13-Day Highlights of South Korea & Japan — Self-Launched Edition
13 days · South Korea & Japan
Tourist Journey charges £2,650
No-markup version: ~£2,410 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself version of the "13 Day Highlights of South Korea & Japan" package (Seoul → Tokyo → Kyoto), swapping 3–5* group hotels for well-located hostels, guesthouses and budget business hotels, and replacing guided coach days with self-bookable day tours, public transport and the odd local guide. You cover the same ground: Gyeongbokgung Palace and the DMZ, Tokyo's classic sights, a Mount Fuji day trip, Nikko, Tsukiji, the Shinkansen to Kyoto, Nara deer, Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari and Osaka's Dotonbori. Everything is bookable independently via GetYourGuide/Klook, JR Pass, and hostel sites. Costs are approximate per-person backpacker/mid-budget rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Seoul — Myeongdong base
Seoul
Land at Incheon International Airport and take the AREX all-stop train or express train to Seoul Station (~£4–6, 45–60 mins), then the subway one or two stops to Myeongdong or Chungmuro. Check into a hostel or budget business hotel near Myeongdong. Spend the evening easing in: street food in Myeongdong (tteokbokki, hotteok, gimbap ~£6–8 total), a convenience-store beer, and an early night to fight jet lag. Buy a T-money card (~£3) and top it up for the week.
🚌AREX airport train Incheon → Seoul Station ~£4–6; subway ~£1.20
🛏Hostel dorm or budget business hotel in Myeongdong/Chungmuro (~£18–25/night)
- →AREX airport train into Seoul
- →Myeongdong street food wander
- →T-money card set-up
Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon & a Seoul food market
Seoul
Morning at Gyeongbokgung Palace (entry ~£2) — time it for the Changing of the Guard ceremony (usually 10:00 and 14:00, free). Rent a hanbok nearby if you fancy it (many shops give free palace entry with rental, ~£12). Walk the traditional alleys of Bukchon Hanok Village, then eat your way through Gwangjang Market — bindaetteok and mayak gimbap for ~£6. If you want the guided market experience the tour includes, book a small-group Seoul food tour on GetYourGuide/Klook (~£35–45) or just DIY it with a market stall crawl for a fraction of the cost.
🚌Subway ~£1.20 each way
🛏Same Seoul hostel/hotel
- →Gyeongbokgung Palace & Changing of the Guard
- →Bukchon Hanok Village alley walk
- →Gwangjang Market food crawl (DIY or small-group food tour)
Free day in Seoul — museums and neighbourhoods
Seoul
A flexible day. Options: the National Museum of Korea (free), the War Memorial of Korea (free), or the Leeum Museum of Art (~£10). Afternoon in Insadong for teahouses and craft shops, or hike the easy Naksan Park city-wall walk for views. Dinner in Ikseondong's hanok alley cafés or Hongdae for cheap eats and live music (~£10–12). All self-guided by subway — easy and cheap.
🚌Subway day ~£2.50
🛏Same Seoul hostel/hotel
- →National Museum of Korea or Leeum Museum of Art
- →Insadong & Ikseondong wander
- →Naksan Park city wall walk (optional)
DMZ day tour to the North Korean border
Seoul (DMZ)
Book a DMZ half-day group tour on GetYourGuide or Klook (~£45–60) covering Imjingak Park, the Bridge of Freedom, the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel (helmet included), Dora Observatory and Unification Village — exactly the stops the commercial tour covers, but as a shared coach tour you book yourself. Pickup is usually central Seoul around 07:00–08:00; you're back early afternoon. Note: the JSA/Panmunjom area opens and closes depending on military access — check before booking. Evening free for a Korean BBQ dinner (~£12–15).
🚌Included in DMZ tour pickup
🛏Same Seoul hostel/hotel
- →DMZ group tour: Imjingak, Bridge of Freedom, 3rd Tunnel, Dora Observatory, Unification Village
Fly Seoul → Tokyo, evening in Shimbashi
Seoul → Tokyo
Fly from Incheon or Gimpo to Tokyo Narita/Haneda on a low-cost carrier (Peach, Jeju Air, Zipair; book early for ~£90–140 one way). From Narita take the Keisei Skyliner (~£13) or the cheaper Keisei limited express (~£6) into town; from Haneda the monorail (~£3). Base yourself in Shimbashi, Asakusa or Ueno — good-value hostels and easy transport. Evening stroll around Shimbashi izakaya alleys for yakitori and a beer (~£10).
🚌Flight Seoul → Tokyo ~£90–140; airport train ~£6–13
🛏Hostel dorm or budget business hotel in Shimbashi/Asakusa (~£25–35/night)
- →Flight to Tokyo
- →Shimbashi izakaya evening
Classic Tokyo walking day
Tokyo
Free walking-tour style day on foot and by subway. Start at Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace Gardens (free), cross Nijubashi Bridge for photos, then subway to Asakusa for Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori. Afternoon: Meiji Jingu Shrine (free), Harajuku's Takeshita Street, and Shibuya Crossing at dusk from the Mag's Park rooftop (~£3). Alternatively join a free tip-based Tokyo walking tour (Tokyo Localized/Guruwalk) — pay what you feel, ~£8–10 tip. Lunch at a standing soba or ramen shop ~£6.
🚌Subway day pass ~£4
🛏Same Tokyo hostel/hotel
- →Imperial Palace Gardens & Nijubashi Bridge
- →Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise-dori
- →Meiji Jingu Shrine
- →Harajuku & Shibuya Crossing
Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi day trip
Tokyo → Fuji Five Lakes → Tokyo
Book a Mount Fuji day tour on GetYourGuide/Klook (~£55–75) covering Oishi Park, Lake Kawaguchi views, Arakurayama Sengen Park and Chureito Pagoda, Oshino Hakkai's spring ponds and the Fuji 5th Station — matching the operator's itinerary. Cheaper DIY alternative: highway bus from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (~£12 each way, ~2 hrs) plus the local retro bus to the lakes and Chureito; doable for ~£25–30 total but you self-navigate and 5th Station access depends on season. Bring a jacket — it's cold up high.
🚌Shared day tour coach or Shinjuku–Kawaguchiko highway bus
🛏Same Tokyo hostel/hotel
- →Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park
- →Chureito Pagoda & Arakura Sengen Shrine
- →Oshino Hakkai
- →Mount Fuji 5th Station
Nikko shrines and Kegon Falls
Tokyo → Nikko → Tokyo
Take the Tobu Nikko Line from Asakusa (limited express ~£16 each way, or cheaper local with a Tobu Nikko pass ~£20 return). Visit Shinkyo Bridge, then Toshogu Shrine (entry ~£8) with its ornate carvings, and bus up the Irohazaka road to Kegon Falls (observation deck ~£3) and Lake Chuzenji. Lunch at a lakeside soba shop ~£7. Return to Tokyo in the evening. This is the same set of stops the tour covers by private coach, done on the excellent Tobu network.
🚌Tobu line to Nikko ~£16 each way; local buses ~£8
🛏Same Tokyo hostel/hotel
- →Toshogu Shrine
- →Shinkyo Bridge
- →Kegon Falls
- →Lake Chuzenji
Tsukiji market breakfast and food tastings
Tokyo
Get up early for Tsukiji Outer Market (best 07:00–10:00). Peek into Tsukiji Hongwan-ji Temple next door, then graze the stalls: tamagoyaki skewer, uni, grilled scallops, tuna sashimi, mochi — budget ~£15 for a generous breakfast. A guided Tsukiji food tour with 4–5 tastings runs ~£50–65 on GetYourGuide/Klook if you want the commentary; DIY is just as tasty if you're on a budget. Afternoon: Namiyoke Shrine and a wander through Ginza, or a cheap Sumida River cruise (~£8) back toward Asakusa.
🚌Subway ~£2.50
🛏Same Tokyo hostel/hotel
- →Tsukiji Hongwan-ji Temple
- →Tsukiji Outer Market food tasting
- →Namiyoke Shrine
- →Ginza wander or Sumida River cruise
Shinkansen to Kyoto — Gion & Pontocho at dusk
Tokyo → Kyoto
Ride the Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari/Kodama from Tokyo to Kyoto (~2h40, ~£85–95 one way; a 7-day JR Pass ~£210 is worth it if you're adding more rail and covers this leg plus Nara/Osaka). Drop bags at a guesthouse or budget hotel near Shijo-Karasuma or Kyoto Station. Late afternoon: Pontocho Alley, the Izumo-no-Okuni statue, Yasaka Shrine, Hanamikoji Street and the Gion geisha district — all free to walk. Dinner in Pontocho ~£12–15.
🚌Shinkansen Tokyo → Kyoto ~£85–95
🛏Guesthouse or budget business hotel near Shijo-Karasuma/Kyoto Station (~£28–38/night)
- →Pontocho Alley
- →Izumo-no-Okuni statue
- →Gion & Hanamikoji Street
- →Yasaka Shrine
Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari & Nara
Kyoto & Nara
A big but doable day. Early start at Fushimi Inari (free, open 24h) to beat the crowds on the red torii path. Train to Nara (~£5, 45 mins): Todai-ji Temple and Great Buddha (~£5) and Nara Park's sika deer. Back toward Kyoto for Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion (~£3) and late-afternoon Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (free). If that feels packed, split it: swap Arashiyama to a sunrise visit on Day 12. Use local trains and buses (~£5–8 for the day); consider the Kansai One Pass/ICOCA card.
🚌Local trains/buses Kyoto–Nara–Kyoto ~£8
🛏Same Kyoto guesthouse/hotel
- →Fushimi Inari Shrine
- →Todai-ji Temple & Great Buddha
- →Nara Park deer
- →Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion
- →Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Osaka day trip — castle and Dotonbori
Kyoto → Osaka → Kyoto
Hop the JR Special Rapid or Hankyu line from Kyoto to Osaka (~£3.50, 30–45 mins). See Osaka Castle exterior and grounds (free) or enter the main tower (~£5). Afternoon: Kuromon Ichiba market snacks (~£8), then Dotonbori as the neon comes on — the Glico Man sign, Hozenji Temple's moss-covered statue, and takoyaki/okonomiyaki for dinner (~£10). Last train back to Kyoto is around midnight. ICOCA card works throughout.
🚌Return train Kyoto–Osaka ~£7
🛏Same Kyoto guesthouse/hotel
- →Osaka Castle
- →Kuromon Ichiba market
- →Dotonbori & Glico Man
- →Hozenji Temple
Departure from Kansai or Tokyo
Kyoto
Check out and head for your flight. From Kyoto, the Haruka limited express runs direct to Kansai International Airport (~£15, 75 mins) on the ICOCA & Haruka deal. If you're flying out of Tokyo instead, the Shinkansen back takes ~2h40 (~£85–95) — build in the time. Stock up on ekiben and matcha KitKats at Kyoto Station before you go.
🚌Haruka express Kyoto → Kansai Airport ~£15 (or Shinkansen back to Tokyo ~£85–95)
🛏—
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping at Kyoto Station
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Tourist Journey
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Tourist Journey | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,410 | £2,650 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £240 per person (9%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Tourist Journey-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,410
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 13-Day Highlights of South Korea & Japan — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,410 per person for 13 days in South Korea & Japan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Tourist Journey?+
Yes — Tourist Journey charges around £2,650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,410 — a saving of roughly £240 (9%) per person.
How long is the South Korea & Japan trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through South Korea & Japan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, foodie trip through South Korea & Japan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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