Visions of Japan with Hiroshima, Osaka & Seoul

Find your zen in Seoul, where you’ll explore grand palaces, traditional Hanok houses, and serene temples that offer a perfect moment of meditation on an adventure like no other in South Korea. Then, forget everything your mother taught you about table manners as you head to Japan, where it’s perfectly acceptable to slurp! Get ready to joyously drink in traditional hot sake, green tea, big brothy noodle bowls, and the delicious views from neon-lit Tokyo to historic Kyoto. Peaks, palaces, pavilions, and pagodas provide picture-perfect backdrops for your photos, but don’t expect to stand still for very long on this enthralling tour. A hands-on calligraphy class, a special kimono fitting, an interactive cooking demonstration, and a gold-leaf design class—where you’ll make your own keepsake bento box—are all part of the fun. Browse the local flavors at a Takayama farmer’s market and stroll through Kanazawa’s famous Kenroku-en gardens. Experience the thrill of the famous bullet train as you ride from Kyoto to Hiroshima to be further moved by dramatic gardens, sacred shrines, and the many touching memorials to the lives lost in the World War II atomic bombing. A highlight of your stay is an excursion to the iconic Itsukushima Shrine, where the famed “floating” torii gate rises gracefully from the sea. End your journey in Osaka with visits to Osaka Castle and Minami, the city's most famous entertainment district. Prepare to be floored in more ways than one!