The list of Visit Korea Traditional Korean Experiences guarantees authentic activities for international travelers. Get a taste of Korean history with tours of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and walk down ancient streets in traditional clothing during a hanbok experience. Activities for Visit Korea Year 2023-2024 are in full swing, and tourist visas are free for visitors from 22 countries. There’s never been a better time to visit South Korea!
Visit the most historical landmarks in Gyeongju, the capital of Silla and home to some of the country’s most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Tour hanok houses and photograph natural scenery during this 12-hour excursion from Busan that includes a night view of the Korean palace.
A stunning night view of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, this tour features a symphony of lights and a vibrant slice of Korean history. The fortress is a perfect place to dive into the heart of Korea’s heritage, and the night tour brings the experience to life. The tour includes magical views of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and narratives throughout the grounds. Guests are advised to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring their own water. Pets are not allowed on this tour. Ticket holders should meet at Suwon Hwaseong Ticket Office 10 minutes prior to tour time.
Experience times and meeting places: Saturdays, 6:30 to 9 p.m., March to October; 4 to 6:30 p.m., November.
Become a part of Korea’s history from the Joseon Dynasty to the present on this 5-day tour designed to entertain and educate. See how much Korea has changed over the years as you visit amazing sites like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Namsan Mountain. Also on the list of tour stops are attractions made famous by K-dramas and K-pop. Tours depart on the 10th day of every month and include five days of activities and four nights of accommodation.
More than 800 traditional houses are waiting to be explored on this three-hour day trip south of Seoul. Visit the modern metropolis of Jeonju to see these charming homes filled with history and tradition. The tour also includes traditional Jeonju food and a stop at a traditional tea house. All entrance fees are included, and round-trip transportation is available from downtown Seoul locations.
Go with a dedicated driver on an eight-hour buzz around Gyeongju to see UNESCO World Heritage sites and more. The semi-private tour requires a minimum of two people to operate. Ticket price includes entry fees, lunch and transportation.
Leave from Seoul on this half-day tour to Yongin, where you can see ancient houses and artifacts. Your guide will take you back in time to experience Korean culture then and today.
Take part in a tea ceremony with ceremonial grade matcha served in a traditional Korean tea bowl, called a chawan. In addition to learning about the significance of the tea ceremony, guests will discover how the chawan is created in a wood-burning stove by some of the most famous pottery artisans in the country. This tour begins and ends at 53 Dalmaji-gil 117beon-gil, Haeundae in Busan. The meeting point is on the second floor of the “CU” convenience store.
Don’t miss the best of Seoul in this thrilling expedition of Korea’s capital city. Experience the harmony of tradition and modernity during visits to Gyeongbok Palace, The Blue House and more. Plan for a full day of history and amazing views in this one-of-a-kind tour that takes you to the most popular points in Seoul.
Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun
Nine Tree Premier Hotel Insadong
“Visit Korea Year” will extend from 2023 through 2024, with events, festivals, and discount promotions for visitors. Please visit the “Visit Korea Year” website for dates and details.
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At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, visitors can explore the future of technology and experience global food cultures as they tour pavilions from around the world. A major highlight of the expo is its diverse food offerings—from international cuisine served in expansive food halls to pavilions showcasing the best of their national dishes. To enrich this […]
Surrounded by verdant mountains and splendid seas, Hyogo is a treasure trove of premium ingredients for gourmet cuisine. While Kobe beef stands out, Hyogo is also home to seafood such as Kasumi red snow crab, Akashi sea bream, and Awaji conger eel, which have legions of devoted fans. Here, we introduce some must-try delicacies when visiting Hyogo.
Only about 2 hours and 20 minutes by JR Limited Express from Kyoto—no transfers required—lies the easily accessible hot spring resort of Kinosaki Onsen. Alongside Kinosaki, Yumura Onsen is considered one of the two major onsen destinations in the Tajima area. Surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, the region is blessed with fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan and mountain delicacies nurtured by beautiful forests and pristine waters.
Himeji is home to romantic ancient castle ruins and Buddhist temples with over a thousand years of history, many of which have been featured in classic films. Embrace your imagination as you embark on a journey that lets you step into the shoes of characters from famous films.
Awaji Island is located in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea. Despite its small size, it’s easily accessible and dotted with numerous tourist spots, making it a popular destination among visitors in recent years. The island is perfect for a drive, as you can circle it in about four hours by car. Read on as we introduce some of the island’s must-see spots.
Located just over two hours from Kyoto by express train, Toyooka City in northern Hyogo Prefecture is a haven of natural beauty, fully designated as part of the San’in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark. With its pristine blue seas, dazzling white beaches, and fascinating geological formations writ with Earth’s history, Hyogo offers an abundance of scenic spots and year-round activities where you can immerse yourself in nature.
Hyogo Prefecture is home to one of Japan’s oldest pilgrimage routes, the Saikoku Kannon Pilgrimage. The core values that form the foundation of the Japanese spirit—respect for manners and a deep appreciation for things—have been nurtured through the nature and people encountered along this pilgrimage.
Hyogo Prefecture offers awe-inspiring sights: a towering wooden castle with a pristine white facade, the dazzling “million-dollar” night view, and one of the world’s largest whirlpools. These extraordinary vistas showcase the harmonious interplay of nature’s artistry, the ingenuity of past generations, and the dedication of those who preserve them today. Visit the “Castle in the […]
Hyogo Prefecture, located near Kyoto and Osaka, is home to popular tourist destinations such as Kobe and Himeji Castle, which draw many international visitors. The region offers a variety of English-guided tours, enabling travelers to connect deeply with the local community and culture. This article highlights local travel experiences that celebrate the unique culture of […]
Hyogo Prefecture, nestled between mountains and sea, boasts cities with unique identities, from the cosmopolitan port city of Kobe to the historic hot spring town of Arima at the foot of Mount Rokko, one of Japan’s famed 100 mountains (hyaku meizan). Beyond their distinct charm, these towns are home to the cultural origins that have […]
Hyogo Prefecture, blessed with a plethora of diverse landscapes, is often called a “microcosm of Japan.” Offering unique travel experiences that immerse visitors in the region’s distinct ecosystems, culture, and cuisine, the journey outlined below takes you through globally rare stork habitats to sensory Zen retreats and farm-to-table restaurants on Awaji Island to enjoy while […]
Just 12 minutes by Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka lies Shin-Kobe, a station steeped in history. Over time, the area became a hub for foreign residents, quickly adopting Western culture—an influence that extended to the neighboring city of Takarazuka, earning its reputation as a town of culture and arts. Indeed, Hyogo Prefecture’s Kobe-Kitano, Sannomiya, and Takarazuka are picturesque at every turn, making them a hit with influencers. Over two days, we explored some of their top spots as selected by photographers.
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A short boat ride from Himeji brings you to Ieshima, a tranquil fishing town where boats bob in the harbor and the day’s catch is displayed beneath seaside eaves. Wander sunlit lanes, greeted by friendly locals and lounging cats, and soon you’ll feel at home in island life. Cross the water again to Naoshima, where contemporary art and bold architecture transform the landscape, blending the everyday with the extraordinary in the heart of the Seto Inland Sea.
Crossing the tranquil Seto Inland Sea leads to Shodoshima, an island where salt and fermentation have shaped centuries of soy-sauce making. Here, the aroma of koikuchi soy sauce, brewed in wooden vats for over 400 years, mingles with the legacy of usukuchi soy sauce from Tatsuno, reflecting the delicate flavors essential to Kyoto cuisine. This journey invites you to experience Japan’s fermentation culture through its rich tastes, scents, and artisanal traditions.
When you travel, every dish you encounter reflects the land and culture from which it comes. In recent years, gastronomy tourism, a journey that explores not only cuisine itself but also the stories behind it, has been attracting attention worldwide. This time, the journey takes us to Kyoto, home to the refined art of lacquerware, and to Tamba-Sasayama in Hyogo Prefecture, renowned for its Tamba pottery. Guided by the Japanese sensibility of hare (the extraordinary) and ke (the everyday), we explore the rich world where food and tableware intertwine.
In the San’in region, red snow crab season opens in autumn, followed by Matsuba snow crab in winter – prime time for crab-focused trips. One of the hub towns is Hamasaka in Hyogo Prefecture, the only place in Japan where “crab sommeliers” host your meal, offering a singular dining experience found nowhere else. Using the hot-spring town of Hamasaka as a base, set off on a grand rail journey toward the Tottori Sand Dunes, taking in the dynamic vistas of the San’in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark along the way.
Hyogo Prefecture is famed for its scenic rail journeys. Among them, one of the most popular is the Tango AO-MATSU Train, which lets travelers explore both Hyogo and Kyoto while staying in the historic hot-spring town of Kinosaki Onsen. The journey begins in Kinosaki Onsen, about two and a half hours from Kobe, Osaka, or Kyoto by limited express train—a trip that connects hot springs, fine sake, and breathtaking views of the Sea of Japan.
Jun’ichiro Tanizaki, one of Japan’s foremost literary figures, vividly explored the “beauty of shadow” that dwells within Japanese architecture and daily life in his 1933 essay In Praise of Shadows. He wrote that the true essence of Japanese beauty lies not in brightness, but in the subtle interplay of light and shadow—the moon filtering through trees, the soft glow behind a shoji paper screen, the dim reflections upon lacquerware. One of the places that shaped Tanizaki’s aesthetic sensibility was Kyoto, the ancient capital. The quiet shadows that inhabit its temples and gardens deepened his literary world. Another retreat he frequented was Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture.
