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From Seoul to Shanghai: A Journey of East Asian Wonders

Cindy Huynh

Cindy Huynh

29 Dec 2023

Embark on a 22-day adventure through Seoul, Busan, Tokyo, Kyoto, Ōsaka-jō, Shanghai, and Hanoi. Discover ancient temples, bustling markets, stunning palaces, and modern marvels. Immerse yourself in the rich culture, taste delectable cuisines, and create unforgettable memories. Join me as I explore the best of East Asia!

Trip to Seoul

Day 1Unveiling Seoul's Hidden Gems
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$0

·

$ 7

National Museum of Korea
Major building opened in 2005 to house the country's cultural & military artifacts & artworks.
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
18 - 22 min

~

Directions

Namdaemun Market
Opened in 1964, this large area of stalls offers clothes, household goods & local items.
11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
•
Free
10 - 12 min

~

Directions

Changdeokgung
Tours are offered of this large Joseon dynasty palace & its surrounding gardens.
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
•
Free
6 - 8 min

~

Directions

Gwangjang Market
Bustling shopping area offering a wide array of traditional food items, plus clothing & souvenirs.
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
•
Free
Day 2Vibrant Streets and Majestic Palaces in Seoul
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$0

·

$ 5

Hongdae Shopping Street
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
18 - 22 min

~

Directions

Deoksugung Palace
Historic palace in the heart of Seoul offering a popular Changing of the Royal Guard ceremony.
11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
•
Free
12 - 17 min

~

Directions

Gwanghwamun Square
Huge public square opened in 2009 as part of an environmentally friendly redevelopment of Seoul.
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
•
Free
8 - 10 min

~

Directions

Bukchon Hanok Village
Village dating to the 14th century filled with narrow streets lined with restored traditional homes.
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
•
Free
Day 3Iconic Landmarks and Breathtaking Views in Seoul
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$38

·

$ 5

DDP │ Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Architectural-landmark events venue with futuristic design, a design market & food vendors.
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
16 - 20 min

~

Directions

N Seoul Tower
Opened in 1980, this iconic tower offers panoramic views of the city & a revolving restaurant.
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
•
$32
10 - 15 min

~

Directions

Namsan Cable Car
This aerial tram takes passengers on a 3-minute trip in a glass cable car with panoramic city views.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
•
Free
12 - 15 min

~

Directions

Gyeongbokgung Palace
Free guided tours are offered of this large 14th-century royal palace with a museum & gardens.
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
•
$6
Day 4Adventure and Fun in Seoul's Parks and Theme Parks
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$0

·

$ 7

Seoul Grand Park
Nearly 3,000 animals live in the zoos at this attraction with rose garden, art museum & theme park.
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
•
Free
12 - 18 min

~

Directions

Seoul Land
Opened to coincide with the Olympics, this family attraction is divided into 5 themed zones.
12:30 PM - 4:30 PM
•
Free
36 - 44 min

~

Directions

Yeouido Hangang Park
Large, popular park on the river featuring scenic views, plus running paths & a swimming pool.
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
•
Free
22 - 27 min

~

Directions

Starfield Library
Futuristic library & cultural event space on 2 levels of a mall with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
No time set
•
Free
12 - 15 min

~

Directions

Seoul Sky
No time set
•
Free
Day 5Exploring the Wonders of Gwangmyeong Cave and Lotte World
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$0

·

$ 5

Gwangmyeong Cave, Gyeonggi-do
Former mining cave complex turned entertainment venue, with light shows, an aquarium & a winery.
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
39 - 47 min

~

Directions

LOTTE WORLD AQUARIUM
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
•
Free
36 - 44 min

~

Directions

Haneul Park
Picturesque landscape featuring paths through tall, lush grass to a hilltop with sweeping vistas.
No time set
•
Free
Day 6Family-Friendly Attractions and Natural Beauty in Seoul
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$0

·

$ 3

Starfield Coex Mall
Massive underground shopping mall & convention center with a theater, aquarium & restaurants.
11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
•
Free
13 - 16 min

~

Directions

Seoul Forest Park
Vast, tree-filled park featuring a lake, bike path & roses, plus deer to feed & a butterfly house.
5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
•
Free

Budget breakdown: $807 In total

Activities & Food:$702
Transport:$106

Trip to Busan

Day 1Unveiling Seoul's Hidden Gems
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$8

·

$ 6

Geumjeongsanseong Fortress
Expansive mountain fort, the largest in Korea, offers sweeping views, hiking trails & a cable car.
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
46 - 56 min

~

Directions

Oryukdo Skywalk
Free-admission cantilever walkway with a glass floor offering views of the sea & Oryukdo island.
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$3
30 - 36 min

~

Directions

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Busan
Enduring Buddhist temple constructed in the 14th-century & offering sweeping views of the sea.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
•
$5
35 - 42 min

~

Directions

Songdo Cloud Trails
Winding walkway at Songdo Beach, with views of a lighthouse & a cable car line overhead.
No time set
•
Free
Day 2Vibrant Streets and Majestic Palaces in Seoul
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$22

·

$ 4

Busan Museum of Art
Airy, sleek venue featuring an exhibition room for modern art, children's museum & sculpture garden.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
$13
26 - 32 min

~

Directions

Jagalchi Market
World famous market for fresh fish & seafood to take away or eat at the informal stalls.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$1
7 - 10 min

~

Directions

Gukje Market
Lively, sprawling marketplace with vendors selling street food, home goods & souvenirs.
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
•
Free
6 - 8 min

~

Directions

Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan
Picturesque attraction featuring a village of colorful houses, painted murals, shops & cafes.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
•
$8

Budget breakdown: $807 In total

Activities & Food:$702
Transport:$106

Trip to Tokyo

Day 1Unveiling Seoul's Hidden Gems
+

$5

·

$ 9

Imperial Palace
This site with scenic gardens & tours of the grounds is the main residence of the emperor of Japan.
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
14 - 17 min

~

Directions

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
This former estate is now a 144-acre park with diverse garden areas, grassy expanses & a greenhouse.
11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
•
$5
14 - 17 min

~

Directions

Yoyogi Park
Large, public city park with lakes, fountains & forested areas with mature trees.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
•
Free
6 - 8 min

~

Directions

Hachikō Memorial Statue
Popular meeting spot with a bronze statue honoring Hachiko, the famously loyal Akita dog.
No time set
•
Free
Day 2Vibrant Streets and Majestic Palaces in Seoul
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$0

·

$ 3

Sensō-ji
Completed in 645, this temple, Tokyo's oldest, was built to honor Kannon, the goddess of mercy.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
Free
14 - 17 min

~

Directions

Ueno Park
Popular city park featuring ample walking paths, a lake with boat rentals, a zoo & several museums.
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
•
Free
Day 3Iconic Landmarks and Breathtaking Views in Seoul
+

$74

·

$ 6

Meiji Jingu
Surrounded by forest, this venerable Shinto shrine features a seasonal iris garden.
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
•
Free
27 - 33 min

~

Directions

teamLab Planets TOKYO
No time set
•
$74
32 - 39 min

~

Directions

Kaminarimon
A 3.9m-tall lantern greets visitors to this stately gate at the entrance to Sensō-ji temple.
No time set
•
Free
Day 4Adventure and Fun in Seoul's Parks and Theme Parks
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$38

·

$ 6

Tokyo Tower
Reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower, this landmark features observation areas & other attractions.
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
•
$38
23 - 28 min

~

Directions

Asakusa Shrine
Prominent 1649 Shinto shrine set in a temple complex & hosting the Sanja Matsuri festival in May.
No time set
•
Free
15 - 18 min

~

Directions

Kanda Shrine
Venerable Shinto shrine moved to its current locale in 1616, with vibrant vermilion & gold coloring.
No time set
•
Free

Budget breakdown: $807 In total

Activities & Food:$702
Transport:$106

Trip to Kyoto

Day 1Unveiling Seoul's Hidden Gems
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$25

·

$ 15

Kinkaku-ji
Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
$13
19 - 23 min

~

Directions

Nishiki Market
400-year-old iconic market studded with stalls offering all manner of Japanese edibles.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
•
Free
13 - 16 min

~

Directions

Kyoto Gion YASAKA SHRINE
This Shinto shrine was erected in 656 A.D. & is home to one of the most famous festivals in Japan.
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
•
Free
38 - 46 min

~

Directions

Byōdō-in Temple
Tours are offered of this iconic temple with a scenic pond & garden, plus a building with artifacts.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
•
$13
44 - 53 min

~

Directions

Sannenzaka
Bustling pedestrian street on a hill lined with souvenir stalls & traditional Japanese architecture.
No time set
•
Free
Day 2Vibrant Streets and Majestic Palaces in Seoul
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$58

·

$ 12

Nijō Castle
Built in 1603, this cypress-wood castle with extensive gardens was a home for the shogun Ieyasu.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
$20
22 - 27 min

~

Directions

Kiyomizu-dera
Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda.
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
•
$25
16 - 20 min

~

Directions

Fushimi Inari Taisha
Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D. featuring a path with hundreds of traditional gates.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
•
Free
64 - 77 min

~

Directions

Kifune Shrine
Intimate Shinto shrine with a verdant mountainside setting, reached by a lantern-lined path.
No time set
•
$13

Budget breakdown: $807 In total

Activities & Food:$702
Transport:$106

Trip to Ōsaka-jō

Day 1Unveiling Seoul's Hidden Gems
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$75

·

$ 6

Abeno Harukas
Osaka's tallest building features an observation deck, a department store, an art museum & a hotel.
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
$50
19 - 23 min

~

Directions

Dotonbori
Lively entertainment district known for its soaring illuminated billboards, restaurants & theaters.
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
•
Free
18 - 22 min

~

Directions

Osaka Castle
Revered castle dating to 1597 & since rebuilt, featuring gardens & a museum with varied exhibits.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
•
$25

Budget breakdown: $807 In total

Activities & Food:$702
Transport:$106

Trip to Shanghai

Day 1Unveiling Seoul's Hidden Gems
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$40

·

$ 3

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
Modern 6-story space offering interactive exhibits on the city's architecture & urban development.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
$20
13 - 16 min

~

Directions

The Bund
Historic, 1,500-meter-long waterside promenade showcasing distinctive modern & colonial buildings.
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
•
Free
13 - 16 min

~

Directions

Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum
Exhibits on Judaism & the 20,000+ Jewish refugees who fled to Shanghai during the Holocaust.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
•
$20
Day 2Vibrant Streets and Majestic Palaces in Seoul
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$105

·

$ 5

Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Modern museum focusing on technology, with educational programs, multimedia exhibits & theaters.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
$30
13 - 16 min

~

Directions

China Art Museum
Free museum featuring modern & contemporary works by Chinese artists in a 2010 World Expo pavilion.
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
•
$25
6 - 8 min

~

Directions

Long Museum
Modern art museum displaying oil paintings, sculptures & crafts, plus rotating exhibitions.
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
•
$25
16 - 20 min

~

Directions

Jing'an Temple
Historic Buddhist temple complex comprising 3 main halls & a massive sitting jade Buddha.
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
•
$13
9 - 11 min

~

Directions

Tianzifang
This former French Concession area with narrow alleys is known for its quaint shops, cafes & bars.
No time set
•
$13
Day 3Iconic Landmarks and Breathtaking Views in Seoul
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$53

·

$ 3

Qibao Ancient Town
Preserved Song dynasty–era city with stores, workshops, eateries & an ancient temple.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
$13
34 - 41 min

~

Directions

Jade Buddha Temple
Active Buddhist temple known for its large, ornate jade Buddha sculptures.
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
•
$20
7 - 9 min

~

Directions

Shanghai Natural History Museum.
Exhibits on human civilization's history & animals, including ancient species such as dinosaurs.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
•
$20
Day 4Adventure and Fun in Seoul's Parks and Theme Parks
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$108

·

$ 3

Shanghai Museum
Huge, free museum with extensive displays including bronze & jade artifacts, sculptures & paintings.
8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
•
$25
6 - 8 min

~

Directions

Yu Garden
5-acre garden built in 1577 that features Ming dynasty pavilions, ponds, rockeries & arched bridges.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
•
$20
10 - 12 min

~

Directions

Shanghai Tower
632-m. megatall skyscraper with 2 observation decks, plus restaurants, bars, shops & a hotel.
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
•
$63

Budget breakdown: $807 In total

Activities & Food:$702
Transport:$106

Trip to Hanoi

Day 1Unveiling Seoul's Hidden Gems
+

$35

Hanoi Opera House
Ornate performing arts hall opened in 1911 & staging classical music, dance & opera performances.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
$25
14 - 21 min

~

Directions

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Performing-arts venue presenting theatrical water puppetry shows with accompanying music.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
$8
3 - 4 min

~

Directions

Ngoc Son Temple
Confucian temple on a lake reached by bridge with tower & pavilions dedicated to the national hero.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
•
Free
Temple Of Literature
Confucian temple with landscaped courtyards, numerous altars & shrines & an imposing front gate.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
•
$3
Day 2Vibrant Streets and Majestic Palaces in Seoul
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$5

·

$ 2

Vietnamese Women's Museum
Modern museum with a permanent collection exploring Vietnamese women's history, culture & fashion.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
$5
10 - 12 min

~

Directions

Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh's body is on display in this mausoleum & historic site.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
•
Free
5 - 6 min

~

Directions

Tran Quoc Pagoda
Long-standing Buddhist temple built on a small, charming island with numerous shrines.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
•
Free
Day 3Iconic Landmarks and Breathtaking Views in Seoul
+

$15

·

$ 1

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Imperial citadel complex with 11th-century buildings & sculptures, including a tower & stone dragon.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
$5
12 - 17 min

~

Directions

Ho Chi Minh Museum
Built in the shape of a lotus flower, the museum explores the life of President Ho Chi Minh.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$5
12 - 15 min

~

Directions

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Ethnological museum offering exhibits on Vietnam's various cultures, with gardens & a restaurant.
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
•
$5

Budget breakdown: $807 In total

Activities & Food:$702
Transport:$106