South Korea
South Korea & Japan
South Korea and Japan may each have their own distinct character, but both offer dizzying historic palaces, rural villages and ancient traditions sitting side by side with neon-lit skyscrapers, superfast bullet trains and youth culture. This itinerary combines the best of both countries in a two-week adventure that offers hot springs, geishas, taekwondo, Buddhist temples, ornate palaces and some of the best food on the planet. Grab your chopsticks and get ready!
Highlights
Glimpse North Korea from the DMZ
Learn to make delicious bibimbap
Ride the colourful skyline in Busan
Palaces, temples & parks in Kyoto
Learn to wield a samurai sword
Relax in hot springs in Hakone
Explore the backstreets of Tokyo
15 days from £5,250 pp
Plus international flights from £900
A 15-day holiday in South Korea and Japan for a family of four usually costs from £21,000 plus flights, based on good mid-range accommodation.
South Korea & Japan day-by-day itinerary
Day 1, Seoul
Welcome to South Korea! You’ll be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Seoul is one of the great cities of Asia, a buzzing metropolis packed with bustling markets, countless eateries, dazzling bright lights, and a wealth of historical sites. Seoul’s 24/7 energy is vibrant and welcoming – ideal for adventurous families to start their Korean journey.
Day 2, Seoul
Explore the city today on a guided tour. Begin with Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of Seoul’s five royal palaces, dating back 600 years to the Joseon dynasty. When everyone’s had enough history, head on to Tongin Market. Buy some Yeopjeong (traditional brass coins) and browse the stalls, filling up your own personalised bento box as you go. So much fun, and everyone gets what they fancy!
Continue to Insadong Street, one of the best places to soak up Korean culture with its wooden teahouses, superb restaurants, pottery workshops and art galleries. Try your hand at making some iconic Korean food at a bibimbap cooking class (delicious) before exploring Namsangol Hanok Village. This is a charming residential area packed with traditional houses and matcha shops, perfect for wandering at will and soaking up the atmosphere.
End your day with a visit to N Seoul Tower, originally a radio wave tower and now home to a superb observation deck – perfect for panoramic views of the city’s immense skyline.
Day 3, Seoul
Today you will join an official shared trip to visit the DMZ. Typically this includes Imjingak Park, The Unification Bridge, the DMZ Theater, the 3rd infiltration Tunnel, the Dora Observatory and the DMZ gondola. A compelling part of Korea’s history.
Later on, you can learn the basics of Taekwondo, Korea’s national sport. Join a local master who will walk you through the basic skills, techniques and movements of this energetic martial art.
Day 4, Seoul to Busan
Catch a train to the city of Busan – welcome to the seaside! Busan, also known as ‘Seoul by the Sea,’ is South Korea’s second-largest city. With a more relaxed vibe than the capital, its laid-back feel makes for a fantastic base while in this part of the country. Seafood lovers will be in heaven – Busan is home to South Korea’s largest fish market, as well as the country’s best-known sandy bay, Haeundae Beach.
Day 5, Busan
Spend the day mixing culture and fun, accompanied by your guide. Start with a visit to Haedong Yonggunsa Temple. Perched on a seaside cliff, this temple is famous for making wishes come true when you pray earnestly and is considered by some to be the most spectacular in South Korea.
Next, it’s time for the kids (and big kids) to let off some steam on the Skyline Luge. Wow, what a ride! Race down 2.4km of track packed with twists and turns – thrilling for all the family. Take the fast lane or the scenic route; either way, the views are fantastic.
The APEC Nurimaru House may look like a conference centre, but (bear with us!) it hosted a summit of world leaders in 2005 and the room has been preserved as a sort of museum. It’s well worth a wander around the table to see who sat where (look out for name places for Putin and George Bush) and imagine being in that historic room… Close the day with a relaxing sunset cruise, taking in golden hour views of the skyline.
Read More Day 6, Busan Continue to the Dakbatgol Mural Village. Immerse yourselves in the pastels and beautifully painted houses of the village. There is a free tiny cable car that carries visitors to the top and bottom. Whimsical? Definitely. But not to be missed for its perfect vantage point over this quirky village. You’ll also see the famous (and pungent!) 600-year-old Jagalchi Fish Market, plus the Gukje Market selling a wide-ranging range of items – each of the lanes is named after the goods sold there. At the end of the day, return to your hotel for an evening at leisure. Day 7, Busan to Kyoto On arrival, you will catch a train to Kyoto where remainder of the day is free for you to relax or begin exploring. Kyoto is Japan’s ancient capital, a city firmly rooted in the past where deeply held traditions endure. It is one of the most culturally rich cities in Asia, with 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, more than any other city. Here you find sacred shrines tucked in among shopping arcades, time-honoured teahouses nestling among modern businesses and mysterious geisha gliding down backstreets among the tourists and souvenirs. Kyoto’s charm lies in these details and will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your time in Japan. Day 8, Kyoto Check out the iconic Kiyomizudera Temple, famous for its long history dating back to 780 and its structure entirely made of connected wooden beams, or wander through the historic Gion district with its many narrow lanes and hidden alleys – perhaps catch a glimpse of the traditions and culture of the geisha world. Towards the end of the day you will bid your guide farewell and make your way back to the hotel. Day 9, Kyoto There’s also time today to take a self-guided visit to Arashiyama. Literally meaning ‘storm mountain’, Arashiyama is a charming district in the north-west of Kyoto City. Although technically part of the city, Arashiyama feels more like a small town with quiet backstreets, cosy cafes and a peaceful atmosphere. The main temple, Tenryu-ji, is one of Kyoto’s finest Zen temples and behind it a winding pathway leads through the enchanting bamboo groves into the surrounding hillsides. The focal point of the area is the Togetsukyo Bridge across the Hozugawa River that runs through a picturesque gorge on its way to central Kyoto. You can take the aptly titled Romantic Train from Arashiyama along a dramatic gorge. Another idea for nature lovers is to visit Iwatayama, known locally as ‘monkey mountain’. Here humans stand in cages to feed the friendly monkeys who roam free across the hillside! Day 10, Kyoto to Hakone Day 11, Hakone The Hakone Open Air Museum with its Picasso gallery is a great place to wander around for an afternoon. Or maybe you will just sit back and relax whilst soaking in one of the many therapeutic hot spring baths that Hakone is so famous for. A great option for families is the Yunessun Resort hot spring theme park. You will be spared any blushes and awkwardness as, unlike traditional onsens, Yunessun asks that all its visitors wear swimming suits. The park has a wide range of pools, slides and hot spring baths, some of which are filled with coffee and green tea! Yunessun could easily keep you occupied for a whole day and is a great option whatever the weather. Day 12, Hakone to Tokyo Day 13, Tokyo Harajuku is famous as the ‘spiritual home’ for Japan’s unique pop culture and kawaii trends. Tiny independent shops selling rainbow food and quirky accessories are popular with teenagers in bold cosplay fashion. Shibuya is known for one of the busiest crossings in the world; a hub of fashion, technology and design, Shibuya is crammed with shops, museums and eateries. Day 14, Tokyo Afterwards you might want to walk down the road to the Toyosu Fish Market, Tokyo’s biggest, to experience some of the freshest sushi in the world at the restaurants around the market. Time-permitting, also explore the seaside promenade or cross to the nearby island of Odaiba, home to the National Museum of Nature and Science, and the Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. The former is filled with hands-on science exhibits, while the latter is the place to go to meet Asimo the walking robot. Also nearby is the Legoland Discovery Centre, plus a Hello Kitty Café, and fans of Sega games can spend hours of fun at Joypolis, an amusement park where the rides are all based on Sega’s popular games and characters. Day 15, Tokyo
Meet your guide again and stroll through Gamcheon Culture Village, dating back to the 1950s and established by thousands of refugees from the Korean War… You will certainly have seen photos of this village, with its layered streets, staircase-fashion houses, twisted labyrinthine alleyways and brightly painted buildings. Everywhere you look, there is art, colour, vivid murals and striking sculptures. Photo ops aplenty!
Today you will transfer to Busan airport for your flight to Osaka. Welcome to Japan!
Meet your guide this morning for a tour of Kyoto using the efficient public transport network. You can choose which of Kyoto’s many highlights you’d like to see. From the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its thousands of red torii gates snaking up the hill, to the peaceful Tofukuji Temple, known for its beautiful Zen gardens, or Sanjusangendo, home to 1,001 golden Kannon statues.
Take the opportunity to immerse yourselves in a legendary samurai experience! Try on traditional samurai armour and have a chance to handle a 300-year-old katana. When it’s your turn, wield a replica sword and practise the ‘perfect cut’ through bamboo tatami mats in the ‘iai’ activity. ‘Tameshigiri’ translates to ‘test-cutting’ and is a genuine traditional method samurai of the past used to test their skill with the blade and the quality of their swords. Stand back as the instructor shows you how it’s really done using a real katana, with a great display of samurai swordsmanship.
Today you will travel to Hakone, a picturesque mountain town which is renowned for its hot springs. The town sits within a beautiful national park and there are endless vistas of tree-clad hills dotted with quaint villages. Towering above the town is Mt Fuji, Japan’s most sacred mountain. This evening, after settling in at your accommodation, you can enjoy the local hot springs.
A full day to explore Hakone, using its funicular railways, cable cars and ropeways. Hakone has plenty to see and do, making it the perfect stop for families. From the expansive views on the Hakone Ropeway, to taking a pirate ship across beautiful Lake Ashi, to tasting black “kuro-tamago” eggs boiled in the volcanic waters of the Owakudani Valley, there are some wonderful experiences here. According to tradition, eating one such egg will add seven years to your life!
Today’s journey will take you from Hakone to Tokyo. Once you arrive, the rest of the day is free to start exploring. With a population of over 12 million reasidents, Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world. It’s crammed with a diverse range of neighbourhoods that span the spectrum from sleek futuristic neon to graceful ancient temples. At every turn you will be met with an array of sights, sounds and smells to enliven the senses.
A full day exploring Tokyo by public transport. A typical day includes Nakamise market street and the striking Sensoji Temple in Asakusa – the perfect introduction to Japan. Work up an appetite exploring Tsukiji Outer Fish Market, sampling delicacies and browsing the fascinating shops selling anything and everything cooking-related. The peaceful Meiji Jingu Shrine is a relaxing antidote to the hectic side of the city.
Today you will visit teamLab Planets, based on the man-made island of Toyosu, in Tokyo Bay. Enjoy a truly mind-blowing experience at this digital art exhibit, essentially a collection of interactive art installations which utilise light and water in unique and exciting ways. The whole experience is completely immersive and provides an extraordinary assault on the senses, allowing you to become one with the exhibits themselves. The children will absolutely love it!
Time to travel to the airport for your departure.
South Korea in pictures
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- Unparalleled family travel experience
- Specialist knowledge across six continents
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- Every holiday is tailor-made for you
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