Japan and South Korea in 13 Days: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Seoul and Busan

Your guide meets you at Narita or Haneda airport and accompanies you to your hotel by private transfer. In the evening, take a first walk through the lights of Shinjuku.Overnight: Tokyo

Start at Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, and the shops of Nakamise street. Walk through the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, then visit the Meiji Shrine in its forest and finish at the famous Shibuya crossing.Overnight: Tokyo · Meals: B

Browse the Tsukiji outer market with your guide and taste fresh seafood and sweets. Stroll through Hamarikyu garden and take a water bus on the Sumida River. The afternoon is yours for shopping or a museum.Overnight: Tokyo · Meals: B

Travel by train to Hakone. Cruise across Lake Ashi, ride the ropeway over the volcanic valley of Owakudani and, on clear days, see Mount Fuji. Check in to your ryokan for a hot-spring bath and a multi-course kaiseki dinner.Overnight: Hakone · Meals: B, D

Take the shinkansen to Kyoto, about two hours. In the afternoon, walk through the thousands of vermilion torii gates of Fushimi Inari, then explore the old streets of Gion at dusk.Overnight: Kyoto · Meals: B

Visit Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion reflected in its pond, then the bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji garden in Arashiyama. In the afternoon, climb to Kiyomizu-dera and its wooden terrace above the city.Overnight: Kyoto · Meals: B

Travel to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital. See the giant bronze Buddha of Todai-ji, walk through the park where deer roam freely, and visit Kasuga Taisha with its hundreds of lanterns.Overnight: Kyoto · Meals: B

Move to Osaka and visit Osaka Castle and its gardens. In the evening, your guide takes you to Dotonbori, the city's neon-lit food street, to taste takoyaki and okonomiyaki.Overnight: Osaka · Meals: B

Fly from Osaka to Seoul, under two hours. Your Korean guide meets you and takes you to your hotel. In the evening, walk along the Cheonggyecheon stream in the heart of the city.Overnight: Seoul · Meals: B

Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace and watch the changing of the guard, then walk through the hanok houses of Bukchon. In the afternoon, explore Changdeokgung and its Secret Garden, a UNESCO site, and the craft shops of Insadong.Overnight: Seoul · Meals: B

Taste Korean street food at Gwangjang Market, one of the city's oldest, then ride up Namsan to N Seoul Tower for the view. The afternoon is free for shopping or a Korean spa.Overnight: Seoul · Meals: B, L

Take the KTX train to Gyeongju, the old Silla capital. Visit Bulguksa Temple, a UNESCO site, and the royal ponds of Donggung and Wolji, then continue by car to Busan.Overnight: Busan · Meals: B

Visit the seaside temple of Haedong Yonggungsa and the colorful hillside lanes of Gamcheon Culture Village, then transfer to Gimhae airport for your flight home.Meals: B