26 Day Inspiring Japan & South Korea Small Group Tour

Welcome to Japan. On arrival in Osaka you will make your way to your hotel, where the rest of the day is yours to settle in and rest after your flight. Once you have found your feet, the evening is yours to wander the streets for a first taste of the city before your tour begins. Special Information Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal may offer the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed. Hotel check-in time is at 3pm. If arriving prior to this, you will be able to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel's discretion.

After breakfast you will leave Osaka behind and travel by private coach onto the island of Shikoku. The route crosses the great Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, and skirts the Naruto Strait, where powerful tidal whirlpools turn between the islands.Arriving in Takamatsu, you will visit Shikokumura, an open-air museum where historic farmhouses, an old kabuki theatre and a swaying vine bridge have been gathered from across the region. From there you will walk in Ritsurin Garden, a beautifully composed landscape of ponds, stone bridges and sculpted pines that took generations of feudal lords to complete.Later, settle into your hotel in Takamatsu. Inspiring Highlights Shikokumura Open-Air Museum Ritsurin Garden Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

After breakfast, travel by private coach to Matsuyama, pausing for photographs at Ishite-ji, an atmospheric temple on the ancient Shikoku pilgrimage trail. You will then visit Matsuyama Castle, set high on a hilltop with wide views across the city to the sea. Nearby stands Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest hot spring bathhouses in Japan and said to have inspired a much-loved animated film. Continuing to the coast at Yawatahama, you will board a ferry for the crossing to Beppu on the island of Kyushu. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Inspiring Highlights Ishite-ji Temple Matsuyama Castle Dogo Onsen Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours. Note that ferry schedules vary and travel time is approximate, covering the coach leg plus the Yawatahama–Beppu ferry.

After breakfast, give yourself over to Beppu, a town that sits on so much geothermal activity it sends columns of steam drifting over the rooftops. You will visit several of the Jigoku, the vivid hot springs known as the hells, among them the cobalt pool of Umi Jigoku and the bubbling grey mud of Oniishibozu. Later, ride the Beppu Ropeway to the summit of Mount Tsurumi, where the view reaches out over Beppu Bay and, on a clear day, far along the Kyushu coast. Inspiring Highlights Jigoku Hells of Beppu Beppu Ropeway and Mount Tsurumi

After breakfast, travel by private coach to Nagasaki, a port city with a long and unusual history of contact with the wider world. On arrival you will visit Glover Garden, a hillside of preserved merchant houses with sweeping views over the harbour, and the nearby Oura Church, the oldest standing Christian church in the country. The remainder of the day is yours. You might stroll through the lantern-lined streets of Shinchi Chinatown or wander along the waterfront. Tonight is at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Glover Garden Oura Church Special InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

After breakfast you will visit the Nagasaki Peace Memorial, a moving tribute to the events of 1945, followed by the waterfront at Dejima Wharf. The afternoon is at leisure. With your free time you might walk to the Megane Bridge, the graceful double-arched stone bridge whose reflection forms the shape of a pair of spectacles, visit the colourful Confucius Shrine, or simply relax beside the harbour. Tonight is at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Nagasaki Peace Memorial Museum Dejima Wharf

After breakfast, travel by private coach towards Fukuoka, stopping along the way at Dazaifu. Here you will visit Dazaifu Tenmangu, a shrine set among ancient trees and dedicated to the deity of learning, alongside the striking Kyushu National Museum. Continuing into Fukuoka, you will see Ohori Park, laid out around a wide central lake with gardens and walking paths. This evening you may wish to head to the Nakasu or Tenjin districts, famous for their yatai, the open-air food stalls where locals gather over ramen and grilled skewers (dishes here are at your own expense). Inspiring Highlights Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Kyushu National Museum Ohori Park Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

After breakfast, travel by private coach to Hiroshima.On arrival you will visit the Peace Memorial Park, the Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome, which together stand in quiet remembrance of August 1945 and the city's enduring message of peace. Tonight will be at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Peace Memorial Park Peace Memorial Museum Atomic Bomb Dome Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

After breakfast, take the short ferry across to the island of Miyajima to visit Itsukushima Shrine, with its great vermilion torii gate that appears to float on the water when the tide is high. Returning to Hiroshima, the afternoon is at leisure. With your free time you might visit Shukkeien, a classical garden of miniature landscapes, walk in the grounds of Hiroshima Castle, or browse the covered Hondori shopping arcade. Tonight is at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Miyajima Itsukushima Shrine and floating torii gate Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

After breakfast, your main luggage will be sent ahead to Kyoto, leaving you free to travel light. By private coach you will make your way to Himeji to visit its famous castle, a brilliant white hilltop fortress and one of the grandest to survive anywhere in Japan. From Himeji you will board the shinkansen, the bullet train, for the swift journey on to Kyoto, where you will transfer to your hotel. Inspiring Highlights Himeji Castle Shinkansen Bullet Train Special Information Your main luggage will be transported separately to Kyoto. Please keep anything you need for the day, including medication and valuables, in your hand luggage. Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

After breakfast, spend a full day among the temples and shrines of Kyoto, for centuries the imperial capital.You will visit Tofuku-ji, known for its wooden halls and garden bridges, the vermilion gateways of Heian Jingu, and Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion that seems to float above its mirror-still pond. Later, walk among the towering stems of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove on the western edge of the city. Inspiring Highlights Tofuku-ji Temple Heian Jingu Shrine Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Today is a free day in Kyoto to explore at whatever pace suits you. You might wander the covered aisles of Nishiki Market, lined with stalls selling pickles, sweets and kitchenware, or stroll the old wooden lanes of the Gion district. The Philosopher's Path makes for a gentle walk along a willow-lined canal, and the grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Palace are open to visitors. As evening falls, the riverside lanes of Pontocho come softly to life. Tonight is at your leisure.

After breakfast, travel by private coach up into the mountains of central Japan to the old castle town of Takayama. On arrival you will visit the Takayama Yatai Kaikan, where the tall, gilded floats of the town's celebrated festivals are kept on display, and the Kusakabe Folk Museum, a finely preserved merchant's house. The rest of the day is yours to relax. Tonight is at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Takayama Yatai Kaikan (festival floats) Kusakabe Folk Museum Special InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.

After breakfast, travel by private coach to Shirakawa-go, a village tucked into a mountain valley and listed by UNESCO for its steep thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of them more than two centuries old. Returning to Takayama, you will have time to wander the preserved streets of the old town at Kamisanomachi, where dark timber merchant houses now hold sake breweries, craft shops and tea houses. Inspiring Highlights Shirakawa-go Historic Village Takayama Old Town (Kamisanomachi) Special InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

After breakfast, travel by private coach to Matsumoto, pausing for photographs at its castle, one of the oldest in the country and instantly recognisable by its black timber keep. There is also time along Nakamachi, an old merchant street of white-walled storehouses. Continuing towards Mount Fuji, you will ride up to the 5th Station on its northern slopes (weather and road conditions permitting) for a closer look at Japan's most famous peak. This evening you will arrive at your hotel beside Lake Kawaguchiko, where a traditional dinner is served and a soak in the natural hot springs is a fine way to end the day. Inspiring Highlights Matsumoto Castle Mount Fuji 5th Station Special Information Access to the Mount Fuji 5th Station depends on weather and road conditions. If the road is closed, an alternative such as the Fujisan World Heritage Centre will be offered. Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.

After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing cruise on Lake Kawaguchi, with Mount Fuji rising beyond the far shore on a clear morning, followed by a visit to the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum and its collection of intricate dyed kimono. Later, travel by private coach to Tokyo, passing the Metropolitan Government Building for wide city views (traffic permitting), before checking in to your hotel. Tonight is at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Lake Kawaguchi Sightseeing Cruise Itchiku Kubota Art Museum Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

After breakfast, spend the day exploring Tokyo. You will visit Senso-ji, the city's oldest temple, approached along Nakamise, a shopping street that has served visitors and pilgrims for centuries. From there, continue to the Tsukiji Outer Market, a maze of food stalls and knife shops, and on to the famous scramble crossing at Shibuya. Inspiring Highlights Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street Tsukiji Outer Market Shibuya

Today, your journey through Japan will come to an end. You will make your own way independently to the airport to catch your flight from Tokyo to Seoul. Upon arrival in the vibrant capital city of Seoul, you will be transferred to your hotel. This bustling metropolis perfectly blends high-tech skyscrapers and pop culture with ancient temples and traditional markets. Take the rest of your first day to settle in and begin exploring the local neighborhood at your own pace. Special Information Note: There is no airport transfer included in Tokyo. Please speak with your tour leader or hotel concierge for details on how to travel to the airport.

After breakfast, we begin our South Korea adventure with a guided city tour of Seoul. Our day starts with a walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream, a beautifully restored urban waterway in the heart of the city, before continuing to the impressive Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest and most iconic of Seoul's royal palaces. We then visit Bukchon Hanok Village, where hundreds of traditional Korean houses offer a glimpse into the city's past, followed by time to explore Insadong Street, known for its galleries, antiques and local crafts. The day concludes with sweeping panoramic views over Seoul from N Seoul Tower. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner and the chance to get to know your fellow travellers. Inspiring Highlights Cheonggyecheon Stream Gyeongbokgung Palace Bukchon Hanok Village Insadong Street N Seoul Tower

After breakfast, we depart Seoul and journey south to the lively coastal city of Busan. On arrival, we experience the city's vibrant atmosphere with a visit to Jagalchi Fish Market, Korea's largest seafood market, where the day's catch is traded straight from the harbour. We then explore the nearby Gukje Market, one of Korea's largest traditional markets, known for its local street food, textiles and souvenirs. We also visit the UN Memorial Cemetery, the only United Nations cemetery in the world, offering a peaceful and poignant reflection on Korea's modern history. The evening is at leisure, with time to relax or discover Busan's dining and waterfront precincts at your own pace. Inspiring Highlights Jagalchi Market Gukje Market UN Memorial Cemetery Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours

Today is dedicated to discovering the unique character of Busan. After breakfast, we visit the colourful Gamcheon Cultural Village, famous for its maze-like streets, hillside setting and vividly painted houses, often referred to as the “Machu Picchu of Busan.” In the afternoon, we travel to Haeundae Beach, Busan's most famous stretch of coastline, followed by a leisurely walk around Dongbaek Island, where scenic paths offer beautiful coastal views and city skylines. This evening is free to enjoy Busan at your leisure — whether exploring the city's lively nightlife or sampling fresh local seafood. Inspiring Highlights Gamcheon Cultural Village Haeundae Beach Dongbaek Island

After breakfast, we begin the day at the breathtaking Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a rare seaside temple perched dramatically on the cliffs above the ocean. From here, we journey inland to Gyeongju, often called “the museum without walls” for its wealth of historic treasures. In the afternoon, we explore the city's rich heritage with visits to the UNESCO-listed Bulguksa Temple, the ancient Cheomseongdae Observatory, and the Royal Tombs, each offering a fascinating glimpse into Korea's past. We then conclude our sightseeing at the elegant Donggung Palace and the serene Wolji Pond, a perfect spot to soak in the atmosphere of this historic city. The evening is free to relax and enjoy Gyeongju at your own pace. Inspiring Highlights Haedong Yonggungsa Temple Bulguksa Temple Cheomseongdae Royal Tombs Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours

After breakfast, we journey to Andong, a city celebrated for its deep-rooted traditions and cultural heritage. We begin at the serene Byeongsan Seowon, a historic Confucian academy set amidst peaceful landscapes, before exploring the world-renowned Hahoe Folk Village, where time-honored customs and beautifully preserved hanok houses offer a fascinating glimpse into Korea's past. From Buyongdae Cliff, enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the village and surrounding countryside, a truly memorable vantage point. We then savor a special farm-to-table meal, crafted from the region's freshest ingredients, offering a taste of Andong's authentic culinary traditions. Inspiring Highlights Byeongsan Seowon Hahoe Folk Village Buyongdae Cliff Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours

After breakfast, we make our way back to the capital. Upon arriving in Seoul, we explore the stylish Gangnam district, strolling along the famous Gangnam Street and visiting the impressive Coex Mall. This is the perfect opportunity to shop, soak up the modern city vibes, or simply enjoy the energy of one of Seoul's most dynamic neighborhoods. Your final evening in Seoul is free to spend as you wish, whether indulging in local cuisine, revisiting a favourite spot, or simply relaxing. Inspiring Highlights Gangnam Street Coex Mall Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours

Today provides a deeply moving glimpse into Korea's modern history with a visit to the iconic Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). We will have the rare and unforgettable opportunity to meet a North Korean defector and hear their personal story, offering a powerful and human perspective on the country's past and present. This evening, we gather one last time for a farewell dinner to celebrate the memories made throughout our journey. Inspiring Highlights DMZ Visit Meeting with North Korean Survivor Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours

Your South Korean adventure comes to an end today. Following breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey. We hope you take home many wonderful memories of this beautiful country. Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. Special Information Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed. If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.