EURORIENTE: JAPAN AND KOREA FOR EVERYONE 13 Days

Day 1: ARRIVAL / TOKYO

Welcome to Japan! upon arrival, you will be greeted by an English-speaking assistant who will accompany you on the transfer to your hotel in Tokyo by public transportation. Accommodation.

Day 2: TOKYO / CITY TOUR (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for a full-day tour of Tokyo, a city that combines millenary tradition and absolute modernity. Accompanied by our English-speaking guide, we will begin the visit at Meiji Jingu Shrine, one of the  most important Shinto shrines in the country, located in an extensive urban forest in the heart of the city. Dedicated to Emperor Meiji, it is a place of great spiritual and symbolic value for the Japanese. We will continue to the traditional neighborhood of Asakusa, where the Senso-ji Temple, the oldest and most iconic Buddhist temple  in Tokyo, is located. We will access the temple through the lively Nakamise-dori, a pedestrian street lined with traditional shops where you can find souvenirs, local crafts,  and Japanese sweets. The visit continues with a walk through Harajuku, known for its youthful atmosphere, alternative fashion and cultural contrasts, very close to the elegant Omotesando Avenue. We will end the tour with a visit to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, from whose viewpoint you can get panoramic views of the city and, on clear days, Mount Fuji in the distance. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 3: TOKYO / FREE DAY (OPTIONAL FULL DAY HAKONE AND MOUNT FUJI) (B)

Breakfast. Free day with the possibility of hiring an optional full-day visit to Hakone. one of Japan's most famous natural regions, located within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and known for its volcanic landscapes and views of Mount Fuji. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide, we will start the visit in the Owakudani Valley, an active volcanic area with fumaroles and sulfurous springs, famous for its "black eggs" cooked in hot springs. We will continue the tour using the Hakone Cable Car, which offers spectacular views of the volcanic valley and the natural environment of the region. Afterwards, we will take a relaxing cruise on Lake Ashi, from where, weather permitting, you can contemplate magnificent views of Mount Fuji, the most emblematic symbol of Japan. Return to Tokyo at the end of the tour. Accommodation.

Day 4: TOKYO / BULLET TRAIN / KYOTO / CITY TOUR (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure in the morning without an assistant to Tokyo Station. From there, depart on the Shinkansen bullet train (2nd class) bound for Kyoto, an iconic experience of the Japanese railway system, known for its punctuality and comfort. Arrival at Kyoto Station and transfer to the hotel. Afterwards, meet with the English-speaking guide and start a half-day visit to Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan for more than a thousand years and  the cultural and spiritual center of the country. The visit begins at the Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion, one of the most representative temples in Japan, Continue to the Ryoan-ji Temple, famous for its Zen rock garden, considered one of the greatest expressions of Zen Buddhism and an ideal place for contemplation and serenity. We will end the visit in the Gion District, the most famous traditional neighborhood in Kyoto, known for its narrow streets, wooden houses and for being the place where you can still see geisha and maikos, preserving intact the essence of traditional Japan. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 5: KYOTO / FREE DAY (OPTIONAL FULL DAY NARA AND FUSHIMI INARI) (B)

Breakfast. Free day with the possibility of hiring an optional full day visit to Nara and Fushimi Inari. Depart Kyoto by train for Nara, Japan's first permanent capital and one of the country's most important historical centers. Accompanied by our English-speaking guide, we will visit Todai-ji Temple, famous for housing the bronze Big Buddha, one of the largest statues in the world, and declared  a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, we will visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine, an important Shinto shrine famous for its thousands of stone and bronze lanterns, located in the heart of Nara Park, where the famous sacred deer roam freely. On the way back to Kyoto, we will make a stop at the Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of the most iconic shrines in Japan, known for its endless corridors of red torii that stretch down the slope of Mount Inari, creating one of the most representative images of the country. Return to Kyoto at the end of the tour. Accommodation.

Day 6: KYOTO / FREE DAY (OPTIONAL FULL DAY HIROSHIMA AND MIYAJIMA) (B)

Breakfast. Free day with the possibility of hiring an optional full-day visit to Hiroshima and Miyajima. accompanied by our English-speaking guide we begin with a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a space of recollection dedicated to the memory of the victims of the atomic bomb, where the emblematic Atomic Bomb Dome, declared  a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is located. Next, we will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which offers an in-depth historical reflection on the events of August 6, 1945 and promotes a universal message of peace. Afterwards, we will continue to Miyajima Island, considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in Japan. There we will visit the Itsukushima Shrine, famous for its floating torii over the sea, one of the most iconic images of the country and also  a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the end of the tour, return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Day 7: KYOTO / OSAKA / SEOUL (B)

Breakfast. At the indicated time, transfer without assistance from your hotel to the Airport in Osaka by Airport limousine Bus. to take your Non-Included flight to Seoul. Welcome to Korea! Upon arrival meet our assistant and transfer to your hotel. Accommodation

Day 8: SEOUL / CITY TOUR (B)

Breakfast. Departure for a city tour in Seoul. We start the morning by visiting one of the most beautiful and historically important of Seoul's five royal palaces: Changdeokgung Palace, the Palace of Illustrious Virtue. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is known for its tranquil garden and traditional Korean architecture and design that incorporates the surrounding landscape. We continue to Starfield COEX Mall, an underground shopping mall. The name COEX is derived from "Convention Centers" and "EXhibition Halls". It has an area of about 154,000 square meters, of which 144,000 square meters are on a single underground floor, making it the largest underground shopping mall in the world. After lunch, we head to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a major landmark of urban development in Seoul, with a distinctly neo-futuristic design. It features a rooftop pedestrian park, large global exhibition spaces, futuristic shops, and restored parts of Seoul Fortress. The DDP has been one of the main reasons for Seoul's designation as the World Design Capital in 2010. Next, we will visit Han River Park, the most famous of Seoul's parks and located right in the center of the city. We end the trip with a visit to the Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in South Korea. Climb the observatory and enjoy views of the illuminated city. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Day 9: SEOUL / FREE DAY (B)

Breakfast. Free day to continue discovering this magnificent city on your own, Accommodation.

Day 10: SEOUL / DMZ / BUSAN (B)

Breakfast. Departure to the DMZ (Korean Demilitarized Zone), a military demarcation zone between North and South Korea, where military activities are prohibited. We start with Imjingak, symbol of Korea's desire for reunification, it is a unique theme park that offers rides along barbed wire fences. It houses historical relics such as the Freedom Bridge, used by 13,000 prisoners of war in search of freedom, and the chimney of a steam locomotive from the Korean War, abandoned for 55 years. We continue to the Dora Observatory, which offers an up-close view of North Korea, including the city of Gaeseong and a fake border village called Propaganda Village, where lights are manipulated to create the illusion of activity. We continue our train journey to Busan. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Day 11: BUSAN / HAEDONG TEMPLE / JAGALCHI MARKET (B)

Breakfast. We start the day by visiting Haedong Yonggung Temple, one of the few in Korea located in front of the sea. Very popular, especially during Buddha's birthday celebrations, when the complex is decorated with paper lanterns. Honor Haesu Gwaneum Daebul, the Goddess of the Sea, Buddha of Mercy. Continue to the Jagalchi Market to experience the food culture. This seafood and fish market is the largest in South Korea and stretches for 3 kilometers along the coast. In addition to dried anchovies and fresh fish, the famous vendors, called "Jagalchi Ajumma," sell herbal and animal-based remedies. The market hosts the Busan Jagalchi Festival in autumn. The festival's motto is "Oiso! Boiso! Saiso!" ("Come! Look! Buy!"). We continue to the Gukje Market. Traditional market to buy local products, souvenirs and culinary specialties. The market was famously depicted in the 2014 Korean film of the same name (English title Ode to My Father). The film was one of the highest-grossing films in the history of South Korean cinema. We end the day at Gamcheon Cultural Village, a colorful village with townhouses, murals, and unique art galleries. The area is known for its stepped streets, winding labyrinthine alleys, and brightly painted houses. Built on the side of a steep mountain, the village has been nicknamed "Santorini of Korea" and "Machu Picchu of Busan." Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Day 12: BUSAN / TAEJONGDAE PARK / HAEUNDAE (B)

Breakfast. Departure to Taejongdae Park, a nature park at the southernmost point of Busan district. It is an excellent viewpoint overlooking the ocean, an amusement park, a lighthouse and a cruise terminal. We continue to Haeundae beach, considered the most beautiful beach in Busan, it is a tourist paradise in summer with its crystal clear waters, calm sea and white sand. Relax on this famous beach or stroll through the nearby market to sample local snacks and drinks. We continue to the Busan Cinema Center, the epicenter of the Busan International Film Festival, a modern architectural gem. The complex contains a theater, indoor and outdoor cinemas, convention halls, offices, creative studios, and dining areas in a mix of connected indoor spaces. End of the day admiring the night lights of the Gwangandaegyo Bridge (Diamond Bridge). Gwangandaegyo is a suspension bridge and connects Haeundae District with Suyeong District. It is approximately 6,500 meters long and the bridge as a whole measures 7,420 meters. It is the second largest bridge in the country. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.

Day 13: BUSAN / AIRPORT (B)                                                    

Breakfast. Transfer to Busan International Airport (Gimhae). End of services