Cultural Wonders of Japan and South Korea

• Discover all things kimchi at the Museum Kimchikan and learn how to make the popular fermented dish with a hands-on class.
• Savour a special welcome dinner where you'll experience Korean royal cuisine and try local drinks including soju and rice wine.

Enjoy a full-day tour of South Korea's vibrant capital today. Following breakfast, head to Gyeongbok Palace, the country's largest palace and a former royal residence for five centuries. Witness the colourful changing of the guard ceremony before taking a tour of the beautiful palace.

Following a Korean BBQ chicken lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to the lively Insadong Antique Street filled with galleries, teahouses and local restaurants, then tour Bukchon Hanok Village, a residential neighbourhood with restored traditional Korean houses. Later, head to Jijidaeak for a Signature Experience, then choose where to dine this evening. (B/L/D)

Freedom of Choice:

• Pick your dining experience tonight. You might like to indulge in Korean BBQ at Samwon Garden, dine on traditional Korean temple food at Balwoo Gongyang or delight in a delectable meal of new American cuisine at Michael's by Haevichi.

• Delve into Korean culture as you delight in a private performance of traditional music and try your hand at playing the unique instruments under the guidance of the expert musicians.

Embark on a morning tour of the fascinating Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) on the border with North Korea.

Following a drive to Paju, see Imjingak Park, then visit the DMZ Theatre and Exhibition Hall and walk along the Third Infiltration Tunnel. Transfer to a local restaurant for a hot pot lunch before returning to Seoul to visit the War Memorial of Korea and its extensive museum. Enjoy the late afternoon and evening at your leisure. (B/L)

• Spend time at Yongin's Korean Folk Village, the largest of its kind in Korea, and take part in a hands-on workshop. Perhaps you'll learn about traditional dyeing and dye your own handkerchief, or learn how to create traditional straw shoes.
• Learn how to make bibimbap, South Korea's most popular dish, and enjoy your creation for dinner.

• Enjoy a visit to the Hanji Culture and Industry Center, dedicated to the hanji paper which has been produced in Jeonju for more than 1000 years. Delight in a crafting class, learning how to create the traditional, multi-purpose paper including imprinting patterns and the drying process.

Discover two of South Korea's most valued World Heritage sites this morning. Start with a visit to Seokguram Grotto, a government-classified National Treasure of South Korea which overlooks the East Sea and contains some of the most important Buddhist sculptures in the world. Next you'll explore Bulguksa Temple, a Buddhist temple completed in AD774 by the Silla royal court. Following the morning's sightseeing, sit down for a Korean bulgogi lunch at a local restaurant.

Later, traverse more of Gyeongju's highlights including visits to the Gyeongju National Museum, Cheomseongdae Observatory and Tumuli Park, a fascinating area featuring a variety of burial mounds containing tombs of kings and officials of the Silla dynasty. You'll also enjoy a moonlight walking tour of Donggung Palace – once a secondary palace of the crown prince of the Silla kingdom – and the beautiful Wolji Pond, which was built in AD674. (B/L)

• Embark on a private, scenic cruise from Haeundae Beach, soaking in the sights at sunset including the Nurimaru APEC House, Busan Cinema Center, Marine City and Gwangan Bridge.

Embark on an in-depth discovery of Busan today. Head downtown for a walking tour of Gamcheon Culture Village. Marvel at the village's street art and pastel-coloured houses before taking a cable car to Songdo Island. Visit BIFF Square, a bustling movie district, and Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest of its kind in South Korea. Enjoy panoramic views from Busan Tower before stopping at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, which is the only one of its kind and features 22 unique burial sites designated to each nationality of the buried service members. (B)

• Today you can enjoy a stroll along the Seoul Fortress Wall before visiting the Dongdaemun Market and Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Alternatively, take a mouth-watering street food tour through Gwangjang Market, tasting local dishes before marvelling at the NANTA show, Korea's longest-running theatre show.

• Savour delectable European fine dining with a magnificent farewell dinner at Walking on the Cloud, which boasts sensational views of the city from its vantage point atop a skyscraper.

Fly to Tokyo today. Be met on arrival and transferred to your luxurious hotel.

Tonight, meet your Japan Tour Director for a welcome dinner at your hotel, savouring Japanese flavours with a modern flair. Stay Three Nights: The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, a Luxury Collection Hotel (B/D)

• Explore Tokyo in depth on a tour of your choice. You can experience the incredible energy and efficiency of Tokyo's vast underground metro – one of the most extensive rapid transit networks in in the world – as you delve into the buzzing districts of Shibuya and Harajuku, or perhaps discover the beauty of the Japanese gardens at Hama Rikyu and the Imperial Palace East Gardens, or you might like to learn more about the history of Japan at the Tokyo National Museum.

• Take part in a sushi-making class and learn to prepare maki sushi (rolled sushi) and nigiri sushi (sushi rice topped with a slice of raw fish) before savouring your homemade delights for lunch.

Depart for Hakone following breakfast and catch glimpses of iconic Mount Fuji if it's a clear day. Your first stop is at Hakone Shrine, a beautiful, historic Shinto shrine nestled in the forest by the shores of Lake Ashi. Enjoy a a cruise on the picturesque lake and arrive at Togendai before taking in the scenery on the way to the volcanic valley of Owakudani via the Hakone Ropeway.

Follow the walking trails around the bubbling pools and steam vents and perhaps try one of the famous black eggs boiled in the area's natural hot springs. Head to your luxury hotel, which boasts access to a naturally heated onsen, and delight in a kaiseki- style dinner, a traditional multi-course meal, this evening. Stay: Hakone, Kowakien Ten-yu (B/L/D)

• In Matsumoto, you can choose to visit the spectacular Matsumoto Castle. One of Japan's most complete original castles, the structure dates back to the 16th century, and you'll have the chance to tour the castle and its pristine grounds. Alternatively, visit the Matsumoto City Museum of Art to admire fantastic works from artists born in the city or inspired by its surroundings, including iconic contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama.

• Try your hand at creating some traditional cuisine today with a soba buckwheat noodle cooking lesson and relish your creations for lunch.

Start off the day with a morning visit to the Miyagawa morning market, one of the largest in Japan. All the market's traders are independent farmers and craftspeople from the region, so it's the perfect opportunity to try some of the area's best produce. You'll also take a stroll through Takayama Jinya, a beautifully preserved 17th-century building built for a noble family and the Tokugawa shonugate.

Following your Signature Experience, then wander along the stunning streets of the city's old town on the way to the Festival Floats Museum, where you'll admire the ornamental floats of the Takayama Festival. For dinner, you'll have the chance to try the region's famous Hida beef at a local restaurant. (B/D)

Signature Experiences:

• Enjoy a Sarubobo-making workshop. An amulet particularly common in Takayama and the nearby Hida region, Sarubobo are red dolls with no facial features. Learn how to make the dolls and discover why these amulets are believed to bring good luck.

• Choose between Japanese at Benkay or European cuisine at La PLAGE, both within the hotel, for your delicious dinner this evening.

• For dinner, you can choose to dine on French cuisine at Le Un or enjoy local Japanese food at Chiriri.

• Relish a gold leaf-making experience, decorating a small lacquer plate with this fragile and precious product.

An exciting day of sightseeing lies ahead. Set out for Arashiyama this morning, climbing aboard a rickshaw for a ride past the Nonomiya Shrine and the spectacular Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

Following your rickshaw experience, stop off at the World Heritage-listed Tenryuji Temple, one of Kyoto's five great Zen temples which was founded in 1339. After lunch at a local restaurant, head to the famous Kinkakuji temple, commonly known as the Golden Pavilion for its gold-leaf-covered upper floors. You'll then visit historic Nijo Castle before returning to your hotel and spending the evening at your leisure. (B/L)

• This afternoon, choose one of three diverse tours around Kyoto. You can embark on a Nishiki Market and sake-tasting tour or take part in a sweets workshop learning how to make wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) before visiting the Kyoto Confectionary Museum. Alternatively, set out on an E-bike cycling tour, where you'll ride through the Miyagawacho and Gion geisha districts, stop off at the Imperial Palace Park and cycle along the Shirakawa Canal and Kamogawa River.

• Delve into traditional Japanese culture with a special tea ceremony experience. Learn all about tea varieties and the importance and process of serving tea to guests in Japan. Enhance your experience by taking part in the ceremony wearing a festive kimono and gain a better understanding of the variety of kimonos worn at different occasions.

After breakfast, board a private coach for the nearby town of Nara, once the capital of Japan for 74 years in the eighth century. Visit the incredible Todaiji Temple, one of the world's largest wooden structures and home to the country's largest statue of Buddha. Stroll through the fascinating temple before exploring the surrounding Nara Park, which is freely roamed by a large population of friendly deer who will generally bow their heads for a treat.

Next, see Nara's most celebrated shrine, Kasuga Taisha, which was established in AD768. Return to the hotel with free time this afternoon before savouring a special Signature Experience for dinner. (B/D)

Signature Experiences:

• A special night of private entertainment with a maiko or geisha awaits. Enjoy a wonderful dinner and drinks and have the chance to learn more about geisha and their daily lives, all accompanied by music played on a shamisen, a traditional stringed instrument.

Head to Kyoto Station by foot and take a first-class bullet train to Himeji, where you'll visit one of Japan's most iconic and spectacular castles, World Heritage-listed Himeji Castle. Having avoided damage from war and natural disasters, the beautifully preserved castle is a fascinating historic site to explore. Journey on to a sake brewery for a Signature Experience.

Following lunch at a local restaurant, return to the train station for another first-class bullet train journey to Okayama. Discover the city at leisure in the afternoon and evening after checking into your hotel. Stay Two Nights: Hotel Granvia Okayama (B/L)

Signature Experiences:

• Delight in a tour and delicious tasting at a traditional sake brewery in Himeji.

• Commonly known as Art Island, Naoshima Island is peppered with elegant galleries and outdoor art pieces. Visit Chichu Art Museum, a unique museum built into the hillside overlooking the coastline. Designed by Ando Tadao, the building lies mostly underground and relies only on natural light to illuminate each work, allowing you to admire its permanent Claude Monet paintings in style. Step inside the Benesse House Museum, which was also designed by Tadao. Later, enjoy the Art House Project, which features an abandoned temple and shrine along with a collection of abandoned houses and workshops converted into art installations and galleries by artists and architects from across the world.

This morning, explore the beautiful and spacious Korakuen Garden, a member of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Afterwards, board a bullet train for a first-class ride to Hiroshima. After lunch, be taken to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which lies at ground zero of the devastating atomic bomb which dropped on the city in August 1945. Stroll through the park and discover its memorials and monuments before a moving visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

Later, head to Hiroshima Orizuru Tower for expansive views of the surrounds. Tonight you'll indulge in a yakiniku dinner, where delicious meats and sides are flame grilled over wood charcoal. Stay Two Nights: Sheraton Grand Hiroshima (B/D)

• This morning, you can choose to take part in an okonomiyaki cooking experience, where you'll create your own savoury pancakes in the traditional Hiroshima style, or you can head to the Mazda Factory Museum to learn all about one of the world's leading car manufacturers.

After breakfast, set off by foot to Hiroshima station. Board a first-class bullet train to Fukuoka, where you'll have free time for lunch before taking a private coach to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Explore the shrine before reboarding your coach and driving to your accommodation.

Tonight, soak in the atmosphere at a local izakaya, where you'll enjoy a farewell dinner to toast your incredible journey through South Korea and Japan. Stay: Fukuoka, Miyako Hotel Hakata (B/D)

Your journey finishes today after breakfast, with a transfer to Fukuoka Airport for your onward flight. (B)