Japan & Korea Adventure Tour With Turkish Airlines 8 Nights ICN-KIX Autumn Foliage Season November 7

ISTANBUL – SEOUL

We meet at the Istanbul Airport international departures terminal three hours before departure. After baggage, ticket, and boarding procedures, our flight with Turkish Airlines TK90 scheduled service begins at 01:45, arriving in Seoul at 18:20 local time. Following baggage claim, we proceed to our waiting vehicle and head to our hotel for free time to rest.

SEOUL

After breakfast, free time. Guests who wish may join the Seoul City Tour (150 €). During our tour, we will see Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong Antique Street, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Myeongdong Street panoramically. Our first stop, Gyeongbokgung Palace, built in 1395, is often referred to as the Northern Palace because it is located furthest north compared to its neighboring palaces, Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeonghuigung (Western Palace). Afterwards, we will visit Bukchon Hanok Village, whose name means Northern Village. Hanoks are Korea's traditional houses, and there are approximately 700 Hanoks in this village. Then, we transfer to Myeongdong, Korea's most famous shopping and fashion district. On this street, filled with shopping and cosmetic stores and many restaurants, you can do your shopping before leaving the country and taste local flavors. After the tour, we transfer back to our hotel in Seoul and have free time to rest. 

SEOUL – TOKYO

After breakfast at the hotel, we fly to Tokyo with local airlines. We begin our city tour of Tokyo with our private bus waiting for us. Upon arrival in Tokyo, after passport and baggage procedures, we depart for the Tokyo city tour with our private vehicle. Our first stop is Shibuya, known as the center of entertainment and cultural experiences. One of Tokyo's most famous and lively districts, Shibuya is home to one of the world's busiest pedestrian crossings (Shibuya Scramble Crossing). For those who want to feel Tokyo's energy, the unique experience of hundreds of people moving at once with every light change is offered. As a popular meeting point for locals and tourists, we will see the Hachiko statue, built in memory of a loyal dog, and many famous shopping malls, and enjoy our free time. Additionally, during our tour, Ueno Park and the panoramic view of Tokyo Tower are among the places we will see. At the end of the tour, we transfer to our hotel and have free time to rest.

Tokyo – Akihabara – Ginza - Tokyo

After breakfast, guests who wish can join the Extra Tokyo & Sensoji & Akihabara & Ginza Tour (150€). First, we visit Sensoji Temple, built in 645 AD, Tokyo's oldest temple and considered one of the city's most important religious centers since the Edo period. After our tour here, we head to Yodobashi Electric Town, where you can find hundreds of electronic brands together at affordable prices. Following the time allocated for shopping, we move on to Ginza, a district that reflects the sophisticated side and elegance of modern Japan. After visiting this area, filled with world-famous brands, Tokyo's largest shopping malls, and top restaurants, we will have free time for lunch. At the time announced by our guide, we will transfer back to our hotel and have free time to rest.

Tokyo – Mount Fuji – Hakone – Lake Ashi – Oshino Hakkai – Gotemba Outlet – Tokyo

After breakfast, guests who wish may join the Extra Mount Fuji & Hakone & Oshino Hakkai Tour (200€). We set off to visit Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain and one of the symbols of the city, located on Honshu Island in the southwest of Tokyo. First, we head to Hakone, a region in Kanagawa Prefecture famous for its views of Mount Fuji and natural beauty. Here, together with our guests, we take a boat tour on Lake Ashi to enjoy this magnificent scenery. After a photo stop, we continue by bus to Oshino Hakkai, an area where melting snow combines with underground waters to form natural pools. The water naturally filtered through volcanic rocks creates pools of crystal clarity. These pools, varying in size and depth, offer stunning reflections of Mount Fuji. After our guided tour, we head to Gotemba Premium Outlets, one of Japan's largest outlet shopping centers. At the time determined by our guide, we transfer back to our hotel and have free time to rest.

Tokyo – Shinkansen (High-Speed Train)– Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi - Osaka

After breakfast, we will depart from our hotel at the time set by our guide and head to the train station for our journey to Osaka on the world-famous Shinkansen (high-speed train). We will only take our daily essentials with us. (Our large suitcases will be separately transferred to our Osaka hotel via a transfer company arranged by our agency.) After approximately two and a half hours on the high-speed train, which can reach speeds of up to 320 km/h, we arrive in Osaka. We then begin our city tour of Osaka, Japan's second-largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. Among the sights to see is the Umeda Sky Building, consisting of two structures each 173 meters long. The Umeda Sky Building comprises two towers, each 173 meters high and 40 stories tall. These towers are connected at the top by an "observatory platform." During our tour, we will ascend to the observatory on the 39th floor and enjoy the panoramic view of Osaka. Following the Umeda Sky Building, we will proceed to the Dotonbori district, which gained fame during the Edo period for its theater stages and performing arts and has now evolved into a vibrant and entertaining tourist attraction that blends traditional Japanese culture with modern entertainment. Osaka is known as Japan's culinary capital, and the Dotonbori district is filled with restaurants that uphold this title. After enjoying some leisure time in the area, we will transfer back to our hotel and have free time to rest.

Transportation between Tokyo and Osaka will be conducted via high-speed train to ensure time savings and comfort. For today, guests need only bring hand luggage sufficient to meet their needs for one night. Large suitcases will be collected from the hotel and directly delivered to the accommodation hotel in Osaka.

Osaka – Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – Kinkakuji Temple – Kiyomizu-dera – Fushimi Inari – Osaka  

After breakfast, our guests who wish may join the Extra Kyoto & Bamboo Forest & Kinkakuji Temple & Kiyomizu-dera & Fushimi Inari Tour (200€). We set off for Kyoto, Japan's former capital and one of the best-preserved centers of traditional culture, famous for its temples, gardens, and traditional neighborhoods. After approximately one hour of travel, we begin our city tour. During World War II, Kyoto was the only city in Japan that was not bombed. The city is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Our city tour begins at Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Visitors are welcomed by a 500-meter walking path. Along this route, you will enjoy pleasant moments listening to the sound of the wind passing through the bamboo grove and take photos of the forest. Next, we continue with our visit to Kinkakuji Temple. Located in northern Kyoto, Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen temple whose top two floors are entirely covered in gold leaf. The impressive structure overlooking a large pond features each floor representing a different architectural style. Then we proceed to Kiyomizu-dera. Kiyomizu-dera is an independent Buddhist temple located in eastern Kyoto. As one of the historic monuments of ancient Tokyo, the temple has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Just below the main hall is the Otowa waterfall, whose waters flow into a pond through three channels. According to belief, these channels symbolize wisdom, health, and longevity, respectively. Next, we move to another important temple in the city, Fushimi Inari. Famous as one of Japan's most renowned Shinto shrines and particularly known for its thousands of orange Torii gates, after visiting this shrine, we proceed to our final stop: Fushimi Inari Taisha, which is also listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Following our temple visit with a beautiful view of Kyoto, we transfer back to our hotel and have free time to rest.

Osaka – Nara – Tea Ceremony – Osaka

After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish can join the Extra Osaka Castle & Nara and Tea Ceremony Tour (200€). We depart for this tour. Our tour begins at Todaiji Temple. Built in 752 with the purpose of being the head of all Buddhist temples, over time its influence grew, and by the 8th century it began to affect politics as well. The main hall of Todaiji has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest wooden structure. This massive building houses one of Japan's largest bronze Buddha statues (Daibutsu). Next, we visit Nara Park, a large park located in the center of Nara. Established in 1880, the area is home to most of Nara's main attractions, including Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji, and the Nara National Museum. It also hosts hundreds of freely roaming deer. After taking photos with the deer wandering around, we participate in a traditional Tea Ceremony while wearing Kimono, Japan's local attire. After enjoying our leisure time in the region, we transfer back to our hotel and have free time to rest. Following the temple visit, we transfer to our hotel and have free time to relax.

Osaka – Outlet - Istanbul

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel. First, we visit Osaka Castle. Osaka Castle is a five-story castle with a history dating back approximately 450 years; it is not only one of the country's most visually magnificent creations but also a beautiful testament to traditional Japanese architecture, from its delicate color balance to the elegant patterns and shapes adorning each floor. After viewing Osaka Castle from the outside, we enter the large Outlet to complete our final shopping. We are transferred to the airport at the time announced by our guide. With our arrival in Istanbul at 05:50 local time the following day, we conclude our tour.

We look forward to meeting again on another journey.