East Asia Winter Exploration 2025/26: Series Overview
Between late December 2025 and January 2026, we traded the dark Swedish winter for an ambitious, three-week schedule of bullet trains, historic fortresses, and neon-lit avenues across East Asia. Traveling with Susann and Little A always requires a careful balance between deep historical exploration, modern city conveniences, and the grounded realities of keeping an eight-year-old engaged on the road. This series documents our route through two fascinating nations, navigating the distinct cultures, flawless transit systems, and occasional logistical hiccups of South Korea and Japan.
Our itinerary took us from the sprawling palace grounds and gritty port districts of the Seoul capital region across the Korea Strait into the Kansai heartland. Using Osaka as our base in Japan, we utilized regional rail passes to effortlessly hop between the vermilion torii gates of Kyoto, the 18th-century gardens of Okayama, and the sobering, vital history of Hiroshima. Back in South Korea, we hiked the volcanic coastal trails of Busan—trusting our own experience over the overly cautious warnings of a local tourist office—and walked the freezing but beautiful stone walls of the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.
It was a journey defined by profound contrasts. We balanced heavy military history and ancient shrines with quirky modern realities like robot waiters, Cinnamoroll cafés, and a memorable but regrettable taste test of K-pop themed instant noodles. We survived the initial jetlag, successfully navigated dense urban grids, and watched Susann complete the first two international milestones for her 2026 running challenge.
Ultimately, we returned home to Vagnhärad with an entirely new appreciation for this corner of the globe. In fact, the experience was so rewarding that it has already laid the groundwork for our next family adventure. We have officially booked our upcoming trip for Christmas and New Year’s 2026, where we will return to East Asia to explore China and revisit South Korea.
Until then, you can read the complete story of our winter exploration through the links to all eight parts below.
