Flower and Sun of the Far East: "South Korea and Japan" | May 16 – May 25, 2027
THE FLOWER AND SUN OF THE FAR EAST: "SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN"
SEOUL (2 NIGHTS) - OSAKA (1 NIGHT) - NARA - KYOTO (2 NIGHTS) – HAKONE - TOKYO (2 NIGHTS)
ALL CITY TOURS, TEAM LABS DIGITAL ART MUSEUM, KIMONO RENTAL, TEA CEREMONY AND ENTRANCE FEES INCLUDED. FLIGHT BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN INCLUDED
EXPERIENCE TRAVEL ON THE WORLD'S FIRST HIGH-SPEED TRAIN, SHINKANSEN, INCLUDED
ISTANBUL Q SEOUL > Sunday, May 16, 2027
Meeting at 13:50 in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport's international departures terminal. After our ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we will fly to Seoul on Turkish Airlines flight TK20 at 16:50. We will spend the night on the plane.
Q SEUL > Monday, May 17, 2027
Arrival at Seoul Incheon Airport at 08:35 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, we begin our tour with the vehicle waiting for us at the airport. Our first stop on the tour is Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built in 1395, it is not only the largest of the Five Grand Palaces constructed by the Joseon Dynasty but also considered the most beautiful and magnificent. Continuing our tour, we have the opportunity to view the Blue House and Gwanghwamun Square panoramically. After the sightseeing, we proceed to Insadong Street, famous for its traditional tea houses, art galleries, and souvenir shops. After free time for lunch, we continue our tour with N Seoul Tower, a communication tower and observatory. After reaching the tower via cable car, we will enjoy panoramic views of the city from its highest point. Next, we visit Myeongdong Street, one of Korea's most popular shopping and fashion streets. After exploring this vibrant area filled with cosmetic stores, local restaurants, and international brands, we transfer to our hotel. We complete check-in procedures and settle into our rooms. Overnight stay at our hotel in Seoul.
SEOUL > Tuesday, May 18, 2027 > (K)
After breakfast at our hotel, our first stop will be Aegibong Ekopark. Located in the only Demilitarized Zone between South Korea and North Korea, Aegibong Peace Ecological Park stands out as a symbol of peace and harmony. The confluence of the Han River with the Jogang River, which connects different histories and cultures, makes this location even more meaningful. From here, we will have the opportunity to observe the North Korean Propaganda Village on the opposite bank of the Han River and North Korean farmers working in the fields. Additionally, we will have the chance to enjoy our coffee at Korea's first and only Starbucks with a view of North Korea. We will be able to see North Korean territory and the border line from the observatory. Then, we set off to see the Gangnam Style Statue. Afterward, we visit Starfield Library, located within the same complex. Our next stop is Bongeunsa Temple, which has a history dating back 1200 years. As a cornerstone of Korean Buddhism, Bongeunsa attracts tourists with its large statues, including one of Seoul's largest, Maitreya, and its library housing 3479 sacred Buddhist texts. Our next destination is Namsangol Hanok Village. Situated at the foot of Namsan Mountain, this village offers visitors a sense of traveling back in time with its restored traditional "hanok" houses, peaceful gardens, and authentic atmosphere. Here, we will have the opportunity to closely observe Korean living culture, architectural details, and traditional layouts. After our tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel in Seoul.
SEOUL Q OSAKA > Wednesday, May 19, 2027 > (K)
At the time announced by our guide, we will complete check-out procedures and transfer to the airport. We fly to Osaka on flight KE723 at 09:35. We land at Osaka Kansai Airport at 11:20 local time. After passport and baggage procedures, we begin our Osaka tour from the airport with our vehicle. Our tour starts at Kuromon Ichiba Market. This large market features vendors selling street food, fresh fruits and vegetables, shellfish, and souvenirs; we are given free time for shopping and lunch. Next, we visit Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century and playing a significant role in the unification of Japan. The castle is located within a park covering approximately two square kilometers, featuring abundant green spaces, sports facilities, a multi-purpose arena (Osakajo Hall), and a mausoleum dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After free time, we see Dotonbori, which has become Osaka's entertainment district. Following visits to Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi, the city's main shopping area, we transfer to our hotel. We complete check-in procedures and settle into our rooms. Overnight stay at our hotel in Osaka.
OSAKA → NARA → KYOTO > May 20, 2027 Thursday > (K)
After breakfast at our hotel, we will complete check-out procedures and depart for the Nara Tour and Kyoto Tour. Our Nara tour begins with Todai-ji Temple. In addition to being the world's largest wooden structure, Todai-ji houses the Daibutsu, the world's largest Buddha statue. Following Todai-ji, we visit Nara Park, a public park located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa. Established in 1880, it is one of Japan's oldest parks. The park is home to over 1,200 wild Sika deer roaming freely, which is why Nara Park is also known as Deer Park. After our Nara excursion, we continue our journey toward Kyoto. Upon arrival in Kyoto, we will visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, a Shinto shrine said to have been founded by Hata-no-Iroko in 711. Continuing our tour, we visit Kiyomizu Temple, listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List under "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto." After completing our temple visit offering panoramic views of the city, we enjoy a pleasant walk through Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka streets, lined with traditional Japanese houses, tea houses, and souvenir shops. At the end of the tour, we transfer back to our hotel, complete check-in procedures, and settle into our rooms. Overnight stay at our hotel in Kyoto.
KYOTO > Friday, May 21, 2027 > (K)
After breakfast at our hotel, we continue to the Kyoto Tour. Our tour begins with a visit to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. In this grove, which features a 500-meter walking trail, you will be able to walk, listen to the sounds created by the wind passing through the bamboo, and feed wild monkeys. Our next stop will be Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. The temple is internationally recognized as a perfect example of Kitayama garden design art. Thanks to these features, it has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1994 as an important cultural asset of the former capital, Kyoto. After free time for lunch at Nishiki Market, we experience a tea ceremony while wearing Kimonos specially prepared for our guests. At the end of the day, we take a short walk in the Gion district, where you will feel the traditional side of Kyoto in the most impressive way. After this part of our tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel in Kyoto.
Kyoto to Hakone to Tokyo > Saturday, May 22, 2027 > (K)
After completing our check-out procedures from our hotel in Kyoto early in the morning, we embark on a pleasant journey from Kyoto to Mishima Station aboard Japan's famous Shinkansen high-speed train. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to enjoy the stunning landscapes of the Japanese countryside. Upon arrival at Mishima, we transfer to the Hakone area via our private vehicle. Here, we join a boat tour on Lake Ashi, where we will experience a magical immersion in nature. On clear days, we may also catch a glimpse of the unique silhouette of Mount Fuji from the lake. After the boat tour, you can take photos during the free time in the area and enjoy the natural surroundings. Later, we head to Gotemba Premium Outlet, one of Japan's most popular shopping destinations. There, we will have the chance to shop for international brands at affordable prices while enjoying views of Mount Fuji. At the end of the day, we depart from Gotemba and transfer to Tokyo, considered the heart of Japan. In the evening, we check into our hotel in Tokyo and settle into our rooms. Overnight stay at our hotel in Tokyo.
Note: Large suitcases collected this morning will be transferred by cargo to our hotel in Tokyo and will reach us the following day. Therefore, please bring only essential items for tonight in a small bag.
TOKYO > Sunday, May 23, 2027 > (K)
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Tokyo Tour. The first stop on our tour will be Asakusa Temple, also known as Senso-Ji Temple, one of Tokyo's oldest and most colorful temples and a Buddhist sanctuary. Also called Santa-jama (Temple of the Three Gods), this temple attracts significant interest from both tourists and locals. It is one of the rare temples in Tokyo that survived the bombing raids in the final year of World War II, which is why the building's original structure remains intact. Built in 1649, legend has it that the temple was constructed to honor three deified brothers who discovered a statue of the goddess Kannon in a river. We will also see Nakamise, a shopping street in the area. Next, we continue our tour with a visit to Akihabara, one of Tokyo's most famous neighborhoods worldwide. Akihabara is an extremely busy shopping district renowned for its diverse range of electronics stores, from small stalls to large shopping malls. Known as the Electronics City, after our tour of Akihabara, we have free time for lunch. Afterwards, we visit TeamLab Planets Digital Art Museum, which showcases some of the most impressive examples of digital art, allowing us to step into what feels like a virtual universe. One of the most unforgettable stops of our tour, TeamLab Planets is not just an exhibition; it is an interactive digital art universe created with light, sound, water, color, and movement. Then, we move to Ginza, Tokyo's most luxurious shopping district, where we experience the modern atmosphere of Tokyo up close. At the end of the day, we return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel in Tokyo.
TOKYO ISTANBUL > May 24, 2027 Monday > (K)
After having breakfast at our hotel, we will complete our check-out procedures and continue to the Tokyo Tour. First, we head to Harajuku and Takeshita Street, known for its youth-oriented independent boutiques and cafes. In this area, famous for colorful boutique shops, anime-themed cafes, and street food delights, an enjoyable exploration awaits us. Next, we proceed to Shibuya Crossing (Shibuya Scramble Crossing), one of the first images that come to mind when Tokyo is mentioned. After taking a photo break at one of the world's busiest pedestrian crossings, we visit the Hachiko Statue, renowned for its loyalty. From there, we move to the Shinjuku district. Taking a short walk, we experience the dynamic atmosphere and modern city energy of the area. At the time determined by our guide, we transfer to Tokyo Haneda Airport. After completing our ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we fly to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK199 at 21:45. Our overnight stay will be on the plane.
Q Istanbul > Tuesday, May 25, 2027
Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 05:05 local time and the end of our tour. We say goodbye, looking forward to meeting again on our next enjoyable trip.
Explanations of abbreviations >>> (K): Breakfast | (A): Dinner | (Ö): Lunch
What's Included
Round-trip economy class air tickets on the Istanbul-Seoul/Tokyo-Istanbul route with Turkish Airlines scheduled flights
One-way economy class air ticket on the Seoul/Osaka route with Korean Airlines scheduled flights
Airport taxes
Journey from Kyoto to Hakone via Shinkansen high-speed train
Total 7 nights accommodation in 4-star hotels as specified or similar
Morning breakfasts as specified in the program
Aegibong Ecopark tour
Seoul Tours (Gangnam Style Statue, Starfield Library, Bongeunsa Temple, N Seoul Tower, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsangol Hanok Village, Insadong Street, Shopping time on Myeongdong Street)
Osaka Tour (Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi)
Kyoto Tour (Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkakuji Temple, Nishiki Market, Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka, Kiyomizu Temple, Gion)
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Tour
Nara Tour (Nara Park, Todaiji Temple)
Tokyo Tour (Asakusa Temple, Nakamise, Akihabara, TeamLab Planets Digital Art Museum, Ginza, Harajuku, Takeshita Street, Shibuya Crossing, Hachiko Statue)
Hakone Tour
Outlet Tour
Kimono Rental
Tea Ceremony
TeamLab Digital Art Museum
Airport – hotel – airport transfers
All tours and entrance fees as specified in the program
Turkish-speaking guide service
Professional liability insurance (in accordance with Law No. 1618)
Not Included
Exit tax
K-ETA South Korea electronic travel authorization
Personal expenses
Travel health insurance
All services not explicitly included in the tour program
Tips (5 EUR per person per day, to be collected by the guide)