Japan + Korea — June 2026

Day 1Arrival + Settle InTuesday, June 16

Afternoon

Airport → Airbnb, Shibuya/Ebisu

Narita Express or Limousine Bus to Shibuya. Settle in, drop bags, slow walk around the neighborhood. Daikanyama is a few streets away — good for an easy first evening wander.

Jet lag tip: You’ll likely wake at 3–4 AM. Use the early morning for empty Senso-ji. Avoid long naps and aim for a normal local bedtime.

Evening

Casual dinner + early night

Keep it simple. Ramen or sushi nearby. Stay in daylight as long as possible to reset body clocks.

Day 2Tsukiji + AsakusaWednesday, June 17

8:00 AM

Tsukiji Outer Market 1.5 hrs

Go early for the best energy. Narrow alleyways packed with seafood stalls, tamagoyaki shops, and street skewers. Graze as you walk.

10:30 AM

Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa 2 hrs

Kids love the omikuji fortune slips and giant incense burner. Nakamise Street for snacks and souvenirs. Wander the backstreets behind the temple for old-Tokyo feel.

Afternoon

Easy afternoon + dinner near Airbnb

Keep the evening light — still fighting jet lag. Daikanyama or Nakameguro for a low-key dinner.

Day 3Tokyo DisneySea Full dayThursday, June 18

8:30 AM

Tokyo DisneySea Full day until close

Widely regarded as the best Disney park in the world. Arrive before 9 AM, buy Premier Access passes for top rides.

Fantasy Springs (Frozen, Rapunzel, Tinker Bell) opened 2024. Summer evening includes parades and fireworks.

Buy tickets online well in advance. → tokyodisneyresort.jp

Day 4Akihabara + Pokémon Low keyFriday, June 19

Intentionally lighter day after DisneySea — no early start, flexible pace.

11:00 AM

Akihabara Electric Town 2–3 hrs

Multi-story arcades, anime figure shops, claw machines. Super Potato for retro gaming, Yodobashi Camera for electronics.

3:00 PM

Pokémon Center Shibuya 1 hr

Sleek, modern flagship with Mewtwo statue. Easy subway ride back from Akihabara on the Yamanote Line.

Evening

Dinner in Shibuya or Ebisu + Bar Trench

Good group izakaya or yakiniku dinner first, then Bar Trench in Ebisu for drinks — right in the neighborhood. Nonbei Yokocho (Drinker’s Alley) is great for a quick look but too small for a group dinner.

Day 5Meiji Shrine, Harajuku & ShibuyaSaturday, June 20

9:00 AM

Meiji Shrine 45 mins

Calm forested walk through cedar trees. Exit the south gate and you’re steps from Harajuku.

10:00 AM

Takeshita Street + Omotesando, Harajuku 90 mins

Crepes, anime merch, kawaii fashion on Takeshita. Omotesando for boutiques and interesting side streets.

2:00 PM

Walk Harajuku → Shibuya Leisurely

Skip the train. Random shrines, ramen shops, pocket parks, vending machines. Tokyo discovery mode at its best.

3:00 PM

Shibuya Crossing + Hachiko 1 hr

Walk the world’s busiest scramble crossing. Hachiko statue outside the station. Starbucks 2nd floor QFRONT for a bird’s-eye view.

Evening

Dinner + Daikanyama/Nakameguro wander

Both walkable from your Airbnb. Great restaurants, bars, and independent shops. Nakameguro canal at night is one of the best low-key Tokyo experiences. Good backup night for Bar Trench if you haven’t gone yet.

Day 6Shinkansen to Kyoto Travel daySunday, June 21

Morning

Shinkansen: Tokyo → Kyoto

Nozomi is the fastest option (~2h 15m). Book E seats on the right side — Mt. Fuji appears about 40 mins in between Shin-Yokohama and Shin-Fuji stations. Rows 13–20 are best.

Book oversized baggage seats when purchasing if bringing large suitcases — requires a reservation or you’ll be charged a fee on the day. Separate ticket from your IC transit card.

Afternoon

Check in to Gion House + settle in

Drop bags, slow walk around the neighborhood. Hanamikoji at dusk — you may spot a geiko or maiko heading to an appointment.

Evening

Dinner in Gion

Eat close to the house. No agenda — just soak in the neighborhood on your first night.

Day 7Fushimi Inari + GionMonday, June 22

7:30 AM

Fushimi Inari Taisha 90 mins

Go early before heat and crowds. The first 45 mins through the dense torii tunnels is magical. Free entry.

10:00 AM

Nishiki Market 75 mins

Narrow covered market in central Kyoto. Tamagoyaki, mochi, skewered seafood, pickles, matcha everything. Graze as you walk.

12:00 PM

Kimono Tea Ceremony MAIKOYA Optional 90 mins

Kids dress in kimono and make their own matcha. Book a private session in advance if doing it.

Sells out in summer. → mai-ko.com

Afternoon

Free wander — Gion backstreets

No agenda. Explore the lanes around the Gion House — small shrines, food spots, craft shops tucked between buildings. This is what Kyoto is really about.

Evening

Dinner in Gion + Hanamikoji at dusk Gion Corner optional

Gion Corner show at 5:30 or 7:00 PM if the group wants a structured intro to geisha arts. Otherwise just walk Hanamikoji — spotting real geiko and maiko is equally memorable. → kyoto-gioncorner.com

Day 8Arashiyama + HigashiyamaTuesday, June 23

7:30 AM

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest + Area 3 hrs

Go first thing — by 10 AM it’s shoulder-to-shoulder. Early morning is when it’s actually worth it.

The bamboo behind Jojakko-ji temple (5 min walk) is nearly as beautiful and almost nobody goes there — great quieter alternative if the main grove is packed.

Iwatayama Monkey Park: hand-feed wild macaques at the summit. Tenryu-ji garden good for a relaxed breakfast.

Midday

Travel back toward Gion + lunch

Head back east. Stop somewhere for lunch — plenty of good spots in central Kyoto.

2:00 PM

Ninenzaka + Sannenzaka 90 mins

Stone-paved lanes lined with tea shops, ceramics, and snack stalls. 15-min walk from Gion. Let yourself get lost — small shrines and food spots are tucked everywhere.

3:30 PM

Kiyomizudera Temple 1 hr

Top of Sannenzaka — the wooden stage overlooking the city is one of Kyoto’s most iconic views.

Evening

Dinner near Gion

Walk back to the house through Gion. Good night for a longer dinner and a slow evening stroll.

Day 9Nintendo Museum + Nara Day Trip Epic dayWednesday, June 24

The world’s most famous video game museum, then wild deer and Japan’s largest Buddha.

9:15 AM

Travel: Kyoto Station → JR Ogura Station ~30 mins

JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station.

10:00 AM

Nintendo Museum 2.5–3 hrs

Tickets already booked for 10 AM entry.

No taxis to the museum — public transport only.

10 digital coins each — plan wisely. Giant Controller, Nintendo 64, and Game & Watch are popular picks. Hanafuda card workshop available on the day (separate fee).

~1:00 PM

Travel: Ogura → Nara ~25 mins

Continue south on the JR Nara Line.

1:30 PM

Nara Deer Park & Todai-ji Temple 2.5–3 hrs

Hundreds of freely roaming wild deer — buy crackers to hand-feed them. Kids absolutely love it.

Todai-ji: Japan’s largest bronze Buddha inside the world’s largest wooden building.

Don’t miss the pillar with a hole inside Todai-ji — crawling through brings good luck. Sized for kids!

Evening

Dinner in Nara + return to Kyoto

Eat near Nara-machi, the old merchant quarter south of the deer park. Head back after dinner (~45 mins on JR Nara Line). Early night, early departure tomorrow.

Day 10Depart Kyoto → Seoul Travel dayThursday, June 25

Early AM

Haruka Express: Kyoto Station → Kansai Airport ~75 mins

Leave early — allow 2.5–3 hours before departure. Flight: Kansai (KIX) → Seoul Gimpo (GMP).

Switch your eSIM to the Korea data line before or upon landing in Seoul.

Day 11Arrive Seoul + Ikseon-dong Easy arrivalThursday, June 25

Afternoon

Gimpo (GMP) → Jongno 3-ga

Subway from Gimpo — transfer at Hongdae or Yeouido to Line 5, straight to Jongno 3-ga. About 45–55 mins. Exit 4 is a 3-min walk to your Airbnb.

Pick up T-money cards at the airport or any convenience store on the way.

Evening

Settle in + Ikseon-dong dinner

Ikseon-dong is a 5-minute walk from your front door. Narrow alleyways, great dinner spots, croffles and bingsu for dessert. Perfect low-key first night.

Day 12Hanbok, Palace, Bukchon & HongdaeFriday, June 26

Morning is almost entirely walkable from your Airbnb. Friday night is the best night for Hongdae.

8:30 AM

Quick breakfast near Airbnb

Small cafes and bakeries within a few minutes of Jongno 3-ga. Keep it quick — hanbok rental opens at 9.

9:00 AM

Hanbok rental 30–45 mins

Several rental shops near Changdeokgung. Dressing assistance included. Return the hanbok after the palace visit.

Hanbok wearers get free entry to most royal palaces in Seoul — confirm at the gate.

9:45 AM

Changdeokgung Palace + Secret Garden Secret Garden optional 90 mins

Best palace for summer — shaded grounds, open spaces. Go early before the heat builds.

Secret Garden guided tours capped at 50 people. English tours typically at 11:30 AM. Reservations open 6 days ahead — book on June 20.

11:30 AM

Return hanbok + Bukchon Hanok Village 45 mins

Drop off hanbok, then walk to Bukchon. Pick 1–2 viewpoints only — good for photos, then move on before the heat peaks.

12:30 PM

Cafe Onion Anguk + lunch

A beautiful hanok converted into a cafe, right in the neighborhood. Famous for pandoro, salty butter bread, and pastries.

1:30 PM

Midday rest 3.5 hrs

Back to the Airbnb. Showers, rest, recharge. Hongdae is the main event tonight.

5:30 PM

Hongdae — arcades, street performers & dinner 3 hrs

Friday night is when Hongdae is at its best. Street performers and dance crews strongest after sunset. Claw machines and photo booths for the kids. About 25 mins by subway.

Day 13Soha Cafe, Gwangjang Market & Han RiverSaturday, June 27

9:00 AM

Soha Salt Pond Cafe 30 mins

Salt breads and coffee to start the day. Leisurely morning before the market.

10:00 AM

Insadong + Ssamziegil Mall 90 mins

10-min walk from your Airbnb. Craft shops, tea cafes, indie boutiques. Ssamziegil has a fun layout — ramps spiraling up, stairs down at the end.

12:00 PM

Gwangjang Market lunch 75 mins

One subway stop away. Bindaetteok, kimbap, mandu, noodles. Covered and lively — one of the best market food experiences in Seoul.

1:30 PM

Midday rest 3 hrs

Back to the Airbnb. Long rest — Han River evening is the main event today.

4:30 PM

Banpo Hangang Park

About 30 mins by subway or taxi. Saturday afternoon has great energy. Let the kids run, cold drinks, shade breaks.

6:00 PM

Instant ramen picnic dinner

Ramen vending machines at the park — huge hit with kids. Grab snacks and eat riverside.

7:30 PM

Banpo Rainbow Bridge fountain show 20 mins

Weekend June schedule: shows at 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, and 9:00 PM — 20 mins each with a 10-min break between.

Can be cancelled due to rain or strong winds. Late June can have early monsoon rain — check weather on the day.

Day 14Seongsu-dong + CheonggyecheonSunday, June 28

Go early for Seongsu-dong — it fills up quickly on Sundays.

9:30 AM

Seongsu-dong morning 2.5 hrs

Seoul’s coolest neighborhood — murals, indie cafes, concept stores. About 20 mins from Jongno 3-ga by subway.

Nudake is here — Gentle Monster’s dessert cafe with wild art installations and incredible pastries. Haus Nowhere (Gentle Monster flagship) has the dachshund installation worth seeing.

12:00 PM

Midday rest 3 hrs

Back to the Airbnb. Lunch on the way or near home.

4:30 PM

Cheonggyecheon Stream walk 1 hr

A restored urban stream running through central Seoul with a walkway along both sides. About a 10-min walk from your Airbnb. Best in the late afternoon — shaded, peaceful, and beautifully lit in the evening.

Evening

Dinner + Bar Cham Parents optional

Good night for a nicer dinner out. Bar Cham is a great cocktail bar in Jongno — close to home if you can arrange a babysitter.

Day 15Namsan Tower + Farewell DinnerMonday, June 29

9:00 AM

Namsan Seoul Tower 90 mins

Cable car up, city views, love locks. Go early before heat and crowds build.

11:00 AM

Myeongdong — quick pass Optional 45 mins

Right at the base of Namsan. Good for street snacks on the way back. Easy to skip if everyone’s tired.

12:00 PM

Midday rest 3 hrs

Back to the Airbnb. Pack bags, take it easy — last proper rest of the trip.

5:00 PM

Final evening wander — Ikseon-dong

Steps from your front door. No transit, no agenda. End where you started on Day 1 — a slow walk through the alleyways one last time.

7:00 PM

Farewell dinner near Airbnb

Celebrate the trip somewhere good in Jongno — plenty of excellent options within walking distance. Keep it early enough to wind down before the travel day.

Day 16Depart Seoul → Los Angeles Travel dayTuesday, June 30

9:30 AM

Check out + AREX to Incheon Airport (ICN) ~70 mins

AREX express train from Seoul Station — 60–70 mins to Incheon. Seoul Station is 2 stops from Jongno 3-ga on Line 1.

Leave the Airbnb by 9:30 AM at the latest. Aim to be at Incheon by 11:30 AM for your 2:30 PM flight. Flight: Seoul Incheon (ICN) → Los Angeles (LAX).