During the Cherry Blossom Season!
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. Welcome Dinner this evening.
Our touring of Japan’s capital begins at the Imperial Palace Eastern Garden. We will then enjoy a cooking class to learn how to make sushi. Following a lunch of our creations, we’ll visit the Asakusa Kannon Temple ang go up Tokyo Skytree to have an awe-inspiring view of the city.
This morning we visit the Meiji Shrine which is surrounded by a lush green forest in the heart of Tokyo. From there, we experience the world's busiest intersection, Shibuya Crossing. We then visit the buzzing district of Harajuku. Afternoon at leisure.
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.
This morning, we visit the historic heart of Kyoto, the old town. We then travel to the unique Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and the Togetsukyo Bridge, a landmark in the Arashiyama District. We then continue by train to Hiroshima.
Our full-day tour includes visits to the Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Itsukushima Shrine— a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the deer-filled island of Miyajima.
We 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. We then continue to Fukuoka.
This morning we visit Fukuoka Tower, the tallest seaside tower in Japan and the Hakata Machiya Furusatokan, a folk museum with exhibits on local history, handicrafts, weaving and religious festivals. The rest of the day is at leisure.
We take a jet ferry to the port city of Busan, home to some of Korea’s most beautiful beaches. Upon arrival, we visit Haeundae Beach for some free time before checking into the hotel.
Our full-day tour of Busan includes visits to the Beomeosa Temple, Haeundae Beach and the UN Memorial Cemetery. We also visit the famous international market, Gukje Sijang.
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 Temple. 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 depart for Seoul, the capital and largest city in South Korea.
Our city tour of Seoul includes visits to Gwanghwamun Plaza (the landmark of Seoul), the National Folklore Museum, Jogyesa Temple and Insa-dong, known as the centre of traditional Korean art and antiques. We finish with some time to explore Cheonggyecheon, a lively district filled with huge markets and arcades.
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, widely acknowledged as one of Seoul’s best attractions, 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).
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