From (AUD)$18,995
Days27
Airfares included
Experience the highlights of beautiful South Korea and mesmerising Japan. Discover a mix between modern day living and ancient traditions, where skyscrapers meet temples, and natural scenery is aplenty. While these two countries have many similarities, their cultures are very unique. Explore thriving cities, visit traditional villages, try your hand at culinary and cultural crafts and so much more.
Group Size — Max 20
Tips — Total cost includes - Tipping Made Easy, from $90pp pre-paid (Korea Only). Tipping is not part of the Japanese culture, so tips are not expected
Transport — Boat, Bullet Train, Cable Car, Coach, Ferry, High-speed train, Subway & Yakatabune Cruise
No Hidden Extras

Step into the kitchen and learn to make Korea’s national dish – the spicy-sour side dish, kimchi.

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site of Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju.

Experience the hustle and bustle of Shibuya and visit the Shibuya crossing – one of the busiest in the world!

Immerse yourself in traditional Japanese art forms during a calligraphy class and tea ceremony in Kyoto.

Special Experiences

Learn all about Korea’s fascinating cuisine at a kimchi making experience, South Korea’s staple side dish made from fermented vegetables.
Enjoy a traditional spa experience and try the unique array of facilities and treatments, including ‘bubble sense therapy’ and ‘sound floating’.
At the Ssanggyesa Temple, relish the experience of a tea ceremony with monks.
Experience a sumo wrestling demonstration before savouring a traditional Chanko-Nabe (a sumo hotpot-style stew) lunch at a local restaurant.
Enjoy a tasting experience at a local sake brewery in Kyoto and learn how Japan’s drink of choice is made.
Delve into the stunning art form of Japanese black ink calligraphy and try your hand at perfecting this ancient art.
Partake in a hands-on tofu and shichimi (Japanese seven-spice blend) making session, followed by a delicious lunch featuring creative obanzai dishes.
Dive into the world of pre-modern Japan with a fun, interactive session on the way of the Samurai. Unleash your inner warrior as you learn their legendary skills.

Itinerary Discover South Korea & Japan 2025/26

Itinerary

Day

Inclusions Discover South Korea & Japan 2025/26

Inclusions

Sightseeing

Sightseeing icon

Delve into the traditional Korean way of life and experience its culture

  • Witness the changing of the guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace
  • Explore Bukchon Hanok Village
  • Visit the N Seoul Tower’s observation deck
  • Explore the lively Gwangjang Market
  • See the 18th century Hwaseong Fortress and experience an archery lesson
  • Stroll through a Hanok Village with its traditional ‘Hanok’ houses
  • Learn how to make kimchi
  • Visit the Buddhist Tapsa Temple
  • Try the unique therapies and treatments at Jinan Red Ginseng Spa
  • Wander through the Juknokwon Bamboo Garden
  • Gain understanding at the Gwangju Traditional Culture Centre
  • Try on the Hanbok
  • Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Naganeupseong Folk Village
  • Travel on the Yeosu Maritime Cable Car
  • Enjoy a tea ceremony with monks at Ssanggyesa Temple
  • View amazing scenery along the Igidae Coastal Walk
  • Look out to sea from the Oryukdo Skywalk
  • Pay tribute at the UN Memorial Cemetery
  • Explore Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
  • Sunset cruise on the Haeundae River
  • Explore Bulguksa Temple and visit Seokguram Grotto
  • Visit the Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond
  • View the Wolijeonggyo Bridge at night
  • Visit the Cheomseongdae Observatory, Daereungwon Tomb Complex and the Cheonma Tumuli
  • Visit Gyeongju National Museum
  • Travel on the KTX bullet train back to Seoul
  • Visit the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) (Subject to local conditions and availability of tickets)

 

Modern cities, majestic mountains and historic towns

  • Visit Imperial Palace East Garden
  • Stroll through the Ginza District
  • Experience Shibuya Crossing
  • Admire the city lights of Tokyo Bay while on a dinner cruise
  • Tokyo sightseeing including Asakusa Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Arcade
  • Enjoy a sumo wrestling demonstration and a traditional Chanko Nabe lunch
  • Visit a former farming village, reopened as a museum
  • See Mt Fuji while riding the Hakone Ropeway (weather permitting)
  • Spend a night in a traditional ryokan guesthouse
  • Take in the sights of historic Takayama by foot
  • Free time to explore Miyagawa Open Air Market
  • Wander through Shirakawa-go, with its famous gasshō-zukuri thatched roofs
  • Learn about the Japanese tradition of washi papermaking in Gokayama
  • Sample the famous sake beverage
  • Tour the Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • Stroll the Philosopher's Walk
  • Take part in a black ink calligraphy class
  • Experience a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto
  • Visit Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
  • Enjoy a tofu and shichimi making lesson
  • Stroll through the Arashiyama Bamboo forest and see the Togetsukyo Bridge
  • Enjoy a Buddhist lunch at Shigetsu (Tenryuiji Temple)
  • Visit the island Miyajima and see the giant Itsukushima Torii Gate (currently under maintenance)
  • Tour the Hiroshima Peace Park, and visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and the very moving Peace Memorial
  • Visit Himeji Castle
  • Explore the Todai-ji Temple
  • Feed the deer in Nara Deer Park
  • Free time to explore Osaka's Dotonbori District
  • Learn the way of the Samurai in Osaka, Japan's pre-modern warriors

Travel

Travel icon
  • Return economy-class flights from Australia to Asia. Taxes included
  • Economy-class flight from Seoul to Tokyo
  • Airport transfers on the first and last day of tour
  • All touring in air-conditioned vehicles
  • High-speed train in South Korea
  • 4 Bullet train journeys in Japan
  • 2 Limited Express train journeys in Japan

Accommodation

Accommodation icon
  • 23 nights in 3-4 star hotels
  • 1 night in a traditional ryokan guesthouse, Hakone

Properties include:

  • Four Points by Sheraton Josun, Seoul Myeongdong
  • Royal Room Hanok Hotel, Jeonju
  • Holiday Inn Gwangju, Gwangju
  • Shilla Stay Hotel, Yeosu
  • L7 Haeundae Hotel, Busan
  • Hilton Hotel, Gyeongju
  • Novotel Ambassador Yongsan Hotel, Seoul
  • Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo
  • Hakone Yunohana Prince Hotel, Hakone - Japanese Style Ryokan accommodation
  • Hida Hotel Plaza, Takayama
  • Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachi Jo, Kyoto
  • Sheraton Grand Hotel Hiroshima, Hiroshima
  • Sheraton Miyako Hotel, Osaka

Hotels listed are an indication and are subject to change without notice.

Meals

Meals icon
  • 24 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 9 dinners, including group welcome and farewell dinners

One of the best ways to experience a destination is through its cuisine, and in Japan, food holds deep cultural significance, reflecting centuries of tradition.

With this in mind, it should be noted that dietary requirements – including but not limited to vegetarianism, veganism, gluten-free/coeliac diets and some allergens – are less common and may not always be accommodated.

The restaurants and experiences visited on our Japan tours will not always be able to alter their menus to fully exclude specific allergens or to cater for strict dietary requirements, and it should also be noted that meals for those with specific dietary requirements may be simpler and less varied. Cross contamination cannot be catered for in all of our restaurants and experiences we visit, therefore it is up to the individual traveller to manage their own allergens.

While your Bunnik Tour guide will make every effort to inform you of the main ingredients in the dishes, the ultimate responsibility rests with you to ensure that you avoid any problematic ingredients.

Tour Guides

Tour Guides icon
  • English-speaking locally based national guide in South Korea
  • English-speaking locally based national guide in Japan

Porterage

Porterage icon
  • May not be available at all hotels and therefore cannot be guaranteed

Some things to note

Some things to note icon
  • Should you not be travelling on the group tour flights shared bus transfers will be used between the hotel and the airport for the departure transfer.
  • The Changdeokgung Palace, one of Seoul's Five Grand Palaces will be visited should the Gyeongbokgung Palace be closed.
  • On day 5 we will be visiting a traditional Korean spa. Please remember to pack your swimwear. 
  • On day 11 we will be travelling by high speed train and our luggage will be transferred via coach. We will need to pack a day bag as our main luggage will be arriving at our Seoul hotel this evening.
  • On day 12 we will be visiting the Demilitarised Zone. Please remember to bring your passport. 
  • Entry into the DMZ is subject to local conditions and availability of tickets which cannot be pre-purchased. Therefore, the exact sightseeing on the day and places visited may vary. 
  • On days 17 and 22 we will be travelling by bullet train and our luggage will be transferred via coach. We will need to pack an overnight bag with two night’s worth of luggage. Unfortunately, bullet trains have very limited space for luggage.
  • From June 2019, Miyajima's famous floating Torii Gate is undergoing renovations. During the renovation works, the Torii Gate will be covered under partially transparent scaffolding. A bridge is being built on the left side of the gate to aid the renovation works.
  • If you are travelling in Japan on or around the holidays of Golden Week (29 April to 5 May) heavier traffic conditions and longer waiting times can be expected.
  • Women may need a head scarf to enter some mosques and temples, and wear modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders. Also, a good tip is to pack a spare pair of socks in your daypack, as sometimes shoes need to be removed when entering and the ground can be hot.

Information Discover South Korea & Japan 2025/26

Information

Let's Talk Fitness

At Bunnik Tours, we pride ourselves on our ability to create unique, once in a lifetime small group tours that are filled with incredible experiences you might not be able to have on your own, or in a larger group. However, that does mean aspects of our itineraries can be challenging for some travellers.

We want to make sure all Bunnik Tours travellers enjoy their trip, not struggle through it, so let’s work together to ensure our tours are right for you!

Fitness to Travel Requirements

Within seven days of your booking you will need to complete a Passenger Registration form, which also includes a Fitness to Travel declaration.

In this declaration, you must confirm you’re able to do the following:

  • I can walk up to 4-5 hours intermittently every day at a group pace, often in direct sunlight, on uneven surfaces without using any walking aid.
  • I can walk up multiple flights of stairs (including buildings without a lift) and short, steep hills.
  • I can stand for extended periods of time without needing to sit down, often in hot/humid climates.
  • I can carry my own luggage (including to/from hotels which do not offer porterage).
  • I am comfortable using a shower over bath (please note that we cannot guarantee stand-alone shower facilities at all hotels).
  • I can get on and off various modes of transport multiple times a day without assistance, including small boats.
  • I can drive along very bumpy dirt and gravel roads for extended periods of time.
  • I can travel to high altitudes, such as 3,400m on our 5-Stans tour.
  • I can use squat toilets if necessary.
  • I understand that my dietary requirements may not be fully catered for in some locations

 

If you have a health condition, such as cognitive impairment, vision/hearing impairment, or other medical conditions (diagnosed or undiagnosed) that may affect your ability to fully participate in tour activities or manage your own well-being during free time on tour, you will need to provide us with more details. 

If you do not feel that you can confidently manage all of the requirements set out above, please work with our team of Travel Specialists to find an alternative that is better suited to your current level of fitness.

Please visit our Fitness to Travel page for full details on our fitness policy.

FITNESS TO TRAVEL

 In the itinerary, this symbol indicates a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

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Dates & Prices Discover South Korea & Japan 2025/26

Dates & Prices
Select a tour to reserve your place.

*Prices are in AUD, per person twin share.

*Prices are in AUD, per person twin share.

Start Date End Date Tour Price
Per person
twin share
Status    
09 Apr 25
05 May 25
$18,995
Available
25 Apr 25
21 May 25
$18,995
Limited Seats
10 Sep 25
06 Oct 25
$18,995
Limited Seats
01 Oct 25
27 Oct 25
$18,995
Available
15 Oct 25
10 Nov 25
$18,995
Limited Seats
22 Oct 25
17 Nov 25
$18,995
Available
04 Mar 26
30 Mar 26
$19,595
Available
13 Mar 26
08 Apr 26
$19,595
Available
27 Mar 26
22 Apr 26
$19,595
Available

Additional Information

Seasonal Departures
Experience the magic of the Cherry Blossom on our March and April departures or witness stunning Autumn Colours as they sweep the country throughout October and November.
Valid from
Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane & Perth
Other departure cities
Please contact our office for applicable pricing
Booking Deposit
$500 per person
Tipping
Total cost includes - Tipping Made Easy, from $90pp pre-paid (Korea Only). Tipping is not part of the Japanese culture, so tips are not expected
Single Supplement
From $5,025
Visa Information

You may need to obtain visas for this tour. Please check with your travel agent for further details. For Australian passport holders you may wish to visit our Passports and Visas page here for indicative information on what may be required.

Terms & Conditions

All prices shown are per person based on twin share. Prices and itineraries correct at current time but are subject to change. Please call for more details. View our full terms & conditions here.

Taxes
Total cost includes air taxes

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