Spotlight on Japan & South Korea

Tour Begins: 5:30 PM, Seoul. A transfer is included from Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Gimpo International Airport (GMP) to your hotel. Tonight, introduce yourself to your fellow travelers at a welcome reception followed by dinner.

Dating back to 18 BC, Seoul traces its origins to the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. During the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897), Seoul became the capital of Korea. Today, it's the country's largest city and the heart of a metropolitan area that's home to roughly half of South Korea's population. This morning, you'll get a closer look at the city's royal history with a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung was the first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Throughout its tumultuous history, the palace has been burned, demolished, rebuilt and restored. While much of what you'll see today has been reconstructed, its significance in Korean culture and history remains as strong as ever. After lunch, enjoy free time to explore the streets of Seoul at your leisure. Tonight, join us for Korean barbecue (gogi-gui), grilled right before your eyes at your table.

This morning, visit the War Memorial of Korea, home to six indoor exhibition halls and an outdoor military plaza. Thousands of historical artifacts bring centuries of Korean military history to life, from ancient conflicts to the Korean War. After a morning exploring Korea's military past, it's time to try your hand at making gimbap (also spelled kimbap), a popular Korean dish featuring cooked rice and a variety of fillings rolled in dried seaweed. Although it resembles Japanese sushi, gimbap has a flavor all its own, thanks in part to its rice being seasoned with sesame oil and salt rather than rice vinegar. Following lunch, take to the streets of Bukchon Hanok Village by pedicab (imagine a horse and carriage, but with a bicycle instead of the horse). As you wind through this historic Seoul neighborhood, you'll notice traditional Korean homes, known as hanok, with their gracefully curved tiled roofs, wooden beams and natural building materials. These architectural traditions date back centuries, offering a glimpse into Korean life during the Joseon dynasty. Following your pedicab tour, enjoy time to explore this historic neighborhood on foot. The rest of the evening is yours to spend as you wish, with dinner on your own.

Please Note: On select departures, the War Memorial of Korea will be closed. In this case, guests will visit the National Museum of Korea instead.

Depart this morning by high-speed train for Busan, South Korea's second-largest city and an economic, cultural and educational hub of the country's southeast. Upon arrival, head to Jagalchi Market, South Korea's largest seafood market. Stretching along Busan's bustling waterfront, the market is filled with an impressive variety of fresh seafood, food stalls and local vendors. Following lunch, visit Haeundae Beach, one of South Korea's most famous urban beaches, known for its broad stretch of sand, lively atmosphere and seaside setting. The rest of the day is yours to explore Busan as you wish.

Depart this morning for Gyeongju, a historic city in South Korea's North Gyeongsang Province. Nicknamed the "museum without walls" for its extraordinary collection of historical treasures, Gyeongju offers a fascinating glimpse into Korea's ancient past. Your exploration begins with visits to two UNESCO World Heritage treasures: Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, both remarkable examples of Buddhist art and architecture from the golden age of the Silla kingdom. After lunch, continue your journey into the Silla era with a visit to Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, once part of a royal palace complex featuring an artificial pond created for the Silla court. Return to Busan late this afternoon, with free time to explore and enjoy dinner on your own. If you're looking to sample a few local specialties, Busan is known for dwaeji gukbap, a comforting pork-and-rice soup, and milmyeon, cold wheat noodles served in a chilled meat broth with a spicy sauce. Both are well worth a try!

Begin your day with a visit to Gamcheon Culture Village, perched on a hillside overlooking Busan. Nicknamed the "Machu Picchu of Busan," Gamcheon is a vibrant neighborhood known for its colorful homes, maze-like alleyways and imaginative public art, transforming the hillside community into a living gallery. A short flight this afternoon brings you to the next chapter of your journey: Japan, where a wealth of cultural discoveries awaits. Upon arrival in Fukuoka, enjoy an orientation tour of the city en route to your hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka. Set along the shores of Hakata Bay, Fukuoka has served as a thriving center of international trade for centuries. A sister city to Busan, South Korea, Fukuoka is often called Japan's gateway to Asia, thanks to its proximity to the Asian mainland and its long history of cultural and commercial exchange.

Set off this morning for Arita, a town renowned for its centuries-old porcelain-making tradition. Visit Izumiyama Quarry, where the discovery of kaolin more than 400 years ago helped establish Arita as a center of Japanese porcelain production. Though no longer active, the quarry offers striking views of colorful stone formations that line the hillsides. After lunch, visit a local kiln to discover how artisans are blending time-honored craftsmanship with modern techniques and innovation to carry Arita's porcelain-making legacy into the future. Return to Fukuoka later this afternoon, where the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Depart Fukuoka this morning by train, stopping in Hiroshima en route to Osaka. Here, visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to remembering the atomic bombing of August 6, 1945, and promoting lasting peace. An immensely moving experience, the museum's exhibits include personal belongings, photographs and firsthand accounts that tell the stories of those affected by the bombing. You'll also have time to stroll through Peace Memorial Park. Once part of Hiroshima's bustling commercial district, the area was devastated by the bombing and later transformed into a memorial park, established in the 1950s as a symbol of peace and remembrance. This afternoon, continue by train to Osaka, where the day's focus shifts from reflection to one of Japan's great culinary traditions. They say the way to a person's heart is through their stomach. In Osaka, that sentiment might just be a way of life. Known as Japan's "Kitchen of the Nation" (Tenka no Daidokoro), Osaka earned its nickname through its historic role as a major center of food distribution. Today, the city continues to celebrate its culinary heritage through exceptional cuisine, vibrant street food and a deep-rooted passion for dining. Tonight, discover why on a food tour through the city. This is dinner, after all, so be sure to come hungry!

A morning excursion to Kyoto brings you to Kinkaku-ji, the famed Golden Pavilion, a Zen Buddhist temple whose upper floors shimmer with gold leaf. Set beside a tranquil pond, this iconic landmark is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. Next, visit Kiyomizu-dera, another of Kyoto's celebrated temples, renowned for its remarkable wooden stage built into a hillside. Here, discover centuries of Japanese history, admire traditional architectural ingenuity and take in sweeping panoramic views of Kyoto. Return to Osaka, where the evening is yours to explore as you wish.

Wake up this morning ready for your final day of adventure! And what better way to spend it than exploring one of Japan's most cherished cultural traditions: tea. For hundreds of years, green tea has been woven into the fabric of Japanese spiritual, social and cultural life. Your visit this morning to a tea plantation in Wazuka brings that heritage into focus. Tea has been cultivated here for more than 800 years, and the region remains an important producer of Uji tea, one of Japan's most highly regarded green teas. And, of course, no visit would be complete without a tasting. Here, learn the art of brewing the perfect cup of green tea. Sounds simple enough, right? At home, you might just follow the instructions on the back of a tea bag. But as you'll discover, there's a little more to it than that. The perfect cup is a delicate balancing act involving four key factors: leaf quality, water quality, water temperature and steeping time. Unlike black tea, green tea is particularly sensitive to heat and can quickly turn bitter if brewed at too high a temperature or steeped for too long. So take notes! Your morning lesson might just change the way you make tea at home. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy your final day in Osaka however you wish. Tonight, join us for a farewell reception and dinner celebrating the discoveries, experiences and memories you've shared throughout your journey.

Journey Ends: Osaka. A transfer is included to Kansai International Airport (KIX) or Itami Airport (ITM). Please allow at least three hours for check-in.