Japan and South Korea in cherry blossom season

Departure from Sofia airport on a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul at 09:25. Landing at 10:55 and continuing to Tokyo with flight at 15:50.
(Air tickets Sofia - Istanbul - Tokyo are outside the package price)

Arrival in the Japanese capital at 09:05, welcome and transfer to Hotel The Celestine Tokyo Shiba 4*. Free time for refreshments and a panoramic tour of Tokyo. Visit the square and gardens in front of Imperial Palace - an oasis of peace and tranquillity in the dynamics of a city of many millions. The Imperial Palace, called Kokyo, is located in the centre of Tokyo on the site of the former Edo Castle, the seat of the Tokugawa shogun who ruled the country from 1603 to 1867. The new palace was built in 1888, and was almost completely destroyed during World War II and then rebuilt again in the same form. The palace is surrounded by a huge park with lakes and high stone walls. Next is a photo stop at the Parliamentand climb the tallest TV tower in the world - Tokyo Skytree (634 м). From a height of 350 m, you'll have a 360-degree view of the metropolis, and if the weather's good, you can even reach Mount Fuji. 
Next visit the oldest temple in Tokyo - Asakusa Kannon (Sensei), dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, and Nakamise- one of the oldest commercial streets in the city. The temple dates back to the 7th century AD. The legend of the Sensoji Temple says that in 628, two fishermen brothers pulled a fish out of the waters of the river. Sumida a statue of the goddess of mercy Kannon. Each time they threw the statue back into the water, it would surface and return to them. Subsequently, the Sensōji Temple was built on this site. Transfer to the hotel, check in and free time.
In the evening, you can visit one of the capital's liveliest night-time districts by metro - Shibuya - with the famous crossroads and the statue of Hachiko the dog (known to us from movies like Lost in Translation and The Fast and the Furious). Overnight.

Breakfast and free time. For all enrolled full day excursion to Nikko (UNESCO). An ancient Japanese proverb says: “Never say kikko (beautiful) before you have seen nikko!”. As a shrine, Nikko originated in the 7th century. The place was chosen by the Buddhist sect Shodo. Nikko became famous throughout Japan in the 17th century during the Tokugawa shogunate. From 1634 to 1637 the huge Toshogu temple complex«, characterized by its colorful carving on the facade. The Shinto temple is a maze of buildings, gates, galleries, staircases and mausoleums. It is a masterpiece of Japanese national architecture. The tour starts from the sanctuary of Futarasan and continues with the Shinto shrine Toshogu - a masterpiece of Japanese temple architecture and the mausoleum of Emperor Tokugawa - the first shogun of Japan. Most interesting are the five-storey Pagoda, the Karamon and Yomeion gates and the central hall of the shrine. All of them are richly ornamented with colorful carved figures. On the frieze of the stable with Toshogu's sacred horses are the famous monkeys “I hear not the words of evil”, “I see not the deeds of evil” and “I utter no evil”, expressing basic tenets of Buddhist philosophy. Return to Tokyo and free time.
Tonight you can take a walk in one of the most visited neighborhoods in the city - Harajuku - and take a look Boulevard Omotesandowith the famous Prada and Omotesando Hills buildings. Overnight.

Free day for shopping or exploring the many sights of the city of millions on your own.
We suggest you visit Ueno Park, a large public park opened in 1873 next to Ueno Station in central Tokyo. The park is located in the centre of the city in the central district of Weno The National Museum - Japan's largest and oldest museum with rich collections of authentic kimonos, samurai swords and equipment, calligraphy, ceramics, wood carvings and other works of Japanese art. Optionally, you can also visit Japan's oldest zoo, located in Ueno Park.
Another option for your free time is the Ginza shopping and entertainment district, which has earned a reputation as Tokyo's best place to shop, eat and be entertained. The area has the most famous boutiques, shops, galleries, restaurants, nightclubs and the most lavish lights and glowing advertisements.
On your last night in the capital, you can devote yourself to one of Tokyo's most colourful areas - Shinjuku. Here you will blend in with the locals out for a stroll, shopping or entertainment. Overnight.

Breakfast and departure by coach to Kamakura, a colorful city, capital of Japan in the 12th century, during the reign of Minamoto Yoritomo. Visits xframe Haze Cannon, dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, whose gilded wooden statue with 11 heads is believed to be the largest wooden statue in Japan. A lovely garden with flowers in all seasons leads up to the temple, and a small cave nearby hides numerous statues of the goddess Bensaiten, patron of female beauty and wealth. It is also visited Kotokuin Temple с The 13-metre bronze statue of Amida Buddha - the second largest in Japan. Free time for lunch in Komachi-dori main street area.
Departure by bus to the National Park Fuji - Hakone - Itsu, famous for its numerous mineral springs and ryokans - typical Japanese spas where you can soak in the waters of natural geothermal springs.
Accommodation in ryokan hotel Sengokuhara Prince Hotel 4*. Riokan hotels in Japan are necessarily built on geothermal springs, around which natural pools are built, unlike spa hotels in Europe, which in most cases only partially use mineral water for their pools. Dinner included at the hotel. Overnight.

Breakfast. Ascent by bus Fifth station of Mount Fuji - the highest mountain in Japan (3 776 m), considered a sacred place since ancient times because of its ideal shape and mysteriousness. Most of the time the mountain is hidden in clouds and mist - lucky are those who have captured its beauty on clear and sunny days. From the Fifth Station, in clear weather, we will see the five sacred Fujigoko lakes; the Shinto shrine Komitake, dedicated to Fuji, is located here; we will taste the local sweets, and from the post station, located at 2300 m above sea level, you can send a postcard to Bulgaria.
If the weather is clear, we will have the opportunity to take a cable car up to Ovakudani Valley - an active volcanic zone where you can see bubbling hot lakes covered with clouds of water vapour mixed with sulphur. The big attraction here is the black eggs boiled in the natural hot springs. Legend has it that they extend the life of anyone who has tried them by seven years. Transfer to the train station and depart on the bullet train to Kyoto. The city is often referred to as „the heart of Japan” or „the great museum of Japan”. It has been designated by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Site. It houses one-fifth of the so-called national treasure - the historical and architectural monuments including nearly 400 Shinto temples, 1,600 Buddhist pagodas, many palaces and parks. Arrival in Kyoto and check-in at hotel Granvia Kyoto 4* . Overnight.

Breakfast and full day tour of Kyoto with a visit to the legendary shrine Fushimi Inari Taisha, where scenes from the film Memoirs of a Geisha were filmed. Fushimi Inari Temple the main shrine dedicated to the deity Inari. The main temple building dates back to 1499 and is located at the foot of a hill also named Inari (233 m high). Several beautiful forest paths start from the temple and lead pilgrims to other smaller shrines scattered around the mountain. Since ancient times, Inari has been the deity of rice and is revered as the patron saint of traders and manufacturers. The shrine is famous for its many tori, gates that were donated by Japanese businessmen, down to one.
Continuation to Nijo Castle (UNESCO) - residence of the first shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, completed in the early 17th century. The castle has two concentric circles of fortifications and includes the Ninomaru and Honmaru palaces, as well as numerous additional buildings and several gardens. In 1867, the shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu signed the declaration returning power to the emperor at Ninomaru Palace. Free time for lunch.
Afternoon visit to the Buddhist temple Kiyomizu-dera - the temple of pure water. The temple is built on top of a high hill, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Kyoto. A temple was first built on this site in 798, and the current structure dates from 1633. The name of the temple comes from the waterfall it contains - kiyo mizu means „pure water” in Japanese. A street with many gift and souvenir shops of the famous local porcelain leads to it. Return to the hotel and free time.
In the evening, if you wish, you can embark on an unforgettable experience - a special Japanese dinner in the presence of „Maiko“ - A young girl training to become a geisha, who will demonstrate her fun skills with dance and games. Overnight. 

Breakfast. The day begins with a visit to the Golden Temple Kinkakuji, Originally built as a lavish, extravagant villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and converted into a Zen temple after his death in 1408, Kinkakuji is surrounded by a beautiful Japanese garden with springs, sacred statues and centuries-old trees the epitome of a landscape garden.
The following is a continuation for Arashiyama and the famous Sagano Bamboo Forest, starred in many world-famous film productions, as well as the temple Tenruigi - where you will have the pleasure to visit a typical Buddhist Zen Garden.
In the evening, for those who sign up on request, attend a traditional performance showing the most characteristic cultural traditions of the Japanese as tea ceremony, ikebana, geisha dance, puppet theatre, old court music и classic comedy.Before the performance, you will have the opportunity to dress in a traditional Japanese kimono. Overnight.

Breakfast and departure for Nara - the first capital of Japan in the 7th century. Continue to Nara and visit Temples Todaiji  - the symbol of Nara, preserved the world's largest wooden temple building and one of the most massive bronze statues of Buddha Vairochana, 15 m high. A short walk in Deer Park, where you can feed and take pictures with the beautiful animals. Continue to Osaka. Panoramic tour of the city with a visit to Osaka Castle- the pride of every resident, which impresses with its typical Japanese architecture. The castle was built in 1586 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and today has been converted into a historical museum. Visit the UmedaSkyBuilding and ascend to the incredible open-air observation deck, located at a height of 173 m, where you can enjoy a 360o view of the beautiful city with its numerous skyscrapers and bridges in all directions. Transfer to the hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Osaka Umeda 4* and accommodation. Overnight.

Breakfast. Free day to explore Osaka on your own. If you wish, you can sign up for a day excursion on the bullet train to Hiroshima and the sacred island of Miyajima. After arrival by bullet train, transfer by ferry to Miyajima Island, famous for the bright red Torii Gate of Shinto. Itsukushima shrine. Built in the 6th century in traditional Japanese style, this temple is one of the best preserved in the country and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island itself is a romantic place with beautiful views and an amazing atmosphere. Miyajima was once off-limits to visitors. Only a few initiated into the mysteries of Shinto were allowed to set foot on the holy land. To reach the island, they traveled in small boats that had to pass through the “o-torii” of Itsukushima Temple - i.e., its “great gates”
Back to Hiroshima. Included visit to Peace Park (UNESCO). It was established in 1949 after the end of World War II and is visited by countless tourists. The complex is an important part of Japan's cultural heritage and was built to remind future generations of the horror caused by the atomic bombs. Return to Osaka and overnight.
For those staying in Osaka, the opportunity to visit the aquarium in Osaka, one of the largest in the world, where you can see whale sharks, penguins, dolphins, sea lions, interesting inhabitants of the ocean depths and you can pet a tiger ray or a baby seal or explore the underground city with its interesting streets and restaurants.

Breakfast and transfer to airport for flight to Seoul. Land and continue by flight to Busan, South Korea's largest and most beautiful port city. Meet and transfer to hotel LaValse 4*. The hotel is centrally located and boasts the best views of Busan at night. Check in and free time for first impressions of the port city. Overnight.

Breakfast and full day city tour. The tour begins with a visit to Dongbaxom Island (the island of camellias), from where you can enjoy the magnificent views of the surrounding area and the iconic Diamond Bridge. You will also see one of the most characteristic buildings in Busan - „APEC House“, built especially for the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) summit. A visit to the Buddhist Hedong Yonggung Temple - unique in that it is built on a cliff overlooking the sea, unlike other temples in Korea located in the mountains. You will walk along Songdo skywalk - A 365-metre path built over the sea, giving the exciting feeling of walking above the waves. Lunch included at a local restaurant.
The tour continues with a visit to the cultural village „Gamchon“ characterized by its brightly colored houses, situated in a terraced way on the hills of Busan. Although the settlement was originally established as a Korean War refuge, today it is an amazing outdoor art gallery with its many sculptures, charming cafes, shops and restaurants.
Next is a visit to the largest fish market in Korea and central square “BIFF”. Return to the hotel and free time for dinner. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the train station for departure by high-speed train to Seoul.
Arrival in the capital of South Korea, welcome and panoramic tour of Seoul including Gyeongbok-gung Palace, also called the Northern Palace or the Grand Palace, built by the Chasson dynasty in the 14th century;  Bukchon Hanok district, preserved its ancient appearance because of the many authentic facades of the houses of Hanok; NTower Tower, from where a magnificent view of the megalopolis is revealed. Hotel accommodation  Sotetsu The Splaisir Myeongdong 4* and free time. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out by 12 pm and transfer by bus to Seoul's most affluent and glitzy neighborhood, known by locals as the Beverly Hills, which is located south of the Han River - Gangnam District. Here we will make a photo stop at the Gangnam Style statue dedicated to the infamous song, explore the Bongensa Temple and the COEX Starfield Library. Free time for one last shopping spree at the mall. Next, transfer to Incheon International Airport for your return flight to Istanbul at 23:20. Overnight on the plane.

Arrival in Istanbul at 04:50 and continuation to Bulgaria with flight at 07:20. Landing in Sofia at 08:35. End of the program.