17 Oct 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,572pp
Flights from London Heathrow
Escorted tour
South Korea & Japan’s Scenic South with Flights – 22 Days
Six nights in South Korea, then Japan's Kyushu and Shikoku, a ryokan night, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Mount Fuji and Tokyo, with flights included.
22 days
From £7,878 incl. flights
Tour overview
This 22-day escorted tour combines six nights in South Korea with a journey through Japan's lesser-visited south and the classic Golden Route to Tokyo. Return flights from London Heathrow are included, along with an internal flight from Seoul to Fukuoka, two bullet-train rides and coach and ferry travel throughout. A tour director escorts the group from start to finish, with local experts at key sites. You stay in comfortable, well-located hotels for 18 nights and a traditional ryokan for one, with two nights on overnight flights. Eighteen breakfasts, one lunch and four dinners are included, among them a Korean hanjeongsik banquet and a kaiseki dinner at the ryokan.
Korea begins in Busan, with the painted hillside lanes of Gamcheon Culture Village and Jagalchi, the country's largest seafood market. A gentle walk in Ahopsansup Forest leads to Gyeongju, the ancient Silla capital, and the UNESCO-listed Hahoe Folk Village near Andong. In Seoul you see the changing of the guard, Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwangjang Market, and visit the DMZ on the border with North Korea.
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Flying to Fukuoka on Kyushu, you visit Dazaifu, the Kyushu National Museum and the pottery town of Imari. In Nagasaki you take a boat to the abandoned island of Gunkanjima, visit the Atomic Bomb Museum and stroll through Glover Garden. A canal cruise in Yanagawa and a kimono experience are followed by the hot-spring village of Yufuin and the steaming Hells of Beppu. A ferry crosses to Shikoku for the Uchiko-za kabuki theatre, a sake tasting and a night in a ryokan in Matsuyama.
From Hiroshima you take the ferry to Miyajima and its floating torii gate, then the bullet train to Kyoto for the Golden Pavilion and a free day. A second bullet train heads towards Mount Fuji for the 5th station, weather permitting, and a cruise on Lake Kawaguchi, before a final day in Tokyo with a visit to the Tokyo Skytree.
The physical rating is medium, with plenty of walking and early starts. Hotel rooms in Japan are smaller than in Europe. This tour suits travellers who want to see far more of Japan than the usual route, with Korea as a bonus.
Trip highlights
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Gamcheon Culture Village and Jagalchi Market in Busan (Days 2–3)
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Hahoe Folk Village, Seoul and the DMZ (Days 6–7)
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Gunkanjima island and Nagasaki (Day 11)
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The Hells of Beppu and a night in a ryokan (Days 13–14)
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Miyajima's floating torii gate and Hiroshima (Day 16)
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Kyoto, Mount Fuji and Tokyo by bullet train (Days 17–20)
Your route
22 stops from Busan to Tokyo
- Busan Days 1–3
- Gyeongju Days 4–5
- Bulguksa Temple Day 4
- Hahoe Village Day 6
- Seoul Days 6–7
- Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Day 7
- Fukuoka Days 8–9
- Dazaifu Day 9
- Imari Day 10
- Nagasaki Days 10–11
- Gunkanjima Island Day 11
- Yanagawa Day 12
- Ōita Days 12–13
- Beppu Day 13
- Uchiko Day 14
- Matsuyama Day 14
- Onomichi Day 15
- Hiroshima Day 15
- Miyajima Island Day 16
- Kyoto Days 16–18
- Mount Fuji 5th Station Day 19
- Tokyo Days 19–22
Why choose this tour
Japan's lesser-visited south as well as the Golden Route, plus six nights in South Korea. Return flights, an internal flight and bullet-train journeys included, with a tour director throughout.
Best suited to
- Travellers who want more than a short Japan highlights tour
- Return visitors to Japan
- History lovers interested in Korea and Japan
- Travellers who prefer flights included
Day-by-day itinerary
22 days from Busan, South Korea to Tokyo, Japan
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Day 1 · London Fly to Busan
Board your overnight flight to Busan, South Korea.
- Hotel
- Overnight flight
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Day 2 · Busan, Gamcheon Culture Village Busan
Meet your tour director and explore the painted lanes of Gamcheon Culture Village, followed by a welcome dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 3 · Jagalchi Market Busan
Visit Jagalchi, South Korea's largest seafood market, and explore more of Busan.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Ahopsansup Forest, Gyeongju Ahopsansup Forest to Gyeongju
A gentle forest walk, then an afternoon tour of Gyeongju.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 5 · Daereungwon, Gyeongju Gyeongju
Explore the royal tombs and landmarks of the museum without walls.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · Andong, Hahoe Folk Village, Seoul Hahoe Village to Seoul
Visit the UNESCO-listed Hahoe Folk Village, then continue to Seoul.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwangjang Market, DMZ Seoul and the DMZ
See the changing of the guard and Gyeongbokgung Palace, then visit the DMZ, with a hanjeongsik dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 8 · Seoul, Fukuoka Fly to Fukuoka
A free morning and lunch in Seoul, then fly to Fukuoka in Japan.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 9 · Dazaifu, Fukuoka Dazaifu and Fukuoka
Visit Dazaifu and the Kyushu National Museum, then tour Fukuoka.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 10 · Imari, Nagasaki Imari to Nagasaki
Visit a pottery factory in Imari on the way to Nagasaki.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 11 · Gunkanjima, Atomic Bomb Museum, Glover Garden Gunkanjima and Nagasaki
Visit the abandoned island of Gunkanjima, the Atomic Bomb Museum and Glover Garden.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 12 · Yanagawa, Ōita Yanagawa to Ōita
A canal cruise and kimono experience in Yanagawa, then drive to Ōita.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 13 · Yufuin, Hells of Beppu Yufuin and Beppu
Visit the hot-spring village of Yufuin and the steaming Hells of Beppu.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 14 · Uchiko-za Theatre, Matsuyama Shikoku and Matsuyama
Ferry to Shikoku for the Uchiko-za kabuki theatre and a sake tasting, then a kaiseki dinner at a ryokan.
- Hotel
- Ryokan
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 15 · Imabari, Hiroshima To Hiroshima
Visit the Imabari Towel Museum, then travel to Hiroshima.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 16 · Miyajima, Hiroshima, Kyoto Miyajima, Hiroshima and Kyoto
Ferry to Miyajima's floating torii gate, tour Hiroshima and take the bullet train to Kyoto.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 17 · Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto Kyoto
A Kyoto city tour, starting at Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 18 · Kyoto, Arashiyama Free day in Kyoto
A free day to revisit favourite temples or explore Arashiyama.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 19 · Mishima, Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi Mount Fuji
Take the bullet train to Mishima, visit Mount Fuji's 5th station if conditions allow, and cruise on Lake Kawaguchi.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 20 · Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tokyo
A tour of Tokyo, starting at the Tokyo Skytree.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 21 · Tokyo Fly home
A free morning before the overnight flight to the UK.
- Hotel
- Overnight flight
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Day 22 · London Arrive in the UK
Arrive back in the UK.
Where you stay
- Busan (2 nights) Hotel
- Gyeongju (2 nights) Hotel
- Seoul (2 nights) Hotel
- Fukuoka (2 nights) Hotel
- Nagasaki (2 nights) Hotel
- Ōita (2 nights) Hotel
- Matsuyama (1 night) Ryokan
- Hiroshima (1 night) Hotel
- Kyoto (3 nights) Hotel
- Tokyo (2 nights) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Return flights from London Heathrow, plus a flight from Seoul to Fukuoka
- Accommodation 18 nights in hotels and 1 night in a ryokan
- Meals 18 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners, including a kaiseki dinner
- Two bullet-train journeys, plus coach and ferry travel
- 22 excursions, including Busan, Gyeongju, Hahoe Village, Seoul, the DMZ, Nagasaki, Gunkanjima, Beppu, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Mount Fuji and Tokyo
- A kimono experience, a Yanagawa canal cruise and a sake tasting
- Tour director throughout
Not included
- Meals not listed
- Optional activities, such as a Tokyo dinner cruise
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a short trip — this is a 22-day journey
- You want most meals included — mainly breakfasts
- You want large hotel rooms — rooms in Japan are compact
- You want lots of free time — the itinerary is full
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £7,878 per person, including flights. 9 upcoming departures.
Flights from London Heathrow.
07 Nov 2026
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£7,878pp
Flights from London Heathrow
27 Mar 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,415pp
Flights from London Heathrow
10 Apr 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,160pp
Flights from London Heathrow
24 Apr 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,415pp
Flights from London Heathrow
01 May 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£7,986pp
Flights from London Heathrow
25 Sep 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,241pp
Flights from London Heathrow
16 Oct 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,241pp
Flights from London Heathrow
30 Oct 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,326pp
Flights from London Heathrow
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Are flights included?
Yes, return flights from London Heathrow, flying into Busan and home from Tokyo, plus the flight from Seoul to Fukuoka.
What is a ryokan?
A traditional Japanese inn with tatami-mat rooms and futon beds. Your night in Matsuyama includes a kaiseki dinner of many small courses.
Do we see sumo?
On some dates the Grand Sumo Tournament replaces a museum visit. A specialist can tell you which departures include it.
Do I need visas?
UK visitors do not need a visa for short stays in Japan or South Korea, though a K-ETA may be required for Korea. Check before travel.
How much walking is there?
A fair amount, at temples, markets and museums. The physical rating is medium.
Is Mount Fuji guaranteed?
No. The 5th station visit depends on weather and road conditions.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary