Tokyo, Seoul & Hong Kong City Explorer

Arrive at Haneda International Airport, meet Goway's local representative and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure to relax or explore Tokyo at your own pace.

This is the perfect introduction tour to Tokyo. Start the day with a visit to Sensoji Temple, Tokyo`s oldest Buddhist temple. After visiting the temple grounds, take time to stroll along Nakamise shopping street to look for souvenirs. Then continue to Tsukiji Outer fish market (many shops are closed on Sundays and on some Wednesdays). Along the market streets you will find different types of food stalls selling fish, seafood, vegetables, fruit, dried goods, as well as kitchenware shops. Stroll through the market with your guide and choose to sample food from the food stalls or visit one of the small restaurants for lunch (hint hint...this is the place to try the freshest sushi and sashimi so we recommend you go to a restaurant). After lunch, hop back on the train to travel across the city to Shibuya Crossing, the largest pedestrian crossing in the world. This will be a short visit to walk across the busy crossing, see the neon signs and cross it off the bucket list. While there you will also visit Hachiko Square. Then take a short train ride to Meiji Shrine. Meiji Shrine is a Shinto Shrine surrounded by Meiji Jingu forest and it will suddenly feel like you are no longer in metropolitan Tokyo. Walk through the peaceful shrine grounds and if you are lucky, you may see a Shinto priest. After visiting the shrine, stop for a latte or green tea break at a café in Harajuku, the pop culture neighborhood (time permitting). We suggest an art café that specializes in 3D foam art. The rest of the day is free for you to explore bustling Harajuku or the upmarket Omotesando Avenue.

Take a day trip to Kamakura, the former capital of Japan during the Kamakura Period (1185 – 1333). At that time Kamakura was the largest city in Japan, however the Kamakura of today is a small, sleepy seaside town with numerous temples, shrines and other attractions. Visit Kotokuin Temple, home to the Daibutsu, a giant bronze Buddha that stands (or rather, sits) 13.35m high. Also visit Hasedera Temple, a part of the Jodo sect, which is most famous for its statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The statue shows Kannon with eleven heads, each representing a characteristic of the goddess. The 9.18-meter-tall, gilded wooden statue is regarded as one of the largest wooden sculptures in Japan. Continue to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the spiritual heart of Kamakura and one of its most popular attractions. The shrine was originally founded by Minamoto Yoriyoshi in 1063, then enlarged and moved to its present site by the first shogun of the Kamakura government in 1180. Your day will end with shopping for local souvenirs and delicacies along Komachi Street.

Early this morning, a guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to a "sumo beya" or sumo stable. Here, you will have a peek behind the scenes at the world of sumo beya. All rikishi (wrestlers) belong to heyas, or sumo stables, where they live, train and eat. You will be able to visit one of these heyas to get up close and personal with these giant men and watch their asa geiko (morning training). The day begins in the early morning when the lowest-ranked men wake up and put in some practice before going about their assigned duties, which include cleaning the building and preparing the food for the main meal of the day. Higher ranked sekitori appear at a more reasonable hour, and they begin a practice session that runs from about 7 am until about 10 am. After several hours of warm-up and technique practice, the wrestlers play an exciting "King of the Castle" game where one wrestler stays in the ring fighting bouts without any rest until he is defeated.

The rest of your day is at leisure to explore Tokyo. 

Day at leisure in Tokyo until your pickup and transfer to the airport for your flight to Seoul.

Arrive at Incheon International Airport, meet Goway's local representative and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure to relax.

Take a full day exploration of South Korea's vibrant and historical capital city. Begin with a visit to Jogyesa Temple, the center of Korean Buddhism. Then visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first and largest of the royal palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty. Also visit the National Folk Museum of Korea, located on the palace grounds. Continue to Changdeokgung Palace, the second royal villa, and the most well preserved palace from the Joseon Dynasty. Next visit Namsan Seoul Tower, an iconic landmark of Korea offering unobstructed city views. Your last stop is Namdaemun Market where you can explore and shop the various stalls selling a variety of items including clothing, kitchenware, fine arts, flowers and ginseng.  

In the early morning transfer to the DMZ, the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Your first stop is Imjingak Park where "Freedom Bridge" is located. The Bridge of Freedom crosses the Imjin River and connects with the North-South railway, but no one crosses this bridge now. Then pass Unification Bridge and continue to the DMZ theatre and exhibition hall to view a video explaining the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel and other tunnels as well as the history of the division of Korea. Your next stop is the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel which was discovered by South Korea in 1978. It spans over 1,635m in length, 2m in width, and 2m in height. It is estimated that approximately 30,000 soldiers could move through the tunnel per hour. The scale is similar to the 2nd Tunnel, but it was thought to be more threatening as an invasion tool than the 1st and 2nd Tunnels. Continue to Dorasan Observatory, where you can look over at North Korea at various locations including Gaeseong, Songaksan and the Kim Il-Sung Statue. Return to Seoul in the late afternoon. 

Today is free and at leisure. You can take advantage of any optional activities available or simply relax.

Day at leisure in Seoul until your pickup and transfer to the airport for your flight to Hong Kong.

Arrive at Hong Kong’s International Airport, meet Goway's local representative and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure to relax.

Start the tour on Hong Kong Island with a ride on the world’s steepest funicular railway, the Peak Tram. Once at the top of The Peak, you’ll be amazed by the spectacular skyline views. Then visit the celebrated Man Mo Temple and take a short walk through Graham Street wet market to see how the local people shop for groceries. Ride across Victoria Harbor on the iconic Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon and enjoy views of the skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle of other boats on the harbor. Once in Kowloon, stop for Dim Sum lunch and then stroll through Jade Market, where around 400 stalls sell accessories made from the revered green stone. Continue to Tin Hau Temple, a declared historical monument and then visit the colorful Flower Market, the center of Hong Kong’s retail and wholesale flower business. Walk along Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, a tranquil scene of men and their bird cages and finally a visit to Goldfish Street to see the brightly colored tropical fish, an intriguing site

Explore Sham Shui Po, one of Hong Kong’s most fascinating neighborhoods on a food trail walking tour. This region in old Kowloon houses a plethora of foodie hot spots, from decades old eateries serving Hong Kong’s most beloved dishes, to specialty food stores with delicacies that give Cantonese food its subtle yet rich flavors. Along the tour visit a Hong Kong style café, a soy specialty store, a dumpling house and a noodle restaurant for food tastings. This area is a chef’s hidden heaven! The rest of your afternoon is at leisure.

In the evening, board a ferry to cruise to Lamma Island. Along the way enjoy the sunset view of Victoria Harbor. Upon arrival on Lamma Island, proceed to the fisher folk village where you can learn about the local fishing culture. Then enjoy a sumptuous dinner at the award-winning seafront Rainbow Restaurant, a quaint, no-frills restaurant offering fresh seafood and a low key atmosphere. On the return ferry to Hong Kong Island or Kowloon watch the symphony of lights show, the world’s largest permanent light and sound show that combines interactive lights and showcases 33 buildings on both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The light show is a nightly 15 minute spectacle

Dragon’s Back is one of Hong Kong’s most popular hikes. Start the tour with a walk through Shau Kei Wan wet market where you will see the daily life of Hong Kong residents before heading to the start of the trail. The hike begins along a lovely path that takes you through shady bamboo groves and lush woodland. Emerge into the open hillside that is often covered with wild azaleas or rose myrtle. Walk along the winding trail and rolling ridge to trace the ‘dragon’ and enjoy the breathtaking views of the coastline. See the distant Nine Pins Islands, Big Wave Bay, Tai Tam Harbor, Stanley and the Red Hill peninsula. Return to central Hong Kong in the late afternoon. 

Day at leisure until your pickup and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.