South Korea & Japan

a cozy travel journal for our November adventure

Seoul → Tokyo → Gujo Hachiman → Takayama → Tokyo

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Nov 1 (Sun) depart → Nov 15 (Sun) arrive home · 9 PTO days needed (8 if Veterans Day is off for you)

November 2026

tap a day to jump there

Seoul Tokyo Gujo Hachiman Takayama Transit

The Crew

who's along for the ride?

Confirmed

B+N
Ben & Nicole
A
Ashley (twin)
M
Marissa

Maybe

J
Jason
M+J
Mel & Joel
M+A
Miguel & Ashley
N
Nic 🇦🇺
T+M
Tom & Monica

Day by Day

the full adventure, one day at a time

Mon, Nov 2 · 👻 Date Line

The Lost Day

Flying west across the International Date Line, Monday just... disappears. You leave Sunday, you land Tuesday. Don't worry, you get it back on the way home!

Seoul

Seoul, South Korea

Days 1–5 · Nov 3–7
Tue, Nov 3 · Seoul

Arrival & Recovery

Land in Seoul → settle into hotel → neighborhood walk → first Korean meal → early bed

Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

  • Convenience store run — Banana Milk, Samgak Gimbap, Choco Pie
  • Ask your hotel for the nearest local Korean restaurant

✨ Don't Miss

  • Get T-Money cards at Incheon Airport
  • Download Naver Maps (Google Maps doesn't work well here)
💪 If you have extra energy: Walk to Gwangjang Market for a preview — the evening stalls are incredible, and you'll go back tomorrow for the full experience. Or explore Myeongdong for some street food and K-beauty window shopping.
Wed, Nov 4 · Seoul

Markets & Traditional Seoul

Gwangjang Market street food → Ikseon-dong hanok cafes & shops

Ikseon-dongIkseon-dong alleyways
Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

✨ Don't Miss

Thu, Nov 5 · Seoul

K-Beauty & Vintage

Seongsu-dong coffee & beauty flagships → Hongdae street food & nightlife

Seongsu-dongSeongsu-dong vibes
Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

✨ Don't Miss

Fri, Nov 6 · Seoul

Tattoo Day

Nicole's tattoo appointment (Hongdae) → Dongmyo Flea Market → Myeongdong evening

Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

✨ Don't Miss

Sat, Nov 7 · Gapyeong Day Trip

Nami Island & Gardens

Train to Gapyeong → Nami Island tree-lined paths → Garden of Morning Calm

Garden of Morning CalmGarden of Morning Calm
Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

✨ Don't Miss

  • Metasequoia Lane on Nami Island — the famous tree tunnel
  • Garden of Morning Calm — autumn chrysanthemum displays
Sun, Nov 8 · Transit

Seoul → Tokyo

Morning flight to Tokyo → settle in → explore neighborhood → first ramen!

Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

  • Your first ramen! Ask the hotel for a local spot
  • Konbini (convenience store) onigiri — tuna mayo is the classic

✨ Don't Miss

  • Get a Suica/Pasmo IC card at the airport
Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan

Days 7–9 · Nov 9–11
Mon, Nov 9 · Tokyo

Vintage & Books

Shimokitazawa vintage shops → Daikanyama Tsutaya Books → cozy cafes

Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

✨ Don't Miss

Tue, Nov 10 · Tokyo

Tokyo Disneyland!

Full day of magic! Arrive at opening, stay for fireworks

Tokyo DisneylandThe happiest place
Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

✨ Don't Miss

  • Popcorn buckets! Collectible + unique flavors (curry, soy butter). Refills 600 yen
  • Little Green Men Mochi — Toy Story alien-shaped, too cute to eat
  • Download the Tokyo Disney Resort app for wait times & mobile ordering
Wed, Nov 11 · Tokyo

Classic Tokyo

Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa → Ueno Park → evening bar-hopping in Golden Gai

Golden GaiGolden Gai at night
Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

  • Kagetsudo — legendary hot melon pan since 1945
  • Yadoroku — Tokyo's oldest onigiri shop
  • Kokonoe — deep-fried sweet buns (matcha, sesame, pumpkin)

✨ Golden Gai Bars

  • Albatross G — chandeliers, whiskey, vintage art
  • Bar Araku — leave a foreign bill on the "currency wall"
  • Kenzo's Bar — 80s music, leopard print, everyone's welcome
Thu, Nov 12 · Tokyo → Gujo

Into the Mountains

Shinkansen to Nagoya → bus to Gujo Hachiman → evening stroll with koi in the canals

Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

  • Ekiben! Train bento from Tokyo Station — a whole experience
  • Izumisaka — kei-chan chicken (Gujo's signature dish)

✨ Don't Miss

  • Evening canal walk — the koi fish are magical at dusk
Mountains

Gujo Hachiman & Takayama

Days 11–12 · Nov 13–14
Fri, Nov 13 · Gujo Hachiman

Koi Fish Town

Koi canal walk → castle with autumn leaves → food replica workshop → zen temple

Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

✨ Don't Miss

Sat, Nov 14 · Takayama → Tokyo

Takayama & Farewell Tokyo

Morning markets & sake in Takayama → afternoon train to Tokyo → farewell evening

TakayamaMiyagawa Morning Market
Eat & Explore

🍜 Eat Here

✨ Don't Miss

Sun, Nov 15 · Heading Home

Fly Home

Final breakfast → head to airport → fly home. You land in the USA the same day (you gain the lost day back!) ✈️

Booking Flights & Hotels

everything you need to know

👻 About the "Lost Day"

So here's the deal. When you fly west across the Pacific, you cross the International Date Line and you literally lose a day. You leave Sunday evening, and you land on Tuesday. Monday just vanishes. It's weird but totally normal.

The good news? Flying home you get it back. We leave Tokyo on Sunday morning (Nov 15) and land in the US... also on Sunday (Nov 15). Same day. Time zones are wild.

✈️ Flights

You need 3 flights for this trip. On Google Flights, search for "multi-city" so you can book all three legs together:

  • Your city → Seoul (Incheon ICN) depart evening of Sun, Nov 1. Most routes from the Pacific Northwest connect through Seattle, San Francisco, or LA.
  • Seoul → Tokyo (Narita NRT or Haneda HND) short 2-hour flight on Nov 8. You can also book this one separately on budget airlines like Jeju Air, T'way, or Peach for $80-$150.
  • Tokyo → Your city depart morning of Sun, Nov 15. You arrive home the same day (you gain the day back, remember?).

Keep in mind, book the long international legs as early as you can. Prices only go up from here. Google Flights lets you set up price alerts which is really handy.

Prices as of March 28, 2026 (tap to enlarge):

Spokane flights Spokane, from $1,289 Boise flights Boise, from $1,346 Perth flights Perth, from $793

🏨 Hotels (My Friend Kama Can Help!)

Photo
coming soon

So my friend Kama Hurley does part-time travel agent stuff, and she's awesome. Nicole and I used her for our Vancouver trip and it was great.

Here's how it works: you tell Kama what you're looking for (budget, location preferences, any must-haves) and she does all the research for you. She has access to a travel agent system with real hotel reviews that you can't see on TripAdvisor, so she actually knows which places are good and which ones just have nice photos.

It doesn't cost us anything. She gets a commission from the hotels when she books through her system. You're also totally free to NOT book through her link and just use her research to book on your own. No pressure either way. But honestly, she sometimes gets better rates or room upgrades that you can't get booking direct, so it's worth letting her book it if she can.

Nicole and I are definitely using her for this trip. I'd recommend at least texting her to see what she finds.

Text Kama

(208) 577-8117

She's my friend, this is her personal number. Just send a text!

Tell her your budget, dates, and any preferences. She'll do the rest.

Where We're Staying

updated as we book!

Seoul Nov 3–7 · 5 nights

TBD
Ben & Nicole
📍 View on Maps
TBD
Ashley
📍 View on Maps
TBD
Marissa
📍 View on Maps

Tokyo Nov 8–11 · 4 nights

TBD
Ben & Nicole
📍 View on Maps
TBD
Ashley
📍 View on Maps
TBD
Marissa
📍 View on Maps

Gujo Hachiman Nov 12–13 · 2 nights

TBD (Ryokan)
Ben & Nicole
📍 View on Maps
TBD (Ryokan)
Ashley
📍 View on Maps
TBD (Ryokan)
Marissa
📍 View on Maps

Tokyo Nov 14 · 1 night

TBD
Ben & Nicole
📍 View on Maps
TBD
Ashley
📍 View on Maps
TBD
Marissa
📍 View on Maps

People may share rooms — this will get updated as we book. Some stays might combine!

Saved Places

everyone's picks on Google Maps

N
Nicole's Picks
B
Ben's Picks
A
Ashley's Picks
M
Marissa's Picks

Create a list in Google Maps → tap Share → send the link to Ben and he'll add it here!

How Much Will This Cost?

realistic estimates in USD

✈️ Flights (3 legs)

$1,200 – $1,500
per person. Your city → Seoul, Seoul → Tokyo, Tokyo → home. From Spokane ~$1,289, Boise ~$1,346, Perth ~$793.

🏨 Accommodation

$1,000 – $1,700
per person, 12 nights. Sharing rooms cuts this a LOT.

🍜 Food & Drinks

$400 – $650
per person, 13 days. Street food and casual restaurants keep costs low.

🎫 Activities & Transport

$350 – $550
Disneyland (~$75), trains, subways, day trips, museums

🛍️ Shopping & Extras

$300 – $1,000+
Vintage shopping, souvenirs, tattoo... totally up to you!

📅 PTO Days

9 days
8 if Veterans Day (Nov 11) is a holiday for you. We depart Sun, arrive home Sun, so weekends are free!

💰 Estimated Total

$3,250 – $5,400
per person (excluding shopping). Budget travelers can do ~$2,500 with hostels and street food.

💱 Quick Currency Converter

$ USD = loading...

Practical Info

stuff you'll actually need to know

🌏 Both Countries

🚫 No Tipping Not done in either country. In Japan it can be rude.
🚶 No Jaywalking Both countries take this seriously. Always wait for the signal.
👟 Shoes Off Indoors Homes, some restaurants, temples. Look for shoe piles at the door.
🗑️ Trash Cans are Rare Carry a small bag for trash. Bins usually at convenience stores.
🍽️ Restaurant Etiquette Korea: go to counter to pay. Japan: shout "Sumimasen!" — it's normal.

🇰🇷 South Korea

💳 T-Money Card Get at the airport. Works for subway, buses, taxis, convenience stores.
🗺️ Naver Maps Use instead of Google Maps. Google Maps doesn't work well in Korea.
🤝 Both Hands Give and receive things with both hands. It's polite and respectful.
🚕 Avoid Black Taxis They're "deluxe" and expensive. Use the Kakao Taxi app instead.
⚠️ Cult Awareness People approaching about "your aura" are often cult recruiters. Ignore politely.

🇯🇵 Japan

💴 Cash is King Many places don't take cards. 7-Eleven ATMs work with foreign cards.
🚇 Suica/Pasmo Card Get at any station. Works for trains, subways, and vending machines.
🎫 JR Pass Consider a 7-day pass for the Tokyo–Takayama trains. Can save real money.
🍜 No Walking & Eating Find a spot to stop and eat, or eat at the shop/stall.
🤫 Quiet on Trains No phone calls. Silent mode. Text instead. Everyone follows this.
🧺 Carry a Hand Towel Many bathrooms lack paper towels. Most locals carry one.

FAQ

the questions everyone asks

Do I need to speak Japanese or Korean?
Nope. Learn 4 phrases: "excuse me," "thank you," "sorry," and "that please" (while pointing). That gets you through like 90% of interactions. Google Translate's camera mode is AMAZING for menus and signs. Plus most big-city staff speak some English. Just be polite and try your best. They will love you for it.
What will the weather be like?
Cold! November is late autumn heading into early winter. Seoul: 37–54°F. Tokyo: 46–63°F. Mountains (Gujo/Takayama): 36–55°F. Pack layers. Light jacket, a warmer layer for the mountains, comfortable walking shoes. We can buy cozy stuff there if needed.
Can I bring someone not on the list?
Yes! These are independent vacations that happen to be in the same places. Coordinate lodging with each other. Want to bring kids? Rent a house. Want adults only? Go more independent. Anything works.
I want to go somewhere not on this itinerary!
Do it! This is what Nicole and I are planning. Meet up with us whenever it works for you. Maybe you skip Takayama and do Kyoto instead. Maybe you just have a beer with us at Golden Gai. Totally fine.
What should I pack?
Comfortable walking shoes (15,000+ steps/day), layers for varying temps, a light rain jacket, a daypack, and a portable battery pack. That's it. You can buy anything else there.
What apps should I download?
Korea: Naver Maps, Papago (translator), Kakao Taxi. Japan: Google Maps, Google Translate (download offline languages). Both: Google Translate camera mode. Disney day: Tokyo Disney Resort app for wait times.
What if I don't know everyone on this trip?
You know me and/or Nicole, and that's all you need. If you are seeing this page I think you are cool, and I have good taste, so I'm sure you'll think everyone else is cool too.