Best of Japan

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1-3 • Seoul

  Visit Seoul’s hanok village, a time capsule of heritage architecture. You’ll witness pomp, ceremony (and extreme hats) during the changing of the guard at Gyeongbok Palace, the largest and grandest of Seoul’s palaces. Begin your Korean culinary education at Gwangjang Market, where an elderly Korean imo may bring you a bowl of what she thinks you should eat. Tuck into an evening KBBQ (Korean barbecue) and learn where to put your chopsticks and when to cheers soju cups (always). Spend a day with your Insider guide in Seoul. In the morning, you’ll visit the Cheonggyecheon stream – a slice of natural calm in built-up Seoul that our team can’t stop talking about. You’ll learn just how much of Seoul and Korean history flows within its waters and is built into its bridges. Don’t be surprised if you’re offered nuts to chew under the bridge to ward off spirits. In the afternoon, you’ll get to experience what’s hot right now in Seoul: it could be a building transformed into a living terrarium, a festival dedicated to lights, or an emerging neighborhood with pop-up bars on every corner. On your final day in Seoul you’ll have a chance to explore the city under your own steam. Your Insider will give you tips, based on what interests you most. If you’re into museums, Seoul has some of the quirkiest: from its traditional furniture museum to Leeum Art Museum – where exhibitions stretch from ceramics and calligraphy to contemporary art and a sunken basement garden. Or, you can head over to local hotspot Seongsu, known as the 'Brooklyn of Seoul', packed out with vintage stores, cafes in converted warehouses and pop up shops and installations so fleeting, by the time you read this, the latest will be long gone.

• Day 4 • Day trip to Chuncheon

  On day four you'll escape the city and head east from Seoul to the charming, lesser-known region of Chuncheon, a place famous for Nami Island, but with so much more to experience. Long before overseas travel was common in Korea, Chuncheon was the destination for university trips, friendships, and even romances. The old train line became known as the “Love Train,” and today you can relive that nostalgia on the Gangchon Rail Bike, pedaling through themed tunnels and mountain scenery. After your ride, take a short, scenic boat journey across Soyang Lake and eat lunch: crispy jeon (Korean pancakes), fried mountain ginseng, and the local favorite, makgeolli rice wine. Next, follow the gentle mountain trail to Cheonpyeongsa Temple. Along the way, you’ll pass a statue from the legend of the Princess and the Snake and a waterfall. At the temple, take in over a thousand years of history and the tranquil atmosphere of Korea’s mountain monasteries before returning to Seoul’s bright lights.

• Day 5-6 • Busan

  Coastal Busan is the city of colorful neighborhoods and a whole lot of cool. It’s where South Koreans head for the weekend. You’ll tour the city with your guide, starting at Jagalchi – where downstairs you’ll find live tanks of otherworldly sea pineapples and giant crabs, and upstairs there are kitchens cooking up the day’s catch. At Busan’s sea temple, Haedong Yonggungsa, you’ll spot turtle and Buddha statues as you ascend, with epic views to reward your mountain path walk. Back in central Busan, during your free time, we suggest relaxing at Spa LAND, a high end Jjimjilbang with 13 saunas to choose from, and (if you’re feeling brave) a traditional Korean scrub!

• Day 7-8 • Gyeongju

  Founded in 57 BC, Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla Kingdom for nearly a thousand years. Today, it's fondly known as ‘the museum without walls’, clustered with more historical sites than any other city in South Korea, including UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bulgksa Temple. Take time to explore Hwangridan-gil, an artsy corner of the ancient city, where you can shop for crafty souvenirs, check out the street art, or sip cocktails on a hanok roof. Just outside the city, you'll visit a nearby folk village that dates back to the Joseon dynasty, surrounded by juniper trees in the remote foothills. It’s a chance to capture Korean traditional life in a village where people live and work today – it’s not just set up to please tourists.

• Day 9-10 • Seoul

  Return to Seoul for your final afternoon to explore. In contrast to the start of the trip, you’ll stay in Hongdae to see a different side to the city: an up-tempo neighborhood, where K-Pop hopefuls perform dance routines in the streets. You’ll sleep in a hotel with a vinyl and magazine library, a Michelin-starred chef menu, and a skate park in the basement (if that doesn’t sell it, we don’t know what will!) Make the most of your last chance to grab some final K-Beauty products and Korean snacks. We'll enjoy our final meal together – to say geonbae before you fly.