Seoul + Japan

April 4 – 20, 2026 · 17 days

JFK → Seoul → Tokyo → Kawaguchiko → Shibuya → JFK

At a Glance

Flights
RouteDateTimeFlightStatus
JFK → ICN Apr 3 1:30a → 6:05a+1 OZ 223 Booked
ICN → NRT Apr 8 10:25a → 12:55p 7C 1103 Booked
HND → JFK Apr 20 10:45p → 10:55p NH 160 Booked
Hotels
HotelDatesAreaStatus
Hotel Prima Seoul Apr 4-8 Jongno Booked
Tokyu Stay Ginza Apr 8-16 Ginza Booked
Wakakusa-no-yado Maruei Apr 16-17 Kawaguchiko Booked
JR-East Hotel Mets Shibuya Apr 17-20 Shibuya Booked

Show to Taxi Driver

Hotel Prima Seoul
호텔 프리마 서울
46 우정국로 견지동 종로구
Tokyu Stay Ginza
東急ステイ銀座
4-10-5 銀座 中央区 東京都 104-0061
Wakakusa-no-yado Maruei
わかくさの宿 丸栄
河口湖町小立 山梨県 401-0302
Tel: 0555-72-1371
JR-East Hotel Mets Shibuya
JR東日本ホテルメッツ渋谷
3-29-17 渋谷 渋谷区 東京都 150-0002

Map

Seoul

Flight
1:30 AM
JFK
ICN
Date
Fri, Apr 3
Arrival
6:05 AM (+1 day)
Airline
Asiana OZ 223
Red-eye flight. Bus 6011/6002 to hotel (₩17,000) or Uber. Bag drop ~8:30 AM. No check-in until 3 PM.
Saturday, April 4 ▼
Insadong / Jongno / Seochon
~3 hrs walking · 14 stops · 3 coffees
💴 Cash needed: ₩5k coins for Tongin Market, cash preferred at Sujebi & Myeongdong stalls
~8:30 Arrive Hotel Prima Seoul — bag drop only
Red-eye arrival. No check-in until 3 PM. Jet lag crash expected ~8:30-9 PM.
9:00 Leave Hotel Prima Seoul
Bags dropped, head out
🚶 7 min walk
9:07 Fritz Coffee Wonseo 20 min Indoor
Pour over + salt butter bread. Before weekend crowds
🚶 11 min walk south to Ikseon-dong
9:38 Jayeondo Sogeumppang 10 min Indoor
Salt bread takeout (4-pc min ~₩14k). Eat 1 warm, save rest
🚶 10 min walk north to Changdeokgung
9:58 Changdeokgung Palace 15 min Partial
Walk around outside walls/gates, photos. Don't enter
🚶 6 min walk to Bukchon
10:19 Bukchon Hanok Village 35 min Outdoor
Hanok alleys, hillside streets, photos. Tourist hours start 10 AM
🚶 6 min walk downhill to TXT
11:00 TXT Coffee (.txt) 20 min Indoor
Single-origin hand drip. Opens 11 AM — perfect timing
🚶 15 min walk north through Samcheongdong
11:35 Samcheongdong Sujebi 45 min Indoor
LUNCH — sujebi + pajeon. Before noon rush
₩ cash preferred
🚶 14 min walk west to Gyeongbokgung
12:34 Gyeongbokgung Palace 15 min Partial
Gwanghwamun Gate photos from outside. Don't enter
🚶 10 min walk west into Seochon
12:59 Namusairo Coffee 20 min Indoor
Hand-drip in hanok cafe
🚶 3 min walk
13:22 Tongin Traditional Market 25 min Rain-OK
Browse + light snack. Lunch Box Cafe til 4 PM Sat
₩5k for lunch box coins
🚶 8 min walk within Seochon
13:55 Rafre Fruit Seochon 20 min Indoor
Strawberry bingsu. Opens 1 PM
🚶 25 min walk east to Insadong (longest segment — alt: Line 3 subway ~8 min)
14:40 Insadong Culture Street + Fish of April 40 min Partial
Insadong-gil + Ssamziegil. Fish of April 2F: mugwort Vienna + canele
🚶 13 min walk south to Jonggak
15:33 Bosingak Bell Pavilion 5 min Outdoor
Quick photo
🚶 18 min walk south to Myeongdong
15:56 Browse Myeongdong shops 30 min Indoor
Explore area before dinner
🚶 3 min walk
16:30 Odarijip Ganjang Gejang 50 min Indoor
DINNER — soy marinated crab. Early = skip rush wait
🚶 5 min walk
17:25 Myeongdong Night Market 30 min Outdoor
Graze: tteokbokki, egg bread, tornado potato, hotteok
₩ cash preferred
🚶 15 min walk/subway to hotel (Myeongdong → Anguk ~10 min)
18:10 Hotel
Done. 2+ hrs before jet lag crash
🌧️ Rain plan
Fritz → Jayeondo → TXT → Sujebi → Namusairo → Tongin → Rafre → Insadong (Ssamziegil + Fish of April) → Odarijip → Myeongdong underground.

Skip if raining: Bukchon, Changdeokgung/Gyeongbokgung exteriors, Bosingak, Night Market (use underground shopping instead).
Sunday, April 5 ▼
Seongsu District
~2.2 hrs walking · 8 stops + neighborhood walk · 3 coffees
9:00 Leave Hotel
Subway Line 3 Anguk → Line 2 Seongsu (~20 min)
🚶 3 min walk
9:25 Beton 20 min Indoor
Salt bread + coffee. Opens 9 AM. May have 4-pc set rule
🚶 10 min walk toward Seoul Forest
9:55 Center Coffee Seoul Forest 20 min Indoor
Oat latte (signature). Opens 10 AM Tue-Sun
🚶 5 min walk
10:20 Seoul Forest Park 40 min Outdoor
Lake, deer area, cherry blossoms. Lawn restricted til Apr 30
🚶 15 min walk back toward Seongsu Stn
11:15 Brewing Ceremony 20 min Indoor
Specialty coffee. Confirm hours on Naver
🚶 5 min walk
11:40 Neungdong Minari Seongsu 50 min Indoor
LUNCH — minari gomtang or yukhoe bibimbap. Michelin Bib Gourmand
🚶 5 min walk
12:35 Han Jung Sun 10 min Indoor
Strawberry mochi takeout. Eat within 30 min
🚶 5 min walk
12:50 Coffee Nap Roastery 20 min Indoor
Single origin pour-over
13:10 Seongsu neighborhood walk 45 min Partial
Converted factories, cafes, street art, galleries
3-hr flex gap (14:00–17:00): Gangnam + Starfield Library, Haebangchon, or hotel rest
17:30 Gebangsikdang 60 min Indoor
DINNER — gejang bibimbap (₩21k solo). Reopens 5:30 PM after break
Reserve on CatchTable — ₩20k deposit
🚶 ~20 min subway Seongsu → Anguk
~19:00 Hotel
🌧️ Rain plan
Seoul Forest → extend Seongsu cafe crawl + neighborhood walk (covered streets). Skip Haebangchon (steep hills in rain) → Gangnam/COEX (all indoor).
Monday, April 6 ▼
Hongdae / Mangwon / Mapo
~2.4 hrs walking · 10-11 stops · 4 coffees
💴 Bring ₩10-20k cash for Mangwon Market
7:30 Leave Hotel
Subway Line 3 Anguk → transfer → Line 6 Sangsu (~25 min)
🚶 5 min walk
8:00 Lounge Clarimento 25 min Indoor
“#2 want to go” coffee. Opens early
🚶 15 min walk/transit to Mangwon
8:40 Anthracite Coffee Seogyo 25 min Indoor
Hand-drip in converted shoe factory. Multi-story
🚶 5 min walk into Mangwon-dong
9:10 Mangwon neighborhood walk 30 min Partial
Local streets, bakeries, small shops. Before market opens
🚶 5 min walk
9:45 Mangwon Market 30 min Rain-OK
Kkwabaegi, dakgangjung, hotteok. Some stalls closed Mon
₩10-20k cash
🚶 10 min walk
10:25 Dorae Knot 20 min Indoor
English friendly. Western light roasters (Ilse, Swerl)
🚶 15 min walk south to Hongdae
11:00 Hongdae neighborhood walk 40 min Rain-OK
Eoulmadang-ro, street art alleys, Yanghwa-ro shopping
🚶 5 min walk
11:45 Ilpyeon Jangeo Hongdae 60 min Indoor
LUNCH — premium grilled eel. A-Set ₩105k/2 or half. Opens 12:00, break 15-17
Reserve — 30-min slots, 12:00-14:00
🚶 5 min walk
12:50 T1 Base Camp 30 min Indoor
Esports PC bang + merch. ₩3k/hr non-member
🚶 15 min subway to Hapjeong
13:35 John Small Roastery 25 min Indoor
“#1 want to go” coffee. Tiramisu reportedly great
🚶 10 min walk (optional)
14:10 Flick On Coffee (optional) 20 min Indoor
Huge variety of light roasters. Skip if coffee'd out
🚶 15 min subway to Gongdeok
Free time / rest (14:45–15:45)
15:50 Jinmi Sikdang 50 min Indoor
DINNER — ganjang gejang jeongsik (only menu ~₩45k). Closed Sundays. Sells out daily
Phone reserve: +82 2-3211-4468
🚶 ~25 min subway Gongdeok → Anguk
~17:05 Hotel
Evening free — Hongdae nightlife optional
🌧️ Rain plan
Mangwon walk → extend market time (covered). Hongdae walk → underground shopping + more cafes. All main stops indoor.
Tuesday, April 7 ▼
Euljiro / DDP / Gangnam / Namdaemun
~2.3 hrs walking + transit · 8 stops · 1 coffee
💴 Cash for Namdaemun Market vendors
8:30 Leave Hotel
Subway Line 3 Anguk → Dongguk Univ (3 stops, ~8 min)
🚶 1 min walk
8:45 Taegeukdang 30 min Indoor
Seoul's oldest bakery (est. 1946). Retro patbingsu + monaka ice cream + butter bread
🚶 10 min subway to Euljiro
9:25 Euljiro alley walk 40 min Partial
Retro printing shops, old-school bars, industrial charm. Hipster-meets-vintage
🚶 10 min walk
10:15 DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) 15 min Outdoor
Zaha Hadid exterior photos. Don't enter unless free exhibition
🚶 10 min walk/subway to Euljiro 4-ga
10:40 Buffer / explore Euljiro cafes 20 min
Free time before Woo Lae Oak opens at 11:30. Browse or grab a drink nearby.
11:00 Woo Lae Oak (우래옥) 50 min Indoor
TOP PICK LUNCH — Pyongyang mul-naengmyeon + pyeonuk. Michelin Bib Gourmand. Opens 11:30 — arrive 11:00 to queue via Tabling app
🚶 10 min walk/subway to Chungmuro
12:00 Hebe Coffee 20 min Indoor
Former roasting competition winner. House-roasted single origins
🚶 25 min subway to Samseong
12:45 Starfield Library / COEX Mall 45 min Indoor
Library photo + mall browse + food court if hungry
🚶 25 min subway to Hoehyeon
13:55 Namdaemun Market 40 min Rain-OK
Korea's largest market. Kalguksu alley, hotteok, japchae. Closes ~5 PM
₩ cash for vendors
🚶 10 min walk
14:45 Myeongdong 30 min Partial
Afternoon shopping/browsing. Last souvenirs
🚶 15 min walk/subway to hotel
15:30 Hotel — pack for Tokyo
Flight tomorrow morning. Sleep by 10 PM
🌧️ Rain plan
Euljiro walk → shorten, head to cafes. DDP → skip exterior. Namdaemun → covered arcade sections still fine. Myeongdong → underground shopping.

Tokyo — Ginza

Flight
10:25 AM
ICN
NRT
Date
Wed, Apr 8
Arrival
12:55 PM
Airline
Jeju Air 7C 1103
Conf #
EEUN2K
Cost
₩220,600
Transfer to Tokyu Stay Ginza via Narita Express or Limousine Bus (~1.5-2 hrs)
Wednesday, April 8 — Arrival Day ▼
Seoul → Tokyo
10:25 Depart ICN
Jeju Air 7C 1103
12:55 Arrive NRT
Transfer to Ginza (~1.5-2 hrs via Narita Express or Limousine Bus)
~15:00 Tokyu Stay Ginza
Check in, rest, explore Ginza neighborhood
Thursday, April 9
Unplanned — explore Tokyo
Friday, April 10
Unplanned — explore Tokyo
Saturday, April 11
Unplanned — explore Tokyo
Sunday, April 12
Unplanned — explore Tokyo
Monday, April 13
Unplanned — explore Tokyo
Tuesday, April 14
Unplanned — explore Tokyo
Wednesday, April 15
Unplanned — explore Tokyo

Kawaguchiko

Limited Express
7:30 AM
Shinjuku
Kawaguchiko
Date
Thu, Apr 16
Arrival
9:28 AM
Train
Fuji Excursion No.3
Cost
¥4,410
Status
Confirmed
💡 Sit on the RIGHT side for Mt. Fuji views. Depart hotel 6:15 AM → Ginza Stn Marunouchi Line → Shinjuku (¥210, ~16 min)
Thursday, April 16 ▼
Ginza → Kawaguchiko
Sightseeing 9:30 AM – 2 PM · ryokan check-in 3 PM
💴 Bring ¥10-15k cash · 100-yen coins for lockers
6:15 Wake up at Tokyu Stay Ginza
6:45 Ginza Stn → Shinjuku
Marunouchi Line, ~16 min, ¥210
7:30 Board Fuji Excursion No.3
Right side for Fuji views
9:28 Arrive Kawaguchiko Station
Store luggage in coin lockers at Fujikan Building (¥800, 100-yen coins only)
🚶 Fujikyu Railway 1 stop to Shimoyoshida
~10:00 Chureito Pagoda 1-1.5 hrs Outdoor
Iconic Fuji + pagoda view. ~400 steps up. Cherry blossoms past peak by mid-April but Fuji views spectacular
🚶 15 min walk from station
~11:30 Kachi Kachi Ropeway 45 min Outdoor
Panoramic Fuji views from Mt. Tenjo. ¥900 round trip
~12:30 Hotou Fudo 45 min Indoor
LUNCH — hoto noodles (regional flat miso noodles with pumpkin)
¥ cash only
~13:15 Takadaya 15 min Indoor
Supermarket/greengrocer near Kawaguchiko. Snacks for ryokan
~13:30 North shore lakeside walk Outdoor
Cherry trees + Fuji views along the lake
14:00 Call ryokan for shuttle
Free shuttle runs 2-5 PM, arrives ~10 min after calling. Tel: 0555-72-1371
15:00 Check in — Wakakusa-no-yado Maruei
Onsen, dinner, relax
Friday, April 17 ▼
Kawaguchiko → Shibuya
6:30 Early morning onsen
Best Fuji views at sunrise
7:30 Japanese breakfast at ryokan 60 min Indoor
8:30 Pack up, last soak or stroll
9:00 Morning activities Outdoor
Options: Oishi Park (free, Fuji views), bike north shore, or Itchiku Kubota Art Museum (opens 9:30, ~¥1,300)
11:00 Check out
Lunch near station, souvenirs, lakeside stroll
Highway Bus
2:10 PM
Kawaguchiko
Shibuya
Arrival
~4:25 PM
Drop-off
Shibuya Mark City 5F
Cost
¥2,200
Status
Confirmed
Backup departures: 1:25 PM (earlier) or 2:55 PM (later, moderate traffic risk)
~16:25 Arrive Shibuya Mark City
~16:40 Check in — JR-East Hotel Mets Shibuya
~5-10 min walk from Shibuya Station. Friday evening in Shibuya

Tokyo — Shibuya

Saturday, April 18
Mostly unplanned
11:45 Hikiniku To Come Shibuya Indoor
LUNCH — wagyu hambagu
Booked — accepted
Sunday, April 19
Mostly unplanned
9:30 Katsuoshokudo Indoor
BREAKFAST — bonito rice set
Booked — accepted
Monday, April 20 — Departure ▼
Last day → Haneda
AM Full day for sightseeing/shopping
Last-minute Tokyo exploration
~20:00 Head to Haneda Airport
JR-East Hotel Mets Shibuya → Haneda (train via Shibuya Stn). Arrive ~8:00-8:30 PM for intl departure
Flight
10:45 PM
HND
JFK
Date
Mon, Apr 20
Arrival
10:55 PM (same day)
Airline
ANA NH 160

To-Do Before Trip

Wishlist — Not Scheduled

Seoul Coffee

Identity Coffeelab
Deep Blue Lake — “highly variable roast level”

Seoul Food

Hyodo Chicken Gwanghwamun — opens 2 PM, near Gyeongbokgung
Keunkiwajip — Michelin gejang, Bukchon. Walk-in only, 1+ hr waits
Gyeyeolsa — legendary fried chicken, Buam-dong. Closed Mon
Obang Tongdak — retro rotisserie, Sindang. Sells out early
Artist Bakery — salt bread, Anguk. CatchTable to skip queue
Bubing — bingsu, Bukchon. Opens 1 PM Wed-Sun
서촌가락 — makgeolli pub, Seochon. Better with 2+ people

Seoul Neighborhoods

Buam-dong — quiet arts neighborhood. Many shops closed Mon
Haebangchon — hillside multicultural neighborhood. Steep walk up

Tokyo

Genkai Shokudo — oyakodon, tatami rooms, Shinjuku
Rosokuya Ginza — ramen, closed Sat. Cashless only
Mouko Tanmen Nakamoto — ramen, Shinjuku
Kitchen Nankai Jinbocho — yoshoku, cheap. Cash only
EDW Yellow Shibuya — cafe. Cashless only, 1-2 hr weekend waits
Walnuts Coffee — roastery/wine bar, Koenji