South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures
South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures
Day 1
After almost three years, we are finally able to travel to South Korea and Japan, an OAT adventure that was scheduled in 2019. Thankfully, the world is now recovering from the Covid Pandemic and we are back in the Friendly Skies of United Airlines.
Fully vaccinated and triple boosted, we...
Day 2
Day 2 – Wednesday, October 12, 2022 – Arrive in Seoul; Greeted at Airport; Met Trip Experience Leader
Our overnight at the Comfort Suites in San Bruno, about two miles from the airport, was very short as the shuttle to our hotel was late picking us up. The night desk...
Day 3
Day 3 – Thursday, October 13, 2022 - Gyeongbok Palace; Visit War Memorial of Korea
Good Morning or Annyeong haseyo is our new phrase for today. We woke up to a sunny morning and the temperature was 65 degrees with a light breeze.
With Seoul’s hotels and businesses just opening...
Day 4
Day 4 – Friday, October 14, 2022 – Seoul; Grand Circle Foundation visit: Jusarang Community Church; Controversial Topic: South Korean Baby Boxes with Pastor Lee Dae Dong; Home-Hosted Lunch; North Korean Defector Discussion
After our breakfast we drove to the Jusarang Community Church, on the South side of the Han...
Day 5
Day 5 – Saturday, October 15, 2022 - A Day in the Life of Oeam Village in Asan
Last night Pam delivered a beautiful birthday cake and Gennie brought it to breakfast to share with our group. We had an earlier departure this morning heading south to Oeam Village in...
Day 6
Day 6 – Sunday, October 16, 2022 - Seoul; Visit the DMZ
After breakfast, we began our trip north to the DeMilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. Pam wanted to be there early so we left the hotel at 7:00. Because today is Sunday and the DMZ was closed...
Day 7
Day 7 – Monday, October 17, 2022 - Depart Seoul; Fly to Haneda, Japan; Transfer to Tokyo
The hotel had provided a boxed breakfast sandwich but we chose to have a little fruit and yogurt before taking the bus to the local domestic airport, Gimpo. Everyone was on time and...
Day 8
Day 8 – Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - Former Sumo Wrestler; Pachinko Parlor; Bonsai Gardens
This morning was the first that we were able to sleep as we have been waking up at 3:30 – crazy biological clocks! We did get up at 6:00 and I washed a load of...
Day 9
Day 9 – Wednesday, October 19, 2022 – Explore Tokyo; Drum Master; Asakusa Walking Tour; Palace Grounds
This morning we chose not to go on the walk, but spent some time organizing our bags for the bullet train trip to Toba. We will pack a small carry-on for only two...
Day 10
Day 10 – Thursday, October 20, 2022 – Bullet Train to Nagoya; Train Ride to Ise; Toba
Packing last night helped us to be ready at 7:00 am to take our large bags to the lobby to be shipped ahead to Kyoto. After dropping off the bags, we ate a...
Day 11
Day 11 – Friday, October 21, 2022 – Toba; Meet Local Ama
We could smell breakfast as soon as we reached the elevator to the north building. The generous buffet featured many kinds of fish, both raw and fried. There were also variations on sea food and vegetable soups including...
Day 12
Day 12 – Saturday, October 22, 2022 – Train Ride to Kyoto; Excursion to Nara; Visit Todaiji Temple; Maiko Demonstration
Our morning was leisurely; we had breakfast and then checked out of the hotel at 8:45. By 9:00 we were on the red hotel shuttle bus headed for the Toba...
Day 13
Day 13 – Wednesday, October 23, 2022 - Fushimi Imari Shrine; Nishiki Market; Explore Kinkakuji Temple
We woke up to another beautiful day in Kyoto; the sun was bright and the skies were blue. After breakfast we met Mr. Kakao, our driver here in Kyoto, and he took us for...
Day 14
Day 14 – Monday, October 24, 2022 - Tenryuji Garden; Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove; Nijo-jo Castle
There was a little rain during the night; cleaning an already spotless city. The skies were overcast and it was cooler this morning. We departed the hotel at 8:30am for the 30-minute drive to...
Day 15
Day 15 – Tuesday, October 25, 2022 – Return Flights to the USA
Our bags are unpacked, the laundry is done, and we are trying to get back on Colorado body clock time. Our trip home was long but basically uneventful, always a good thing! After three flights and over...
Day 16
Overseas Adventure Travel
South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures
Pam Kim - South Korea
Ken Murakami - Japan
Trip Evaluation
What trip leader did well:
Both Trip Leaders, Pam and Ken were exceptional and very accommodating to all of us on the trip. We could not have...
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The hotel prepared a box breakfast for us as we had to be in the lobby way before the breakfast room was open.
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