Elegant Japan and South Korea Tour - Including Extra Tours - with Turkish Airlines
Day 1 ISTANBUL – SEOUL
We meet three hours before departure at the international departure terminal of Istanbul Airport. We complete our luggage, ticket, and boarding procedures.
Day 2 SEOUL
Our flight to Seoul with Turkish Airlines starts. After arriving in Seoul, we proceed to our private bus waiting for us at the airport. After that, we transfer to our hotel in Seoul and have free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 3 SEOUL – GANGNAM SQUARE – SEOUL
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to Gangnam Square. Meaning "south of the Han River," Gangnam is the third largest district in Seoul. After gaining popularity due to PSY's "Gangnam Style," places like Cheongdam Fashion Street, Gangnam Station, Bonguensa Temple, and Starfield Library will be seen panoramically. After our shopping, dining, and photo break, we will transfer back to our hotel in Seoul and have free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 4 SEOUL – OSAKA
After breakfast at the hotel, we set out for a full-day Seoul city tour. During our tour, we will see Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea, Insadong Antique Street, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Myeongdong Street panoramically. Our first stop is Gyeongbokgung Palace, built in 1395, often referred to as the Northern Palace due to its position being furthest north compared to neighboring palaces Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeonghuigung (Western Palace). Then, we will visit the National Folk Museum of Korea. The museum gives visitors an insight into the lives, arts, and cultural developments of the Korean people throughout various periods. Subsequently, we will tour Bukchon Hanok Village, meaning Northern Village. Hanok refers to traditional Korean houses, and there are approximately 700 Hanoks in this village. After that, we will transfer to Myeongdong, Korea's most famous shopping and fashion area. You can shop for cosmetics and enjoy local delicacies before departing the country. We will transfer to Incheon Airport for our flight to Osaka. After passport and luggage transactions, our flight with a local airline begins. Upon arrival, we will proceed to our private vehicle waiting for us and transfer to our hotel in Osaka. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 5 OSAKA – OSAKA CASTLE – DOTONBORI & SHINSABASHI – OSAKA
After breakfast at the hotel, we will carry out our city tour in Osaka, Japan's second-largest metropolis after Tokyo. Our tour will include Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century and which played a crucial role in unifying the Japanese nation, two structures of 173 meters long called Umeda Sky Building, Dotonbori, and Shinsaibashi. Osaka Castle is a five-story castle with a history nearly 450 years old and is considered one of the visually most magnificent creations in the country, not only for its exquisite color balance but also for the elegant patterns and shapes adorning each floor, showcasing traditional Japanese architecture. After that, we will carry out a tour of Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi, a historically significant theater district, now characterized by its eccentric atmosphere and neon signs, making it a popular nightlife, shopping, and entertainment area. After the tour, we will transfer back to our hotel in Osaka. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 6 OSAKA – HIROSHIMA – OSAKA
After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer to Hiroshima by bullet train. In Hiroshima, we will first have a panoramic view of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and is a primary site commemorating those who lost their lives due to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. After that, we will see the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The park is dedicated to the city of Hiroshima, which suffered a death toll of 140,000 by the end of 1945 and is the first city in the world to be subjected to a nuclear attack. Before the bomb, the area, now the Peace Park, was the political and commercial heart of the city, thus chosen as the target by the pilot. Four years after the bombing, it was decided not to redevelop the area and instead dedicate it to peace memorial facilities. After viewing the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, we will transfer to Hiroshima train station. After transferring back to Osaka by bullet train, we will arrive in Osaka and transfer to our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 7 KYOTO – NARA – KYOTO
After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Nara. Upon arrival, we will embark on a panoramic tour of Nara. We will start our tour at the Todai-ji Temple, built in 752. The temple was created to be the head of all Buddhist temples and over time has grown in influence, beginning to impact politics in the 8th century. The main hall of Todai-ji is registered as the world's largest wooden structure, housing one of Japan's largest bronze Buddha statues (Daibutsu). After that, we will visit Nara Park, a large park in the center of Nara established in 1880, which includes many of Nara's main attractions such as Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofuku-ji, and Nara National Museum. The park is also home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. After the chance to take photos with these wandering deer, we will transfer back to our hotel in Kyoto and have free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 8 KYOTO – ARASHIYAMA – KINKAKUJI & KIYOMIZUDERA TEMPLES – GION – KYOTO
After breakfast at the hotel, we will set out for a full-day panoramic Kyoto city tour. During World War II, Kyoto was the only place in Japan that was not bombed. The city of Kyoto is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our city tour will begin with Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Upon visiting the bamboo grove, we will be greeted by a 500-meter walking trail. During this walk, you'll have a chance to enjoy the pleasant sounds of the wind through the bamboo and capture pictures of the forest. After that, we will continue with the Kinkaku-ji Temple tour. Located in Northern Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen temple whose upper two floors are entirely covered in gold leaf. The magnificent structure overlooking a large pond showcases different architectural styles at each level. Subsequently, we will visit the Kiyomizu-dera (Clear Water) Temple, established in 780, located near the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto. After that, we will transfer to Gion, Kyoto's most famous geisha district located between Yasaka Shrine to the east and the Kamo River to the west around Shijo Boulevard. After the tour, we will transfer back to our hotel in Kyoto and have free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 9 KYOTO – LAKE ASHI – HAKONE – MOUNT FUJI – TOKYO
After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer to Kyoto train station to continue our journey to Tokyo. Upon reaching Hakone, we will set off for our tour of Hakone & Mount Fuji. As Japan’s highest mountain at 3,776 meters, Mount Fuji became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 and is known for its elegant conical form. It is a sacred symbol of the country with temples and shrines located around and on the volcano. Weather permitting, we will enjoy a stunning view of Mount Fuji from above the clouds using the fifth station. Afterward, we will proceed with our tour of Hakone. A notable feature of Hakone town is its close proximity to Mount Fuji, offering a unique view. Here, we will conduct our Ashi Lake Boat tour to savor this magnificent view. After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel in Tokyo and have free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel.
Note: On the day of the tour, you need to bring a small bag for the day when leaving the hotel. All other belongings left at the hotel will be transferred from Kyoto to the hotel in Tokyo.
Day 10 TOKYO – ASAKUSA – NAKAMISE – GINZA – SHIBUYA – TOKYO
After breakfast at the hotel, we will set off for a full-day Tokyo city tour. During our panoramic tour of Tokyo Imperial Palace, it has been built as the residence of the Imperial Family, surrounded by trees, flowers, moats, and Japan's natural scenery in the center of Tokyo. The Imperial Palace has served as the residence of successive emperors since 1868. We will take a photo break at Tokyo Tower. Later, we will visit Asakusa Temple, also known as Senso-ji, the oldest and most colorful temple in Tokyo, located in Asakusa. According to legend, it was constructed by two fisherman brothers in reverence to the goddess of mercy, Kannon. Completed in 645, the temple is accessible through a gate called Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), leading to a shopping street called Nakamise that is over 200 meters long. At the end of the street, it leads to a second gate of the temple called Hozomon. During our break on Nakamise, you can shop for typical Japanese souvenirs like kimonos and folding fans or taste various traditional local snacks from the Asakusa region. Then we will move to Ginza, the most famous luxury shopping, dining, and entertainment district in Tokyo, hosting numerous shops, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, and cafes. Ginza got its name from the silver coin mint that was located there from 1612 to 1800. Continuing our tour, we will visit what is known as the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, the Shibuya Crossing, located in the vibrant Shibuya district, one of the busiest regions of the city with many business and shopping centers. At the end of the tour, we will transfer back to our hotel in Tokyo and have free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 11 TOKYO – ISTANBUL
After breakfast at the hotel, we will check out from our rooms and transfer to Tokyo Airport for our flight to Istanbul. After completing luggage, passport, and ticket procedures, we will have our flight with Turkish Airlines. We spend our night on the plane. Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, our tour and services come to an end.
Museum, Historical Sites, and Temples Entrance Fees and Local Guides + Tourist City Taxes
195€ per person
***To be paid to our guide during the tour***
TK 90 ISTICN 01:45 17:40
TK 51 NRTIST 10:25 17:40
07 DECEMBER TK 90 ISTICN 02:15 18:20
16 DECEMBER TK 51 NRTIST 10:15 17:50
25 JANUARY TK 90 ISTICN 02:15 18:20
03 FEBRUARY TK 51 NRTIST 10:15 17:50
15 FEBRUARY TK 90 ISTICN 02:15 18:20
24 FEBRUARY TK 51 NRTIST 10:15 17:50
14 MARCH TK 90 ISTICN 02:15 18:20
23 MARCH TK 51 NRTIST 10:15 17:50
18 MARCH TK 90 ISTICN 02:15 18:20
27 MARCH TK 51 NRTIST 10:15 17:50
11 APRIL TK 90 ISTICN 01:45 17:40
20 APRIL TK 51 NRTIST 10:35 17:45
12 APRIL TK 90 ISTICN 01:50 17:40
21 APRIL TK 51 NRTIST 10:25 17:40
16 APRIL TK 90 ISTICN 01:50 17:40
25 APRIL TK 51 NRTIST 10:25 17:40
25 JUNE TK 90 ISTICN 01:45 17:40
04 JULY TK 51 NRTIST 10:35 17:45
26 JUNE TK 90 ISTICN 01:45 17:40
05 JULY TK 51 NRTIST 10:25 17:40
03 JULY TK 90 ISTICN 01:45 17:40
12 JULY TK 51 NRTIST 10:25 17:40
01 OCTOBER TK 90 ISTICN 01:50 17:40
10 OCTOBER TK 301 NRTIST 21:25 04:40*
05 OCTOBER TK 90 ISTICN 01:50 17:40
14 OCTOBER TK 51 NRTIST 10:25 17:40
15 OCTOBER TK 90 ISTICN 01:50 17:40
24 OCTOBER TK 301 NRTIST 21:25 04:40*
18 OCTOBER TK 90 ISTICN 01:50 17:40
27 OCTOBER TK 51 NRTIST 10:15 17:50
06 NOVEMBER TK 90 ISTICN 02:15 18:20
15 NOVEMBER TK 51 NRTIST 10:15 17:50
(The return flight of the November 8 group will depart from the HANEDA airport.)
08 NOVEMBER TK 90 ISTICN 02:15 18:20
17 NOVEMBER TK 199 HNDIST 22:05 05:40*
4* Central Hotels
Seoul / 4* Seollago Hotel Myeongdong etc.
Osaka / 4* Hotel Bloemen North Hanazonoor etc.
Kyoto / 4* S-peria Hotel Kyoto etc.
Tokyo / 4* Tmark City Hotel Tokyo Omori etc.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Our tour program is organized with a minimum participation requirement of 30 people. If adequate participation is not achieved, the last cancellation notification date will be 20 days before the tour departure. Tours canceled due to insufficient participation will be notified to you through your agency.
In cases where the tour is conducted despite insufficient participation, the guiding may be in English.
When only the category information is provided in the tour program without specifying names and/or multiple options are available for the same destination, the hotel(s) will be informed by your agency 48 hours before the movement of the trip.
Triple rooms are provided depending on the availability of hotels, and in these types of rooms, the bed allocated for the third person is smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. Since extra beds are those that can be opened and closed and are referred to as coach beds, tour participants accept that they agree to the potential discomfort and bed type that could occur in the rooms, especially for reservations of the third person and/or children. Child discounts are valid for a single child corresponding to the age group staying with 2 adults. No bed guarantee is provided for children aged 0-2 in hotels.
Breakfasts included in the tour services are generally offered with a limited menu consisting of butter, jam, bread, tea or coffee, suitable to the breakfast culture of the country, and may be served in a separate hall assigned for the group.
Since the tour flights are group tickets, the flight times may change. You can confirm the current flight details with your agency. The updated hours will be communicated by your agency through the tour information.
It is necessary to confirm the tour flight times before taking the domestic flight. If guests have purchased domestic connection flights from a different product provider independent from the agency, they cannot request any refund from the agency in case the tour is canceled or flight times change. Guests accept, in advance, that they will be responsible for any financial and moral losses that may arise from the cancellation or alteration of the tour upon purchasing the tour. The agency cannot be held responsible for guests who may miss international flights due to potential delays, flight cancellations, etc., as they booked their domestic flights independently.
According to airline rules; if return tickets purchased as round trip are not used for the outbound flight, the return flight will be canceled by the airline.
Guests who are included in the tour without flights must ensure that they are present at the tour starting point without any delays using their own means. Otherwise, they will be responsible for all their own transfers.
Guests who do not appear at the airport on time as per the stipulated times according to airline regulations, do not complete check-in and boarding procedures on time, or complete the procedures on time but cannot board the plane are not the responsibility of the agency for non-availability of the flight. Those who miss their flight will bear all expenses related to obtaining the necessary new round-trip airplane tickets and transfers in the destination area etc.
Participants in the tour are responsible for their personal belongings, bags, suitcases, passports/identity cards, and the agency is not responsible for forgotten/lost/stolen items. In the event of forgotten items being found, there is no obligation to deliver them to the country and/or to the person, nor are the costs incurred for delivery the responsibility of the item's owner.
In cases of illness, loss or theft, as the integrity and continuity of the group is paramount, the guide cannot accompany guests in such negative situations on a one-on-one basis.
It is mandatory to provide the correct name, date of birth, and passport number as it appears on the passport when purchasing the tour. Tickets will be issued based on this information. Any penalty fees resulting from incorrect information will be charged to you.
Some airlines may impose charges for food/drink and online check-in services.
Seat numbers in bus usage during the tour cannot be guaranteed.
During our tours, the times reported by our guide to the guests are when the vehicle’s wheels are scheduled to start turning. Our guide, who is responsible for ensuring equal rights for all guests, will move the vehicle without waiting at the meeting hours. In case of any delays, late guests must find their own means of transport to the next stop.
Extra tours are organized with a minimum participation requirement of at least 20 people by the local agency we work with. If the required number is not reached, tours cannot be conducted, or extra tour prices, content, and the vehicle to be used may vary according to the number of participants. Additionally, the days and times of the tours may be changed by the guide according to the open/closed status of museums and historical sites at the places to visit and according to weather conditions. Different guides may accompany guests during extra tours.
In classic packages where extra tours are not included, participation in extra tours is optional and not mandatory. Passengers who do not wish to participate in extra tours organized during the tour agree to wait at a suitable rest facility along the way. These passengers will be dropped at a roadside rest facility before the extra tour begins and picked up from the same point after the completion of the tour.
In programs where extra tours are included, entrance fees for museums & historical sites must be paid to your agency during the reservation or to the guide during the tour.
Participants accept that they will pay the pre-announced amount related to the local guide, museum & historical site entrance fees, city taxes, possibly audio system costs for tours, and they have been fully informed regarding this matter.
The agency acts as an intermediary between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the La Hague Protocol of 28.09.1955. There may be a risk of delays on scheduled and charter flights, or flight times may change before the existing trip and flight. The agency is obliged to communicate these changes as soon as possible. Our passengers have purchased the tour knowing and accepting that their flight details may change.
VISA
• There is no visa requirement for Turkish Republic citizens to enter Japan, but it is necessary to obtain a K-ETA approval or visa to enter Korea. Applications for visas must be made with a passport valid for at least 8 months from the end of the trip.
Passport police have the authority to deny you entry into the country. The agency is not responsible for this situation; the responsibility lies with the passenger.
All guests (regardless of age and passport type) must apply for K-ETA and carry the printouts with them.
Due to torn, damaged, wet, and/or similarly damaged passports, in order to avoid issues with customs police at the border of the countries to be visited; these passports need to be renewed, and if a country that applies for visas to T.C. citizens applies to the said visa, it must be on the new passport. In the opposite scenario, the passenger has the responsibility.
We recommend that guests under the age of 18, when traveling alone or with only one parent, be aware that they might be asked for a document showing the consent of both parents at the entry-exit points by the police officer.
What's Included
One-way economy class flight ticket from Seoul (ICN) to Osaka (KIX) with local airlines (20kg baggage allowance),
Airport taxes
9 nights accommodation with breakfast in 4* hotels
Airport-hotel-airport transfers
All city transfers with our private buses
Bullet train tickets between Kyoto and Tokyo
Bullet train tickets from Osaka to Hiroshima and back
Tokyo City Tour
Shibuya Pedestrian Crossing Tour
Hakone Tour
Mount Fuji Tour
Ashi Lake Boat Tour
Kyoto City Tour
Nara Tour
Osaka City Tour
Seoul City Tour
Han River Boat Tour
Professional Turkish-speaking guiding and assistance services
TURSAB professional liability insurance
Not Included
Travel health insurance
Lunch and dinner not specified in the program
All personal expenses and hotel extras
Museum & site entrance fees
International exit fee
Driver tips 10 Euro per person (optional)
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