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Classic Japan: Land of the Rising Sun with Seoul
Operated by Cosmos
Tripcode: 2515
Overview
Destination:
Japan,
South Korea,
Duration:15 days
Type:Group tour (max 48)
Travel Period
March 2027 - November 2028
15 Day Tour from Seoul to Osaka
This tour of Japan and South Korea is perfect for value-minded travelers who enjoy history, beautiful scenery, and fascinating architecture. Begin your journey in Seoul, where you’ll explore the grandeur of Gyeongbok Palace and stroll through the charming traditional lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village for a vivid glimpse into Korea’s royal and cultural heritage. Continue on to Japan, where you’ll overnight in Tokyo, the Mount Fuji area, Osaka, Hiroshima, and conclude in Kyoto.Highlights throughout both countries include visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Japan, you’ll see Mount Fuji—long worshipped as a sacred mountain—along with majestic views of Lake Kawaguchi during a cable-car ride (weather permitting). In Hiroshima, visit Itsukushima Shrine, built over water and famous for its iconic floating Torii gate, and explore Peace Memorial Park to witness the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the only remaining structure from the first atomic bomb in 1945. In Kyoto, visit the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, covered in beautiful gold leaf, and participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.Your journey also includes stops at two of Japan’s premier gardens dating back to the 1600s: stroll the tranquil Koraku-en and the Shinjuku Gyoen, the “Imperial Garden,” home to 1,000 cherry blossom trees. Enjoy a local lunch and try Japan’s legendary okonomiyaki, often called “Japanese pizza.” Plus, experience the thrill of riding the famous bullet train, or shinkansen. History, scenery, culture, cuisine, and fun experiences—this Japan and South Korea vacation has it all!
All This. Included
The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!Your tour includes:•Guided city sightseeing of Seoul including admission to Gyeongbok Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Ihwa Mural Village•Walking tour of Gwangjang Market with street food sampling•Guided city sightseeing of Tokyo including admission to Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, Asakusa Kannon Temple, and Nakamise Shopping Arcade•Admission to Mt. Fuji ropeway and Chureito Pagoda•Bullet train ride from Mt. Fuji area to Osaka•Guided city sightseeing of Osaka including admission to the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses, Osaka Castle, and Koraku-en Garden•Guided city sightseeing of Hiroshima including admission to Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima Island and visit to Itsukushima Shrine•Pottery workshop•Admission to Himeji Castle•Guided city sightseeing of Kyoto including admission to the Temple of the Golden Pavilion and Sanjusangendo•Guided walking tour of Nishiki Market •Traditional Japanese tea ceremony•Intra-vacation flight from Seoul to Tokyo
This tour of Japan and South Korea is perfect for value-minded travelers who enjoy history, beautiful scenery, and fascinating architecture. Begin your journey in Seoul, where you’ll explore the grandeur of Gyeongbok Palace and stroll through the charming traditional lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village for a vivid glimpse into Korea’s royal and cultural heritage. Continue on to Japan, where you’ll overnight in Tokyo, the Mount Fuji area, Osaka, Hiroshima, and conclude in Kyoto.Highlights throughout both countries include visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Japan, you’ll see Mount Fuji—long worshipped as a sacred mountain—along with majestic views of Lake Kawaguchi during a cable-car ride (weather permitting). In Hiroshima, visit Itsukushima Shrine, built over water and famous for its iconic floating Torii gate, and explore Peace Memorial Park to witness the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the only remaining structure from the first atomic bomb in 1945. In Kyoto, visit the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, covered in beautiful gold leaf, and participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.Your journey also includes stops at two of Japan’s premier gardens dating back to the 1600s: stroll the tranquil Koraku-en and the Shinjuku Gyoen, the “Imperial Garden,” home to 1,000 cherry blossom trees. Enjoy a local lunch and try Japan’s legendary okonomiyaki, often called “Japanese pizza.” Plus, experience the thrill of riding the famous bullet train, or shinkansen. History, scenery, culture, cuisine, and fun experiences—this Japan and South Korea vacation has it all!
All This. Included
The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!Your tour includes:•Guided city sightseeing of Seoul including admission to Gyeongbok Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Ihwa Mural Village•Walking tour of Gwangjang Market with street food sampling•Guided city sightseeing of Tokyo including admission to Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, Asakusa Kannon Temple, and Nakamise Shopping Arcade•Admission to Mt. Fuji ropeway and Chureito Pagoda•Bullet train ride from Mt. Fuji area to Osaka•Guided city sightseeing of Osaka including admission to the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses, Osaka Castle, and Koraku-en Garden•Guided city sightseeing of Hiroshima including admission to Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima Island and visit to Itsukushima Shrine•Pottery workshop•Admission to Himeji Castle•Guided city sightseeing of Kyoto including admission to the Temple of the Golden Pavilion and Sanjusangendo•Guided walking tour of Nishiki Market •Traditional Japanese tea ceremony•Intra-vacation flight from Seoul to Tokyo
Notes:
- Services in Seoul will be with a Local Guide. You will meet your Tour Director in Japan on day 5.The option for an overnight stay at a traditional ryokan requires an additional fee and must be pre-booked ahead of your travel to Japan. Space is very limited and on request only. Your stay includes a traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast. Dietary restrictions generally cannot be accommodated.The ropeway ride at Mount Fuji is weather dependent.
Highlights:
Itinerary
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Collapse allDay 1 - SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
Welcome to South Korea’s capital city. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day 2 - SEOUL
Sightseeing with your Local Guide begins with a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest and most impressive of Seoul’s five palaces. Continue to the National Museum of Contemporary Korean History to learn how Korea has transformed from an agricultural society to an economic powerhouse. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore Gwangjang Traditional Market, one of the oldest and largest in Korea. Then, visit Bukchon Hanok Village, home to over 900 hanoks (traditional Korean houses), and Ihwa Mural Village, a hillside neighborhood adorned with colorful murals and creative public art. (B,L)Please note: Local Host services are provided in Seoul as noted. You will meet your Tour Director in Tokyo on day 5.
Day 3 - SEOUL
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Seoul’s vibrant neighborhoods, historic sites, and local cuisine. (B)
Day 4 - SEOUL-TOKYO, JAPAN
Today, fly to Tokyo. A Cosmos representative will arrange for your transfer from the airport to your hotel. Enjoy the evening at leisure. (B)
Day 5 - TOKYO
Meet your Tour Director and travel companions prior to morning sightseeing in Tokyo. Your tour starts with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th-century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest. Next, visit Shinjuku Gyoen Garden. Originally dating from the early 1600s, the garden was destroyed in World War II and reopened in 1949 as a public park, home to one thousand cherry blossom trees. Today, it remains an immensely popular stop for locals and visitors alike. Last stop is the vibrant Asakusa Kannon Temple and the bustling Nakamise shopping arcade. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure. (B,L)
Day 6 - TOKYO
Enjoy the day at your leisure to explore this sprawling metropolis. (B)
Day 7 - TOKYO–MOUNT FUJI AREA
This morning, leave Tokyo and head south along the coast to the beautiful Five Lakes region. Take a cable-car ride (weather permitting) for panoramic views of Lake Kawaguchi and spectacular Mount Fuji, or Fujisan as the locals call it, Japan’s highest mountain. You’ll also visit Chureito Pagoda for a chance to snap your own iconic image of the pagoda with Fujisan in the background! (B,L)
Day 8 - MOUNT FUJI AREA–OSAKA
This morning, board Japan’s famous shinkansen (bullet train) for Osaka. Upon arrival, join your Tour Director for a walking tour in Minami. Made up of Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Dotonbori, this area is home to great dining and nightlife and some of the city’s most fashionable shops and department stores. This evening is free to explore the city on your own. (B)
Day 9 - OSAKA
Your sightseeing tour starts at the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses, where traditional thatched-roof farmhouses dating from the Edo period have been restored. Be transported back in time as you explore the old architecture. Visit Osaka Castle, then enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure. Perhaps return to Dotonbori this evening to sample local cuisine and see the sparkling neon lights. (B)
Day 10 - OSAKA–OKAYAMA–KURASHIKI–HIROSHIMA
This morning, drive south to Okayama and visit Koraku-en, one of the “Three Great Gardens of Japan.” The 30-acre garden features ponds, plum groves, and tea fields. The wide lawns, believed to uplift the spirit and promote open mindedness, are unique to Koraku-en and not a traditional feature of Japanese gardens. In Kurashiki, enjoy free time in the Bikan Historical Quarter, once the political and commercial center of the city. The canal-lined, white-washed, stone streets reflect the Edo period (1603-1867) and are quintessentially Japanese. Continue to Hiroshima. (B)
Day 11 - HIROSHIMA
Today’s full day sightseeing includes two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Peace Memorial Park, and Itsukushima Shrine. Start at Peace Memorial Park where you’ll visit the Peace Memorial, commonly referred to as the Atomic Bomb Dome, that is preserved and is just as it was on August 6, 1945, immediately after the bombing. You will also visit the Memorial Museum and Memorial Hall, which commemorate the lives lost that day. For lunch, enjoy the country’s legendary dish of okonomiyaki, a delicious Japanese-style savory pancake. Then, travel to Miyajima Island to visit Itsukushima Shrine, known for its beautiful floating Torii Gate. (B,L)
Day 12 - HIROSHIMA–BIZEN–HIMEJI–KYOTO
Drive north to Bizen, where you’ll visit a traditional pottery workshop to learn more about Bizen-yaki, one of Japan’s six ancient pottery styles dating back over 1,000 years. Stop in Himeji to visit Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture that combines function with elegance. Continue to Kyoto. This evening, you may choose an optional style of accommodation at a traditional Japanese ryokan (additional fee and pre-booking required). (B)ACCOMMODATION HIGHLIGHTFUTON, ANYONE? Choose an overnight stay at a ryokan to fully immerse yourself in the Japanese culture and hospitality. Your ryokan features traditional touches like tatami mat floors, a thin sleeping mattress, and the chance to experience a Japanese-style bath – as well as the modern convenience of a private bathroom. Traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast are included in your stay. Please note, space is extremely limited. You must pre-book this ahead of arriving in Japan for your tour, and an additional fee applies.
Day 13 - KYOTO
Your day begins with a visit to stunning Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion, covered in shimmering gold leaf. Walk through bustling Nishiki Market, a narrow, five block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants. Participate in a tea ceremony, a time-honored tradition, and wonderfully choreographed ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea. After lunch, visit Sanjusajendo Temple, famous for its 1,001 statues of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. Enjoy the late afternoon and evening at leisure. Perhaps stroll through Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district. (B,L)
Day 14 - KYOTO
Full day at leisure to explore more of Kyoto’s historic sites and shrines. Oh, deer! Consider an optional afternoon trip to the expanses of Nara Park, famous for its free-roaming deer who wander freely amid its shrines and temples. (B)
Day 15 - KYOTO
Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Dates
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Operator
Cosmos
For more than 60 years, Cosmos has done something remarkable: Bringing the world to people; and people to the world. By pioneering value touring holidays, Cosmos enjoys a long and storied history of turning travel dreams into reality. We make possible “never thought I would” or “never imagined I could” moments by making travel attainable and easy. And in doing that, we help you expand your horizons, clear your head and open your heart to the world around you. Cosmos understands that adventure is waiting for us – all of us – out in the world. And there simply is no better time than the present to discover new sights, new sensations and new experiences. That’s why we pride ourselves in turning “what if” moments into “I did” realisations by providing wayfarers and wanderers unparalleled access to the globe with value-centric holidays in 67 countries, on six continents. Let the unexpected begin. Let awe-inspiring take over. Adventure is knocking. Cosmos travellers are answering by exploring the world that’s always within reach.
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14 nights
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