Platinum East Asia’s Flower and Sun “South Korea and Japan” with THY for 9 nights (ICN-HND) Seoul (3) – Osaka (3) – Nara – Kyoto – Tokyo (3) – Hakone | All tours and entrance fees included

Platinum East Asia's Flower and Sun "South Korea and Japan" (ICN-HND) with THY

Seoul (3 nights) – Osaka (3 nights) – Kyoto – Nara – Tokyo (3 nights) – Mt. Fuji – Hakone

11 days 9 nights | All tours and entrance fees included

Day 1 | Istanbul

Meeting at the Turkish Airlines counter in front of the Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal at 22:50. Overnight on the plane.

Day 2 | Istanbul – Seoul

After completing our ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we fly to Seoul at 01:50 on Turkish Airlines flight TK0090. We arrive at Seoul Incheon Airport at 17:40 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, we transfer to our hotel by vehicle. We complete check-in and settle into our rooms. Overnight at the 4* Hotel Samjung Gangnam (or similar) in Seoul.

Day 3 | Seoul| [K]

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Seoul tour. Our first stop is Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built in 1395, it is not only the largest of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty but also considered the most beautiful and magnificent. Inside the palace grounds, we will also have the opportunity to visit the National Folk Museum. Our next stop will be Namsangol Hanok Village. This village, a residential area of modernizing Seoul, is famous for many restored traditional Korean houses known as Hanok. After our visit here, we continue our tour to Myeong-dong, one of Korea's most famous shopping and fashion districts. After seeing this street filled with numerous shops and restaurants, our next stop will be the Insa-dong district. The central point of bustling Insa-dong is its main pedestrian-only street. The street is lined with tea houses, Korean restaurants, and shops selling traditional products such as pottery, tea, and handmade "hanji" paper. The unusual Ssamziegil Complex features cafes and staircases leading to a rooftop terrace decorated with murals. At Hakgojae Gallery, modern art works are exhibited. After the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight at the 4* Hotel Samjung Gangnam (or similar) in Seoul.

Day 4 | Seoul| [K]

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart to undertake the DMZ (Korean Demilitarized Zone) tour. On this tour, we will visit the military zone established on the border between North and South Korea and gain knowledge about Korean history and culture. Following the military zone, Imjingak Park will be our second stop. Inside the park, after passing the Freedom Bridge used by North Korean war prisoners who were repatriated, we will tour the Third Infiltration Tunnel, discovered in 1978 and dug 73 meters below the border by North Korea. Upon exiting the tunnel, we will head towards the slope of Dorasan Mountain and visit the Dorasan Observatory built there. From the observatory, we will be able to see North Korean territory and the border line. After the end of our tour, we return to Seoul. Following our return, our first stop will be the N Seoul Tower, which is a communication tower and observatory. After reaching the tower via cable car, we will enjoy a view of the city from its highest point. Our next stop will be the Bongeunsa Temple, which has a history of 1200 years. Bongeunsa is among the structures that attract tourists to the region; it is considered the cornerstone of Korean Buddhism, houses one of the largest statues in Seoul, Maitreya, and a library containing 3,479 sacred Buddhist books. After this, we will see the Starfield Library and the Gangnam Style Statue located within the same complex. After the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight at the 4* Hotel Samjung Gangnam (or similar) in Seoul.

Note: Due to the DMZ being a military zone, there is a possibility that it may be closed on the day of the tour without prior notice. In this case, an alternative program will be arranged.

Day 5 | Seoul – Osaka| [K]

After breakfast at our hotel, we complete check-out procedures and transfer to Seoul Incheon Airport. After completing our ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we fly to Osaka at 14:05 on Asiana Airlines flight OZ114. We arrive at Osaka Kansai Airport at 15:50 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, we transfer from the airport to our hotel by vehicle. We complete check-in and settle into our rooms. Overnight at the 4* Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai (or similar) in Osaka.

Day 6 | Osaka – Kyoto – Osaka| [K]

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Kyoto tour. Arriving in Kyoto after approximately a 1-hour journey, our first stop will be Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. This three-story pavilion covered in gold leaf is one of the most famous and recognized historical structures in Kyoto and is internationally acclaimed as a perfect example of Kitayama garden landscaping art. Thanks to these features, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994 as an important cultural asset of the former capital, Kyoto. We will continue our tour with Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a Buddhist temple also known as the Pure Water Monastery. The temple offers colorful seas of blooming cherry blossoms and maple trees in spring and autumn, as well as beautiful views of the distant Kyoto city. The main hall, built without nails along with the stage, houses the temple's main object of worship, a small statue of the thousand-armed, eleven-faced Kannon. After free time provided for lunch, we will walk through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets leading up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Sannenzaka is a stone-paved pedestrian path and a tourist attraction. The road, surrounded by traditional buildings and shops, is generally used together with a similar road called Ninenzaka. Sannenzaka is a narrow, sloping street filled with approximately 60 shops and restaurants selling Kyoto's traditional products and foods. It also includes important shops where visitors can closely experience Japanese culture, including Ochaya (tea houses) where tea ceremonies are held, and shops selling makeup for Geiko (the name given to Geishas in Kyoto) and Maiko (Geiko apprentices). In the final part of our tour, we will visit Gion, Kyoto's famous geisha district. After the tour, we return to Osaka and our hotel. Overnight at the 4* Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai (or similar) in Osaka.

Day 7 | Osaka – Nara – Osaka| [K]

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Nara tour. 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 Japan's oldest parks. Over 1,200 wild Sika deer roam freely in the park. Because of these deer, the park is also known as Nara Deer Park. After the park, we will continue with Todai-ji Temple. Todaiji, besides being the world's largest wooden structure, also houses the world's largest Buddha statue, known as Daibutsu in Japanese. After free time provided for lunch, we will move to our next stop in Nara, Kasuga-taisha Shrine. The shrine was established in 768 and has been rebuilt several times over the centuries. Its interior is famous for many bronze lanterns as well as numerous stone lanterns. After this, we will go to Naramachi, Nara's old traditional district. Machiya, old wooden Japanese houses lined along the narrow streets, now serve as museums, souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes. After the tour, we return to Osaka and our hotel. Overnight at the 4* Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai (or similar) in Osaka.

Note: For this morning tour, we must leave a small overnight bag in our room when departing from the hotel. Large suitcases left at the hotel will be transferred to our hotel in Tokyo before us and will reach us the following day.

Day 8 | Osaka – Tokyo| [K]

After breakfast at our hotel, we complete check-out procedures and begin the Osaka tour. Our first stop will be Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century and playing an important role in the unification of the Japanese nation. The castle is located within a park covering an area of approximately two square kilometers, featuring abundant green spaces, sports facilities, a multi-purpose arena (Osakajo Hall), and a mausoleum dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The park becomes one of Osaka's most popular spots during the cherry blossom season, usually occurring in early April. Then we will see Dotonbori, which has become Osaka's entertainment center. After visiting Dotonbori and the city's main shopping district, Shinsaibashi, we will have free time for lunch. After free time, we transfer to Shin-Osaka train station. We arrive at Tokyo Shinagawa train station via the Shinkansen, the world's first high-speed train, on a journey of approximately 3 hours. From there, we transfer to our hotel by vehicle. We complete check-in and settle into our rooms. Overnight at the 4* Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel (or similar) in Tokyo.

Day 9 | Tokyo| [K]

After breakfast at our hotel, we begin the Tokyo tour. Our first stop will be Asakusa Temple, also known as Senso-Ji Temple, considered one of Tokyo's oldest and most colorful temples and a Buddhist temple. Also called Santa-jama (Temple of the Three Gods), it attracts significant interest from both tourists and locals. It is one of the rare temples that survived the bombing attacks in the final year of World War II, so the original structure of the building remains intact. Built in 1649, according to legend, the temple was constructed to honor three brothers who deified themselves after finding a statue of the goddess Kannon in a river. Additionally, we will see the shopping street called Nakamise in the area. After free time provided for lunch, we will visit Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. After this, we will tour the Shibuya district, one of Tokyo's busiest areas. Shibuya, one of the most important places in the city for young people, stands out with its developed infrastructure, cafes, and world-famous shops. After the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight at the 4* Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel (or similar) in Tokyo.

Day 10 | Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo| [K]

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Mt. Fuji and Hakone tour. We will start our tour with Mt. Fuji, located 2.5 hours away. Mt. Fuji, which earned the right to be on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2013, is the highest mountain in Japan and is considered the country's sacred symbol. Although generally thought of as a single mountain, Mt. Fuji actually consists of three separate volcanoes. Located on Honshu island and positioned as a border between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, Mt. Fuji is only 100 kilometers from Tokyo and can be seen even from tall buildings in Tokyo on cloudless days. Using the Fifth Station (usage of the Fifth Station may vary depending on weather conditions or may be completely cancelled), after enjoying the breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji, we will set off towards Hakone town. We begin our Hakone tour with Owakudani Valley, a volcanic formation. Owakudani is a valley located around a crater formed during the last eruption of Hakone Mountain approximately 3000 years ago. Today, a large part of the region is an active volcanic area with sulfur fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers. We will take a cable car from Togendai to go up and enjoy the view of this magnificent valley. After free time provided for lunch, we will move to Ashi Lake. After a pleasant boat cruise lasting approximately 30 minutes on a wooden pirate ship on the lake, we will return to Tokyo and our hotel by vehicle. Overnight at the 4* Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel (or similar) in Tokyo.

Day 11 | Tokyo – Istanbul| [K]

After breakfast at our hotel, we complete check-out procedures and continue the Tokyo tour. The first place we will see on our tour will be the Tokyo Imperial Palace, which includes many buildings such as the Main Palace, private residences of the Imperial family, archives, museums, 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 house from Kyoto to Tokyo, this became the property of the imperial family. Since most of the buildings were destroyed during World War II, the oldest items remaining in the palace today are only 50 years old. Then we will 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 various types of electronic stores ranging from small stalls to very large shopping malls. After our tour in Akihabara, also known as the Electronics City, we have 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 the tour, we transfer to Tokyo Haneda Airport. After completing our ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we fly to Istanbul at 21:45 on Turkish Airlines flight TK0199. Overnight on the plane.

Day 12 | Tokyo – Istanbul