21 days Classic Group Tour
Our Osaka to Seoul tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.
Discover the history and etiquette of making and appreciating sushi with a hands-on lesson before sitting down with your instructing chef to enjoy Japan's most famous cuisine. It's the taking part that counts!
On arrival you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel in Kyoto. Please note: Early check-in is not included, please speak to your reservation's consultant. You will be transferred by shared coach with other passengers who are not part of a Wendy Wu Tour. If you are on a shared bus transfer, you may have to walk for a few minutes to get to your hotel. Transfers will differ depending on group size.
Start the day with a guided tour exploring some of the city's highlights. Begin with a visit to the Kiyomizu Temple, founded in the 8th century and situated halfway up the Otowayama Hill allowing for stunning views of Kyoto. Continue with a visit to the Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its corridors of torii gates, followed a Sukiyaki lunch at a local restaurant. Enjoy a trip to the Matsui Shuzou museum for some local sake tasting, followed by a stroll of the Gion. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel. On 2nd day, after breakfast, embark on a guided tour of Kyoto. Begin with a visit to the beautiful Kinkaku-ji Temple also known as the 'Golden Pavillion' due to its gold-like exterior. Go on to discover the Ryoanji Temple, the 'temple of the peaceful dragon' and Kiyomizu Temple before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. After, enjoy a visit to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and the Tagetsukyo bridge. Later this evening, enjoy a dinner with a Maiko Performance at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel.
After breakfast this morning, travel approximately 2 and a half hours by a Shinkansen ride with your English-speaking guide to Odawara. Your first stop will be lunch at a local restaurant, before taking the Komagatake Ropeway cable car up to the viewpoint on Mt Komagatake where you will have the chance to admire the unforgettable views of Mt Fuji and Lake Ashi below (weather dependent). Next head to Hakone to board a mini cruise on Lake Ashi (weather dependent). After, transfer to your hotel in Nagano for check-in. This evening, enjoy your dinner at a local restaurant. Please note: You will need to prepare a small bag for your overnight stay in Nagano. Your main luggage will be transferred separately to your hotel in Tokyo. In case of bad weather, you will visit the Mt Fuji World Heritage Centre instead.
Today, you will pay a visit to the Jigokudani Monkey Park, home of the famous Japanese Snow Monkeys, accompanied with your English-speaking guide, by private vehicle. Please note, from the bus park, you will walk approximately 30minutes along potentially snowy paths on an incline, to the main pool where the monkeys bathe. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed from very close, and almost completely ignore their human guests. Next, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to your hotel in Tokyo for check-in, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and embark on a full day tour of Tokyo. Begin with a visit to Sensoji Temple, arguably one of Tokyo's most popular and photographed temples and the oldest Buddhist temple in the capital. Next, wander down Nakamise Shopping Street, a centuries-old souvenir street, where you will be able to enjoy some shopping opportunities for that perfect souvenir or pick up a local delicacy as there's plenty of scrumptious snacks too. Next, participate in a sushi making class where you'll enjoy your own creations for lunch. After, visit Imperial Palace, Meiji Jingu shrine and then Takeshita Street for local treats tasting. Finally, head to Shibuya Crossing for a brief photo stop. You will be on your feet for approximately 4-5 hours during your touring in Tokyo.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out. You will be met by your English-speaking assistant and transfer to the Yokohama cruise port, a journey of approxiamtely 45 minutes. Upon arrival, board the Celebrity Millennium, where your cruise adventure begins! The rest of your day on the cruise ship is at leisure. Please note, your National Escort will not be accompanying you for the duration of your cruise. Whilst onboard, enjoy the amenities the Celebrity Millennium cruise ship has to offer. Onboard activities available include silent discos, yoga, archery, as well as award-winning shows that offer amazing entertainment at sea. During your time here, you will also be able to benefit from the wide range of eateries, serving flavours from around the world.
Today you will dock in the port of Shimizu. Disembark the cruise ship and enjoy a day at leisure before returning to your ship later in the day for your onward journey. Here you can enjoy a range of excursions here at your own expense, bookable on your cruise reservation. Please note, if you dine off the cruise ship, these meals will be at your own expense.
Today, arrive back in Kyoto. Disembark the cruise ship and enjoy a day at leisure before returning to your ship later for an overnight stay in port. Here you can enjoy a range of excursions here at your own expense, bookable on your cruise reservation. Please note, if you dine off the cruise ship, these meals will be at your own expense.
Enjoy the day at your own pace at port in Kyoto before you go on to return to your ship later in the day for your onward journey. Here you can enjoy a range of excursions here at your own expense, bookable on your cruise reservation. Please note, if you dine off the cruise ship, these meals will be at your own expense.
Dock in the port of Kochi. Disembark the cruise ship and enjoy a day at leisure before returning to your ship later in the day for your onward journey. Here you can enjoy a range of excursions here at your own expense, bookable on your cruise reservation. Please note, if you dine off the cruise ship, these meals will be at your own expense.
Your cruising adventures continues on to Hiroshima, where the ship will dock today. Disembark the cruise ship and enjoy a day at leisure before returning to your ship later in the day for your onward journey. Here you can enjoy a range of excursions here at your own expense, bookable on your cruise reservation. Please note, if you dine off the cruise ship, these meals will be at your own expense.
Spend today at sea enjoying what your cruise ship Celebrity Millennium has to offer.
Port today in Kagoshima, Disembark the cruise ship and enjoy a day at leisure before returning to your ship later in the day for your onward journey. Here you can enjoy a range of excursions here at your own expense, bookable on your cruise reservation. Please note, if you dine off the cruise ship, these meals will be at your own expense.
Dock in the port of Nagasaki. Disembark the cruise ship and enjoy a day at leisure before returning to your ship later in the day for your onward journey. Here you can enjoy a range of excursions here at your own expense, bookable on your cruise reservation. Please note, if you dine off the cruise ship, these meals will be at your own expense.
Port in Fukuoka, where you will be able to explore at your own pace what this stunning city has to offer. Disembark the cruise ship and enjoy a day at leisure before returning to your ship later in the day for your onward journey. Here you can enjoy a range of excursions here at your own expense, bookable on your cruise reservation. Please note, if you dine off the cruise ship, these meals will be at your own expense.
Your cruising journey continues to Busan. Disembark the cruise ship and enjoy a day at leisure before returning to your ship later in the day for your onward journey. Here you can enjoy a range of excursions here at your own expense, bookable on your cruise reservation. Please note, if you dine off the cruise ship, these meals will be at your own expense.
Spend today at sea enjoying what your cruise ship has to offer.
Your cruise concludes as you reach Seoul cruise port today, where you will be met by an English-speaking guide. Transfer to your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure before having dinner at your hotel.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before being met by an English-speaking guide to embark a full day tour of Seoul. Begin with a visit to Gwanghwamun Plaza, where you will encounter the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi SunSin. Continue through Gwanghwamun gate to visit Gyeongbokgung (Gyongbok) Palace, where you will witness the ceremonial changing of the guard. Next, change into some traditional clothes before visiting Bukchon Hanok Village. After, head to a local restaurant for lunch. After, enjoy a Korean Traditional Kimchi cooking demonstration before taking a guided walk along the picturesque Cheonggyecheon Stream. Next, visit the Myeongdong area renowned for its trendy fashion boutiques, cosmetics shops, street food stalls, and more. You’ll also have a chance to visit Myeongdong Underground where you will find all sorts of latest fashion trends and memorabilia.
Any time before your flight is at leisure. You will be transferred from your hotel to the airport, according to the departure time of your international flight. Please note: Only breakfast is included today. Late checkout is not included. If you wish to book a late check-out for your final day in Seoul, please contact our reservations department who can confirm additional pricing and make this arrangement for you, subject to availability at the hotel. Transfers: In the even that your flight departs outside of the majority group departure time, you will be transferred to the airport by a shared coach (not with other Wendy Wu Tours passengers). If you are on a shared coach transfer, you may have to walk for a few minutes to get to the coach.
The best time to visit Japan is during spring (March to May) when the cherry blossoms are bursting into life and autumn (September to November) when the scenery is ablaze with colour.
We have a selection of dedicated departures for solo travellers. These departures feature a maximum group size of 18 and a single room throughout your tour.
I always treat my tour groups like a family, making sure that everyone is happy throughout the tour. I am very passionate about Japanese history. If anyone is interested in learning about Samurai or the Meiji Restoration, you'll have to come to Japan and ask me!
A special thank you to Yoko our National Escort, whose friendly, professional and organised approach to the holiday made sure everything ran smoothly and made the trip to Japan so memorable.Mr Degville
It is great being able to explore my own country with different people who can offer a different perspective. I ensure my groups experience our culture as much as possible, because travel isn't just about the things that you see, it's also about the things you do.
Our National Escort Takako Kaneko made the holiday. She was excellent, informative, hardworking and had obviously researched information for us.Mr Mcintosh
I love sharing the culture of my country with visitors, that's why I become a tour guide! From noodles and sake to classical gardens and temples, learning about our culture is surely the best way to understand more about Japan as a whole.
Our National Escort Michiyo 'made' this holiday with her charm, knowledge, lots of interesting details and her send of humour.Mrs Brownridge
It's such a pleasure to introduce Japan to people from all over the world and explore its culture, history and traditions, as well as its unique cuisine. Along with this, I enjoy taking care of each and every member of the tour group, which is why I love being a tour guide.
Michiyo was fantastic and went out of her way to make it a memorable experience. We would absolutely use Wendy Wu Tours again.
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