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Flight Inclusive Price from UK
- Trip length: 16 days, with 14 nights in South Korea and Japan
- Travel style: Two countries, guided sightseeing, private trip
- Starts and ends: Starts in Seoul, ends in Tokyo
- Included: Flights, hotels with breakfast, private transfers in Korea, trains in Japan and guided sightseeing in five cities
- Best time to go: Spring and autumn, the best seasons in both countries
- Protection: Fully ATOL & Travel Trust protected
- One dedicated specialist from first enquiry until you’re home
- Specialists with 10+ years’ tailor-made travel experience
- Private trips, never group tours
- 24-hour support while you’re away
- Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot
- Hakone - Mount Fuji
- Hiroshima
- Japanese Alps
- Kanazawa
- Kansai - Mount Koya
- Kansai - Nara
- Kyoto
- Kyushu
- Osaka
- Shikoku
- Tokyo
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South Korea & Japan
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul
Mount Fuji view
Seoul view
Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo
Geisha, Kyoto
South Korea & Japan
Two countries in one trip, from Seoul’s palaces and Korea’s ancient capital Gyeongju to Kyoto, Mount Fuji and Tokyo, with guided sightseeing in five cities.
Start with two nights in Seoul, with guided visits to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Museum of Korea and N Seoul Tower. Travel south by private vehicle via Yongin Folk Village to Songnisan National Park and Beopjusa Temple, then spend two nights in Gyeongju among its royal tombs, Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto.
After a night in Busan, with guided visits to Jagalchi Fish Market and Unmunsa Temple, fly to Osaka and continue to Kyoto for four nights, including Kinkaku-ji and Gion. A night in Hakone, with dinner and a Lake Ashi cruise, comes next, before you finish with three nights in Tokyo.
Like all our trips, it’s easy to adjust: add nights where you’d like longer, upgrade your hotels or change the route to suit you.
Tell us your dates and we’ll price this trip for you, or tailor it around your interests.
Or call 0333 7000 747 (Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm)
What’s Included
- Flights: International flights from the UK to Seoul, returning from Tokyo, including airline taxes, plus a flight from Busan to Osaka
- Accommodation: 14 nights in hotels, with daily breakfast and dinner in Hakone
- Transport: Private vehicle transfers in South Korea, private airport transfers in Japan, the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Odawara and the Romance Car from Hakone to Tokyo
- Sightseeing: Guided sightseeing in Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, Kyoto and Tokyo
- Experiences: Yongin Folk Village, Mount Songnisan and Beopjusa Temple, and a 2-day Hakone Free Pass with the Owakudani Ropeway and a Lake Ashi cruise
- Protection: Fully ATOL & Travel Trust protected
Your Route
- Seoul – 2 nights
- Songnisan National Park – 1 night
- Gyeongju – 2 nights
- Busan – 1 night
- Kyoto – 4 nights
- Hakone – 1 night
- Tokyo – 3 nights
14 nights in South Korea and Japan, plus an overnight flight out. Depending on the airline, your flight home may also be overnight.
Is this a private trip, and can I change it?
It’s a private trip built around your dates, not a group tour on fixed departures. Guides show you round Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, Kyoto and Tokyo, and you travel by private vehicle in South Korea. The rest of the time is yours. You can change anything: add nights, swap places, upgrade hotels or slow the pace, and we’ll reprice it for you.
When is the best time to go?
Spring (late March to May) and autumn (October and November) are the most comfortable times, with mild weather, cherry blossom in spring and autumn leaves later in the year. Both are popular, so it pays to book early.
June to mid-July is the rainy season, and July and August are hot and humid. Winter is cold and clear, quieter in the cities, and good for snow in the north. Golden Week, from late April to early May, is one of Japan’s busiest holiday periods, so we usually plan around it.
Which airlines do you use?
You fly out to Seoul and home from Tokyo, with a short flight from Busan to Osaka in between. We’ll suggest the best airlines for your dates, and we can book flights from regional UK airports.
The flight out is overnight, so you arrive the day after you leave. Most flights home from Tokyo land in the UK the same day, though some connecting flights are overnight.
What are the hotels like?
In the cities we choose well-run hotels close to the main stations, which makes travelling by train much easier. Boutique hotels are rare in Japanese cities, so many are modern business-style hotels. They’re spotless and efficient, but the rooms are small, especially in Tokyo. Check-in is usually from 3pm and check-out around 10 or 11am. On most trips you can upgrade to superior or deluxe hotels.
What’s it like staying in a ryokan?
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. You sleep on futons laid out on tatami mats, dinner is usually a multi-course kaiseki meal, and most have hot spring baths. The baths are often shared and separated by gender, and some still don’t allow visible tattoos. If that’s a concern, we can choose a ryokan with a private bath. We can add a ryokan night to any trip.
How do the trains work, and what about luggage?
Japan’s trains are fast, punctual and easy to use, and all the rail travel on your itinerary is booked or included for you.
Big suitcases are the one awkward part. On the main bullet train routes, a large case (over 160cm when you add up height, width and depth) needs a seat with an oversized luggage space, which we can arrange. Many travellers send their main case ahead to the next hotel instead. It usually arrives the next day and costs a few thousand yen per bag, so you only need a small bag on the train.
Do I need a visa?
UK passport holders don’t currently need a visa for a holiday in Japan. Your passport needs to be valid for your whole stay. Entry rules can change, so check the latest FCDO travel advice before you go, and if you hold a different passport, ask us. For South Korea, check the FCDO advice for the current rules on electronic travel authorisation (K-ETA) before you go.
Do I need cash, and should I tip?
Cards are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants in the cities, but Japan still uses more cash than the UK, especially in smaller towns, at temples and in local restaurants. Cash machines in 7-Eleven stores accept UK cards. Tipping isn’t part of Japanese culture, and leaving money on the table can cause confusion, so there’s no need to tip. Tipping isn’t expected in South Korea either.
How do I pay, and is my money protected?
We take a deposit to confirm your booking, and the balance is due before you travel. Your quote shows the exact amounts and dates.
Every holiday with flights is ATOL protected (ATOL T9762), and we’re members of the Travel Trust Association (U5660), so the money you pay us is protected. We also strongly recommend taking out travel insurance as soon as you book.
What happens if something goes wrong while I’m away?
You’ll have a 24-hour emergency number for your whole trip. During office hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm UK time, you can also call our team on 0333 7000 747.
Who are Jasmine Holidays?
We’re an independent UK tour operator, arranging tailor-made holidays since 2007. You deal with one specialist from your first call until you’re home, and our clients rate us 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
View itinerary in detail
To get a feel for the trip, choose one of the options below to view a sample day-by-day itinerary. This will open in a new window.
All of our Japan holidays are completely tailor-made, so this is simply a starting point.
We can of course adjust the route, hotels and pace to suit your plans.
Contact Us
Have a question about this trip, or would you like it priced for your dates? Our specialists are happy to help.
Call us on 0333 7000 747
Lines open Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm, with 24-hour support while you’re away.
Prefer email? sales@jasmineholidays.co.uk
South Korea & Japan
South Korea & Japan
Discover the best of South Korea and Japan on this 16-day private journey from Seoul to Tokyo.
Includes all flights from UK, flight from South Korea to Japan, Accommodation, Breakfast, Tours, Transfers and Train.
