2020: South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures
18 days
Map not provided by operator
Additional images not provided by operator
Video not provided by operator
Small Group Tour
Travel to Japan and South Korea with O.A.T. to get an authentic glimpse into the landscapes and cultures of these fascinating nations. In South Korea, help a local family prepare a traditional meal and join Buddhist monks in Donghwasa Temple where we’ll participate in a dining ceremony before spending a night in the temple. Then, meet Japan’s ama, or “sea wom...
Member Savings
Save up to $700!
Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)
Overview
Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule
Highlights
- Explore Seoul
- Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Visit the DMZ
- Explore Gyeongju
What's this trip about?
Travel to Japan and South Korea with O.A.T. to get an authentic glimpse into the landscapes and cultures of these fascinating nations. In South Korea, help a local family prepare a traditional meal and join Buddhist monks in Donghwasa Temple where we’ll participate in a dining ceremony before spending a night in the temple. Then, meet Japan’s ama, or “sea women” who brave frigid waters to dive for pearls, and visit a pearl farming family to see how these treasures are harvested. Your small group will also get an intimate look at these cultures alongside local Trip Experience Leaders who will offer invaluable insider knowledge on these destinations that only a local could provide.
Compare to similar trips
Details
Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transport
Start CitySeoul
End CityKyoto
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges unless you choose to make your own air arrangements*
- All land transportation, including bullet train, ferries, and 1 internal flight
- Accommodations for 16 nights
- 37 meals—daily breakfast, 12 lunches, and 9 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Lunch)
- 20 small group activities
- Explore in a small group of 8-16 travelers (average group size of 14)
- Services of local O.A.T. Trip Experience Leaders (one in Korea and one in Japan)
- Gratuities for local guides and drivers
- 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next O.A.T. trip—an average of $418
View Similar Trips
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart U.S.
Afternoon/Evening: Depart today on an overnight flight from the U.S. to Seoul, South Korea.
Day 2: Arrive in Seoul, South Korea
Accommodations: Pacific Hotel or similar
Afternoon: This afternoon, you’ll arrive in Seoul, where your Korean Trip Experience Leader will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. Here, we'll be joined by travelers who took our optional Eastern China: Shangh...
Day 3: Explore Seoul
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: Pacific Hotel or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: This morning, our Trip Experience Leader will conduct a Welcome Briefing. Afterward, we'll have time to relax at the hotel. Then, we'll gather for a talk ...
Day 4: Seoul • A Day in the Life of Yangpyeong village • Home-Hosted Lunch
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Pacific Hotel or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After breakfast, we’ll head to a local market where we'll pick up ingredients for our Home-Hosted Lunch later today. Then, we'll experience A Day in the ...
Day 6: Seoul • Visit the DMZ
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: Pacific Hotel or similar
Activity Note: Depending on whether Day 6 falls on a national holiday, the order of the activities on Days 5 and 6 may switch. Although the order in which the days' activities take place may differ, all included features of the ...
Day 7: Seoul • Daegu • Overnight Stay at Donghwasa Temple
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Golden Tulip Hotel or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: This morning, we'll meet with a North Korean defector, who will give us a sobering glimpse of life living under that country's oppressive regime. Th...
Day 8: Daegu • Donghwasa Temple • Overland to Gyeongju
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: The K Hotel or similar
Breakfast: At the temple this morning.
Morning: Today we'll get a glimpse of daily life in Donghwasa Temple. This morning, we'll meet with one of the temple's monks—a feature that is exclusive to O.A.T.—to dis...
Day 9: Explore Gyeongju • Yangdong Folk Village • Taekwondo master visit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: The K Hotel or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We'll begin today's explorations at Yangdong Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and clan village whose roots date back to the Joseon dynasty. Laid ...
Day 10: Gyeongju • Fly to Tokyo, Japan
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: Hotel Sardonyx or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Today we bid farewell to South Korea. We'll transfer overland to Busan, stopping to visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery before heading to the airport for o...
Day 11: Tokyo • Meet a former sumo wrestler
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Sardonyx or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After breakfast at our hotel, we'll get an authentic glimpse of a beloved Japanese sport—sumo wrestling. We'll meet with a former wrestler to hear about...
Day 12: Explore Tokyo • Subway experience • Dance studio visit
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: Hotel Sardonyx or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We'll depart for the subway station, where our Trip Experience Leader will orient us to this popular mode of transport. We'll observe how locals line up at the sl...
Day 13: Tokyo • Toba
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Todaya or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After breakfast, we'll drive to Tokyo Station, where we'll experience the thrill of riding the lightning-fast bullet train from Tokyo to Nagoya. The Japanese call ...
Day 14: Toba • Meet local ama
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Todaya or similar
Activity Note: Depending on your departure date, you'll meet the local ama on Toshi Island or Osatsu, and the order of today's events may differ depending on the location you visit.
Breakf...
Day 15: Toba • Train ride to Kyoto • Excursion to Nara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After breakfast this morning, we'll depart for Kyoto by train. On our way, we'll stop in the distinctive city of Nara, which was the capital of...
Day 16: Kyoto • Mingle with locals at Nishiki Market • Explore Kinkakuji Temple
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After breakfast, we’ll enjoy a day of sightseeing in Kyoto—beginning first with a visit to Fushimi Unari Shrine, the head shrine of the kami Inari, which honors th...
Day 17: Kyoto • Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodations: Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex or similar
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After breakfast, we’ll begin the day by exploring the Arashiyama district, an area in Western Kyoto famous for its scenic beauty and historic a...
Day 18: Return to U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After breakfast, transfer by airport shuttle to Osaka for your flight home, or on to Hiroshima if you're taking our post-trip extension.
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Price From $6,395
Price per day$355
Last Updated: 1/21/2020
The prices listed below are based on US dollars:
Season Start
Season End
Double Standard
Availability
Apr-01-2020
Apr-30-2020
$7195
Limited
May-01-2020
May-31-2020
$6995
Limited
Aug-01-2020
Aug-31-2020
$6395
Limited
Sep-01-2020
Sep-30-2020
$7195
Limited
Oct-01-2020
Oct-31-2020
$7195
Limited
Nov-01-2020
Nov-30-2020
$6595
Limited
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours).
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) Reviews & Ratings
2020: South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasuresby Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)
This is a wonderful trip
This is a wonderful trip that provides an excellent opportunity to experience the sights, the culture, the unique history and the food of two very colorful and fasci...
2020: South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasuresby Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)
Great trip
Great trip, liked having both countries on the itinerary. Korea was unexpectedly wonderful and PAM KIM, GROUP LEADER WAS OUTSTANDING! Japan started off poorly with G...
2020: South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasuresby Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)
Left us wanting more
We both enjoyed this tour immensely. We liked both tour directors, James in Korea and Emiko in Japan. Both were knowledgable, informative, congenial and hard-working...
2020: South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasuresby Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)
Energized by our guides!
Wow, we had vivacious guides with a great sense of humor that inspired us throughout our Korean and Japanese trips. They offered us so many optional opportunities th...
2020: South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasuresby Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)
Loved Japan- the sites, experiences
Loved Japan- the sites, experiences and most of all the ver...
Other Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) Reviews
P
Policy over practical customer service. zero customer service
Dec 2023
Provided byOverseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)
Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) Company Reviewsby Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)
don't expect humanity or common sense
This letter is effectively what was communicated no less than 8 times in writing and conversation to OAT representatives up the chain, beginning 19 days before the t...
V
Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) Company Reviewsby Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)
Trip of a Lifetime
Our recent Tanzanian Safari was indeed the trip of a lifetime. Saw the big 5, met the wonderful locals and spent 5 days in the Serengeti. Saw many lions, zebras, gi...
Be careful
Booked for July and gave them $12,000. They talked us into early arrival and then come back to us a two months later saying we can't offer. We have to keep our airli...
Travelers also viewed
Tour Operator
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.
Save time
Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.
Save money
Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.
Travel confidently
Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.
Logistics
Accommodation
Pacific Hotel
Donghwasa Temple
The K Hotel
Hotel Sardonyx
Hotel Todaya
Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex
Cancellation policy
If you need to cancel your trip for any reason, please call us as soon as possible, and follow up in writing. You are also required to return any airline tickets that may have been issued to you. Cancellation refunds will be calculated as of the date we receive your written cancellation. We will issue your refund in the manner in which we received your payment. If you paid your deposit by credit card and your balance by check, your refund will be divided accordingly. Refunds are generated manually by our accounting department to ensure accuracy. Please allow for a 30-day processing period before receiving your refund.
There is a non-refundable, $300 per person processing fee for each trip you cancel, which reflects our costs of administering a reservation. Other cancellation fees depend upon your trip type and time of cancellation.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against
unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies.
It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before
or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination.
It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements.
For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements,
please visit this link
.
Meals Included
Daily Breakfasts, 12 Lunches and 9 Dinners
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
[object Object]
Trip ID
overse-SouJapOve
Become a member
(it's free)
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations
Compare to Similar Trips
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!