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South Korea is an East Asian country known officially as the Republic of Korea. Its neighbors include China (to the west), Japan (to the east) and North Korea (which shares its northern border).

Seoul, the country’s capital, has the modern city standards: skyscrapers and neon lights. But it’s also host to a treasure of palaces, temples and gardens. Visit the gigantic Olympic Park or the National Folk Museum, see traditional houses at the Namsangoi and Bukchon Hanok Villages, or sample tasty Korean cuisine.

Busan, the country’s second-largest city, is well known for its beaches and seafood. The temperate climate and volcanic rock of Jeju Island lures outdoor enthusiasts. And North Gyeongsang Province contains much of the country’s cultural history.

Seoul is the capital of South Korea[destination/KR/00-south-korea], as well as its largest city. Located on the Han River at the Korean Peninsula, Seoul dates back more than 600 years and has a rich and complicated history. The city was designated the capital of the Joseon Dynasty in 1394 and has since remained the political, economic and cultural core of South Korea. Seoul was gravely damaged by the Korean War and was unable to serve as the capital for many months; however, post-war reconstruction was aggressive and enabled the city to rebuild quickly.

Today, Seoul is often called the “tech capital of the world” and in 2008, forbes.com named it the sixth most economically powerful city in the world. As advanced as the city is, Seoul is firmly rooted in its past. Take a walk through Bukchon Hanok Village to learn more about hanoks, traditional Korean houses. The Changdeokgung Palace, one of the Five Grand Palaces built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty, is another worthwhile destination to explore: It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

The National Museum of Korea, Olympic Park and the War Memorial of Korea are all essential stops to make for those looking to do some first-class sightseeing. The tourist hub of Seoul is Myeong-dong, a popular fashion district and a great place to find a traditional Korean meal, such as jabchae (Korean-style chop suey) or kimchi (spicy pickled vegetables).

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. Japan consists of four main islands—Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku—and many smaller islands, notably Okinawa. Most of the islands are mountainous, many volcanic; for example, Japan’s highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano.

Visitors to Japan come to experience the country’s natural beauty, awesome temples and monuments and unique culture that stretches back thousands of years. Besides Mount Fuji, the 88 Temple Pilgrimage around the island of Shikoku and the Narrow Road to the Deep North are popular destinations for the adventurous traveler. Others come to visit the modern and crowded Tokyo, the capital city; Sapporo, with its snow festival and eponymous breweries; Osaka, a large city in the Kansai region; or Kyoto, the cultural heart of the country, with many Buddhist temples and gardens. History buffs may want to visit Hiroshima or Nagasaki for a more sobering experience.