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lernidee.de · Escorted rail journey

Kimchi, Kois und Kaisertempel: Zug-Erlebnisreise durch Südkorea und Japan

15-day rail journey Seoul to Tokyo via KTX, regional trains, Shinkansen, and ferry

Illustration of Kimchi, Kois und Kaisertempel: Zug-Erlebnisreise durch Südkorea und Japan

Lernidee.de's 15-day rail journey carries you from Seoul to Tokyo across South Korea and Japan, blending two nations that honor ancient tradition while embracing the future. You depart Frankfurt on an overnight flight, arriving in Seoul for two days of palace visits, traditional villages, and markets. Then the trains take over: the KTX bullet train speeds you to Gangneung on the east coast, a regional train climbs through the Baekdudaegan mountain range into Gyeongju with its temples and royal tombs. A fast ferry carries you from Busan across to Fukuoka in Japan, where the Shinkansen connects Kyoto and Kanazawa. Along the way you visit UNESCO World Heritage temples, ride the scenic Sagano Railway through bamboo forest, explore historic villages in the Japanese Alps, and spend your final days in Tokyo's temples and gardens. German-speaking guides lead the group through both countries; your luggage moves ahead while you travel light by train. The pace balances long rail days with two or three nights in each major city, allowing time to walk, eat, and observe.

What to know before you look closer

  • The tour includes two transoceanic flights (Frankfurt to Seoul and Tokyo back to Frankfurt) that frame the rail portion; rail travel occupies roughly 5 of the 15 days.
  • Luggage is forwarded separately on two legs (Fukuoka to Kyoto and Kyoto to Tokyo), reducing what you carry but requiring coordination.
  • German-speaking guides cover Seoul to Busan and Fukuoka to Tokyo, but the ferry crossing on Day 7 and independent time in between are unguided.
  • A minimum of 15 participants is required; the operator reserves the right to cancel up to 21 days before departure if this threshold is not met.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Flugzeug

    Flug nach Seoul

    Flug von Deutschland nach Seoul.

  2. Day 2overnight: Seoul

    Willkommen in Südkorea!

    Landung in Seoul, Transfer zum Hotel, Nachmittagsbummel über den Namdaemun-Markt, gemeinsames Abendessen mit den Mitreisenden.

  3. Day 3overnight: Seoul

    Seoul

    Gwanghwamun-Platz, Besichtigung des Gyeongbak-Palasts (UNESCO-Welterbe) mit Wachablösung, Dorf Bukchon Hanok mit traditionellen koreanischen Häusern.

  4. Day 4overnight: Gangneung

    Nach Gangneung

    Fahrt mit dem KTX-Schnellzug nach Gangneung, Besuch des Hauses Ojukheon, Spaziergang unter Pinien.

  5. Day 5overnight: Gyeongju

    Durch die Berge

    Zugfahrt mit Aussicht auf die Gebirgskette Baekdu-daegan, Ankunft in Gyeongju.

  6. Day 6overnight: Gyeongju

    Geschichte in Gyeongju

    Seokguram-Grotte und Bulguska-Tempel, Nationalmuseum, Daereungwon-Gräber-Komplex, Spaziergang zur Woljeong-Brücke.

  7. Day 7overnight: Hakata

    Übers Meer

    Schnellfähre von Busan nach Fukuoka (Hafen Hakata), Empfang durch die Reiseleitung.

  8. Day 8overnight: Kyoto

    Zug um Zug nach Kyoto

    Hauptgepäck wird vorausgeschickt; Fahrt mit dem Shinkansen und Regionalzügen nach Kyoto.

  9. Day 9overnight: Kyoto

    Kaiserliches Kyoto

    Ryoanji-Tempel, Schloss Nijo und Ninomaru-Goten Palast, Fushimi-Inari-Schrein, abends Bummel durch das Geisha-Viertel Gion.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Kyoto

    Sagano Scenic Railway

    Historische Schmalspurbahn entlang des Hozugawa-Flusses von Sagano nach Arashiyama, Bambus-Wald, Besuch des Eisenbahn-Museums in Kyoto.

  11. Day 11overnight: Kanazawa

    Die japanischen Alpen

    Hauptgepäck wird nach Tokyo vorausgeschickt; Zugfahrt nach Kanazawa, Seilbahn auf den Berg Hiei mit Blick auf den See Biwa.

  12. Day 12overnight: Kanazawa

    Zurück in die Vergangenheit

    Schloss Kanazawa und Kenrokuen-Garten, Ausflug zu den historischen Dörfern Shirakawa-go und Gokayama (UNESCO-Welterbe).

  13. Day 13overnight: Tokyo

    Tokyo

    Zugfahrt nach Tokyo, Ankunft am frühen Mittag.

  14. Day 14overnight: Tokyo

    Tokyo

    Kaiserpalast und Garten, Sensoji-Tempel, Meiji-Schrein, Aussichtsplattform des Rathauses, Ausgeh- und Einkaufsmeile Shibuya.

  15. Day 15overnight: Flugzeug

    Transfer zum Flughafen und Rückflug nach Deutschland

    Rückflug nach Deutschland.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Ride the KTX express train from Seoul to Gangneung, then visit Ojukheon house and walk among pine groves.
  • Day 5Travel by regional train through the Baekdudaegan mountain range with mountain views on the way to Gyeongju.
  • Day 9Explore Kyoto's temples and palaces including Ryoanji, Nijo Castle, and Fushimi Inari Shrine; stroll through the Gion geisha district in the evening.
  • Day 10Ride the Sagano Scenic Railway, a historic narrow-gauge train along the Hozu River through bamboo forest from Sagano to Arashiyama.
  • Day 12Visit Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden, then travel to the UNESCO World Heritage villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama in the Japanese Alps.

Included

  • Flüge Frankfurt – Seoul und Tokyo – Frankfurt in der Economy Class
  • 13 Übernachtungen in Mittelklasse-Hotels und Komfort-Hotels
  • Zugfahrten in der 2. Klasse laut Reiseverlauf
  • Separater Gepäcktransfer: Fukuoka – Kyoto und Kyoto – Tokyo
  • Mahlzeiten laut Reiseverlauf (F = Frühstück, M = Mittagessen, A = Abendessen)
  • Begrüßungs-Dinner in Seoul und Abschieds-Dinner in Tokyo
  • Deutsch sprechende Reiseleitung ab Seoul bis Busan und ab Hakata bis Tokyo
  • Transfers und Besichtigungen inkl. Eintrittsgeldern laut Reiseverlauf

Not included

  • Trinkgelder
  • Wunsch-Ausflüge

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The price from EUR 7,970 includes all train fares in second class: KTX from Seoul to Gangneung, regional trains through South Korea, Shinkansen and regional trains in Japan, and the scenic Sagano Railway. The ferry from Busan to Fukuoka is also included.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
Escorted. Lernidee.de provides German-speaking guides from Seoul through Busan and again from Fukuoka through Tokyo. The ferry crossing and the overnight flight are unguided.
Which trains are included?
KTX express (Seoul to Gangneung), South Korean regional train (Gangneung to Gyeongju with views of the Baekdudaegan range), Shinkansen and regional trains across Japan (Hakata to Kyoto to Kanazawa to Tokyo), and the Sagano Scenic Railway narrow-gauge train (Sagano to Arashiyama).
What is included in the price besides trains and hotels?
Flights from Frankfurt (round trip economy), 13 nights in mid-range and comfort hotels, German-speaking guides in South Korea and Japan, most meals per itinerary, entry fees to temples, palaces, gardens, and museums, transfers, and luggage forwarding on two segments.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. Days include city walking tours in Seoul, Kyoto, and Tokyo; visits to temples, gardens, and museums with stairs and uneven terrain; and a walk through Shirakawa-go village. No major hikes are listed.
When does this tour run?
Four departures are scheduled: November 2026, April 2027, November 2027, and April 2028. All are priced from EUR 7,970.

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