Japan & South Korea

Highlights

Our trip begins in the Korean Capital of Seoul where we will visit Gyeongbokung Palace which once boasted 7,000 rooms, stroll the streets of Gangnam District as you try to ignore the “Gangnam Style” ear worm from your inner brain before eating our way through the vibrant stalls of the Myendong Night Market. To cap off our time in Seoul, we will ascend Mt. Nansan for a view upon the top of the Seoul Tower

Prior to leaving Korea, we will take a trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) the 4 km strip of land that divides the Korean Peninsula in half and the countries of North and South Korea.

The tour than transitions to a more reflective pace as we move on to Nagasaki, Japan one of two cities in the world to have experienced a nuclear attack. We will make a sobering visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum and the adjoining Peace Park, which marks the bomb’s epicenter. Prior to leaving Nagasaki, we will climb Mount Inasa to observe the sunset view that is regularly rated as one of the “world’s top three night views”.

From Nagasaki we will travel to the City of Kumamoto, Japan, the capital city Kumamoto Prefecture and home of Kumamoto Castle. Our culinary journey continues here, as the city is known for its rich Tonkotsu Ramen and regional street food cuisine. A scenic day trip will take us to visit Mt. Aso, an active volcano, and the natural wonder of Takachiho Gorge featuring 100-meter-deep basalt cliffs with unique hexagonal columns that resemble dragon scales.

We will board the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) for a swift journey into the heart of the Kansai region visiting the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. In Kyoto, we will explore iconic shrines and temples set against a backdrop of preserved traditional architecture. In Osaka, known as “the nation’s kitchen,” we will continue to sample the many varieties of the local food scene in between visits to Osaka Castle, a symbol of Japanese Unification, and the Osaka Aquarium, one of the largest in the world featuring the diverse sea life of the Pacific Rim.

Our journey concludes with a high-speed bullet train ride from Osaka to the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Over five days, we’ll immerse ourselves in this metropolis of 14 million, from the serene Imperial Palace and Rikugien Garden to the heights of the Tokyo Skytree. We’ll even experience the energy of a Yomiuri Giants baseball game! The trip culminates in a meaningful cultural exchange at a local high school, where Japanese students will personally introduce us to the arts and traditions that define their heritage.

Registration process View all trips