Hey everyone,
My partner (32F) and I (33M) are heading to Japan and Seoul for the first time, and we've put together a 20-day itinerary. We're looking for feedback, especially on the pacing and any must-see spots we might have missed. We recognize that our days are a little jam-packed already based on other peoples itineraries. We're into food, culture, and a mix of city life and nature.
Saturday, August 24: Departure from Toronto
– 5:10 AM: Depart to Billy Bishop Airport
– 6:20 AM: Arrive at Billy Bishop Airport Ferry Terminal (Ferries depart every 15 minutes beginning at 5:30 AM)
– 6:30 AM: Aspire Lounge Air Canada Café opens
– 8:20 AM: Flight departs from Toronto
– 9:33 AM: Flight arrives at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
– 12:50 PM: Flight departs from Montreal
Sunday, August 25: Tokyo (Asakusa)
– Afternoon:
– 3:00 PM: Hotel check-in time
– 3:25 PM: Flight arrives at Narita International Airport
– Use Yamato takuhaibin service to forward luggage to AirBnB in Osaka for 10:00 AM on August 30th
– Begin journey to Hotel via Keisei Narita Skyaccess
– Evening:
– Check-in to Hotel
– Visit 8th floor of Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center for sunset views
– Explore:
– Sensō-ji temple
– Street food on Nakamise Shopping Street
– Street food in Hoppy-Dori
– Pick up drinks and snacks from Family Mart
– Drinks and aerial views at Asahi Sky Room
Monday, August 26: Departure from Tokyo and Arrival in Seoul
– Morning:
– 10:00 AM: Hotel check-out time
– Walk along river at Sumida Park
– Visit Asakusa Shrine
– 11:00 AM: Breakfast at Asakusa Gyukatsu
– Afternoon:
– Visit Ueno Park
– Explore:
– Akihabara Electric Town
– Marishiten Tokudaiji Temple
– 3:00 PM: AirBnB check-in time
– 3:52 PM: Depart to Narita International Airport
– Evening:
– 5:00 PM: Arrive at Narita International Airport
– 7:25 PM: Flight departs from Tokyo
– 10:00 PM: Flight arrives at Incheon International Airport
– Begin journey to AirBnB from Terminal 1
– Enjoy nightlife on Hongdae Street
Tuesday, August 27: Seoul
– Morning:
– 10:00 AM: Exchange currency at MoneyBox Hongdae
– Explore:
– Gyeongbokgung Palace (Changing of the guard ceremony at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM except on Tuesday)
– Gwanghwamun Gate
– Bukchon Hanok Village
– Insadong Culture Street
– Ikseon-dong, Jongno District
– Afternoon:
– Sample street food at Gwangjang Market
– Korean BBQ and Hanwoo at Majang Meat Market
– Pick up chicken from Kyochon Chicken before returning to AirBnB
– Evening:
– Mangwon Hangang Park for sunset views
– Enjoy nightlife on Hongdae Street
– Dinner at Noonaholdak Hongdae – Oven Baked Chicken and Beer
Wednesday, August 28: Seoul
– Morning:
– Walk along Hongdae Street and catch up on any missed activities from the previous day
– Coffee in Hannamdong
– Afternoon:
– Lunch at Downtowner Hannam
– Shop at The Hyundai Seoul
– 3:15 PM: Check-in for flight
– Evening:
– Pick up fried chicken and beer to enjoy “chimaek” by Yeouido Hangang Park
– 8:00 PM: Catch light show at Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain (Shows operate every half hour until 9:30 PM)
– Dinner at Noryangjin Fish Market
Thursday, August 29: Departure from Seoul & Arrival in Osaka
– Morning:
– Coffee at 943 King's Cross
– Walk along Hongdae Street and catch up on any missed activities from the previous day
– 11:00 AM: AirBnB check-out time
– Afternoon:
– 12:00 PM: Depart to Incheon International Airport
– 1:15 PM: Arrive at Incheon International Airport
– 3:15 PM: Flight departs from Seoul
– 4:00 PM: AirBnB check-in time
– 5:00 PM: Flight arrives at Kansai International Airport
– Evening:
– Check-in to AirBnB
– Shop on Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street
– Walk along Dotonbori and try street food (Takoyaki and Kobe beef)
– Drinks in America-mura
– Dinner at Ichiran Ramen Dotonbori – South Building
Friday, August 30: Osaka
– Morning:
– 10:00 AM: Takuhaibin arrival time
– Purchase 2-day Osaka ePass
– Explore:
– Street food and pick up Wagyu steak to cook at Kuromon Market
– Osaka Castle
– Osaka Castle Park
– Afternoon:
– 1:00 PM: Visit Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory
– Ride HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel
– Lunch at Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Umeda
– Ride Nakanoshima River Cruise
– Evening:
– Explore street food in Ohatsutenjin Urasando
– Indulge in craft beers in Umeda
Saturday, August 31: Osaka
– Morning:
– 9:00 AM: Breakfast at Rikuro’s Namba Main Branch
– Make reservations for Tombori River Cruise
– Visit Namba Yasaka Jinjya Shrine
– Afternoon:
– Explore:
– Nipponbashi Denden Town
– Shin Sekai "New World"
– Tsūtenkaku
– Evening:
– Shop at Don Quijote Dotonbori
– Take Tombori River Cruise
– Dinner at Namba Okonomiyaki Ajinoya Honten
– Experience nightlife in Dotonbori
Sunday, September 1: Nara day trip
– Morning:
– Visit Todai-ji Temple
– Sightseeing at Nara Park:
– Isuien Garden
– Kasuga Taisha Shrine
– Manyo Botanical Gardens
– Pick up sake from Harushika Sake Brewery Store
– Watch mochi pounding demonstration at Nakatanidou (Hourly shows and latest ends at 2:00 PM)
– Afternoon:
– Pick up drinks from 7-Eleven
– Lunch options:
– Sakura Burger
– Maguro Koya
– Tonkatsu Ganko Nara
– Rokumei Coffee
– Enjoy drinks at Mount Wakakusa
– Evening:
– Turn in early after drinks at AirBnB
Monday, September 2: Kyoto day trip (Central & North)
– Morning:
– Explore:
– Fushima Inari Shrine
– Kinkaku-ji
– Imamya Shrine
– Nijo Castle (Optional)
– Afternoon:
– Lunch at Nishiki Market
– Visit Kiyomizudera Temple (Optional)
– Snacks at Tempura Endo Yasaka (North)
– Visit Yasaka-jinja Shrine and stroll around the Gion District
– Explore:
– Pontocho Alley
– Philosopher’s Path
– Evening:
– Turn in early after drinks at AirBnB
Tuesday, September 3: Kyoto day trip (Arashiyama)
– Morning:
– Visit:
– Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
– Tenryu-ji Temple
– Cross Togetsukyo Bridge for views of Katsura River (Take river boat at end of bridge)
– Afternoon:
– Visit Iwatayama Monkey Park
– Lunch at Arashiyama Curry or Kijurou
– Evening:
– Experience nightlife in Osaka
Wednesday, September 4: Kobe day trip
– Morning:
– Explore:
– Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens
– Nunobiki Falls
– Ikuta Jinja (Optional)
– Afternoon:
– Lunch in Nankinmachi
– Evening:
– Dinner at Kobe Fuji Kobe Beef Steak & Teppanyaki (Sample Kobe and domestic set)
– Explore:
– Kobe Harborland
– Meriken Park
– Turn in early after drinks at AirBnB
Thursday, September 5: Departure from Osaka & Arrival in Hakone
– Morning:
– 5:15 AM: Arrive at Namba Station
– Use takuhaibin at Shin-Osaka Station to forward luggage to APA Hotel in Tokyo for Saturday, September 7
– Purchase Hakone Free Pass
– 11:00 AM: AirBnB check-out time
– Walk through Hakone Gōra Park on the way to Hakone Ropeway Sounzan Station
– Explore Owakudani
– Afternoon:
– Take ropeway to Hakone Pirate Ship Tōgendai Port and take cruise along Lake Ashinoko
– 3:00 PM: Hotel check-in time
– Evening:
– Hold to unwind and experience onsen
Friday, September 6: Hakone
– Morning:
– Explore Hakone Shrine and Heiwa no Torii
– Visit Amasake Tea House and Chisuji Falls
– Afternoon:
– Catch up on any missed activities from the previous day
– Evening:
– Hold to unwind and experience onsen
Saturday, September 7: Departure from Hakone and Arrival in Tokyo (Shibuya)
– Morning:
– 10:00 AM: Hotel check-out time
– Afternoon:
– 3:00 PM: Hotel check-in time
– Evening:
– See Godzilla head at Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
– Dinner and drinks in Shinjuku Golden-Gai
– Nightcap in Kabukicho
Sunday, September 8: Tokyo (Shibuya)
– Morning:
– Pancakes at Musashino Mori Diner Shinjuku Central Park
– Afternoon:
– Visit Yoyogi Park
– Visit Meiji Jingu
– Explore Shibuya Center-Gai
– Evening:
– Visit Shibuya Scramble Crossing
– Drinks and aerial views at Mag's Park Rooftop Shibuya Crossing
– Get izakaya dinner at Niku Yokocho
– Bar hop in Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho
Monday, September 9: Kamakura & Yokohama (Day Trip)
– Morning:
– Visit Kotoku-in
– Afternoon:
– Lunch at Komachi Dori
– Visit Yuigahama Beach
– Explore Yokohama Chinatown
– Explore Yamashita Park
– Explore Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
– Evening:
– Visit Cosmo World
Tuesday, September 10: Tokyo (Shinjuku)
– Morning:
– Shopping at CanDo Seibu Shinjuku PePe, Don Quijote Shinjuku, Tokyo Hands, and UNIQLO Shinjuku Flags
– *Afternoon:**
– Visit Shinjuku Station
– Visit Giant 3D Cat Café
– Visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
– Evening:
– 8:00 PM: Visit the observation deck at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
– Drinks at Omoide Yokocho
Wednesday, September 11: Tokyo (Shibuya)
– Morning:
– 8:00 AM: Breakfast at Tsukiji Outer Market
– Visit Hamarikyū Gardens
– Afternoon:
– Lunch at Wagyu to Worldwide
– Visit teamLab Borderless
– Visit Imperial Palace
– Evening:
– Drinks in Kabukicho
Thursday, September 12: Tokyo (Shibuya)
– Free day
– Use takuhaibin to forward luggage to Narita International Airport for September 14th
Friday, September 13: Tokyo (Shibuya)
– Other activities and restaurants for consideration:
– Visit Hie Shrine
– Visit Naka-Meguro Park
– Enjoy street food and drinks at Ameya-Yokocho Market:
– Minatoya
– Chicken Man – Ameyoko Branch
– Cha No Kiminoen
– Gyudon at SUKIYA
– Conveyor belt sushi at Kura Sushi or Kaitenzushi Nemuro Hanamaru KITTE Marunouchi
– Saizeriya (family restaurant)
– Teppanyaki at New Matsuzaka Roppongi
– Drinks at Takioka
– 5:45 PM: Check-in for flight
Saturday, September 14: Departure
– Morning:
– 10:00 AM: Hotel check-out time
– Afternoon:
– 12:00 PM: Latest time to depart to Narita International Airport
– 2:45 PM: Arrive at Narita International Airport
– Evening:
– 5:45 PM: Flight departs from Tokyo
– 5:15 PM: Flight arrives at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
– 7:10 PM: Flight departs from Montreal
– 8:34 PM: Flight arrives at Toronto Pearson International Airport
by Adventurous-Taste-59