Seoul & Japan

Today, you’ll take the first step towards your East Asian adventure. You’ll depart from your selected airport, with connecting flight(s) along the way.

Welcome to the Land of Morning Calm, South Korea.  

Upon arrival at Incheon International Airport on Yeongjong Island, you’ll pass through immigration and continue to baggage claim. In the arrivals hall, your driver will be waiting to greet you and ensure you can begin your tour with complete peace of mind.  

From Yeongjong Island, just west of the mainland, you’ll travel towards Seoul through gently rolling countryside, crossing bridges that link island and mainland, with green hills lining the horizon. Gradually, the city skyline comes into view – glass and steel high-rises, wide rivers winding their way through the city, and mountains rising like ancient guardians around the metropolis. 

After arriving at your hotel, you’ll check in and have the chance to settle into your new surroundings. The rest of the day is at your leisure, giving you time to gauge your energy levels after a long day of travel.

You might be tempted by a stroll in the local area, where sleek modern skyscrapers rise along the Han River. It won’t take long to sense Seoul’s distinctive energy, where everyday life and big-city pace blend seamlessly in a district that embodies modern Seoul.  

In the evening, the city lights are reflected in the glass façades of the high-rises, while the nearby streets come alive with activity. You’ll find a wide array of eateries where you can dive into Korean cuisine, sampling local favourites such as crispy fried chicken or the savoury vegetable pancakes known as yachaejeon. After your first Korean meal, you’ll return to your hotel for a well-earned night’s sleep.  

Mornings hold a special significance in South Korea, often referred to as the Land of Morning Calm. The nickname dates back to Joseon, the country’s last ruling dynasty, whose name loosely translates as “morning calm”.  

As you soak up the stillness of the morning, you can look forward to truly beginning your travel adventure. After breakfast, you’ll meet your guide in the hotel lobby for an informal welcome meeting, where the programme for the coming days will be outlined. You’ll also receive your T‑money card for public transport, and your guide will go through practical details and answer any questions you may have.  

You will then take the metro together to Myeongdong, one of Seoul’s most vibrant districts. Here, locals and visitors gather in a captivating whirl of lights, sounds and movement. The area is renowned for its lively street food scene, where many Koreans meet to eat, wander, and soak up the city’s unmistakable energy.  

In the narrow streets, you’ll pass cosmetics boutiques, fashion shops, and small food stalls. The scent of grilled specialities and sweet treats fills the air, and along the way, your guide will introduce you to some of Korea’s most popular street food classics. You might be tempted to try crispy hotteok filled with brown sugar and nuts, steaming tteokbokki in spicy chilli sauce, or freshly grilled skewers of meat and vegetables.  

Your guide will also share insights into the district’s development and the culture of modern South Korea, where tradition and contemporary life go hand in hand. The guided tour will conclude in the heart of bustling Myeongdong, leaving you free to continue exploring on your own and soak up even more of its vibrant, ever-changing atmosphere. In the side streets, you’ll also find cafés and small eateries where the pace slows slightly and everyday life unfolds right in the centre of the city.  

If you need a break from the many tempting flavours, you can dive into the district’s endless shopping opportunities. Myeongdong is home to international brands, well-known Korean chains, and small independent boutiques, each with its own distinctive character. It’s easy to be swept up in the atmosphere, where shopping, street food, and city life blend into one lively and entertaining urban experience.  

If you’re craving a breath of fresh air instead, make your way to Namsan Park. From here, you can take the cable car or walk the final stretch up to N Seoul Tower, where sweeping panoramic views of the city’s endless skyline await. From the top, Seoul stretches out in every direction, with the Han River, surrounding mountains and towering skyscrapers forming a dramatic backdrop – a striking contrast to the narrow streets you’ve just explored.  

As night falls, steam rises from the city’s countless kitchens. Seoul is renowned for its diverse and vibrant food scene, and the evening is the perfect time to delve even deeper into it. Tempt your taste buds with flavourful Korean barbecue, where the meat is grilled right at your table and shared together, or savour a bowl of spicy ramyeon with kimchi and crisp vegetables.

As you enjoy the first meal of the day, you can look forward to a day filled with history, reflection, and scenic experiences in beautiful harmony.  

In the morning, you will meet your guide in the lobby before setting off towards the borderlands north of Seoul. Along the way, the city’s pulse gradually gives way to scenic landscapes of open fields, rolling hills, and forest-clad mountainsides.  

Before reaching the border, your first stop of the day will be the tranquil Lake Majang, where picturesque surroundings await. Here, you can venture out onto the gently swaying yet sturdy suspension bridge, stretching 220 metres from shore to shore and offering exceptional panoramic views. If you prefer solid ground beneath your feet, you can instead enjoy a stroll along the inviting lakeside promenade.  

The tour will then continue to Imjingak Park near the Demilitarised Zone, where Korea’s modern history is woven closely together. Today, the area around the border appears surprisingly peaceful and green, with farmland and rolling hills. In the park, your guide will show you around Freedom Bridge and tell you about the memorial dedicated to the families who were separated during the Korean War.  

From Imjingak, you and your guide will board a bus that takes you into the DMZ itself, following the mandatory passport control. Your first stop will be the Third Infiltration Tunnel, one of four tunnels built by North Korea and later discovered by South Korea. Walking down into the tunnel offers a powerful insight into the tense history that continues to shape the peninsula. The experience will then be placed into context through films and exhibitions about Korea’s division at the DMZ Exhibition Hall.  

From here, the tour then continues to Dora Observatory, which offers uninterrupted views across the Demilitarised Zone. Before you stretches a peaceful landscape of green, rolling hills on both sides of the border, seemingly untouched by the historical and political significance the area holds.  

As you let your gaze wander across North Korea, it can feel both close and distant at the same time. Through the binoculars, you can make out small villages, fields, and buildings, where everyday life appears to carry on as usual. At the same time, the area is marked by symbolism and carefully staged elements that echo the political narrative which is also part of reality here. It is precisely this balance between ordinary life and the official story that creates a paradox, prompting both curiosity and reflection. The experience can be deeply sensory and emotional – for many, it is a moment where the tranquillity of nature and the gravity of history meet in an almost surreal equilibrium.  

Before beginning your journey home, you will also pass through Unification Village, a rural area surrounded by unspoilt countryside, where rice, soya beans, and ginseng are cultivated. Here, once again, you sense the interplay between nature and the weight of history, and it is the perfect place to sample the area’s famous soya bean ice cream.  

Back in Seoul, you can let the day’s many impressions settle with a visit to one of the city’s many family-run restaurants, which in the evening fill with local colleagues and friends gathering after a day’s work.  

Today you’ll have plenty of time to explore central Seoul at your own pace – the city’s historic and cultural heart.

With fresh legs, it’s easy to wander between some of the most atmospheric neighbourhoods, all within comfortable walking distance of one another. Here, you’ll discover a different side of the capital, defined by traditional houses, grand palaces, and narrow alleyways that stand in striking contrast to modern Seoul.

You might begin your day at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul’s largest and most iconic royal palace. The expansive courtyards and symmetrical wooden buildings, adorned with colourful details and set against a backdrop of mountains, create an almost ceremonial sense of calm. As you pass through the gates and stroll along the colonnaded walkways, you can almost feel the echoes of history from when the palace was the centre of the Joseon dynasty. If you’re lucky, you may even witness the changing of the guard, where soldiers dressed in traditional attire perform a historic ceremony that brings the past vividly to life in the present.  

From here, continue to Bukchon Hanok Village, where narrow, winding lanes lead you between traditional hanok houses with curved tiled roofs and wooden façades. The area is still residential, offering a glimpse into a living neighbourhood where past and present exist side by side. Along the way, you’ll come across small viewpoints where you can gaze out over the city’s rooftops and spot the striking contrast between the low, historic buildings and Seoul’s modern skyline in the distance.  

When hunger strikes, make your way to Insadong. Tucked among the area’s shops, you’ll find a wide selection of restaurants serving everything from classic bibimbap dishes to vegetarian temple cuisine inspired by Buddhist traditions. Afterwards, explore the main street and its charming side alleys, renowned for their many craft shops where traditional goods are created and sold with pride. These sit alongside galleries and traditional tea houses, and you’ll discover everything from hand-painted ceramics and calligraphy to handmade paper goods, wooden figurines, and beautiful silk textiles.

You can then make your way to Ikseon-dong, a smaller, more intimate neighbourhood where traditional hanok houses have been transformed into contemporary cafés, design boutiques, and creative eateries. Here, old and new come together in a more playful way than in Bukchon. Behind the traditional façades, you’ll find colourful interiors, speciality coffee, and small shops showcasing local design. The atmosphere is youthful and creative, and the area radiates renewal without losing sight of its historical roots.

If you choose to stay in the area into the evening, you can enjoy a delicious meal in atmospheric surroundings, as old street lamps cast their warm glow across the neighbourhood. The many cosy restaurants and cafés serve both local favourites and fusion dishes that define modern Korean cuisine. If you fancy something sweet to round off the day, treat yourself to a bowl of bingsu, available in a wide variety of tempting flavours.

Now it’s time to bid farewell to Seoul and turn your attention to the next chapter of your tour: Japan’s vibrant cities of Kyoto and Tokyo.

Well in advance of your departure, make your own way by metro to Seoul Station, where the airport train will take you to Incheon International Airport in just under an hour. From here, you’ll travel east towards the Land of the Rising Sun, where new contrasts, flavours, and experiences await.

After arriving at Osaka airport, you’ll pass through immigration and continue to the baggage reclaim area. In the arrivals hall, you’ll be greeted by your driver, who will be waiting with a sign and ready to ensure you get your Japanese adventure off to the best possible start.

From the airport, you’ll travel on to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient imperial capital, located approximately an hour and a half away by road. Along the way, you’ll pass vast industrial ports, cityscapes filled with skyscrapers, and green mountain silhouettes on the horizon. Even here, the contrasts between the ultra-modern and the deeply traditional begin to reveal themselves.

Upon arrival in Kyoto, you’ll check in at your hotel, where you can unpack and settle in, as the rest of the day is at your leisure. Perhaps you’d like to stretch your legs after your flight with a gentle stroll around the neighbourhood, where small shops, lanterns, and local eateries offer your first glimpse of everyday life in Japan. 

If you have the energy, seek out a nearby restaurant and savour your very first Japanese meal, whether you’re tempted by steaming bowls of ramen, crisp tempura, or freshly prepared sushi. Afterwards, return to your hotel and let a sense of calm settle in as you look ahead to the coming days of experiences in one of Japan’s most atmospheric cities.

After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a welcome meeting designed to give you a reassuring and well-prepared start to your tour. Your guide will talk you through the programme for the days ahead, explain any practical details, and answer any questions you may have.

You will then make your way to Nijo Castle, built by the founder of the Edo shogunate. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the castle is renowned for its distinctive architecture, richly decorated sliding doors, and the famous “nightingale floors”, which chirp as you walk across them. The floors were originally designed as a security measure, allowing residents to hear any intruders approaching. 

From the echoes of history, you’ll continue on to Nishiki Market, a narrow shopping street lined with more than 100 small shops and eateries. The market is rightly known as “Kyoto’s kitchen”, brimming with everything from fresh fish and pickled vegetables to sweet treats and local delicacies. It’s a lively spot and a wonderful opportunity to gain insight into the many ingredients and flavours that define Japanese cuisine.

The cultural highlight of the day is undoubtedly taking part in a traditional tea ceremony, offering a unique insight into some of Japan’s oldest traditions. In calm and intimate surroundings, you will first be served a small Japanese sweet before watching the house’s skilled tea master prepare traditional Japanese matcha according to time-honoured customs. You’ll taste the finished tea and be introduced to the ritual’s graceful movements and symbolism, after which, under expert guidance, you can try whisking your own bowl of matcha into a delicate green froth. Steeped in centuries-old tradition, the ceremony provides a profound insight into Japanese aesthetics, mindfulness, and respect for detail.

After the ceremony, you’ll have the afternoon at leisure. The area around the teahouse is more local and peaceful than the city centre, making it the perfect time to find a small restaurant and enjoy lunch among the locals. Here, you’ll gain a glimpse of everyday life, offering a lovely contrast to the more visited neighbourhoods. 

Afterwards, you can hop on a train a few stops south to Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of red torii gates winding their way up the mountainside. Take a walk through these iconic gates and soak up the sacred atmosphere before heading back towards the city centre.

In the evening, take time to absorb Kyoto’s unique atmosphere and settle into one of the city’s many excellent restaurants. You might be tempted by local obanzai dishes, best enjoyed in a cosy restaurant overlooking the illuminated streets, providing a wonderfully atmospheric end to the day.

Kyoto is home to a wealth of temples, shrines, and charming neighbourhoods, and today is yours to explore as you wish, with no planned activities. You can draw inspiration from the suggestions below or take a closer look at one of our carefully selected optional tours.

A wonderful place to begin is at Kiyomizudera Temple in eastern Kyoto, best experienced early in the morning. Watch as one of the city’s most iconic landmarks appears to balance dramatically on its wooden terrace overlooking the city, before continuing through the narrow lanes of the charming Higashiyama district. Here, traditional wooden houses, small shops, and tea houses create an enchanting atmosphere that transports you back to old Japan. Visit Kōdaiji Temple with its elegant Japanese garden, and soak up the peaceful ambience at Yasaka Shrine and nearby Maruyama Park, before ending your walk in Gion, Kyoto’s affluent geisha district.

Afterwards, take the bus north-east to one of Kyoto’s greatest attractions, Ginkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Silver Pavilion. Admire the temple’s understated elegance and poetic charm, then continue along the Philosopher’s Path, an idyllic trail that follows a small canal lined with cherry trees. The path links several smaller temples and leads to one of Kyoto’s most important Zen temples, Nanzen-ji, which is well worth a visit in its own right. From here, you can carry on to Heian Jingū Shrine, with its impressive torii gate and tranquil gardens. 

If you’d like to experience a different side of Kyoto, take public transport west to Arashiyama and visit Tenryu-ji Temple, renowned for its classic garden and sweeping views of the lush green mountains. While you’re here, stroll through Arashiyama’s famous bamboo grove, where towering bamboo stalks create emerald corridors filled with light and tranquillity. Also worth exploring is the charming Saga Toriimoto district, with its beautifully preserved houses and quaint, atmospheric lanes.

Although Kyoto is home to many well-known attractions, it’s equally rewarding to put the guidebook away for a while and simply let your eyes lead you through the city streets. Often, the most memorable moments are found in the quiet side streets, where you’ll discover everything from small, characterful eateries and shops to tiny sacred temples that play an important role in everyday local life.

After nightfall, you’ll have another opportunity to explore Kyoto’s culinary scene. Perhaps a cosy restaurant serving the city’s refined kaiseki cuisine will tempt you, where each course is presented as a small work of art, or maybe a more informal izakaya offering grilled specialities and a cup of sake will be just the thing.

After breakfast, you’ll have a couple of hours at leisure before your tour continues to Tokyo on Japan’s famous high-speed train, the Shinkansen.

If you start your day early, you can fit in visits to two of Kyoto’s most renowned attractions. Using public transport, head north-west to the famous Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. The temple’s golden façade is beautifully reflected in the still surface of the lake, creating one of the city’s most iconic sights. Here, you can follow the carefully designed pathway through the surrounding gardens, framed by the stunning colours of the season.

From here, continue by bus to Kyoto’s former Imperial Palace, surrounded by an impressive park that is well worth exploring in its own right. If you have a smartphone, you can access a free and informative audio guide that shares insights into the palace and the history of the Imperial family as you stroll along the park’s wide gravel paths and admire the meticulously landscaped ponds in the heart of the ancient imperial city.

Before your train journey in the afternoon, you may wish to find somewhere for lunch – or do as many Japanese travellers do and pick up a bento box to take with you. These small, beautifully arranged dishes are an experience in themselves and a perfect way to enjoy one last taste of Kyoto.

Afterwards, you’ll make your own way to Kyoto Station, where the Shinkansen will whisk you towards Tokyo with impressive speed and precision. Sit back, relax in comfort, and watch the scenery slip by as a new chapter of your tour begins in Japan’s vibrant capital.

Upon arrival at Tokyo Station, you’ll step into one of the world’s busiest transport hubs. From here, you will need to make your own way to your hotel by metro or local train. Although it may seem overwhelming at first, the system is efficient and exceptionally well organised. In many ways, the experience reflects everything Japan does so well – and nowhere more impressively than in Tokyo, with its remarkable scale and precision.

After checking in at your hotel, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the city’s modern urban life and taste your way through everything from local specialities to innovative cuisine in the neon-lit streets. The capital is renowned for its Edomae sushi, but also for crisp tempura, steaming bowls of ramen, and delicate yakitori skewers served in traditional local izakayas.

Tokyo, one of the largest cities in the world, is wonderfully diverse and full of contrasts, and there’s no single right answer to what you should see and do. The coming days are therefore yours to enjoy at your leisure, giving you the freedom to explore the Japanese capital exactly as you wish. You might like to draw inspiration from the suggestions below and spread them across your days, or enhance your experience with one of our exciting optional tours.

You could begin in the lively Asakusa district, home to Tokyo’s oldest and most famous temple, Senso-ji. On your way to the temple, stroll along Nakamise-dori, where the scent of freshly cooked snacks mingles with stalls brimming with lucky charms, fans, and local delicacies. Just a few streets away, a very different calm awaits on Kappabashi Street, where small shops selling Japanese porcelain stand side by side with specialist kitchen knife stores. Look up and you’ll see Tokyo Skytree rising towards the sky as a modern landmark. You can admire the tower from below or, with a valid ticket, head up to the top and take in the breathtaking views across the vast metropolis.

If you’d like to combine several of Tokyo’s iconic districts, many of them are conveniently located along the same train line. From Yoyogi Park, where locals jog and unwind beneath the shade of towering treetops, you can make your way to the peaceful Meiji Shrine, hidden within a dense forest where gravel paths and the scent of cedar offer a welcome escape from the city’s fast pace. Continue on to Shibuya to greet the Hachiko statue and cross the world-famous Shibuya Crossing, which after dark becomes a mesmerising sea of people – best admired from a bar high above the city streets.

You can enjoy lunch at Tsukiji Market, where small stalls serve freshly prepared sushi, grilled seafood, and Japanese specialities cooked right before your eyes. From here, head on to Akihabara, where neon signs flash in every direction and shops brim with gadgets, manga, and figurines. For a striking contrast, continue to Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, where moats, tree-lined avenues, and immaculately kept gardens offer an elegant glimpse into Japan’s imperial history. Round off the day in Shinjuku, where you can experience Tokyo’s soaring skyscrapers, neon lights, and lively streets. Take the lift up the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to admire sweeping views across the glittering cityscape – or catch the daily light show projected onto its iconic façade.

In contrast to the pace of the big city, you might also spend a day exploring beyond Tokyo. In Nikko, lavishly decorated temples and shrines await, set against a backdrop of forested mountains – including the impressive Toshogu Shrine, which is listed on the UNESCO world heritage list. Alternatively, visit Hakone National Park, where hot springs, a cruise on Lake Ashi, and, on clear days, iconic views of Mt. Fuji make for an unforgettable day out.

Whatever the day has brought, the evening is the perfect opportunity to dive into Tokyo’s diverse culinary scene. Take your pick from an intimate sushi bar with just a handful of seats, a lively ramen shop with a queue at the door, or a restaurant high above street level – and let dinner become another highlight of your day.

Your tour is drawing to a close, but you’ll return home with a suitcase full of experiences, lasting impressions, and unforgettable encounters from South Korea’s charming capital, Seoul, and Japan’s captivating cities of Kyoto and Tokyo.

From here, you’ll begin your journey back to Europe with one or more connecting flight(s) along the way.

You’ll land at your selected airport and can look back on a tour filled with atmospheric neighbourhoods and encounters with the many facets of South Korea and Japan – and, hopefully, with a little longing planted to return one day.