Setting off on an 8-day journey through Japan and South Korea unveils a captivating tapestry of culture, history, and adventure. This carefully crafted itinerary takes us from the tranquil temples of Kyoto to the vibrant energy of Tokyo, and then to the dynamic streets of Seoul, wrapping up in the picturesque town of Narita. Perfect for families, this trip ensures that every member finds something exciting to discover – and delicious to eat.

8 Day Japan & South Korea Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Osaka & Travel to Kyoto

Day 2: Kyoto Temples, Gardens & Kaiseki Dinner

Day 3: Kyoto Sightseeing & Travel to Tokyo

Day 4: Tokyo Shopping, Tokyo Tower & Giants Game

Day 5: Wagyu Beef, Tokyo Sightseeing & Travel to Seoul

Day 6: Seoul Sightseeing

Day 7: Seoul Olympic Park & Travel to Narita

Day 8: Narita Museum, Old Town & Travel Home

Itinerary Map

This itinerary spans 8 days in East Asia, flying between Japan and South Korea and relying on trains to navigate within Japan. Click on the image to launch an interactive map.

Itinerary Snapshot

A quick view of what we did and where we stayed. Here are the trip’s activity highlights, with accommodation links.

Activities

7 Days of Sightseeing
1 Traditional Kaiseki Dinner
1 Baseball Game
2 Shinkansen Rides
Many Delicious Meals

Accommodations

Hotel Granvia, Kyoto (1 night)
Shiraume Ryokan, Kyoto (1 night)
Conrad Hotel, Tokyo (2 nights)
Conrad Hotel, Seoul (2 nights)
ANA Crowne Plaza, Narita (1 night)

Itinerary Photo Highlights

Scroll through for highlighted photos from each day of the itinerary.

Itinerary Details

Day 1 – Arrival Day

Arrive to Osaka’s Kansai International Airport
Take the train to Kyoto Station (1 hour, 30 minutes)
Check into Hotel Granvia Kyoto
Ramen and gyoza dinner at Honke Daiichi-Asahi

Day 2 – Kyoto Temples & Gardens, Gion traditions

Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
Visit Ryoan-ji Hojo Teien (Rock Garden)
Visit Kyoto Gyoen National Garden & Imperial Palace
Check into Shiraume ryokan
Explore Nishiki Market
Wander the streets of Gion
Enjoy a traditional kaiseki dinner at Shiraume

Day 3 – Kyoto Torii Gates, Nijo Castle, Train to Tokyo

Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
Climb to the top of Mount Inari through the Torii gates
Return to Shiraume for breakfast in room
Visit Nijo Castle
Take the shinkansen train to Tokyo (2 hours, 15 minutes)
Dinner at Tonkatsu Suzuki (inside Tokyo Station)
Check into Conrad Tokyo

Day 4 – Shopping, Tokyo Tower, Baseball

Visit Tsukiji Fish Market in the morning
Explore Ginza shopping district
Tokyo Tower & The Place of Tokyo
Tokyo Giants baseball game at the Tokyo Dome

Day 5 – Wagyu Beef & Tokyo Sightseeing

Walk the Tokyo Imperial Palace grounds
Explore Roppongi neighborhood
Eat fancy Hitsumabushi (Wagyu beef rice bowl) for lunch (1 adult only)
Visited Hedgehog Cafe petting zoo (1 adult & 1 child)
Enjoy dessert for lunch at Jean-Paul Hévin (1 adult & 1 child)
Buy unique Japanese flavors at the Kit-Kat Chocolatory
Visit Meiji Shrine
Ramen dinner at Rokurinsha (inside Tokyo Station)
Fly from Tokyo to Seoul

Day 6 – Seoul Sightseeing

Morning visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace
Eat lunch at a bibimbap restaurant
Afternoon visit Seoul Tower & Namsan Mountain Park
Experience a traditional cook-your-own Korean BBQ for dinner

Day 7 – Olympic Park & Return to Japan

Visit Olympic Park
Re-pack and check out of hotel
Fly from Seoul to Narita

Day 8 – Aeronautical Museum, shopping & Eels in Narita

Visit Museum of Aeronautical Sciences
Explore the old town of Narita
Shop on Naritasan Omotesando street
Have a traditional grilled eel lunch at Kawatoyo Honten
Fly back home

Itinerary Tips

Always wear (or bring) socks. Make sure to take your shoes off at the door of your hotel room, and at the entry ways for traditional locations (temples, restaurants, ryokans).
While adjusting to jet lag, early risers can sightsee before breakfast. Many shrines & temples open at sunrise, and others are open all the time.
Many hotel concierges can help make restaurant reservations and purchase sporting event tickets for you, even weeks before you arrive.
For nicer restaurants in Japan, double check whether or not children are allowed.
For Japanese buses, board in the back door, grab a ticket from the machine. At your destination, exit and pay at the front door.
Be patient while hailing a taxi in Seoul – you may get passed over many times (sometimes drivers don’t want to take passengers who don’t speak Korean).
The guards at Gyeongbokgung Palace are very friendly and happy to have their photos taken with you.

What I would Have Done Differently…

For a typical tourist trip, I would not recommend combining both Japan and South Korea, unless you have much more time. There is so much to see in both countries – each deserve their own trip. In my case, I needed to attend business meetings in Tokyo and Seoul, so it made sense to combine the two cities. However, rather than going by myself and doing a fast 4-day business trip, I extended the trip to include Kyoto and brought my family along. (I skipped a number of the tourist activities in Tokyo and Seoul, because I was tied up with work activities.)

In Tokyo, although the Conrad was a beautiful hotel, next time we’ll stay closer to a major train station for convenience. There is a lot of walking in Japan, and after a long day, especially with a kid, it’s sometimes tough to walk another 15 minutes from a station to a hotel.