis, is one of the most populous mega-cities in the world with a population of 14 million (April 2022) in the city proper. Formerly known as Edo, the city has been the de facto seat of the Japanese government since 1603 when shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu chose the city for his headquarters. The shogun (general) was a hereditary commander ceremoniously appointed by the emperor but held real power over the country during the shogunate period between 1192 and 1867. Edo was renamed Tokyo after Emperor Meiji moved his seat from Kyoto in 1868 when the last shogun was forced to return power to the imperial court. The city covers an area of 2,187 square kilometres following the merger in 1943 of the city of Tokyo and Tokyo Prefecture.

Our full-day sightseeing begins at Senso-ji (Shallow Grass Temple), the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo dating back to 628.

We then drive through ritzy Ginza shopping district to arrive at the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace (the palace itself is closed to tourists) for a stroll.

After lunch, we tour the grounds of the tranquil Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852 -1912) and his wife. 

We end the day with a visit to the observation deck inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. On a clear day, the visitor should be able to see the peak of Mount Fuji which is located about 84 km to the west.

Day 4/Thu: Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo (B/L) We depart at 7:30 AM for a full-day excursion to Mt Fuji and Hakone.

Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain (3,776 metres) in Japan, is a two-hour drive from Tokyo. We stop by the Fujisan World Heritage Center to view the summit and learn about the history, formation and ecology of Mt. Fuji through exhibits and a short film. However, it is purely a matter of luck whether the summit is visible as Mt. Fuji is often shrouded in clouds. Our schedule does not include hiking the mountain – the trails are open between July and early September and it would take the average person at least six hours to hike to the summit even if one starts from the highest station at 2,305 metres above sea level.

We then proceed to Lake Ashi in Hakone for a short cruise across the lake. This is followed by a 10-minute cable car ride that transports us to the station overlooking the sulphur-spewing Owakudani Geothermal Valley. On a clear day, the cable car ride provides stunning views of Mt. Fuji and its surrounding mountain slopes.

We expect to arrive back at the hotel around 6:00 PM.

Day 5/Fri: Tokyo – Kanazawa (B) This morning is set aside for you to recover from jet lag and explore at your own pace.

We highly recommend the museums centred around Ueno Park including the top-rated Tokyo National Museum and The National Museum of Western Art.

Testimonials

We arrived home yesterday safe and sound. Thank you for a wonderful tour in Japan!

Based on what we heard from our friends about their trip to Japan with your company last year we knew we had picked the right company in choosing Laurus Travel for our own Japan vacation. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Your company delivered as promised and then some. There is no doubt in our mind that we received superior value for our money. Upon checking with the others in the group, we learned that our fellow travelers all felt the same. Laurus Travel should be proud of itself because this is the opinion from a bunch of seasoned travelers who have gone on tours with a large number of tour companies.

Thank you again for a wonderful trip!

Janice and Sheldon R Calgary, Alberta

[ more testimonials ]

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