Highlights of South Korea & Japan

(15 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Seoul, Busan & Gyeongju, Kyoto & environs, Hakone, Tokyo

This private tour is the perfect overview of some of South Korea and Japan’s most popular destinations. It includes the best of both countries’ culture, cuisine, cities, history, landscapes and more.

Begin in Seoul, the fascinating capital of South Korea. During flexible private touring, visit highlights such as the Changdeokgung Palace complex—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and its "secret garden." Learn about traditional Korean lifestyles while walking through Ikseondong and Bukchon, neighborhoods filled with hanok (traditional Korean houses). Stop for a cup of tea in a traditional teahouse in the Insadong neighborhood, and browse the best local shops for Korean antiques, textiles, ceramics, clothing and more. Visit Gwangjang Market, Namdaemun Market or one of the other vast markets dedicated to food, clothing, antiques, herbal medicine and more.

Discover the treasures of Seoul's best museums, such as the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Korea Furniture Museum, the War Memorial of Korea or National Museum of Korea. Other options include visiting the Zaha Hadid-designed Dongdaemun Design Plaza, walking along scenic Cheonggyecheon Stream, touring Gyeongbokgung Palace and additional royal palaces, visiting the National Folk Museum of Korea, learning about Confucian traditions at Jongmyo Shrine, eating fresh sashimi at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market, walking through trendy neighborhoods such as Myeongdong to see the latest fashions and pop culture (including K-Pop), visiting high-end fashion boutiques and restaurants in Gangnam, going to the top of N Tower, hiking in the mountains surrounding Seoul, stopping by top art galleries and visiting the vibrant Hongdae university district.

If desired, take a fascinating excursion to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom.

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can further customize this tour to include special interest activities such as a private Korean cooking class to learn to prepare kimchi or other typical Korean dishes, a private soju and makgeolli (rice wine) tasting, a strawberry picking activity or lessons in taekwondo. We can also arrange excursions to ceramics villages, folk villages, other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, amusement parks and hallyu sites.

Next, travel by high-speed train to Gyeongju, which was the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom for nearly a thousand years. During private touring, visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other highlights such as the Daereungwon tumuli complex of royal tombs; Bulguksa, a Buddhist temple dating from the eighth century; Wolji Pond; Seokguram Seokgul, a stone grotto temple; Cheomseongdae observatory; and Gyeongju National Museum, which exhibits gold crowns and other masterpieces of the Silla period. Other touring options around Gyeongju include Golgulsa Temple and the traditional village of Yangdong. 

Continue to Busan, a bustling port town that’s South Korea's second largest city. During private touring, visit highlights of Busan, such as Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest fish market in Korea; Huinnyeoul Culture Village, a charming coastal village; and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, an important Buddhist temple on the waterfront. Other options include riding the Busan Air Cruise for scenic views over beaches and the sea and shopping at Shinsegae or Lotte Department Store Centum City, among the world’s largest department stores.

Next, fly to enchanting Kyoto, the heart of Japanese culture and tradition. Enjoy flexible private touring of the best of this elegant city with your private guide and driver. Visit the city’s most important historic attractions and temples and shrines such as Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), Ryoanji and its famous Zen rock garden, Kiyomizudera Temple, Nijo Castle, Ginkakuji, Saihoji (Moss Temple) and Fushimi Inari, famous for its tunnel of red torii gates.

One day, continue Kyoto touring or enjoy a private excursion in the region. Options include the I.M. Pei-designed Miho Museum; ancient Nara, the eighth-century capital of Japan; Hiroshima for an educational and moving visit to the Peace Park and Museum and nearby Miyajima Island with its iconic torii (Shinto gate) that seems to float on the water; Osaka for food and pop culture touring; Uji to visit tea plantations and Byodoin Temple; and Himeji Castle, the most impressive medieval castle in Japan.

Upon request, other activities that can be arranged around Kyoto include an exclusive private dinner with geisha entertainment, private Zen meditation in a local Buddhist temple, meetings with local craftspeople, private ikebana (flower arranging) lessons, visiting a master swordsmith, meetings with ceramics experts, tea tastings, visits to sake breweries and tofu factories, manga drawing lessons, a visit to a private machiya(traditional merchant house), hiking to temples in the hills, attending local festivals, private Japanese cooking classes, and visiting the best places around Kyoto to view cherry blossoms and fall foliage.

Continue to Hakone, a volcanic national park renowned for hot springs and views of nearby Mount Fuji. Stay at one of Japan’s most luxurious and renowned ryokan (traditional inns), where you can soak in outdooronsen (hot spring bath) and enjoy a gourmet kaiseki ryori (seasonal tasting menu) dinner. During private touring, explore Hakone’s geothermal areas and historical sites. Perhaps also visit one of Hakone’s best art museums or a studio dedicated to yosegi (inlaid wood), a local craft. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can incorporate hiking, a drive up the base of Mount Fuji or a boat ride on Lake Ashi.

Conclude in Tokyo, the capital of contemporary culture and style in Japan. Stay at one of the city’s best luxury hotels, and enjoy comprehensive city touring with your private guide and driver. Visit Tokyo’s most interesting neighborhoods, such as Ginza, Asakusa, Shibuya, Harajuku, Aoyama, Shinjuku and Roppongi. See striking contemporary architecture, and tour important historical sites such as Meiji Jingu Shrine and Sensoji Temple. Experience the best of Japanese pop culture during visits to trendy districts, specialty shops, quirky cafes and popular sites such as Yoyogi Park. Also visit Tokyo’s best museums and art sites, such as the Mori Art Museum, a teamLab Borderless installation, Edo-Tokyo Museum or the Tokyo National Museum according to your interests. Experience Tokyo’s exciting culinary scene during visits to the Tsukiji Outer Market or Toyosu Market, the Kappabashi kitchenware district, and our favorite specialty food shops and department store food halls. Artisans of Leisure can also assist with reservations at the best restaurants in Tokyo, which range from local noodle shops, sushi bars and izakaya (pubs) to some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world.

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange additional experiences in Tokyo, such as watching sumo wrestlers practice at a sumo stable, a private sushi-making lesson, specialized shopping, meetings with culinary and sake experts, private martial arts lessons, seeing a Japanese baseball game, attending a kabuki performance and visiting the Ghibli Museum. We can also arrange touring to include Japanese seasonal events such as ohanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties in the spring, fireworks festivals in the summer and viewing koyo (fall foliage) in the autumn.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Arrive Seoul, South Korea Private arrival transfer to luxury hotel for 4 nights Day 2 Seoul Full-day private tour Day 3 Seoul & vicinity Full-day private city tour or excursion to DMZ and JSA Day 4 Seoul Full-day private tour Day 5 Seoul – Gyeongju – Busan Private transfer to train station. First-class KTX express train to Gyeongju. Full-day private tour before private transfer to Busan luxury hotel for 2 nights Day 6 Busan Full-day private tour Day 7 Busan – Osaka, Japan – Kyoto Private transfer to airport (flight to Japan not included). Private arrival transfer to hotel for 4 nights. Afternoon private tour Day 8 Kyoto Full-day private city tour, including private tea ceremony and vegetarian lunch at a temple Day 9 Kyoto Full-day private city tour with option for cultural activity Day 10 Kyoto & environs Full-day private excursion Day 11 Kyoto – Hakone Private transfer to station for first-class shinkansen (bullet train) to Hakone. Full-day private tour on arrival. Private transfer to luxury hot springs ryokan for 1 night, including kaiseki ryori dinner Day 12 Hakone – Tokyo Morning private tour. Private transfer to station for first-class shinkansen to Tokyo. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights Day 13 Tokyo Full-day private tour Day 14 Tokyo Half-day private tour Day 15 Depart Tokyo Private airport transfer

Hotels

Seoul: Four Seasons Hotel Seoul Busan: Park Hyatt Busan Kyoto: The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto or Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto Hakone: Gora Kadan Tokyo: Aman Tokyo, The Peninsula Tokyo or Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi

Cost

Upon request