Japan & South Korea: From Tokyo to Seoul
Deal number 27712142
Collette Tours
Valid for select departures 6 September 2026 - 23 May 2027
East Asia
15-day tour
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15-day Collette Tours small group exploration tour departing Tokyo.
14 nights accommodation in handpicked hotels
23 meals
Private home to airport return chauffeur service
Wander among the swaying trees of the Arashiyama bamboo forest
Tour Korea’s infamous Demilitarized Zone, better known as the DMZ.
See the gleaming beauty of the Golden Pavilion
Outside the bustle of Seoul, experience a home-hosted traditional lunch with a Korean family.
Try your hand at the delicate art of sushi making in Kyoto.
Make delicious okonomiyaki, savoury pancakes that are a Japanese favourite
Join a North Korean defector for a private and emotional discussion about their escape and new life.
Meet Japan’s ama pearl divers and learn more about their elite profession.
Visit Hiroshima’s Peace Park and Memorial Museum and hear accounts of the atomic bomb’s devastation
Travel Manager to accompany throughout.
The service of a dedicated Travel Advisor managing your booking.
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Encounter Japans rich cultural heritage from Tokyo to Kyoto and the energy of Seoul in South Korea. Explore Japans blend of past and present through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, travelling between them on the shinkansen bullet train. Meet Japans ama pearl divers, see the beauty of the Golden Pavilion, and explore Gion, the historic geisha district of Kyoto. Reflect at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum. In South Korea, discover Seouls Gyeongbok Palace, and take a tour of Koreas infamous Demilitarized Zone. Join a conversation with a North Korean defector and enjoy a traditional lunch hosted in a Korean familys home. The spirit of Japan and South Koreas vibrancy shine from neon-lit streets to tranquil shrines.
Itinerary
Day 1 Tokyo
Say Konnichiwa! to the incredible, eclectic city of Tokyo. Japan is a land of contrasts, and youre about to discover the thousand facets of culture, art, and life that make up its incredible spirit. From busy cities to quiet shrines filled only with silence, youll come face-to-face with a culture thousands of years in the making. Storied history, artistic traditions, cutting-edge technology - its all part of Japans everyday life. Youll soon discover that you could explore Japan for a thousand years and only experience a part of what this country has to offer. As travellers arrival times will vary, we have not included any sightseeing today. Spend the day as you wish, exploring the city independently.
Day 2 Tokyo
This morning, start your day in Tokyo like a true local - by hopping on the subway. Clean, efficient, fast, and easy to use, the Tokyo subway system is one of the best in the world. Set out on a walk to the Imperial Palace and see the Niju Bridge, the well-known symbol of the Palace. Later this afternoon, make your way back to your hotel located in the popular Ginza district of Tokyo, a perfect location for spending an afternoon at leisure before getting to know your fellow travellers during a welcome dinner. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 3 Tokyo
Feel the excitement start to build as you head to Asakusa to witness the subtle art of preparing green tea in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Visit the Sensoji Temple before enjoying free time to the Nakamise shopping street, where you can stroll between the stalls and buy local souvenirs and sweets. Then, head to Tokyo National Museum to learn about the fascinating history and culture of the city. The museum displays artwork and antiques from Japan and the surrounding area. This evening, you are free to explore on your own. Today breakfast will be included.
Day 4 Tokyo to Ise-Shima
Climb aboard the high-speed shinkansen, or bullet train. Sleek, modern, and comfortable, the bullet train will flash through the idyllic Japanese countryside at 200 miles per hour, but youll barely feel or hear a thing. Keep an eye peeled for Mt. Fuji in the distance.* Arrive at one of the most important shrines in Japan Ise Shrine. This grand shrine is built to honour the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu. Wander among the thatched roofs and raw wood of buildings, taking in the serenity of this spiritual wonder. Tonight, your meal will be a traditional and delicious Japanese kaiseki dinner, an artfully prepared and presented, multi-course meal using ingredients at the absolute peak of freshness. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 5 Ise-Shima
This morning, youll head to the Mikimoto Pearl Museum. Explore the island and the legacy of the skilled ama pearl divers, women who defied conventional gender roles to dive in the sea to harvest oysters and their pearls. Watch divers take the plunge and learn about the history and science of pearl diving. This evening, set out for Azurihama Beach, where youll venture across the sands to an ama hut for an incredible dining experience. Whilst local seafood is grilled in a charcoal fire right before your eyes, hear tales from the ama women about their lives and the sacred rights of their profession. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 6 Ise-Shima to Nara to Hiroshima
Today, travel to Nara Park and Todaiji Temple. Venture inside the massive temple to take some time in this sacred place and find the huge bronze Buddha statue. Wander the grounds outside and discover the famous bowing deer of Nara. Then, youll once again board the shinkansen bullet train and be whisked away to Hiroshima. Enjoy dinner at a local cooking studio, where youll learn how to make the famous Japanese okonomiyaki, or savoury pancake, a favourite of Hiroshima residents. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 7 Hiroshima
A short walk from your hotel takes you to the Peace Memorial Park. Pause to see the ruined Atomic Dome (UNESCO), a sobering reminder of the devastation caused by the dropping of the atomic bomb during World War II. Reflect at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum before a powerful Impact Moment connects you with someone who experienced the devastating effects of the Atomic bomb firsthand. Theyll talk about what it was like to live in Japan during that time, the aftermath of that terrible day, and how they preserve the memory of those who were lost. After, board a ferry for the short trip to Miyajima Island, or Shrine Island (UNESCO). Famous for the Itsukushima Shrine and its mythic O-torii Gate standing proudly in the water. Today breakfast will be included.
Day 8 Hiroshima to Kyoto
Kyoto awaits! Journey to Japans former capital city via shinkansen bullet train. Your first stop takes you to Fushimi Inari Taisha for a glimpse into the most revered shrine of Inari. Follow the rows of orange torii that weave through the forest, leading you to the inner shrine. Later this afternoon, head to Gion, Kyotos famous geisha district. As you walk through Gions narrow cobblestone streets, if youre lucky, you may see a woman in full traditional geisha regalia headed to one of the hidden, exclusive tea houses. Tonight is at leisure. Today breakfast will be included.
Day 9 Kyoto
Enjoy a laid-back morning before visiting the Arashiyama bamboo forest. Set out among the towering bamboo stalks that shade the forest paths and gently sway in the breeze. Continue to Kinkaku-ji Temple (UNESCO), known as the Golden Pavilion for its top two floors that are completely covered in gold leaf. Once the lavish retirement home of a shogun, it was converted to a Zen temple in the 1400s. It has survived wars, been rebuilt after fires, and still stands as an impressive piece of historic architecture. Later, try your hand at making sushi during an interactive class and dinner. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 10 Kyoto
This morning, make your way to Nishiki Market with your Tour Manager, where colourful stalls are filled with fresh foods and local specialities, like pickles, dried seafood, and sushi. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore how you want. Perhaps youll take another visit to the Gion district to wander among its temples, shrines, traditional shops, and charming cafs, visit a museum, or spend time in the park and grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Today breakfast will be included.
Day 11 Kyoto to Seoul
Today, jump on a flight and journey to your final destination: Seoul, the capital city of South Korea. An energetic and eclectic modern city with deep roots, Seoul has something for everyone. Arrive later this afternoon and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 12 Seoul
Head to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, or the DMZ, this morning. This conflict-ridden stretch of 150 miles between North and South Korea has been sealed tight for the last 68 years, and the struggles of the Korean War have yet to be resolved. Take an exclusive tour of this storied border, seeing Imjingak Park, the Bridge of Freedom, the DMZ Theatre and Exhibition Hall, the Dora Observatory, the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, and more. This is a rare opportunity to see the Hermit Kingdom of North Korea up close, and the long cold war between the two countries. Tonight, your evening is at leisure. Today breakfast and lunch will be included.
Day 13 Seoul
This morning, learn about the struggles in North Korea firsthand when you gather for a private talk with a North Korean defector. During this Impact Moment, learn about their life in North Korea, how they escaped to the south and are adjusting to their new life, and the struggles they face in a new country. Leave the city and stop by a local market to pick up some ingredients before you sit down for a home-hosted traditional Korean lunch with a local family, and get insight into the daily lives of a South Korean family. Today breakfast and lunch will be included.
Day 14 Seoul
Start your day by hopping on the subway and heading to the awe-inspiring Gyeongbok Palace. Take a tour of the sprawling grounds and watch the elaborate and ceremonial changing of the guard. Next, visit Insadong Street, Seouls charming and colourful shopping area. Tour the narrow maze of alleys that hold tea shops, boutiques, galleries and cafes. You have the afternoon at leisure to explore the area, perhaps heading to the Museum of Contemporary History with its multimedia exhibitions, or the National Museum of Korea with its statues, paintings, and artefacts. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
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