South Korea: Seoul | Japan: Tokyo, Toba, Kyoto
Includes airfare
During your trip, you will have the opportunity to join optional tours to further your discoveries—all of which are noted below. Most of these tours can only be reserved onsite with your Trip Experience Leader, however due to limited space and other special requirements, some optional tours must be reserved before your departure from the U.S. If this trip has optional tours that need to be purchased in advance, they will be noted with a disclaimer below.
Day 10 | $300 per person
Day 10 | $300 per person
Discover Kawaguchiko, the unique region surrounding Mount Fuji. First, arrive in Oshino, a small village in the Fuji Five Lake region, to visit Oshino Hakkai—a series of eight sparkling ponds. Fed by the snow melt of Mount Fuji, these ponds are famous for their crystal-clear water. As the snow melts and flows down the mountain’s slopes, the water is naturally filtered through porous layers of lava rock, resulting in extremely fresh spring water held in high esteem by the locals.
During your visit, explore the Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan—a small open-air museum that encircles Oshino Hakkai’s largest pond. Exhibits includes a traditional farmhouse with a distinctive thatched roof. Inside, we’ll find displays of traditional farming tools and household items, as well as samurai armor and weapons.
Later, experience Kubota Itchiku Art Museum, dedicated to the art of kimono. Its impressive collection features 104 kimono created over four decades by visionary Japanese artist Itchiku Kubota. Throughout his decades-long career—from the late 1970s to his death in 2003—Kubota revived 16th-century kimono-making techniques and modernized them with his own distinctive style. We’ll also witness Kubota’s Mount Fuji and Oceans series which highlights the artist’s sincere reverence for nature through two themes frequently found in Japanese art: iconic Mount Fuji and water in its many forms.
Finally, reach our last destination of the day, Oishi Park. This stop will be our grand finale, as Oishi Park offers spectacular views of the lake and Mount Fuji-san herself.
This full-day optional tour also includes lunch.
Please note: Kubota Itchiku Art Museum is privately owned and may be closed with little notice. In the event we cannot visit the museum today, we will enjoy alternate activities this afternoon, including viewing traditional Japanese thatch houses and visiting Oishi Park & Fuji Mountain Museum.