Sakura Dreams with South Korea

From there, we’ll enjoy a walk through this lively district before heading to a local restaurant for dinner (included). We’ll return to the hotel by subway, accompanied by our guide.

This city is somberly remembered for the atomic bombing it endured in 1945. We’ll walk through the Peace Memorial Park, see the Atomic Bomb Dome, and visit the powerful Peace Memorial Museum. Afterward, you’ll have free time for lunch. Following lunch, we’ll head to the outskirts of Hiroshima to board a ferry for a short 15-minute journey to Miyajima, the “the island where gods and men live together.” We’ll visit the iconic Itsukushima Shrine, dedicated to the guardian of the seas and partially built over the water. You’ll have time to explore the shrine and stroll through the island’s charming center.

We’ll take a cable car or chairlift to visit its impressive castle. Afterward, we’ll visit Ishiteji, a stunning Buddhist temple and important pilgrimage site. Lunch will be included. Later in the afternoon, we’ll include admission to Dogo Onsen, a traditional Japanese bathhouse built in the 19th century.

We’ll visit a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of sailors, a pilgrimage site located on Mount Zozu, accessible by climbing 785 steps. For those who prefer not to climb, the base of the mountain offers a lively tourist area and a small sake museum (Japan’s traditional distilled beverage).

We’ll stop for lunch along the way. This magical pilgrimage site is home to 120 temples and monasteries. We’ll visit the Okuno Mausoleum, a deeply spiritual place and vast cemetery set in nature, with over 200,000 graves. We’ll also visit the Kongobuji Temple, built in 1593. We will spend the night in a Buddhist monastery. The monks will guide us through a Zen meditation practice (Ajikan). Dinner will be included (vegetarian meal). If you wish, you can also attend the religious ceremony at the temple before breakfast.

We’ll spend the entire day exploring this historic city, which served as Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868 and was the seat of the Imperial Court. Remarkably, Kyoto was spared from bombing during World War II, allowing it to retain its incredible artistic and cultural heritage. The famous Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions was signed here in 1997. Our tour will cover some of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks, including the Kinkakuji Temple—commonly known as the "Golden Pavilion"—surrounded by its stunning gardens and the Imperial Palace. Free time for lunch. Afterwards, visit the breathtaking Shinto Shrine of Fushimi Inari. Transfer to Gion will be included. This lively, traditional district is renowned for its Geisha culture and offers a glimpse into Kyoto’s historic charm. Enjoy free time to explore. The return to the hotel will not be accompanied; we recommend taking a taxi, and the guide will provide instructions on how to do so.

Its surroundings, architecture, gardens, and spiritual ambiance make it a key training center for monks who practice Zazen meditation and follow a strict daily diet.

We’ll visit three main attractions: the Dinosaur Museum, located at Japan’s largest dinosaur fossil site, where you’ll have free time for lunch and to explore its educational exhibits, featuring over 40 skeletons of various dinosaurs. Afterwards, we’ll visit the Great Buddha of Echizen and its grand temple, along with a five-story pagoda, which we can climb to enjoy the view.

In the morning, we’ll include a city tour. Throughout history, Kanazawa rivaled both Kyoto and Tokyo, and during World War II, it was spared from destruction during the air raids. We’ll visit the castle area, with its impressive walls, and stroll through the historic Nagamachi district, where samurais and their families once resided. This area preserves its historical atmosphere with remaining residences, earthen walls, private entrance gates, narrow alleys, and water canals. We’ll include admission to Kenrokuen, one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. We’ll finish the tour in Omicho, a traditional market brimming with life and many places to have lunch. The return to the hotel will be on your own. We recommend taking a taxi, and your guide will explain how to do so. Free afternoon.

We’ll journey through stunning mountain scenery, forests, and traditional villages as we explore the Gokayama and Shirakawago regions. These villages are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and their traditional houses with steeply sloped roofs are known as “praying hands” for their resemblance to monks´ hands joined in prayer—designed to withstand heavy winter snowfalls.

These buildings were relocated from their original sites to create this museum in 1971, offering a glimpse into everyday life from the past through the tools and utensils exhibited. We’ll then have time to explore the old town, known for its wooden houses and traditional shops.

We’ll stroll through the charming old town. This city’s festival has been declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, known for its large drums and beautifully decorated floats. We’ll include admission to the museum, which showcases the festival’s floats, costumes, and drums.

Visit to this temple, considered one of the most beautiful in the country and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The temple houses seven National Treasures of Korea and is a masterpiece from the height of Buddhism during the ancient Silla Kingdom.

Visit to this coastal city, the former capital of the Silla Kingdom, which lasted longer than any other dynasty in Korean history, for a total of 992 years under the rule of 56 kings. We will have the opportunity to photograph the beautiful wooden Woljeonggyo Bridge along the Namcheon River. Lunch included. We then continue to the Tumuli Park, where the tombs of the kings of the ancient Silla Kingdom, more than 1,500 years old, are located. We will visit one of these tombs (entrance included). Walking, we will reach Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory, the oldest in East Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Before heading to the hotel, we will visit Dongsan Cheongna Hill, a historic site where Christian missionaries once lived, and Dongseong-ro Shopping Street, the city’s liveliest area, with fashion shops, cafés, and restaurants, as well as the Yangnyeongsi Museum of Traditional Medicine (entrance included), famous for its history of medicinal herbs in Eastern medicine.

We will visit the traditional village of Hahoe Village (admission included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located on the outskirts of the city. Free time to stroll through the streets of this rural village that seems frozen in time. We will also visit the excellent World Mask Museum, featuring masks used for dances, medical practices, religious ceremonies, and theatrical performances. Lunch included at a local restaurant.

Observatory visit: From this viewpoint, it is possible to see North Korean territory at a very short distance across the river. This is a truly unique experience.

Arrival at the border area that divides South Korea and North Korea. We will visit the National Memorial and Mangbaedan Altar, the Imjingak Pavilion, a symbol of peace, and take a cable car ride (included) to observe from above the areas near the Military Demarcation Line. Finally, we will visit the Freedom Bridge, a former railway bridge over the Imjin River that, after the war, was used to return prisoners of war to South Korea. Today, it stands as a historic symbol of hope. This site allows us to understand Korean history from a human perspective: family separation, war, the hope for reunification, and the contrast between natural beauty and historical wounds.

Departure to Seoul Later, with our guide, we will visit the City Hall building, known for its wave-like (tsunami-shaped) design. Across from City Hall is Deoksugung Palace, where we can appreciate the coexistence of tradition and modernity in Korea. We will then walk to the Myeongdong district, the country’s largest commercial and entertainment area; its name means “bright tunnel.” Dinner included at a local restaurant. Return by Seoul’s modern subway system (ticket included).

We will visit Changdeokgung Palace (entrance included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a palace complex set within a large park. Afterwards, we will stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional historic neighborhood of small, well-preserved houses. We will then visit the War Memorial of Korea (entrance included), an impressive museum that illustrates the conflicts experienced by Korea throughout its history, especially the Korean War, in which soldiers from many countries participated under the United Nations.

To conclude the day, we stop at LOTTE WORLD TOWER, an impressive 550-meter-tall building, where you will have free time to go up to the tower (admission not included) or to stroll through its park or luxury shopping centers.

Important note regarding Bukchon Hanok Village: Due to regulations established to protect the residential environment, our vehicle may only park in designated areas, and we will complete an approximate 900-meter walk to reach this historic neighborhood. For operational reasons, this visit may be replaced by Namsangol Hanok Village, also featuring traditional Korean architecture, ensuring the cultural content of the itinerary is maintained.

Arrival in the former capital of Korea, known for its impressive UNESCO World Heritage-listed fortress walls. We will visit the walls and their fortifications, as well as the Hwaseong Haenggung Summer Palace (entrance included), notable for its traditional architecture. Lunch included at a local restaurant.

Arrival. This traditional village is located at the foot of Amisan Mountain. With its hanok houses and courtyards filled with large earthenware jars known as hang-a-ri, it is home to expert gochujang (Korean chili paste) artisans who use traditional methods. We will enjoy a hands-on experience learning how this traditional sauce is prepared.

Arrival. Visit to the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest (entrance included), whose paths are considered among the most beautiful in the country—ideal for peaceful walks and enjoying the cool breeze. We will find all kinds of bamboo-crafted products, and visit places such as the Bamboo Museum (entrance included), where this plant is studied and revered. Lunch included, featuring the local specialty of rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk.

Amid impressive forest-covered mountain landscapes, we arrive at Haeinsa, one of the most important Buddhist temples in Korea and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 802, it houses the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, carved onto 80,000 wooden printing blocks.

Visit of this 14th-century Buddhist temple located on the coastal cliffs of Busan. Along the main access path to the temple, there is a row of stone statues representing the twelve figures of the Chinese zodiac, which, according to Eastern philosophy, are considered guardian deities.

We will visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (entrance included), where people from many different countries are buried. We will then head to the largest fish market in the country, located next to Nampo Port. Lunch included at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we walk to Yongdusan Park, home to its impressive 120-meter pagoda.

We then continue to one of Busan’s most picturesque neighborhoods, Gamcheon Cultural Village, filled with brightly colored buildings, labyrinth-like alleyways, art galleries, pottery workshops, and charming cafés.