Example trip
Ten Years, Two Countries: Tokyo to Seoul by Rail and Coast
From the scramble of Shibuya to the vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari, from Miyajima's torii in the tide to the painted stairways of Gamcheon, this is a trip that moves by train and ferry through two countries that answer each other in neon and quiet. An anniversary kaiseki dinner in Gion marks the middle of it; the DMZ marks the edge of it.
- Fushimi Inari's thousand gates, climbed in the cooler hours
- A kaiseki dinner in Gion for your tenth anniversary
- The ferry crossing to Miyajima and the floating torii
- Gamcheon's terraced, color-washed village above Busan
- A day at the DMZ, Korea's most guarded line
What it costs
$4,655per person
$345 under your budgetBudget $5,000
$9,310 for 2 travellers.
Prices are calculated for a departure on April 8, 2027. Against your budget of $5,000 per person, this itinerary lands comfortably under it, even while keeping every hotel at a comfortable mid-range or, where the inventory only offered it, a step above.
The single biggest discretionary line is the Kyoto evening: the kaiseki dinner that marks your anniversary adds $276 per person, and it's worth every bit of the room it takes in the budget — a proper multi-course meal in Gion rather than a quick bite between temples. The Hiroshima–Busan leg flies rather than ferries, at $271 per person, because there is no practical rail link across that stretch of sea; everywhere else, trains do the work, as you asked. Kyoto itself runs a touch higher than its neighbors because the two ryokan-style properties on offer there both sit one notch above the base category — there was no lower option to choose from.
With the margin this leaves, you have room to add a few upgrades without threatening the rest of the trip — see the options below.
Itinerary
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 6
- Day 7
- Day 8
- Day 9
- Day 10
- Day 11
- Day 12
- Day 13
- Day 14
- Day 15
- Day 16
Day 7 — Fushimi Inari, then a dinner for ten years
MagicalTrip's early hike takes you up through Fushimi Inari's gates, past the point where most visitors turn back, the vermilion tunnel narrowing and the crowds thinning with every step. In the evening, Arigato Japan KK's Gion food tour builds to a full kaiseki dinner — course after course, each one a small ceremony, the right way to mark ten years. Good to know: the Fushimi Inari hike climbs steadily for over an hour — wear shoes you've already broken in.
About $549 per person for the day.
Book: Kyoto Evening Gion Food Tour Including Kaiseki Dinner ↗ · Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour ↗
The other 15 days are in the full trip, each written like this one, with links to book.
Before you go
Prices shown for hotels, activities, and the flights marked with a code were read from live supplier listings at the time this proposal was built and can change before booking. Beforehand does not sell or issue these services directly. Figures without a supplier code — local trains, meals, and the South Korea entry fee — are estimates based on typical costs for this kind of trip, not quoted prices. The hotels and activities with a real price are genuine, bookable products; availability, entry rules, and schedules should be confirmed directly before you book.
Cost breakdown
- Your budget
- $5,000 pp
- Trip cost
- $4,655 pp
- Difference
- $345 under your budget
Checked$3,910 from prices checked with suppliers
Estimate$745 from our estimates
- Getting there and back$1,649
- Accommodation$1,154
- Activities$836
- Food and extras$605
- Internal transport$401
- Visas and documents$10
$9,310 for 2 travellers.
Practical notes
Entry requirements: UK passport holders can enter Japan visa-free for short tourist stays. For South Korea, register online for a K-ETA before departure — it's required for visa-free entry and should be approved before you fly to Busan. Health: No special vaccinations are required for Japan or South Korea for this itinerary; standard travel health cover is recommended given the amount of walking and hiking days. Currency: Japan remains largely cash-based outside major hotels — carry yen for small shops and shrine offerings. South Korea is more card-friendly, but keep some won for markets like Gwangjang or Jagalchi. Electricity: Japan uses Type A/B plugs at 100V; South Korea uses Type C/F at 220V — a plug adapter is needed when you cross between the two. Connectivity: A Japan eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi and a separate Korean SIM/eSIM will cover both legs, since local carriers don't overlap. Season: Early-to-mid April falls within Japan's cherry blossom window; Kyoto and Hiroshima in particular may still have blossom on the trees during your stay, though timing varies year to year.
What to pack:
- Broken-in walking shoes — the Fushimi Inari hike and the Gamcheon stairways both involve sustained climbing.
- Shorts or roll-up trousers — TeamLab Planets in Tokyo has sections with ankle-deep water.
- A plug adapter for both regions — Japan and South Korea use different voltages and plug types.
- Your passport carried with you on the DMZ day — it's checked on site and required for access.
Yours would start from your answers
Where, when, with whom and at what pace. Six short sections, then we build it.