Japan & Korea itinerary — December 2026

December is dry and bright, good for illuminations in Shinjuku, Roppongi, and Marunouchi with a warm layer after dark.

• Dec 31New Year's EveBank holiday

Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.

1. 1Shibuya Crossing
2. 2Imperial Palace East Gardens
3. 3Tokyo Skytree & Sumida River
4. 4Ginza & Tsukiji Outer Market
5. 5Toyosu Market
6. 6Meiji Jingu & Harajuku
7. 7Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum & Ameyoko
8. 8Senso-ji & Nakamise-dori
9. 9Akihabara Electric Town
10. 10Odaiba & the Yurikamome

• 1

  Shibuya Crossing

  4.5★ · 20,962outdoor

  The scramble crossing outside Shibuya Station is a rail-node spectacle rather than a long sight. Pair it with Hachiko, Center-gai, Harajuku, or the Shibuya Sky side of the station.

  Wikipedia
• 2

  Imperial Palace East Gardens

  4.4★ · 9,958outdoorClosed Mon/Fri

  The former Edo Castle site sits in Chiyoda inside the Yamanote loop, with moats, stone walls, and garden paths near Tokyo Station. The main palace remains closed except for limited public occasions, so the East Gardens are the everyday visit.

  Wikipedia
• 3

  Tokyo Skytree & Sumida River

  4.4★ · 114,578outdoorOpen daily

  The 634-metre Skytree rises on the east side near Oshiage, giving the clearest aerial read of the Sumida River and central Tokyo spread. Combine it with Asakusa by walking or taking a short train hop.

• 1

  Shinjuku

  Shinjuku is a transport machine, nightlife district, and hotel base in one: the station, Tokyo Metropolitan Government towers, Kabukichō, Golden Gai, and department-store basements all stack together.

• 2

  Shibuya, Harajuku & Ebisu

  This west-side belt is youth fashion, crossings, music shops, cafes, and shrine forest. Shibuya and Harajuku bring the crowds; Ebisu is the calmer dinner-and-bar release valve.

• 3

  Ueno, Asakusa & Taito

  Taito keeps the old-town Tokyo feeling with Senso-ji, Ueno museums, Ameyoko, kitchenware streets, and Sumida River access. It is better for temples and markets than late-night skyscraper views.

• 4

  Ginza, Nihonbashi & Tsukiji

  Chuo is polished and expensive: Ginza stores, Kabuki-za, Nihonbashi department stores, and Tsukiji breakfasts sit on a gridded east-centre map.

• 5

  Chiyoda, Marunouchi & Akihabara

  Chiyoda mixes the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, Marunouchi offices, Jimbocho bookshops, and Akihabara hobby retail. It is the business core with sudden specialist pockets.

• 6

  Minato, Roppongi & Odaiba

  Minato covers embassies, Roppongi museums and nightlife, Tokyo Tower, Shiodome, and bayfront Odaiba. It is spread out, so rail-line choice matters more here than in Taito.

December is cold and festive, with clear days for tower views and freezing evenings around Myeongdong or Cheonggyecheon lights.

• Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday

Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.

1. 1Changdeokgung & Secret Garden
2. 2Gyeongbokgung Palace
3. 3Lotte World Tower & Seoul Sky
4. 4Olympic Park
5. 5Namsan Seoul Tower
6. 6Cheonggyecheon Stream
7. 7Bukchon Hanok Village & Insa-dong
8. 8Myeongdong & Namdaemun Market
9. 9Hongdae & Hongik University streets
10. 10Jamsil Sports Complex

• 1

  Changdeokgung & Secret Garden

  4.7★ · 1,975outdoorClosed Mon

  Changdeokgung was the favored residential palace of the Joseon royal family and is Seoul's UNESCO-listed palace complex. The Secret Garden is the reason to choose it when time is limited.

  Secret Garden entry is capacity-controlled and tied to timed tours.

• 2

  Gyeongbokgung Palace

  4.6★ · 46,237outdoorClosed Tue

  The main Joseon palace was built in 1395, damaged during the 1592-1598 invasions, reconstructed in 1876, and heavily altered during the 1910-1945 Japanese occupation. It stands on Sejongno in Jongno, with Gwanghwamun and the palace museums shaping the ceremonial axis.

  Wikipedia

  Closed Tuesdays; English tours usually run at set daytime slots, and limited night openings require online reservations.

• 3

  Lotte World Tower & Seoul Sky

  4.6★ · 6,256outdoorOpen daily

  The 555.7-metre, 123-story tower opened in 2017 in Songpa and is South Korea's tallest building. Check the weather before paying for Seoul Sky because haze and rain flatten the view.

• 1

  Jongno

  Jongno is the Joseon core, with Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Bukchon, Insa-dong, Gwanghwamun, and Cheonggyecheon arranged for heavy walking days.

• 2

  Jung, Myeongdong & Namsan

  Jung mixes Seoul Station, Myeongdong shopping, Namdaemun Market, Deoksugung, and Namsan. It is convenient but crowded, especially at street-food and cosmetics hours.

• 3

  Seodaemun, Mapo & Hongdae

  Mapo and Seodaemun are university-driven, with Hongdae, Sinchon, Hapjeong, indie music venues, clubs, cafes, and World Cup Stadium on the western map.

• 4

  Yongsan & Itaewon

  Yongsan gives international restaurants, Itaewon bars, Leeum Museum, and easy jumps to Namsan or the Han River. It is the city's clearest foreign-food and nightlife pocket.

• 5

  Gangnam & Seocho

  Gangnam and Seocho are the high-rise south: COEX Mall, business hotels, clinics, clubs, and broad boulevards. Distances look short on maps but subway exits and crossings add time.

• 6

  Songpa & Jamsil

  Songpa is the family-entertainment and sports district, with Lotte World, Lotte World Tower, Seokchon Lake, Olympic Park, and Jamsil Sports Complex clustered east of Gangnam.