Japan & Korea Tour Mystic Routes (Closed Group)
Tour Detail
Sample Hotels
Seoul // Hotel Skypark Central Myeongdong 4* etc
Osaka // Hotel Hankyu Respire Osaka 4* etc
Kyoto // Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo 4* etc
Tokyo // Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo 4* etc
Tour Program
Istanbul - Seoul
Our journey into the enchanting world of the Far East begins at Istanbul Airport International Terminal. After meeting with our tour leader, we complete check-in, baggage drop, and passport procedures, and depart with Turkish Airlines for Seoul, the capital of South Korea. We begin to experience the excitement of two different cultures waiting for us: on one side, modern Korea living with high technology and neon lights, and on the other, Japan with its traditional temples, historic streets, and aesthetic way of life. In the evening, upon our arrival at Seoul Airport, we will complete the entry procedures into the country. Then we will transfer to our hotel with the vehicle waiting for us. Overnight stay and rest at our hotel in Seoul.
Panoramic City Tour
After breakfast at our hotel this morning, we will begin our city tour. Seoul, one of the most developed metropolises in Asia, immediately draws attention with its skyscrapers, crowded streets, and dynamic atmosphere; yet within the city, centuries-old traditions and historic textures are still very much alive. Our first stop will be Gyeongbokgung Palace, the most important administrative center of the Joseon Dynasty. Built in the 14th century, this magnificent palace is one of the most significant symbols of Korea’s royal history. Its spacious courtyards, elegant wooden pavilions, traditional roof architecture, and impressive structure set against the mountain backdrop provide an unforgettable introduction to Korean culture. Next, we will head to the Insa-dong district, famous for its traditional handicrafts, calligraphy shops, tea houses, and art galleries. Here, we will experience the atmosphere where modern Korea and old Seoul blend together, and get a close look at traditional street life. We will then continue to Myeongdong, one of the city’s most popular and vibrant districts. This is not just a shopping area; with its cosmetics stores, street food, fashion boutiques, and energetic urban life, it is a special center where you can truly feel the rhythm of Seoul. As part of today’s program, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. In the evening, we will ascend Namsan Hill, one of Seoul’s most iconic spots. Rising in the middle of the city, this hill is one of the best places to enjoy a panoramic view of Seoul. Here, we will take a walk around N Seoul Tower, enjoy the city from above, and take photo breaks. Especially near sunset, the Seoul view offers an unforgettable atmosphere. At the end of the tour, we will transfer back to our hotel and rest after the long journey.
Discovering Seoul Up Close
After breakfast, we begin to get to know Seoul more closely and from a more local perspective. Today will be a day in which we will see some of the most striking examples of modern Korean life. Our first stop is Gangnam District, made popular worldwide by the song “Gangnam Style.” With luxury stores, high-rise office buildings, design centers, and a modern lifestyle, Gangnam is one of Seoul’s most prestigious neighborhoods. It also represents South Korea’s economic strength and urban lifestyle aesthetics. Next, we visit the Starfield Library, one of the city’s most impressive indoor spaces. With its towering shelves, contemporary architecture, and open design, this is not just a library but also an iconic living space that reflects Seoul’s modern face. After that, we head to the Hongdae district, which reflects Seoul’s young, creative, and energetic spirit. With university students, street performers, live performances, themed cafés, design shops, and its creative atmosphere, Hongdae is one of the city’s most colorful neighborhoods. During our free time here, we will be able to feel Seoul’s street culture up close. One of the most impressive experiences of the day will be the Lotte World Tower observation deck, which offers the opportunity to view the city’s skyline from an extraordinary angle. By going up this tower, one of the tallest structures in the world, we will get a panoramic view of Seoul and see from above how the Han River forms a line through the middle of the city.
Seoul - Osaka
After breakfast at our hotel in Sabah, we transfer to the airport and fly to Osaka, one of Japan’s most energetic cities. Upon arrival, we head to the city center and begin exploring Osaka without delay. Our first stop is Osaka Castle, one of the most important structures in Japanese history. Built in the 16th century, this magnificent landmark is closely associated with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who played a key role in the unification of Japan. The castle’s expansive park grounds and ramparts allow us to see the city’s modern architecture and historical atmosphere in the same frame. Next, we visit Shitennoji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan. Standing since the 6th century, this sacred site is highly important for understanding the historical origins of Japanese Buddhism. And the highlight of the day: Dotonbori. When Osaka is mentioned, this area comes to mind first, famous for its neon lights, colorful signs, giant billboards, the walkway along the canal, and street food. We stop for photos in front of the famous Glico Man sign and soak up Osaka’s lively atmosphere. Guests who wish may shop at the stores in the area and experience Japan’s famous street foods. After the tour, we proceed to our hotel.
Osaka & Kyoto Culture Day
After breakfast, we leave Osaka and head to Kyoto, considered the cultural capital of Japan. Kyoto, which maintained its importance as the imperial capital for centuries, is one of Japan’s most impressive cities with its temples, traditional neighborhoods, historic streets, and elegant atmosphere. Today’s program will give us the opportunity to closely experience both the historical and traditional way of life in Kyoto.
Our first stop will be Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of Kyoto’s most important landmarks. Located on a high point in the city, this impressive temple offers visitors an unforgettable atmosphere with its wooden architecture, spacious terrace, and views of Kyoto. The temple surroundings are also highly impressive with streets that reflect traditional Japanese aesthetics and a historic ambiance.
Next, we will take a walk through the Higashiyama Streets, one of Kyoto’s most characteristic areas. With its stone-paved paths, wooden-fronted shops, traditional tea houses, and souvenir stores, this district is one of the most special places that brings the spirit of old Japan into the present day. During our free time here, you can feel Kyoto’s calm and graceful atmosphere and explore the small shops unique to the area.
Our next stop will be Nishiki Market, where we can closely experience Kyoto cuisine and local life culture. Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” this famous market has a lively atmosphere with fresh produce, local snacks, traditional delicacies, and colorful stalls. Here, we will have the chance to observe Japanese culinary culture more closely.
In the final part of the day, we will visit Gion District, one of Kyoto’s most elegant and well-known areas. With its wooden buildings, narrow streets, traditional tea houses, and historic character, Gion reflects Kyoto’s aesthetic charm carried from the past to the present. If we are lucky, we may also see geisha or maiko in their traditional attire in the area.
At the end of the day, we return to Osaka and transfer to our hotel.
Osaka - Nara - Kyoto
After breakfast, we set off for Nara, one of Japan’s former capitals. Nara, which is highly significant in terms of history and culture, is one of the cities where the foundations of Japanese civilization were laid, and it is a special stop where you can feel the traditional Japanese spirit in its purest form. First, we visit Todaiji Temple, one of the largest wooden structures in the world. The giant bronze Buddha statue inside is one of Japan’s most impressive religious monuments and offers visitors a powerful atmosphere. Afterwards, we allow free time in Nara Park. The park’s most striking feature is the deer that roam freely in the area and are considered sacred in Japanese culture. In this unique setting, we will enjoy being in touch with nature and have pleasant photo breaks. After our visit to Nara, we continue our journey to Kyoto, considered Japan’s cultural capital. This city, which served as the imperial capital for centuries, offers the most elegant examples of Japanese aesthetics with its temples, gardens, and traditional streets. Our first stop in Kyoto is Kinkakuji (the Golden Temple), one of Japan’s most iconic structures with its gold-plated exterior. With its reflection on the pond, this visually stunning building is one of Kyoto’s symbolic landmarks. Next, we head to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, one of Kyoto’s most enchanting natural areas. Our walk among the towering bamboo stalks will be one of the most peaceful and impressive moments of our tour. The Arashiyama area is a special place where nature and traditional Japanese life come together. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel.
Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Gion & Fushimi Jikkoku-Bune
A very special day awaits us today as we explore Kyoto’s most distinctive and photogenic districts. Our first stop is the Fushimi Inari Shrine, one of Japan’s most visited sacred sites. Famous for its thousands of red torii gates, this enchanting shrine complex offers one of Kyoto’s most iconic sights. A walk among the red gates provides an unforgettable experience both visually and spiritually. Next, we move on to the Gion District, one of the areas that best preserves Kyoto’s traditional character. With its wooden buildings, narrow streets, traditional teahouses, and elegant atmosphere, Gion is the old Kyoto brought into the present day. If we’re lucky, we may also see geisha or maiko dressed in traditional attire in the area. After that, one of today’s most special experiences will be the Fushimi Jikkoku-bune Boat Tour. This boat ride along the historic canal route offers a highly romantic and aesthetic experience, especially with the surrounding natural scenery and classic Kyoto atmosphere. This peaceful journey along Kyoto’s waterways is one of the most exclusive parts of the program.
Kyoto - Tokyo - Asakusa - Shibuya
After breakfast, we depart for Tokyo aboard the Shinkansen, one of the fastest and most comfortable train systems in the world. This journey is not only a means of transportation, but also one of the most important experiences of Japanese technology and punctuality. Upon arrival in Tokyo, we begin our city tour. Our first stop is Asakusa / Senso-ji Temple, one of Tokyo’s oldest and most important temples. With its traditional architecture and red lanterns, this area best reflects the historic spirit of Tokyo. As we walk along Nakamise Street in front of the temple, we experience traditional souvenirs, local snacks, and Japanese street culture. We continue our tour by heading to Shibuya, one of the most striking examples of the city’s modern face. With the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, giant screens, and the city’s energy at its peak, this district is one of Tokyo’s icons. Here, we take a photo break in front of the famous Hachiko Statue.
Mount Fuji & Oshino Hakkai
Today we are exploring the area around Mount Fuji, Japan’s symbol and the natural landmark with the strongest spiritual meaning. Standing at 3,776 meters, Fuji is not only the country’s highest peak, but also a sacred natural monument in Japanese culture. Throughout our journey to the Fuji region, we move along with views of mountain landscapes and rural Japan. One of the most special stops of the day is Oshino Hakkai Village, a captivating area with ponds fed by Mount Fuji’s melting snow, traditional houses, and a peaceful atmosphere. Here, we can experience both natural beauty and rural Japanese life at the same time. We then continue to Gotenba Outlet, where we give free time in this large shopping area where we can find both international and Japanese brands.
Kamakura and Yokohama
After breakfast in the morning, we leave Tokyo and head to Kamakura, one of Japan’s historic cities. Once a political center, this city is an important stop in Japanese history with its samurai culture and Buddhist heritage. First, we see the Kamakura Great Buddha, one of Japan’s most impressive symbols. This huge bronze statue, standing in the open air, offers a simple yet very striking atmosphere. During our visit to Kamakura, we feel the city’s traditional street layout and experience the old Japanese spirit as if it were a world apart from modern life. Then we continue on to Yokohama, one of Japan’s most important port cities. With its modern buildings, waterfront, and cosmopolitan atmosphere, Yokohama has a completely different character. The Yokohama Chinatown we will visit here is one of the largest and most colorful Chinese districts in Asia.
Tokyo - Istanbul
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport. Following this unforgettable journey in which we experienced both the dynamic city life of South Korea and the elegant, aesthetic, and cultural depth of Japan, we take our return flight to Istanbul. Our tour, filled with diverse cities, historical heritage, modern life, temples, natural landscapes, and unique cultural experiences, comes to an end with our arrival at Istanbul Airport in the evening.
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class airfare on Turkish Airlines scheduled flights from Istanbul–Seoul / Tokyo–Istanbul
- Airport taxes
- Transportation service between Osaka & Tokyo by Shinkansen
- Economy class airfare and taxes on local airlines between Seoul and Osaka
- 3 nights’ accommodation in 4* hotels in Tokyo with breakfast included
- 2 nights’ accommodation in 4* hotels in Osaka with breakfast included
- 2 nights’ accommodation in 4* hotels in Kyoto with breakfast included
- 3 nights’ accommodation in 4* hotels in Seoul with breakfast included
- Panoramic city tours of Tokyo, Osaka, and Seoul
- All transfers and all tours specified in the tour program
- Transfers between airport – hotel – airport
- Turkish-speaking guide service
- Local guide service with regional meet and greet
- TURSAB mandatory professional liability insurance
- Travel and health insurance (surcharge applies for ages over 65).
- Keta visa
Not Included
- Departure tax
- Meals not specified in the program
- Tours not specified in the program
- Personal expenses
- Driver tips and gratuities are excluded.