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Tour Detail
Platinum East Asia’s Sun and Flower “Japan and South Korea” (HND-ICN) with THY
Tokyo (3 nights) – Mount Fuji – Hakone – Osaka (3 nights) – Kyoto – Kobe – Nara – Seoul (3 nights)
9 nights 11 days | All tours and entrance fees included
Day 1 | Istanbul
Meeting at 23:30 in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport’s international departures terminal. Overnight on the plane.
Day 2 | Istanbul – Tokyo
After ticketing, baggage, and passport procedures, departure to Tokyo at 02:30 on Turkish Airlines flight TK0198. Arrival at Tokyo Haneda Airport at 19:45 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, transfer to our hotel from the airport by our vehicle. We complete check-in and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our 3* Villa Fontaine Tokyo Kayabacho (or similar) hotel in Tokyo.
Day 3 | Tokyo | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we begin our Tokyo tour. Our first stop will be the Asakusa Temple, also known as Senso-Ji Temple, considered one of Tokyo’s oldest and most colorful temples and a Buddhist temple. The temple, also called Santa-jama (Temple of the Three Gods), is of great interest to both tourists and locals. It is one of the rare temples in Tokyo that survived the bombings in the final year of World War II, which is why its original structure has not been altered. Built in 1649, the temple was allegedly constructed to honor three brothers who were deified for finding the statue of the goddess Kannon in a river. We will also see the shopping street called Nakamise in the area. After free time for lunch, we will visit Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. After that, we will tour Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s busiest districts. One of the city’s most important places for young people, Shibuya stands out with its modern structure, cafes, and world-famous stores. Return to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our 3* Villa Fontaine Tokyo Kayabacho (or similar) hotel in Tokyo.
Day 4 | Tokyo – Mount Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Mount Fuji and Hakone tour. We will start our tour with Mount Fuji, located 2.5 hours away. In 2013, Mount Fuji was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and is recognized as Japan’s highest mountain and the country’s sacred symbol. Although Mount Fuji is generally thought of as a single mountain, it actually consists of three separate volcanoes. Located on Honshu Island and lying on the border between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, Mount Fuji is only 100 kilometers from Tokyo and can even be seen from tall buildings in Tokyo on a clear day. After the breathtaking view of Mount Fuji, we will head to the town of Hakone. We begin our Hakone tour with the volcanic formation Owakudani Valley. Owakudani is the valley around a crater formed about 3,000 years ago during the last eruption of Mount Hakone. Today, much of the area is an active volcanic region with sulfurous fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers. We will ascend from Togendai by cable car and enjoy the magnificent view of this beautiful valley. After free time for lunch, we will head to Ashi Lake. After a pleasant boat ride on the lake aboard a wooden pirate ship lasting about 30 minutes, we will return to Tokyo and our hotel by vehicle. Overnight at our 3* Villa Fontaine Tokyo Kayabacho (or similar) hotel in Tokyo.
Note: This morning, when leaving the hotel for the tour, we must leave a small overnight bag in our room. The large suitcases we leave at the hotel will be transferred to our hotel in Osaka before us and will arrive the next day.
Day 5 | Tokyo – Osaka | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we complete check-out and continue our Tokyo tour. Our first stop will be the Tokyo Imperial Palace, which includes many buildings such as the Main Palace, private residences of the Imperial family, archives, a museum, and administrative offices. The Tokyo Imperial Palace was built on the site of an old castle where the Shogun resided in the 15th century. In the 19th century, when Emperor Meiji moved the royal household from Kyoto to Tokyo, this place also became the property of the royal family. Since most of the buildings were destroyed in World War II, the oldest remaining items in the palace today are only 50 years old. Then we continue our tour with a visit to Akihabara, one of Tokyo’s most famous neighborhoods worldwide. Akihabara is an extremely crowded shopping district famous for its electronics stores of various kinds, from small street stalls to huge shopping centers. After our tour in Akihabara, also known as the city of electronics, we give free time for lunch. After free time, we continue our tour with the Ginza district, one of the city’s most popular shopping areas filled with luxury boutiques as well as first-class cocktail and sushi bars. At the end of our tour, transfer to Tokyo Shinagawa train station. With the world’s first high-speed train, Shinkansen, we arrive at Shin-Osaka train station after a journey of about 3 hours. From there, transfer to our hotel by vehicle. We complete check-in and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our Osaka 4* Hotel Plaza Osaka (or similar) hotel.
Day 6 | Osaka – Kyoto – Osaka | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Kyoto tour. After about a 1-hour journey, our first stop will be the Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. Covered in gold leaf, this three-story pavilion is one of the most famous and renowned historical structures in Kyoto and has been internationally recognized as a perfect example of the art of Kitayama garden design. Thanks to these features, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994 as an important cultural asset of the old capital Kyoto. We will continue our tour with the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a Buddhist temple also known as the Pure Water Monastery. The temple offers beautiful views of the distant city of Kyoto, as well as numerous cherry trees and maples that burst into a colorful sea in spring and autumn. The main hall, built without the use of nails along with the stage, houses the temple’s main object of worship, a small statue of the eleven-faced, thousand-armed Kannon. After free time for lunch, we will explore the streets of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, which lead up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Sannenzaka is a stone-paved pedestrian path and a tourist attraction. Surrounded by traditional buildings and shops, the path is often used together with a similar route, Ninenzaka. Sannenzaka is a narrow sloping road lined with about 60 shops and restaurants selling Kyoto’s traditional products and foods. There are also important shops where visitors can closely experience Japanese culture, including Ochaya (tea houses) where tea ceremonies are held, Geiko (the name given to geishas in Kyoto), and Maiko (Geiko apprentices) makeup. In the final part of the tour, we will visit Gion, Kyoto’s famous geisha district. At the end of the tour, return to Osaka and our hotel. Overnight at our Osaka 4* Hotel Plaza Osaka (or similar) hotel.
Day 7 | Osaka – Kobe – Nara – Osaka | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Kobe tour and Nara tour. Our first stop in Kobe will be the Kiku-Masamune Sake Museum (subject to being open). At Kiku-Masamune, which has adhered to the tradition of producing only dry sake since the Edo Period, we will both see the stages of sake production and taste it. Almost all of the equipment in the museum is classified as “national tangible folk cultural property,” allowing visitors to learn more about the lives and work of sake producers. Then we continue our tour with the Kobe Nunobiki Botanical Garden, Japan’s largest botanical garden with seasonal flowers and magnificent mountain views. After the park, we will go to the Kobe Harborland Umie shopping center, where we will give free time for lunch. After lunch, we depart for Nara. We begin our Nara tour with a visit to Nara Park. Nara Park is a public park located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa. Established in 1880, it is one of the oldest parks in Japan. More than 1,200 wild Sika deer roam freely in the park. Because of these deer, it is also known as Deer Park. After the park, we continue with Todai-ji Temple. Todaiji is not only the world’s largest wooden structure, but also houses the world’s largest Buddha statue, called Daibutsu in Japanese. At the end of our tour, return to Osaka and our hotel. Overnight at our Osaka 4* Hotel Plaza Osaka (or similar) hotel.
Day 8 | Osaka – Seoul | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we complete check-out and continue our Osaka tour . Our first stop will be Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century and having played an important role in the unification of the Japanese nation. The castle is located within a park covering an area of about two square kilometers in total, containing plenty of green space, sports facilities, a multipurpose arena (Osakajo Hall), and a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The park often becomes one of Osaka’s most popular spots during the cherry blossom season, which usually occurs in early April. After free time for lunch, we will see Dotonbori, which has become Osaka’s entertainment center. At the end of visits to Dotonbori and the city’s main shopping district Shinsaibashi, transfer to Osaka Kansai Airport. After ticketing, baggage, and passport procedures, departure to Seoul at 18:10 on Korean Air flight KE726. Arrival at Seoul Incheon Airport at 20:25 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, transfer to our hotel by vehicle. We complete check-in and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our Seoul 4* Hotel Samjung Gangnam (or similar) hotel.
Day 9 | Seoul | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Seoul tour. Our first stop will be Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built in 1395, the palace is considered not only the largest of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty, but also the most beautiful and magnificent. Inside the palace, we will also have the opportunity to see the National Folk Museum. Our next stop will be Namsangol Hanok Village. As a residential area of expanding Seoul, this village is famous for many restored traditional Korean houses called Hanok. After our visit here, we continue our tour with Myeong-dong, Korea’s most famous shopping and fashion district. After seeing this street full of shops and restaurants, our next stop will be the Insa-dong district. The center of lively Insa-dong is the main street closed to vehicle traffic. The street is filled with tea houses and Korean restaurants, as well as shops selling traditional products such as pottery, tea, and handmade “hanji” paper. The unusual Ssamziegil Complex features cafes and stairs leading to the rooftop terrace, with its walls decorated with paintings. At Hakgojae Gallery, modern art works are exhibited. At the end of our tour, return to our hotel. Overnight at our Seoul 4* Hotel Samjung Gangnam (or similar) hotel.
Day 10 | Seoul | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart to carry out the DMZ (Korean Border Region) tour. On this tour, where we will visit the military zone established on the border of North and South Korea, we will learn about Korean history and culture. After the military zone, Imjingak Park will be our second stop. After the Freedom Bridge, used by North Korean prisoners of war who were returned to their country and located within the park, we will visit the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, discovered in 1978, dug by North Korea 73 meters below the border. Upon exiting the tunnel, we will move toward the slope of Dora Mountain and visit the Dorasan Observatory built there. From the observatory, we will be able to see North Korean territory and the border line. At the end of our visit, return to Seoul. Following our return, our first stop will be the N Seoul Tower, a communications tower and observatory. After reaching the tower by cable car, we will be able to view the city from Seoul’s highest point. Our next stop will be Bongeunsa Temple, which has a history of 1,200 years. Considered the cornerstone of Korean Buddhism, Bongeunsa is among the attractions drawing tourists to the area with Maitreya, one of Seoul’s largest statues, and its library housing 3,479 sacred Buddhist books. After that, we will see the Starfield Library and the Gangnam Style Statue located within the same complex. At the end of our tour, return to our hotel. Overnight at our Seoul 4* Hotel Samjung Gangnam (or similar) hotel.
Note: Since the Korean Border Region is a military area, there is a possibility that it may be closed on the tour day without prior notice. In that case, an alternative program will be arranged instead.
Day 11 | Seoul | [B]
After breakfast at our hotel, we complete check-out and have free time until transfer time. Transfer to Seoul Incheon Airport at the time announced by our guide. Overnight on the plane.
Day 12 | Seoul – Istanbul
After ticketing, baggage, and passport procedures, departure to Istanbul at 00:10 on Turkish Airlines flight TK0091. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 05:55 local time and the end of the tour. We say goodbye, hoping to meet again on your next distinguished and enjoyable trip.
Explanation of abbreviations: [B] = Breakfast, [L] = Lunch, [D] = Dinner
