Featuring the incredible Mount Fuji
Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for Tokyo
We arrive in Tokyo and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure until our Welcome Dinner this evening.
Our touring of Japan’s capital begins at Asakusa Kannon Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple. We will then enjoy a cooking class to learn how to make sashimi. Following a lunch of our creations, we’ll head over to the Imperial Palace East Gardens. Our final stop will be Shibuya, home to the famous 5 way “scramble crossing.”
A day at leisure to explore this fascinating city at your own pace.
A very scenic day as we will skirt the Japanese Alps with constant panoramic views of Mount Fuji. We enjoy a cruise on Lake Ashi, then take the Hakone Ropeway to climb Mount Komagatake for views of the lake and surrounding countryside.
We take an express Bullet Train to the cultural capital, Kyoto - a treasure trove of art, architecture and landscaping. Our tour will include the Golden Pavilion Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the former residence of the Imperial family, Nijo Castle and Heian Jingu Shrine - built in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary as the capital.
We journey by coach to Nara, where we’ll visit the renowned Todaiji Temple, one of the world’s largest wooden structures and home to Japan’s largest Buddha statue. Surrounding the temple is the scenic Deer Park, aptly named for the over 1,000 friendly deer that freely roam its grounds and streets. Our visit also includes the revered Kasuga Taisha Shrine, celebrated for its enchanting display of hundreds of bronze and stone lanterns.
This morning we take the bullet train to Hiroshima. Upon arrival, our tour includes visits to the Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum, which cover’s the history of Hiroshima and the advent of the nuclear bomb.
This morning, we depart for Miyajima Island, where we will see the Itsukushima Shrine —A UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its famous “Floating Torii Gate. Next we will drive to Iwakuni to visit Kintai Bridge, a historic wooden arch bridge, and the impressive Iwakuni Castle, originally built in 1608 and rebuilt in 1962 conforming exactly to the original construction.
This morning, we’ll take a bullet train to Fukuoka, a lively city on Kyushu’s northern coast known for its cuisine, shopping, shrines, and Hakata Bay. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Fukuoka Tower, Japan’s tallest seaside tower, offering stunning panoramic views of the city and coastline.
We take a flight to the port city of Busan, home to some of Korea’s most beautiful beaches. You will have the rest of the day at leisure to explore this beautiful seaside town.
Our full day tour of Busan includes visits to the Beomeosa Temple, Gamcheon Cultural village, BIFF street and the UN Memorial Cemetery. We will also take a cable car ride to Songdo.
We travel to Gyeongju, ancient capital of the Silla dynasty and recognized as one of the ten most historic cities in the world. Our touring of Gyeongju includes visits to two World Heritage temples, the Seokguram Grotto – home of the 8th century serene stone Buddha, and Bulguksa, built during the glorious period of the Silla kingdom. Later we visit the Gyeongju Museum with its thousands of priceless treasures. Other visits include Cheomseongdae – the world’s oldest astronomical observatory, and Tumuli Park with its rare exhibits of ancient tombs.
This morning we visit Yangdong Maeul, a traditional village from the 15th century and UNESCO World Heritage site. We will see the tile and thatched-roofed homes built throughout the dense forest, many of which have been preserved for more than 200 years, along with ancient folk customs. We then take a bullet train for Seoul, the capital and largest city in South Korea.
Our city tour of Seoul includes visits to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folklore Museum, Jogyesa Temple and Insa-dong, known as the centre of traditional Korean art and antiques. Afternoon at leisure.
Our touring of Seoul continues today with a visit to the Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional village preserved to show a 600-year-old urban environment. We will also visit\ Namdaemun Market, Gwangjang Market, the National Museum of Korea, and the Seoul Tower, South Korea’s first radio tower, offering awe-inspiring cityscape views. This evening is our Farewell Dinner.
Morning at leisure. This afternoon we transfer to the airport for our flight home.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
