South Korea & Japan
Compare the natural landscapes of two countries that seamlessly blend modern ways of life with ancient customs.
Explore where cutting-edge technology meets traditional art forms in Seoul and Tokyo, and find tranquility in Busan and Kyoto. Round out your trip with even more interactive experiences, like seeing a kimono show, visiting T.um VR Station theme park, and making kimchi.
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Day 1: Fly overnight to South Korea
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Day 2: Seoul
Meet your Tour Director at the airport -
Day 3: Seoul
Immerse yourself in Korean culture at HiKR Ground
Travel by bullet train to Busan
Visit Gamcheon Culture Village
Explore the white sands of Haeundae Beach
Visit Dongbaekseom Island and the Nurimaru APEC House
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Day 4: Seoul • Busan
Visit Haedong Yoggungsa Temple
Explore the UN Memorial Cemetery and Peace Memorial Museum
Visit Taejongdae Park
Enjoy a cable car ride over Songdo Beach
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Day 5: Busan
Travel by bullet train to Seoul
Visit the Odusan Unification Observatory and learn about the division of North and South Korea
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:
Taekwondo class
Learn all about Taekwondo in the country this highly recognizable martial art originates from. Learn from professional instructors and discipline your body and mind as you learn principal moves like jireugi (first strike), makgi (defense), chagi (kick), and jjikgi (strike).
Take a walking tour along the Yeouido Han River
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Day 6: Busan • Seoul
Take a tour of Seoul
With your Tour Director, you will:
- see the Blue House—the residence and office of the President of South Korea
- visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, where you’ll witness a guard-changing ceremony
Visit the Bukchon Hanok Village
Take a walking tour of the Insa-dong neighborhood
Participate in a kimchi-making class
Visit the Museum Kimchikan
View Seoul from the top of N Seoul Tower
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Day 7: Seoul • Osaka • Kyoto
Fly to Osaka, and then travel to Kyoto
Take a guided tour of Nara
Visit Todaiji Temple
Visit the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
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Day 8: Kyoto
Take a guided tour of Kyoto
Visit Nijō Castle, where the Tokugawa shogunate kept a second home
Explore the Golden Pavilion, a Zen Buddhist temple
Take a tour of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
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Day 9: Kyoto • Tokyo
Travel by bullet train to Tokyo
Tour Tokyo with an expert local guide
Visit the Meiji Shinto Shrine
Explore the Asakusa Kannon Temple
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Day 10: Tokyo • Fuji-Hakone-Izu region
Enjoy Tour Director-led sightseeing of the awe-inspiring Mount Fuji
Visit Lake Saiko, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, and the reconstructed village of Iyashi no Sato Nenba
Explore the Fugaku Fuketsu wind cave and Narusawa Hyoketsu ice cave
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Day 11: Depart for home
Add 3 more days
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Day 11: Tokyo • Sapporo City
Fly to Sapporo City
Take a tour of Sapporo City
With your Tour Director you will visit:
- Asahiyama Observatory
- Sapporo TV Tower
Stop for a photo at Japan's oldest clock tower
Stop for a photo at Lake Shikotsu
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Day 12: Sapporo City
Take an in-depth tour of Shikotsu-Toya National Park
Visit the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park and learn about Ainu history and culture in Japan
Visit the Nijo Seafood Market
Explore Noboribetsu Hell Valley and Oyunuma Pond, a natural hot spring
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Day 13: Sapporo City • Otaru • Tokyo
Visit a local dairy farm in Otaru
Fly back to Tokyo
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Day 14: Depart for home
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Day 1: Fly overnight to South Korea
-
Day 2: Seoul
Meet your Tour Director at the airport -
Day 3: Seoul
Immerse yourself in Korean culture at HiKR Ground
Travel by bullet train to Busan
Visit Gamcheon Culture Village
Explore the white sands of Haeundae Beach
Visit Dongbaekseom Island and the Nurimaru APEC House
-
Day 4: Seoul • Busan
Visit Haedong Yoggungsa Temple
Explore the UN Memorial Cemetery and Peace Memorial Museum
Visit Taejongdae Park
Enjoy a cable car ride over Songdo Beach
-
Day 5: Busan
Travel by bullet train to Seoul
Visit the Odusan Unification Observatory and learn about the division of North and South Korea
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:
Taekwondo class
Learn all about Taekwondo in the country this highly recognizable martial art originates from. Learn from professional instructors and discipline your body and mind as you learn principal moves like jireugi (first strike), makgi (defense), chagi (kick), and jjikgi (strike).
Take a walking tour along the Yeouido Han River
-
Day 6: Busan • Seoul
Take a tour of Seoul
With your Tour Director, you will:
- see the Blue House—the residence and office of the President of South Korea
- visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, where you’ll witness a guard-changing ceremony
Visit the Bukchon Hanok Village
Take a walking tour of the Insa-dong neighborhood
Participate in a kimchi-making class
Visit the Museum Kimchikan
View Seoul from the top of N Seoul Tower
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Day 7: Seoul • Osaka • Kyoto
Fly to Osaka, and then travel to Kyoto
Take a guided tour of Nara
Visit Todaiji Temple
Visit the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
-
Day 8: Kyoto
Take a guided tour of Kyoto
Visit Nijō Castle, where the Tokugawa shogunate kept a second home
Explore the Golden Pavilion, a Zen Buddhist temple
Take a tour of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
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Day 9: Kyoto • Tokyo
Travel by bullet train to Tokyo
Tour Tokyo with an expert local guide
Visit the Meiji Shinto Shrine
Explore the Asakusa Kannon Temple
-
Day 10: Tokyo • Fuji-Hakone-Izu region
Enjoy Tour Director-led sightseeing of the awe-inspiring Mount Fuji
Visit Lake Saiko, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, and the reconstructed village of Iyashi no Sato Nenba
Explore the Fugaku Fuketsu wind cave and Narusawa Hyoketsu ice cave
-
Day 11: Depart for home
Add 3 more days
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Day 11: Tokyo • Sapporo City
Fly to Sapporo City
Take a tour of Sapporo City
With your Tour Director you will visit:
- Asahiyama Observatory
- Sapporo TV Tower
Stop for a photo at Japan's oldest clock tower
Stop for a photo at Lake Shikotsu
-
Day 12: Sapporo City
Take an in-depth tour of Shikotsu-Toya National Park
Visit the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park and learn about Ainu history and culture in Japan
Visit the Nijo Seafood Market
Explore Noboribetsu Hell Valley and Oyunuma Pond, a natural hot spring
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Day 13: Sapporo City • Otaru • Tokyo
Visit a local dairy farm in Otaru
Fly back to Tokyo
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Day 14: Depart for home
Reviews
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Your experience includes
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Airfare & transportation
Round-trip flights on major carriers; comfortable motorcoach; internal flight (3 with extension); 3 bullet train rides
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Hotels
9 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms (12 with extension)
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Regional-style meals
Dinner on arrival day; breakfast and dinner Days 3–10 (Days 11–13 with extension); breakfast on departure day (lunch on Day 12 with extension)
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Guided sightseeing
2 sightseeing tours led by licensed local guides; 3 sightseeing tours led by your Tour Director (5 with extension); 2 walking tours
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Entrances
HiKR Ground; Gamcheon Culture Village; Haeundae Beach; Dongbaekseom Island and Nurimaru APEC House; Haedong Yonggungsa Temple; UN Memorial Cemetery and Peace Memorial Museum; Taejongdae Park; cable car ride; Odusan Unification Observatory; Gyeongbokgung Palace; Bukchon Hanok Village; Museum Kimchikan; N Seoul Tower; Nara; Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine; Nijō Castle; Golden Pavilion; Meiji Shinto Shrine; Asakusa Kannon Temple; Lake Saiko and Iyashi no Sato Nenba; Fugaku wind cave; Narusawa ice cave; (with extension: Asahiyama Observatory; Sapporo TV Tower; Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park; Noboribetsu Hell Valley and Oyunuma Pond; dairy farm)
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Full-time Tour Director
Your culturally connected Tour Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all on-tour logistics.
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Expert Local Guides
Your expert local guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and global perspective on your sightseeing tours.
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Continuous Support
Your dedicated EF team helps you every step of the way—from recruiting and enrolling travelers to planning and managing your tour.
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Worldwide Presence
EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide so wherever you go, we're there too.
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24-hour Emergency Service
Travelers and their families can count on EF's dedicated emergency service team.
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Peace of Mind Program
Feel secure knowing your group can change their destination or travel dates due to unforeseen circumstances. Learn more about your flexible options at eftours.com/peaceofmind.
Lowest price
Price is valid for students under the age of 20 at the time of travel that room in triples and quads. Minimum participation is required. Change and cancellation fees of up to the total price will apply. Applicable airline baggage fees are not included and can be found at www.eftours.com/baggage. Program price is valid today only.
Price displayed includes an Early Enrollment Discount; restrictions apply. To determine if you qualify, please contact your Tour Consultant. Tours departing between 10/1/2023 and 9/30/2024 may be eligible for a $100 discount. Tours departing 10/1/2024 and beyond may be eligible for a $200 discount; restrictions apply.