Classic Japan & South Korea Tour with Turkish Airlines, 7 Nights (ICN-NRT)

1st Day ISTANBUL – SEOUL We meet at Istanbul Airport international departures terminal three hours before the flight (one day before the flight date). We complete baggage, ticket, and boarding procedures. 2nd Day SEOUL Our flight to Seoul begins with Turkish Airlines scheduled service. Upon arrival in Seoul, we meet our private vehicle waiting for us at the airport and transfer to our hotel for free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel. 3rd Day SEOUL – OSAKA After breakfast at the hotel, we take our panoramic Seoul city tour. Among the places we will see are Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Korean National Folk Museum, Insadong Antique Street, and Myeongdong Street. At the end of the tour, at the time announced by our guide, we transfer to Seoul Airport for our Osaka flight. After passport and baggage procedures, our flight to Osaka begins with local airlines. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel in Osaka and free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel. 4th Day OSAKA After breakfast at the hotel, we take our panoramic Osaka city tour, the second largest metropolitan area in Japan after Tokyo. On our tour, we will see Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century and played an important role in the unification of the Japanese nation, Umeda Sky Building, a 173-meter-long structure made up of two buildings, Dotonbori, and Shinsaibashi. We then depart for our visit to Umeda Sky Building. It is a magnificent skyscraper located near Osaka and Umeda stations. The 173-meter-tall building consists of two towers connected by the “Floating Garden Observatory” on the 39th floor. The observatory offers splendid views of the city from its windows and open-air deck. Afterwards, the rest of the day is free. Guests who wish may join our optional Hiroshima tour (120 Euro). After the transfer by bullet train, we arrive in Hiroshima. On our Hiroshima city tour, we will see Hiroshima Peace Memorial from the outside. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, is located in Hiroshima, Japan, and is one of the components of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Since 1996, it has been one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is one of the main places commemorating those who lost their lives in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Afterwards, we will see Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The park is dedicated to Hiroshima, the world’s first city to be subjected to a nuclear attack, where the death toll had reached 140,000 by the end of 1945. Before the bombing, the area now known as Peace Park was the political and commercial heart of the city, which is why it was chosen as the target by the pilot. Four years after the bombing, it was decided not to rebuild the area and instead dedicate it to peace memorial facilities. After also visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, we transfer to Hiroshima train station. After the bullet train transfer, we return to our hotel in Osaka and have free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel. 5th Day OSAKA – KYOTO After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for our Osaka Castle tour. This five-story castle has a history dating back nearly 450 years and is not only one of the most visually magnificent creations in the country, but also a fine testament to traditional Japanese architecture, from its subtle color balance to the elegant patterns and shapes adorning each floor. At the end of the tour, we transfer to Kyoto and have the whole day free. Guests who wish may join our optional Nara Deer Park & Todaiji Temple & Kofukuji Temple & Fushimi Inari Temple tour (170 Euro). We begin our tour with Todaiji Temple. Built in 752, the temple was intended to be the head of all Buddhist temples. Over time, its influence grew and it began to affect politics in the 8th century as well. Todaiji’s main hall has entered the record books as the largest wooden structure in the world. The enormous building houses one of Japan’s largest bronze Buddha statues (Daibutsu). Then we visit Nara Park, a large park in the center of Nara. It is home to many of Nara’s main attractions, including Todaiji, Kofukuji, and the Nara National Museum. It is also home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. After the chance to take photos with the deer roaming around, we visit Kofukuji Temple. Finally, we visit Fushimi Inari Shrine. It is one of Kyoto’s most famous landmarks. Dedicated to the Shinto faith, this shrine is especially famous for its thousands of red torii gates. After our tour, transfer to our hotel in Kyoto and free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel. 6th Day KYOTO After breakfast at the hotel, the whole day is free. Guests who wish may join our full-day optional Kyoto City Tour: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Kinkakuji & Kiyomizudera Temples & Gion & Japanese Tea Ceremony (180 Euro). We begin our city tour with Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. The bamboo forest welcomes visitors with a 500-meter walking path. During this walk along the path, you will enjoy the sound of the wind passing through the bamboo and will be able to take photos of the forest. We then continue with our visit to Kinkakuji Temple. Located in northern Kyoto, Kinkakuji Temple is a Zen temple whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf; it is also known as the Golden Pavilion. Overlooking a large pond, each floor of the impressive structure represents a different architectural style. After free time, we visit Kiyomizudera (Pure Water) Temple, founded in 780 on the site of Otowa Waterfall in the forested hills east of Kyoto and named after the pure waters of autumn. Our last stop on the tour is Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Boulevard between Yasaka Shrine to the east and the Kamo River to the west. Here we will have the opportunity to watch the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony performed by maiko. After our tour, transfer to our hotel in Kyoto and free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel. Note: On the morning of the tour day, when leaving the hotel, you need to take a small one-day bag with you. All other belongings left at the hotel will be transferred to the Tokyo hotel one day earlier, as the next day we will travel from Kyoto to Tokyo by bullet train. 7th Day KYOTO – TOKYO After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Tokyo by bullet train. Guests who wish may join our optional Mount Fuji & Ashi Lake Boat Tour & Hakone tour (180 Euro). With a height of 3,776 meters, Mount Fuji, which earned its place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2013, is the highest mountain in Japan. It is known for its elegant conical shape. It is the sacred symbol of the country, and there are temples and shrines around and on the volcano. If weather conditions permit, you will enjoy the magnificent view of Mount Fuji, which we will reach via the fifth station, and experience a wonderful atmosphere above the clouds. Then we depart for our Hakone tour. One of the most distinctive features of Hakone is the unique view it offers thanks to its close location to Mount Fuji. Here, we will enjoy this magnificent scenery together on our Ashi Lake boat tour. Then we go up to Owakudani Hill by cable car and have the chance to admire the beauty of the Hakone valley from this hill. At the end of the tour, transfer to our hotel in Tokyo and free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel. 8th Day TOKYO After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for our Tokyo city tour. Our first stop on the tour will be Asakusa Temple, also known as Sensoji Temple, one of Tokyo’s oldest and most colorful temples, located in Asakusa. According to legend, it was built by two fisherman brothers to pay respect to the goddess of mercy, Kannon. Completed in 645, the temple is entered through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), leading to Nakamise, a shopping street over 200 meters long. At the other end of the street is the second gate of the temple, Hozomon. During our stop on the shopping street, you can buy typical Japanese souvenirs such as various kimonos and folding fans, or taste various traditional local snacks from the Asakusa area. We continue our tour with a visit to Meiji Shrine, an important Shinto shrine where you can find peace amid Tokyo’s vibrant city life and closely experience Japanese culture and history. Built in 1920 in memory of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, the shrine’s entrance features massive torii gates that impressively welcome visitors. Then we visit the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in Shibuya, one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, the capital of Japan. Located in one of the busiest parts of the city amid business and shopping centers, it is known as the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing. Afterwards, guests who wish may join our optional teamLab Digital Art Museum & Ginza tour (100 Euro). This museum, which has the distinction of being the world’s first digital art museum, will make you feel as though you are in a fantastic world. TeamLab, an interactive digital art museum located in Tokyo’s Toyosu district, combines technology and art to offer visitors a sensory and emotional experience. This unique venue creates an immersive artistic world using elements such as water, light, movement, and sound. TeamLab Planets focuses on the theme of “Body Immersive.” In this concept, visitors do not merely look at the artworks; they become part of them. In areas visited without shoes, an environment is created where moving barefoot enhances the sensory experience. Then we head to Ginza, Tokyo’s most famous luxury shopping, dining, and entertainment district, home to many stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, and cafés. From 1612 to 1800, the area that is now Ginza was the site of a silver coin mint, and thus got its name, which means “silver mint” in Japanese. Finally, we end our tour with a photo stop at Tokyo Tower. At the end of the tour, transfer to our hotel in Tokyo and free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel. 9th Day TOKYO – ISTANBUL After breakfast at the hotel, we check out of our rooms and transfer to Tokyo Airport for our flight to Istanbul. After baggage, passport, and ticket procedures, we depart on Turkish Airlines scheduled service. Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, our tour and services come to an end. ADVANTAGEOUS OPTIONAL TOURS 650 Euro Hiroshima (120 Euro) + Nara Deer Park & Todaiji Temple & Kofukuji Temple & Fushimi Inari Temple (170 Euro) + Kyoto City Tour; Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Kinkakuji & Kiyomizudera Temples & Gion & Japanese Tea Ceremony (180 Euro) + Mount Fuji & Ashi Lake Boat Tour & Hakone (180 Euro) + teamLab Digital Art Museum + Ginza (100 Euro) Hotel check-in times are between 15:00 and 17:00 / Check-out times are between 10:00 and 12:00. Departure and arrival times are local times. Flights marked with * arrive at the destination on the following calendar day after the departure date. Prices are not valid for groups; please ask for our special prices. For easier and faster transportation, the Kyoto-Tokyo transfer will be made by train. During these transfers, guests are required to take a small one-day bag with them on the morning of the day specified in the program, before leaving the hotel, so that they can travel comfortably and do not have to carry their luggage. The remaining belongings will be transferred from Kyoto to the hotel in Tokyo. The Mount Fuji fifth station tour will be carried out depending on weather conditions. Hotel rooms in Japan are mostly twin rooms (two separate single beds). Guests who purchase our tour are deemed to have accepted this rule. Due to the small size of hotel rooms, triple accommodation (3 adults) is not available. To enter Japan, guests must create an account on the “Visit Japan Web” page at the link below and upload their passport, flight, etc. information to this account. Visit Japan Web: https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/ Guests traveling to Korea must apply for and obtain approval via the website (www.k-eta.go.kr) or the mobile app (K-ETA) no later than 1 month before boarding the plane. In addition, the Consulate General cannot assist you during the K-ETA application process. In order to follow the visa procedures properly, it is recommended to apply 40 days before the tour departure. For those whose K-ETA applications are rejected, the visa application link and the steps to follow are below: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/tr-istanbul-tr/brd/m_8764/view.do?seq=761645&page=1 TK 90 20MAR ISTICN 02:15 18:20 TK 51 27MAR NRTIST 10:15 17:50 TK 90 24MAY ISTICN 01:45 17:40 TK 51 31MAY NRTIST 10:35 17:45