From Joseon-era palaces to Shinto shrines, this 10-day itinerary threads together the best of Seoul, Kyoto, and Tokyo. You’ll taste your way through legendary markets, stroll historic lanes at golden hour, and catch city lights from sky-high observatories. It’s paced for curious travelers who like big sights by day and local flavors by night.

Expect contrasts: royal guards at Gyeongbokgung, bamboo groves whispering in Arashiyama, and the pulse of Shibuya Crossing. Between, you’ll soak up neighborhoods—Hongdae’s indie energy, Gion’s lantern-lit alleys, and Ginza’s polished design—plus coffee stops, izakaya crawls, and late-night dessert runs.

Practical notes: most visitors don’t tip in Korea or Japan. Transit IC cards (T-money in Korea; Suica/PASMO in Japan) make trains and convenience-store purchases easy. Palace and museum closures vary (e.g., many Seoul palaces are closed Tuesdays), so check ahead. Book popular experiences (teamLab Borderless, Ghibli Museum, fine dining) in advance.

Seoul

Seoul wears its history proudly—royal palaces framed by granite mountains—while its future glows in design-forward cafés, indie boutiques, and a food scene that stretches from charcoal-grilled pork to Michelin-level tasting menus.

• Top sights: Gyeongbokgung Palace and National Folk Museum, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong tea houses, Namsan Seoul Tower, and the buzzing markets of Gwangjang and Namdaemun.
• Eat and drink: street foods at Gwangjang Market (bindaetteok, mayak gimbap), samgyetang at Tosokchon, charcoal BBQ in Mapo, and inventive cocktails at Charles H. or Le Chamber.
• Good to know: Gyeongbokgung is typically closed Tuesdays; reserve DMZ tours in advance and carry your passport.

Where to stay (Seoul): Browse stylish apartments and hotels near Myeongdong, Jongno, or Hongdae for easy transit and food options. Search VRBO Seoul or Search Hotels.com Seoul.

Getting in: Compare flights to Seoul (ICN/GMP) on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From ICN, the AREX Express to Seoul Station takes ~43 minutes; taxis run ~60–75 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, Streamside Stroll, and Market Feast

Afternoon: Land in Seoul and drop bags at your hotel. Stretch your legs along Cheonggyecheon Stream, a sunken 11-km waterway threading through downtown that locals use as a cool refuge in summer.

Evening: Dive into Gwangjang Market. Grab crackling-hot bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) at Soonhee’s stall, mayak gimbap (addictive mini seaweed rice rolls) from Wonjo Mayak Gimbap, and tender yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) at Yukhoe Master Cho. Cap it with seasonal bingsu (shaved ice) at a nearby café.

Day 2: Royal Seoul, Bukchon Hanok, and Namsan Views

Morning: Tour Gyeongbokgung Palace (adult 3,000 KRW; closed Tuesdays). Time the changing of the guard, then pop into the National Folk Museum for Joseon-era daily life displays. Coffee at Onion Anguk in a restored hanok—try the pandoro sugar-dusted brioche.

Afternoon: Wander Bukchon Hanok Village lanes toward Insadong. Browse calligraphy shops and ceramics, then sip green tea at Osulloc Tea House. Lunch on ginseng chicken soup at Tosokchon Samgyetang, beloved for rich, restorative broth.

Evening: Ride the Namsan cable car (~14,000–15,000 KRW RT) and watch the city switch on from N Seoul Tower. Dinner in Myeongdong at Myeongdong Kyoja (knife-cut kalguksu noodles and mandu), followed by street snacks (hotteok, tornado potato).

Day 3: Youth Culture, Indie Cafés, and Speakeasy Cocktails

Morning: Explore Mangwon Market for affordable, hyper-local bites (tteokbokki, croffles). Coffee at Fritz Coffee Company (Seoul Station or Mapo) for roastery-level brews and excellent croissants.

Afternoon: Shop and people-watch in Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong. Browse street art, indie clothing racks, and the Gyeongui Line Forest Park. Lunch on charcoal K-BBQ at Mapo Jeong Daepo—order marinated galbi and samgyeopsal with crisp lettuce wraps.

Evening: Head to Jongno’s Ikseon-dong, a maze of revitalized hanok cafés and bistros. For dinner, try Gaeseong Mandu Koong (plump handmade dumplings) or Jin Okhwa Original Chicken Restaurant in Dongdaemun for dakhanmari (whole chicken hotpot). Nightcaps at Charles H. (reservations recommended) or Le Chamber, both stylish, award-winning bars.

Day 4: DMZ Context or City History, Then Retro Seoul Nightlife

Morning: Option A: DMZ tour (commonly 6–7 hours; ~$60–150 depending on JSA access) for Third Tunnel, Dora Observatory, and boundary history—passport required. Option B: Stay in-city: the War Memorial of Korea and Seodaemun Prison History Hall give powerful context to modern Korea.

Afternoon: Return to central Seoul for café-hopping in Seongsu-dong (the “Brooklyn of Seoul”). Try Daelim Changgo coffee or a seasonal dessert café; browse pop-ups and Korean designer shops.

Evening: Dinner in Euljiro’s grill-and-beer alleys: Euljiro Nogari Alley pairs dried pollack and draft beer with neon-lit nostalgia. Alternatively, Hanam Pig House for thick-cut pork belly grilled at your table.

Kyoto

Kyoto cradles over a thousand temples and shrines, a former imperial capital where Zen gardens and seasonal flavors rule the day. Lanterns flicker across Gion at dusk as wooden machiya homes lean into narrow lanes.

• Top sights: Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden veranda, Fushimi Inari’s torii tunnels, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji gardens, Kinkaku-ji’s Golden Pavilion, and the philosopher’s detour to Ryoan-ji’s rock garden.
• Eat and drink: obanzai (Kyoto home cooking), yudofu (silky tofu hot pot near temples), delicate kaiseki, tonkatsu at Katsukura, Kyoto-style sushi at Izuju, and sake tasting in Fushimi.
• Good to know: Start popular spots at sunrise to avoid crowds; many temples close by 5 pm.

Where to stay (Kyoto): Base near Gion, Kawaramachi, or Kyoto Station for easy transit to Arashiyama and Fushimi. Search VRBO Kyoto or Search Hotels.com Kyoto.

Getting from Seoul to Kyoto: Morning flights from Seoul (ICN/GMP) to Osaka KIX/ITM take ~1h50–2h and often run $90–$250 one-way. Compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From KIX, the Haruka Limited Express to Kyoto Station takes ~75 minutes (~¥3,000–3,500).

Day 5: Fly to Kansai, Higashiyama Old Streets, and Tonkatsu Comfort

Morning: Fly Seoul → Osaka (KIX). Ride the Haruka Limited Express to Kyoto. Drop bags and refresh.

Afternoon: Walk Higashiyama: Kiyomizu-dera’s veranda overlooks tiled roofs and city hills. Drift down Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka lanes for handcrafted fans and yatsuhashi sweets. Coffee with a view at % Arabica Higashiyama (espresso-forward with Kyoto-roasted beans).

Evening: Dinner at Katsukura (Shijo): crisp, panko-crusted tonkatsu with mortar-and-pestle sesame for your sauce; order the premium rosu (loin). Stroll Pontocho Alley afterward—lantern-lit, narrow, and atmospheric by the Kamogawa River.

Day 6: Arashiyama and Golden Kyoto

Morning: Early Arashiyama. Enter Tenryu-ji’s Zen garden (¥500–¥800 depending on combo) before the crowds, then slip into the Bamboo Grove as light filters through the stalks. Brunch on yudofu (tofu hotpot) at Yudofu Sagano—simple, soothing, very Kyoto.

Afternoon: Taxi or bus to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion; ¥500–¥600) and then to Ryoan-ji to contemplate the famous 15-stone karesansui garden. If time allows, stop by Nishiki Market back downtown for a snack crawl (soy milk donuts, tamagoyaki on a stick).

Evening: Explore Gion’s Shirakawa canal at twilight; keep respectful distance if you glimpse geiko or maiko on their way to appointments. Dinner options: Izuju (Kyoto-style sabazushi and pressed sushi) or a relaxed izakaya near Pontocho like Yorozuya Okuni for seasonal small plates and sake.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a mosaic of distinct neighborhoods: shrine-filled forests in Harajuku, cutting-edge art in Azabudai Hills, retro izakaya under rumbling train tracks, and a food scene that ranges from standing sushi to world-famous cocktail dens.

• Top sights: Asakusa’s Senso-ji, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya Sky, and the Imperial Palace gardens.
• Eat and drink: ramen at Fuunji, tonkatsu at Maisen, standing sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi, yakitori under Yurakucho’s tracks, and cocktails at Bar High Five or The SG Club.
• Good to know: Prebook teamLab Borderless (reopened in Azabudai Hills) and Ghibli Museum; use Suica/PASMO for transit and convenience stores.

Where to stay (Tokyo): Base in Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ginza for easy transit and nightlife. Search VRBO Tokyo or Search Hotels.com Tokyo.

Getting Kyoto → Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi (about 2h15; ~¥13,500–15,000 one-way). Check schedules and book via Trip.com Trains.

Day 7: Shinkansen to Tokyo, Asakusa Traditions, and Sky-High Night Views

Morning: Depart Kyoto on an early Nozomi Shinkansen; bento and green tea on board are half the fun. Arrive at Tokyo Station and drop bags.

Afternoon: Explore Asakusa’s Senso-ji: pass through Kaminarimon Gate, walk Nakamise-dori for ningyo-yaki cakes, and step into the incense haze at the main hall. Coffee at Fuglen Asakusa pop-ups or head to Kappabashi (kitchen street) for pro-level knives and ceramics.

Evening: Dinner near Ueno at Innsyoutei (seasonal Japanese set menus by Shinobazu Pond) or go casual with tempura at Tempura Daikokuya in Asakusa. Night views from Tokyo Skytree or Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center’s free terrace.

Day 8: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Fashion, and Shibuya Nights

Morning: Enter the forested torii of Meiji Shrine for a calm reset. Brunch in Harajuku: try A Happy Pancake (thick, souffle-like) or Eggs ‘n Things for Hawaiian-Japanese classics. Coffee at About Life’s successors like Onibus Coffee in nearby Nakameguro if you’re a purist.

Afternoon: Stroll Omotesando’s tree-lined boulevard for architecture and boutiques. Walk to Shibuya for the Crossing and Hachiko statue. Head up to Shibuya Sky (around ¥2,400–¥2,800) for an open-air 360° view—sunset is spectacular.

Evening: Izakaya crawl in Shibuya’s Nonbei Yokocho—tiny bars with yakitori smoke and vintage posters. For dinner, Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (standing sushi; fast, excellent value) or Afuri for citrusy yuzu shio ramen. Cocktails at The SG Club (award-winning, playful menu).

Day 9: Markets, Digital Art, and Ginza Cocktails

Morning: Breakfast at Tsukiji Outer Market: tamagoyaki from Marutake, grilled scallops with butter, and tuna sashimi bowls. Coffee at Turret Coffee (nod to old market vehicles) or Glitch Coffee in nearby Kyobashi for lighter roasts.

Afternoon: Immerse in teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills (prebook; ~¥3,800–4,500). Then browse Ginza: flagship design stores, artisanal stationery at Itoya, and department-store depachika food halls for gift-worthy sweets.

Evening: Dine under the Yurakucho tracks (gado-shita) at Andy’s Shin Hinomoto—fresh seafood and lively atmosphere—or grab yakitori at Toritake in Shibuya if you’re hopping areas. Classic cocktails after at Bar High Five (Ginza) or Bar BenFiddich (Nishi-Shinjuku; creative, herb-driven pours).

Day 10: Gardens, Last Slurps, and Departure

Morning: Stroll the Imperial Palace East Gardens or Ueno Park’s museums if time allows. Pick up last-minute confections (Tokyo Banana, Hiyoko) at a station kiosk.

Afternoon: Lunch at Ramen Fuunji (Shinjuku) for silky chicken-and-fish tsukemen with a cult following. Retrieve bags and head to your airport. Compare flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Optional dining extras to slot in anywhere: Seoul—Mingles (modern Korean tasting menu; book ahead), Jaha Son Mandu (buam-dong dumplings). Kyoto—Hyotei (historic kaiseki), Omen Kodai-ji (udon with vegetable platters). Tokyo—Maisen Aoyama (tonkatsu), Fuunji (tsukemen), and standing bars in Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho for retro vibes.

In 10 days you’ll sample two nations’ past and present—royal courts and Zen gardens beside cutting-edge art and skyline views. With smart travel windows and neighborhood-focused evenings, this itinerary balances icons with local flavor.