Fushimi-Inari Shrine , Kyoto , Japan
South Korea & Japan : Temples , Shrines & Seaside Treasures
South Korea : Seoul | Japan : Tokyo , Toba , Kyoto For departure dates , available single space , and pricing , visit www . oattravel . com / jkopricing
15 days from $ 5795 including international airfare Single Supplement : FREE Save a FULL 10 %, up to $ 680 , with our Good Buy Plan — reserve by 3 / 31 / 23 Valid for June 2023-December 2024 departures
Discover the ancient kingdoms and modern cities of Japan and South Korea . From Seoul , where the “ Miracle of the Han ” buzzes with life , to Kyoto with its serene temples and shrines , exploring these two empires offers an experience like no other . Along the way , we ’ ll engage with local culture such as when we meet Japan ’ s ama , or “ sea women ” who brave frigid waters to dive for pearls in Toba . Plus , we ’ ll experience A Day in the Life of rural Yangpyeong Village in South Korea .
WHAT TO EXPECT
View all physical requirements at www . oattravel . com / jko
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U . S . Depart today on an overnight flight from the U . S . to Seoul , South Korea .
DAY 2 • Arrive in Seoul , South Korea Arrive at your hotel in Seoul , where you ’ ll meet your fellow travelers , including those who took our Mongolia : Ulaanbaatar & the Gobi Desert or or Vietnam : Hanoi & Halong Bay Cruise pre-trip extension .
Pacific Hotel or similar
DAY 3 • Gyeongbok Palace • War Memorial of Korea • Controversial Topic : Life in North Korea with a North Korean refugee Visit the 14th-century palace of Gyeongbokgung , also known as the Northern Palace . Later , we ’ ll visit the War Memorial of Korea , dedicated to the victims of the Korean War of the 1950s . Then , meet a North Korean defector who will discuss the Controversial Topic of what life was like in one of the world ’ s most isolated and repressive regimes , and the challenges they faced when they escaped .
B , L — Pacific Hotel or similar
DAY 4 • Seoul • Grand Circle Foundation visit : Jusarang Community Church • Controversial Topic : South Korean baby boxes • Home- Hosted Lunch Visit the Jusarang Community Church — supported in part by Grand Circle Foundation — to learn how their services are making a difference in the lives of expectant single mothers and their children . Learn about the Controversial Topic of the “ baby box ,” where mothers can safely leave their children with no questions asked . Then , visit a local family for a Home-Hosted Lunch in the Mapo district of Seoul . This evening , enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant .
B , L , D — Pacific Hotel or similar
DAY 5 • Seoul • A Day in the Life of Yangpyeong village Today , experience A Day in the Life of Yangpyeong , a rural farming village where we ’ ll also enjoy a traditional lunch . After returning to Seoul , enoy dinner at a local restaurant .
B , L , D — Pacific Hotel or similar
DAY 6 • Seoul • Visit the DMZ Drive into the Demilitarized Zone ( or “ DMZ ”) between North and South Korea , and visit an exhibition hall detailing the Korean War , as well as the Dorasan Observatory .
B , L — Pacific Hotel or similar
100 South Korea & Japan : Temples , Shrines & Seaside Treasures