A Journey Through Korea and Japan

We’d like to share our grand adventure with you, as it was a long international trip! We missed not having everyone with us, but now is your moment to live through the trip vicariously with us. You’ll see a day-by-day description with some photos from the journey. Enjoy!

Day 1 – September 15

This was our travel day to get to Seoul. It started with an early morning arrival into Denver International Airport for our flight to San Francisco; sadly, no direct flights to Seoul from Denver. However, we picked up a new traveler there, one of our guest’s sisters. Yay! Short layover in San Francisco and then it was time to board our twelve-hour flight to Seoul. It was pleasant, peaceful, maybe slightly uncomfortable because no one likes a long flight.

Day 2 – September 16

We made it to Incheon International Airport, yeehaw! Similar to Denver, the airport for Seoul and the larger metro area is far away from the city center. So, we loaded into taxis and made our way to the hotel. The entire city was quiet because we got there right in the middle of Chuseok, the Korean equivalent to Thanksgiving. This meant that most of the folks in the city left to the countryside for family celebrations. It made it nice for us not to get into the hustle and bustle of city life immediately, though it also meant a few restaurants and other attractions were closed. We fretted not! Kevin and I went out to explore and found a perfect restaurant nearby. Bibimbap was for dinner, yum! A rule of international travel we like to follow: stay up until your arrival destination’s “sleep time.” This helps you acclimate to the new time zone you’ve reached. This meant, for us, that we were up for nearly twenty hours before finally catching some zzzs.

Day 3 – September 17

Our full first day in Seoul! We made our way to Changdeokgung Palace, had a group lunch, visited the Namdaemum Market, took the subway and walked and walked and walked. It was awesome! The only downside was that it was 150% humidity and 90F (OK, maybe exaggerating a little, but it was hot!) each day we were in Korea. So, we were sweating. Troopers we were, nothing could keep us from exploring!

Day 4 – September 18

On this day we hopped on a bus with a local tour company that took us a little around Seoul and then to a Korean Folk Village. This, like many places in the U.S., was an amalgamation of many historical buildings from Korea’s past to give the idea of what life was like once upon a time. It was basically a large renaissance fair.  How fun! We got to see some performances, ate some tasty food and did our best to find the shade. From there, we walked around another market and visited a historic fortress. That evening, one of our guests wanted to try Mexican food in Korea, as it wasn’t there when Kevin was teaching. So, we went on a mission and found a place in Itaewon (the happening-downtown-hotspot of Seoul), and it was yummy! Maybe not what we’re used to in Colorado, but still good Mexican food!

Day 5 – September 19

Our last full day in Korea, today all of the guests went to the DMZ. Some were a little fearful ahead of time, but in the end, it was well worth the experience. While our guests were there, Michael decided to go to Lotte World Tower and visit the 123rd floor of the sixth tallest building in the world. He did it for the photos to show the guests, most definitely not because he loves the thrill of being at the top of skyscrapers, certainly not! While it wasn’t a enough time in Korea, it was time to start packing for our flight to Japan.

Day 6 – September 20

Another early morning, but it was the best we could work out knowing we preferred to get to Hiroshima with a direct flight. Back to the airport we went! JeJu Airlines from Incheon to Hiroshima we went. Arrived in Hiroshima we did. Yet again, another airport far from the city (and not the last!). We took the bus from the airport to the main train station because we needed to get our Japan Rail passes! Should you ever be traveling to Japan and using the train system a lot, this is the best thing you could have! It allowed us to travel on almost any train, including the shinkansen (bullet train) in Japan. Totally worth it. From the train station we got checked into our hotel and then went for a stroll to a nearby garden and to Hiroshima Castle. A pleasant afternoon and introduction to Japan!

Day 7 – September 21

Since we were in Hiroshima, it was important that we learn about the history of the atomic bomb being dropped. The morning and afternoon was a somber experience. It was a day of tears and reflection. We visited the many peace memorials and the main museum there, then folks were turned loose on the town to explore a little on their own. That evening, we turned the sadness into happiness with a celebration of one of our guest’s birthdays! Yay! We had a great hibachi meal, with lots of yummy food, and the best part, Kevin did NOT catch fire, though it sure looked close!

Day 8 – September 22

It was time for our first shinkansen ride, so we got on the train in Hiroshima and traveled to Osaka. Folks loved it, and it is truly a wonderful experience. Upon arriving in Osaka, we were met with rain and sogginess. Still, nothing would keep us down, so we went to Osaka Castle to learn about some local history. Have you ever seen the show “Shogun?” If not, it’s a great representation of Osaka Castle and the history of the shogunate. With all that travel, we were ready for some sleep in a cozy bed, so, we made it so.  

Day 9 – September 23

Folks were given a free day in Osaka, however, Michael loves that city and wanted to take folks to places from his previous travels there. So, off to the Osaka Aquarium we went! It is one of the few aquariums in the world that has whale sharks,  a must see! Following that, we went to Osaka Station to do some shopping, and a couple guests went to the top of the Umeda Sky Building. Brave souls!

Day 10 – September 24

Today was our Kyoto day, so we took the shinkansen to the city for a day trip. Once we arrived, we visited the Kiyomizu-dera temple and the Kinkaku-ji temple, both stunning and beautiful. In between, a few of us found a tofu restaurant that made its own tofu! Whoa, what a yummy experience! With a full day in Kyoto, it was time to return as we needed to pack our bags to continue our journey north.

Day 11 – September 25

On the shinkansen again, zoom zoom! We took the train up to Tokyo and then from there a private car picked us up to take us to Fujiyoshida. This city is the sister city of Colorado Springs! Fujiyoshida is at the base of Japan’s main mountain, Mt. Fuji, just as Colorado Springs sits at the base of our main mountain, Pikes Peak. It was still raining on us, but once we arrived in the city we decided to go to an amusement park – Fuji-Q! Lots of fun rides for us, but the best part was going through, according to them, the world’s largest haunted house. Meant to look like an abandoned hospital, Michael attests it was the scariest thing he’s done when it comes to haunted houses. They did an amazing job. Was it scary because Kevin abandoned him halfway through it? Maybe, or maybe it was long hallways with actors chasing him throughout the building. Terrifying nonetheless.

Day 12 – September 26

Today we got to meet our hosts from the sister city program, and they showed us around the town. We visited the Mt. Fuji Shrine and the museum, beautiful and informative. At the museum, we met more hosts! They took us to lunch and we got to learn a little more from the locals themselves. It was the highlight of the trip for many. Following lunch, we went to a nearby lake in hopes of seeing Mt. Fuji. Alas, she didn’t show herself the entire time of our visit …she was just too shy. Guess we have to plan another trip in the future!

Day 13 – September 27

It was time to return to Tokyo, so we got our private car transportation directly to the hotel near Tokyo Station. Once in the largest city on earth, in terms of population, we took the local train lines to Shibuya. Here, we walked through the world’s busiest crosswalk, a few times! We got rolled ice cream, yum, and got a photo with Hachiko, the pup that waited for its owner’s return (the person never returned …very sad). We had another birthday celebration, so we found a dim sum place and had a very fun dinner. Some local lads at the table next to us helped with translations, helped with singing happy birthday and helped us celebrate to the fullest extent! Then we went out for dessert and got some oh-so-yummy pastries. They were French, ooooh là là!  Yay for birthdays!

Day 14 – September 28

Guests were able to sleep in some this morning while Kevin and Michael scouted the train routes for the day of activities. Once that was determined, we went out for adventure. This included a tea ceremony, where we all got to wear gorgeous kimonos and learn about traditional Japanese tea. Then, we went to the Tokyo Skytree for more views and, finally, took a dinner cruise on the Sumida River. It was a fabulous day, and it helped to round out a wonderful tour.

Day 15 – September 29

It was a free day for everyone. For Michael, he walked ten miles and took many trains in search of gifts for family and friends at home. Chef knives, Pokemon stores, pen stores, sweets …he went to find it all! He did so much shopping that he had to buy a second suitcase to bring everything home!

Day 16 – September 30

It was our last day in Japan, but the flight wasn’t until the late afternoon. So, that morning we took folks to see Godzilla! He wasn’t as scary as we thought he would be, but still fun to see. We got some other views in, and then it was time to head to the airport. Another one way out from the city, but with a nice direct train to get there. The flight from Narita to Denver was also direct, so only ten hours! We became time travelers that day. We departed at 4:30 p.m. in Tokyo and arrived in Denver at noon on the same day! Sticking to our recommendation, we stayed up until it was time for bed in Denver even if it felt as though it were 3am when we landed.

What a fantastic journey we got to share with this small group. We can’t wait for more future international trips with our intrepid travelers!