Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Seoul - Tokyo
100% customisable for you
The time has come to experience the ever-trendy capitals of South Korea and Japan. After speeding through airport security, enjoy some downtime in the airport lounge with nibbles and refreshments as you await departure. Flight time to South Korea is around 13 hours, so we recommend downloading plenty of K-dramas and our specially-curated ‘Sounds of Asia’ playlist to get you in the mood for life in the Far East. Most direct flights leave in the evening, so you’ll spend tonight onboard and arrive tomorrow.
Rise and shine to views across the skyscraper cities of South Korea as you prepare to land in Incheon, an airport hub near the capital. A private driver will be waiting to meet and greet you in arrivals, before whisking you off to the popular student district of Hongdae. Your home for the next four nights here is a soaring glass skyscraper that houses a sleek, stylish hotel. Everything here reflects the crisp elegance of contemporary Korean living; it also offers a pool, restaurant and a superb view of the Seoul skyline. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. If you’re tired from all the travelling, there’s no shame in taking today to relax and enjoy the facilities at your hotel ahead of a busy day tomorrow.
Wake up refreshed and revitalised and ready for an exciting day of cultural immersion in the effortlessly cool Korean capital. At almost every turn, Seoul charms visitors with its blend of old and new. Palaces and hanoks (traditional wooden houses) rub shoulders with the dizzying skyscrapers of the future in the eclectic neighbourhoods that unfold along the banks of the Han River. Head into the heart of this enchanting metropolis in the company of a clued-up local guide who knows all the trendiest spots in town. The beauty of this walking tour is that it’s relaxed, informal and based on your wishes, which means you can be totally spontaneous. Taste local street food, stop for speciality coffee, browse for vintage goods in markets, shop for the best kimchi in town, take a stroll along the peaceful banks of the Han River, marvel at the diverse architecture and dress up to take family photos in popular photo booth studios.
Now that you’re familiar with what’s what in the capital, spend the next two days further discovering the city at your own pace. At some point, you’ll have the opportunity to visit Jogyesa, a beautiful Buddhist temple surrounded by whimsical nature. A private guide will be on hand to answer your burning questions about long-ago Koreans' lives and lead you through this complex site. Round off your visit with a tea ceremony in a classic teahouse. You could also continue your experience of yesteryear by renting traditional hanboks, traditional Korean outfits worn up until about one hundred years ago, in Gyeongbok Royal Palace or the old streets of Bukchon village.
We also recommend taking the time to venture south of the river to Gangnam, a swanky, stylish neighbourhood immortalised in PSY’s wildly popular ‘Gangnam Style’. The grown-ups of your tribe can do some boutique shopping, while the youngsters can pose for photos with iconic monuments on K-star Road. Make sure to have a go doing the catchy ‘horse dance' while at the Gangnam Style statue. Other popular spots for families here include the very instagrammable Starfield Coex library and the Seoul Sky Observatory, an observation deck in Lotte Tower, the tallest skyscraper in South Korea and the fifth tallest building in the world.
Come evening, it’s all about balancing the best of South Korea’s hearty street-food scene with the best of its exciting restaurants. Also, make sure to spend at least one of your evenings belting your hearts out to family favourite tunes in one of the city’s countless norabangs, atmospheric private karaoke rooms. And don’t worry – the karaoke TVs are filled with English songs too. For something more guided, our team could arrange a nighttime street-food tour or even a live comedy-cooking performance.
Trade the bright lights of Seoul for those of its cousin to the east: Tokyo. After one last delicious breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be collected and privately transferred back to the airport for the speedy two-and-a-half-hour direct flight to the Japanese capital. Speed through airport formalities before being met by another private driver and whisked into the heart of the world’s biggest city. Hang up your hats for the next four nights in a contemporary hotel in Shibuya, the lively district made famous by the legendary Shibuya Crossing. After settling in and freshening up, head out to experience the charming craziness of central Tokyo with a walk across this exact crossing. At peak times, over a thousand pedestrians make their way in every direction every two minutes, which is quite a sight to behold and a fun way to kick off your time in the capital.
On today’s agenda is a manga-oriented walking tour with a friendly, arty local guide. One of Japan’s biggest cultural exports is manga, stylistic comics and graphic novels that developed in the late 19th century. The walk is a great opportunity to get your first experience of the city in the company of someone who knows the history and legends of Tokyo. Wind through tiny traditional alleys where the spirit of the samurai roams, marvel at the glitzy skyscrapers of the avant-garde central districts and amble through traditionally-manicured gardens that offer a peaceful haven for city dwellers.
More fun family photos are handed to you on a silver platter today as you make your way, tickets at the ready, to the popular TeamLab Planets Exhibition. This immersive and interactive exhibition takes visitors through a range of large-scale artwork spaces that play with mirrors, light effects, sounds and other elements. Walk barefoot through water, skip through enchanting forest landscapes and admire the glowing lights of various neon-lit digital spaces.
Today is your final day in Tokyo and there’s not a moment to waste. In the mood for a little eccentricity? Head to Harajuku, where lolitas and cosplayers compete in manga-style dandyism. In the market for some cutting-edge technology? Browse the giant stores of the Akihabara district. Craving some traditional food? The streets of the Golden Gai in Shinjuku are home to hundreds of tiny taverns. Wanting to tick off some more quirky museums? The Daimyo Clock Museum, the Japan Toy Museum and the Tabi Museum are among our favourites. Eager to experience more of the Japan of yesteryear? Catch a classic kabuki or noh theatre performance. Finally, for some final shots of the mesmerising Tokyo skyline, head to the top of Shibuya Sky, a 360° open-air observation deck located at the top of a 750ft skyscraper in Shibuya. On a clear day you can even glimpse Mount Fuji in the distance.
Sadly, the time has come to bid a warm farewell to the dizzying megalopolises of the far east and embark on the journey home. A private driver will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to the airport, where you can relax in the premium lounge after speeding through security. Flight time can be as short as 14 hours, but may be longer if you have a layover. Either way, you’ll spend tonight in the air and touch down on home turf tomorrow.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
