Est-il opportun d'acheter un article électronique au Japon? par exemple je voudrais acheter un appareil photo (numérique simple), j'imagine qu'ils sont plus avancés là-bas mais je me demande si au niveau du prix c'est vraiment une affaire par rapport à l'Europe (à matériel équivalent).
Et comme c'est le cas pour mon appareil photo actuel, il est tres frequent que le SAV se fasse uniquement au Japon... meme pour des marques se vendant en France.
La données importante à prendre en compte également, c'est la langue : la plupart des menus sont uniquement en japonais et quelque fois avec une seule langue en plus, l'anglais (et/ou le chinois, de plus en plus).
Blog Japon : récits de voyages au Japon, des articles sur le Japon, des photos du Japon et des recettes de cuisines japonaise (par ma femme) : https://blog.m0shi-m0shi.com/
par contre autant en neuf ce n'est pas intéressant à cause du taux de change actuel, autant en occasion on peut trouver de bonnes affaires!
surtout que le marché de l'occasion est énorme et les appareils sont souvent en parfait état.
je suis tombé sur un bon pc comme neuf à akhihabara
ascii.jp/.../000/000/918/918872/
100.000 yens en occasion, 150.000 yens neuf.
et il est comme neuf, il avait été utilisé seulement 150 heures!
et merci microsoft : depuis windows 8, on peut changer la langue de windows. Le magasin s'en est occupé pour moi.
En photo aussi beaucoup de matériel en occasion.
Par contre les bonnes affaires ne sont pas forcément faciles à dénicher, surtout à Akhihabara ou tout le monde cherche le saint graal.
après il faut être joueur question risque de panne et douane...
Repère les prix en France, tu verras une fois sur place si certains modèles sont moins chers et si ça vaut le coup, tout simplement.
En ce moment, le yen est très élevé, ce sera peu intéressant, voire pas intéressant (mais bon, il peut quand même y avoir des surprises car à la base, les prix sont quand même nettement moins élevés, au Japon, avec de surcroît une TVA nettement plus basse).
Attention, un même modèle n'a parfois pas le même nom au Japon. En général, les nouveautés arrivent à peu près 6 mois avant au Japon, certains modèles te sembleront introuvables en Europe, c'est juste qu'ils ne sont pas encore arrivés.
A ma connaissance, il y a toujours un menu Japonais et anglais (il y a quelques années, il y avait encore des menus en français mais ce n'est plus le cas).
Comme mentionnée plus haut en effet, le SAV est en général assuré et valable uniquement au Japon.
En août, j'ai acheté un boitier photo de marque canon. C'est le modèle Kiss X7i vendu en Europe sous l'appellation "700D".
Je l'ai payé 41000 yens chez Amazon non détaxé. (370 €)
En France, il vaut 439€à la fnac. J'ai donc économisé 69 euros.
Il est vendu avec un mode d'emploi papier en japonais complété par une version CD multilingue.
J'ai modifié l'affichage des menus en anglais. (pas de français possible).
Pour ce qui est de la douane, aucune obligation de déclaration pour tout objet à usage personnel de moins de 750 euros.
Au niveau fiabilité... si j'ai autant de chance qu'avec mon ancien Kiss X5 acheté au Japon, je ne me plaindrai pas. (3 ans de bons et loyaux services sans aucun problème... et il continue sa carrière avec ma fille).
Mes 25 ans de séjours au japon! http://www.soleilrouge.org/
Okinawa et Miyakojima: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6477376;idl3=9084144203&idl=3731943&idl2=8709057
Sakura: Balade de printemps: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6988760;idl3=9084144203&idl=3731943&idl2=8709057
Attention, un même modèle n'a parfois pas le même nom au Japon. En général, les nouveautés arrivent à peu près 6 mois avant au Japon, certains modèles te sembleront introuvables en Europe, c'est juste qu'ils ne sont pas encore arrivés.
non.
c'était peut être vrai il y a plusieurs années, mais ça ne l'est plus.
aujourd'hui les modèles sortent en même temps sur le marché mondial, pour éviter le marché parallèle justement.
au mieux il y a quelques jours d'écarts.
A ma connaissance, il y a toujours un menu Japonais et anglais (il y a quelques années, il y avait encore des menus en français mais ce n'est plus le cas).
non plus
par exemple certains appareils photos sony ont le menu uniquement en Japonais. et il n'y a aucune possibilité d'ajouter d'autres langues. Béné pourra confirmer parce que sauf erreur c'est le cas de son appareil photo.
certains appareils doivent toujours avoir un menu en français mais je pense que ça devient rare.
En août, j'ai acheté un boitier photo de marque canon. C'est le modèle Kiss X7i vendu en Europe sous l'appellation "700D".
Je l'ai payé 41000 yens chez Amazon non détaxé. (370 €)
En France, il vaut 439€à la fnac. J'ai donc économisé 69 euros.
Il est vendu avec un mode d'emploi papier en japonais complété par une version CD multilingue.
J'ai modifié l'affichage des menus en anglais. (pas de français possible).
Pour ce qui est de la douane, aucune obligation de déclaration pour tout objet à usage personnel de moins de 750 euros.
Au niveau fiabilité... si j'ai autant de chance qu'avec mon ancien Kiss X5 acheté au Japon, je ne me plaindrai pas. (3 ans de bons et loyaux services sans aucun problème... et il continue sa carrière avec ma fille).
il me semble que c'est 400 euros plutôt.
mais à vérifier.
sinon perso pour 69 euros je pense que j'aurais acheté en France.
si ça n'a pas changé, ton boitier canon est garantie uniquement en Asie (garantie continentale), par contre l'objectif est garantie au niveau mondial.
par exemple certains appareils photos sony ont le menu uniquement en Japonais. et il n'y a aucune possibilité d'ajouter d'autres langues. Béné pourra confirmer parce que sauf erreur c'est le cas de son appareil photo.
Exact. Mon Sony est uniquement en japonais et il n'y a pas la possibilite de le mettre en anglais.
idem pour panasonic menu qu'en japonais.
olympus par contre offre le choix des langues.
le sav etait mondial il y a quelque annees mais cela a changer, seuleument au japon.
Dans le domaine de l'occassion la place tres apprecie est mapcamera a Shinjuku.
Pour ce qui est de la douane, aucune obligation de déclaration pour tout objet à usage personnel de moins de 750 euros.
il me semble que c'est 400 euros plutôt.
mais à vérifier.
J'ai vérifié, c'est 700 euros.
"La valeur hors taxes des marchandises soumises aux droits à l'importation forfaitaires ne doit pas excéder 700 euros par envoi ou par voyageur.
Au delà du seuil de 700 euros par envoi ou par voyageur, le Tarif Douanier Commun (TDC) est applicable. Consultez l'encyclopédie tarifaire, sur pro.douane pour effectuer une recherche avancée."
si ça n'a pas changé, ton boitier canon est garantie uniquement en Asie (garantie continentale), par contre l'objectif est garantie au niveau mondial.
C'est bien connu... et ça n'a pas changé.
Mes 25 ans de séjours au japon! http://www.soleilrouge.org/
Okinawa et Miyakojima: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6477376;idl3=9084144203&idl=3731943&idl2=8709057
Sakura: Balade de printemps: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6988760;idl3=9084144203&idl=3731943&idl2=8709057
non.
c'était peut être vrai il y a plusieurs années, mais ça ne l'est plus.
aujourd'hui les modèles sortent en même temps sur le marché mondial, pour éviter le marché parallèle justement.
C'est vrai que mon dernier achat d'appareil photo au Japon remonte à quelques années...
J'ai extrait ces phrases du site des douanes françaises...
donc cc'est bien 700 euros... et pas seulement "à mon avis"...😉
Mes 25 ans de séjours au japon! http://www.soleilrouge.org/
Okinawa et Miyakojima: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6477376;idl3=9084144203&idl=3731943&idl2=8709057
Sakura: Balade de printemps: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6988760;idl3=9084144203&idl=3731943&idl2=8709057
Je crois surtout que le chiffre que vous avez repéré n'est pas celui qui concerne les biens qu'un voyageur peut rapporter ; vous n'êtes pas sur le bon site.
Voilà le bon lien :
www.douane.gouv.fr/...leur-et-en-quantites
J'ai extrait ces phrases du site des douanes françaises...
donc cc'est bien 700 euros... et pas seulement "à mon avis"...😉
Tu te trompes. c'est bien 430 euros, et non pas 700.
Le lien donnée par Tatra est très clair :
Vous pouvez bénéficier de franchises en valeur, lorsque vous transportez avec vous des marchandises achetées ou qui vous ont été offertes, sans avoir ni de déclaration à effectuer ni de droits et taxes à payer. En effet, vous n'avez pas à déclarer les marchandises (y compris les cadeaux) si leur valeur totale ou si leur quantité ne dépasse pas les franchises autorisées.
La valeur marchande globale des biens ne doit cependant pas excéder les montants suivants :
Voyageurs de 15 ans et plus :
utilisant un mode de transport autre que les transports aériens ou maritimes : 300 euros.
utilisant un mode de transport aérien ou maritime : 430 euros.
Tout objet dont la valeur est supérieure à la franchise devra être déclaré et vous acquitterez la taxe sur la valeur ajoutée (TVA) et les droits de douane normalement exigibles. Ces droits et taxes s'appliquent sur la totalité du prix mentionné sur la facture d'achat ou sur la valeur des marchandises estimées au gré à gré.
ok merci pour votre contribution à tous, j'ai donc acheté mon appareil ici en France vu que sur place il faut vraiment être un expert pour trouver l'occasion rare.
Donc suite à mon voyage au japon, voici mon retour d'expérience.
Avant de partir j'avais acheté un appareil numérique Canon sur Amazon au prix de 338 Euros. J'ai donc vérifié le prix de cet appareil à Tokyo, dans le quartier Akihabara, et le prix affiché était de 38565 yens ce qui fait environ 351 Euros comptant les frais de taux de conversion à partir de la France (c'est à dire si j'avais acheté cet appareil au Japon avec des Yens que j'aurai changés en France juste avant mon départ).
La moins pire solution serait de payer en carte de crédit française mais le prix serait tout de même légèrement supérieur à celui d'internet en France.
Bref, selon moi il n'est pas rentable d'acheter des produits électroniques au Japon (sans compter que pas de garantie sur le produit et pas de notice/menu en anglais)
Donc suite à mon voyage au japon, voici mon retour d'expérience.
Avant de partir j'avais acheté un appareil numérique Canon sur Amazon au prix de 338 Euros. J'ai donc vérifié le prix de cet appareil à Tokyo, dans le quartier Akihabara, et le prix affiché était de 38565 yens ce qui fait environ 351 Euros comptant les frais de taux de conversion à partir de la France (c'est à dire si j'avais acheté cet appareil au Japon avec des Yens que j'aurai changés en France juste avant mon départ).
La moins pire solution serait de payer en carte de crédit française mais le prix serait tout de même légèrement supérieur à celui d'internet en France.
Bref, selon moi il n'est pas rentable d'acheter des produits électroniques au Japon (sans compter que pas de garantie sur le produit et pas de notice/menu en anglais)
Attention à ne pas généraliser.
Tu prends un exemple, et tu en tires une conclusion un peu rapide...
Ceci étant, avec le taux du change en ce moment, les bonnes affaires sont plus rares, c'est sur.
ne pas oublier aussi le marché de l'occasion qui est très développé au Japon, et très intéressant.
De plus, si on parle appareil photos, certains modèles ont un menu en anglais, voire même en français.
Comme je projète d'aller au Japon en décembre, j'envisage d'acheter des Yens pour mes premiers dépenses sur place avec "yes change". Que me conseillez vous…
Je décolle Samedi et suis donc obligé de prendre rapidement une décision au sujet de l'achat de yens. "Yes change" paraît intéressant, car pas de commission,…
Quelqu'un a-t-il déjà utilisé le site www.buysumotickets.c... Sinon, comment faire pour se procurer (de France) des billets pour le tournoi de Sumo de Nagoya…
Nous partons à vélo sur Kyushu et nous nous demandons où, dans quel magasin, peut-on trouver des cartes routière assez détaillé... les cartes que l'ont trouve…
Nous décollons demain pour le pays du soleil levant. Je remercie tous les membres de ce forum pour leurs précieuses aides. Mon papa m'a passé une commande…
We’re arriving as a group of three in Tokyo on Saturday, October 17th, then heading straight to Kyoto by direct train.
On Sunday and Monday, we’ll explore Kyoto, and in the evening, we’ll take a train to Osaka to spend the night.
On Tuesday, we’ll pick up a rental car at Itami Airport for a 6-day/5-night road trip around Shikoku:
- 2 nights in the Iya Valley
- Thursday morning, we’ll head to Matsuyama for 2 nights.
- Saturday, we’ll visit Mima (town, a few temples + overnight stay) and return on Sunday to drop off the car in Osaka.
We’ll leave very early on Monday the 26th by plane for Aomori in northern Honshu, where we’ll pick up another rental car at the airport for a 5-day/4-night trip:
- Day 1: Tsugaru Peninsula (Takayam Inari, Cape Tappi, Kanita); overnight in Kanita
- Day 2: Ferry transfer to the Mutsu Peninsula (cliffs, Lake Usori); overnight in Shimofuro
- Day 3: Head to the Hakkoda Mountains and onsens galore; overnight TBD
- Day 4: Return the car in Aomori by noon and explore the city before taking the train to Tokyo in the evening
We’ll spend Friday night in Tokyo, wander around on Saturday, and head home on Sunday.
Thoughts on the road feasibility of this trip? We’ll be there right in the middle of Koyo season, so it’ll be busy...
I know it’s a lot of driving, but there are two of us who can take turns. We’re not afraid of driving, even in the mountains and on the left side! Just wondering, are we going to be rushing, or is this manageable? AI says it’s all good, but it’s not the one driving...
Any tips for booking accommodations in the Iya Valley? Not many places have email addresses or websites (I know Booking.com exists, but not all listings are on there... and given the season, I think it’s better to book ahead!). Same question applies for northern Honshu.
For the rental car, I’m thinking of going with Alamo since at least it’s in French and straightforward, but are there any direct rental companies with user-friendly websites (Toyota Rentacar, ugh... 🏴☠️)?
Another question: With so many trains, is it even necessary to book them in advance? Can we just go to the ticket counter and grab seats on the spot?
For paying for the rental car, do we need a credit or debit card?
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
I could really use your help to finalize our trip to Japan.
We’re heading there for three weeks with my partner, starting November 10th. Our plan was to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and a few stops in between (nothing too original so far…).
However, we’re more into nature and hiking, so even though we do want to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, we’d like to maximize nature stops between the two. Initially, we’d considered places like Kamikochi, but I understand it’s not accessible this late in the season.
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
Next year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage (and travel 🙂), and we’re looking for something new, pretty legendary, and something the teens will enjoy too.
The family council has settled on Japan for now. And it’d have to be a summer trip—no choice there.
The catch: I keep reading that August isn’t the right season for southern Japan. It’s hot, humid, and there’s a risk of typhoons… Okay, but what does that *actually* mean in practice? Are there any travelers who’ve been there during this time? Is it *that* unbearable?
We’re pretty familiar with Southeast Asia—last year, we dealt with scorching heat in Vietnam and insane humidity, plus a typhoon we experienced from a distance, and visiting Angkor in the blazing sun. Is it worse than that?
I’m back with my detailed itinerary for 20 days in South Korea—it’s my first trip to the country. Our idea is to experience a more rural and cultural Korea. Here’s the rough plan: Seoul for 4 nights at the start and 1 night at the end, Gurye for 4 nights, Suncheon for 4 nights, Namhae for 4 nights, and Gyeongju for 2 nights. The goal is to pick a base and explore the surrounding areas. What do you think of this itinerary? Anything you’d change?
thanks
hi everyone, we're heading out for a 12-day trek in the Japanese Alps. We're bringing freeze-dried meals like we always do. We just found out that importing meat is banned, even freeze-dried. Is that true? We already bought them. They're commercially made freeze-dried meals. Online, it's not specified that they have to be "commercially made" because you can make your own freeze-dried food. And since we've heard they're really strict in Japan, can anyone confirm this for us? thanks
I haven’t found what I’m looking for despite my searches!
For a 15-day trip next spring, I’d like to buy a card (preferably an eSIM, but a physical SIM is fine too) that also lets me make calls in the country (to contact a hotel, a tourist spot, etc.).
You can easily find options just for data, but I haven’t come across any that include calls, texts, or even MMS.
Could you recommend something?
hi there
I’m planning a trip in September—here’s my rough itinerary. What do you think? Is it easy to rent a car to get around between my stops? Thanks so much!
Philippe
StopNightsFull daysSeoul44Gurye (Jirisan)43Suncheon43Namhae43Gyeongju21Seoul1—
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
We’re planning a 17-day trip to South Korea in October 2026 with my husband and our daughters, who’ll be 9 years old.
I’d love to get your thoughts on our draft itinerary.
First, some key details:
1/ Jeju Island is a must for us. I’ve personally dreamed of going there for years after reading a novel about it.
2/ Our girls are used to road-trip style travel since they were born, so this kind of trip won’t be an issue for them.
3/ We plan to travel by train, except on Jeju where we’ll rent a car (we already have an international driver’s permit).
Itinerary:
Seoul: 1 arrival day at 10 AM + 4 full days
Gyeongju: 2 days
Busan: 3 days
Jeju: 4 days
Seoul: 2 days
Hi there,
My girlfriend (23) and I (24) are heading to Japan for the first time from October 20th to November 6th. Here’s our itinerary:
6 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Hakone (ryokan already booked)
4 nights in Kyoto (hotel already booked)
2 nights in Osaka
4 nights back in Tokyo
I’d like to book hotels for Tokyo (both stays) and Osaka, but I’ve gotten so many different recommendations.
I’ve read that Shinjuku is the place to be for its huge hub, accessibility, and things to do, but I’ve also heard about Shibuya, Asakusa, and Ueno.
I’ve looked at hotels, and first off, I’m surprised by the prices compared to what I’ve seen on forums (I guess inflation’s hit here too… and maybe I’m late to the booking game?). I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options.
For our first stay in Tokyo, I’d prefer a hotel (not a residence or Airbnb) since we’ll be arriving at night, and it’s our first time in Japan. It’d be great to have a place with a reception, staff who speak at least a little English, and can give us some guidance. For the second stay, we could consider other options if it’s better.
Budget-wise, we can go up to 150–180 € per night, but if we can save some money to spend elsewhere, that’d be amazing!
I’m open to all recommendations, hotel suggestions, or any other tips for Tokyo (first stay), Osaka, and Tokyo (second stay).
Hi there,
I’m getting ready for a classic tourist trip to China in May 2026.
The "Terres Lointaines" itinerary looks good to me, and the price is interesting.
Has anyone traveled with them before? Any feedback?
Is there a better option?
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this!
Michel
I just booked my hotel in Seoul—it’ll be near Unhyeongung, on Samil-Daero 30-Gil—and I’m wondering if there’s public transport from the airport to this address (bus or subway)? If not, what’s the taxi fare? I read it’s around 50 or 60 €.
I’m traveling to Japan with a young adult with autism (ASD) from July 28 to August 8, following a pretty classic route: Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I’m looking for a schedule of the most spectacular fireworks displays during that time. So far, the dates for the major *hanabi* events aren’t available online yet. If anyone has them, I’d really appreciate it if you could share!
We’ll be doing a self-drive trip using public transport in May 2026.
On Day 6, we’ll arrive in Hakone by train from Tokyo in late morning. We’ll spend the night in Hakone before heading to Kyoto.
The main goal of this stop is clearly the view (no hiking) of Mount Fuji, not so much exploring Hakone, where the sights seem limited.
I’ve read on the forum that the view is great from Gotemba, but it also takes a good hour by bus to get there. And, apart from that view, there’s nothing else to see in Gotemba!
So, I’m not sure what to choose. Any thoughts? Or alternatives to suggest?
Maybe some spots in Hakone or Gotemba for a great view?
Hi everyone, I’m Julien!
This summer, from late June to late July, I’m planning a one-month solo trip to Japan—my first time!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on the itinerary I’ve put together to explore this amazing country.
Here are the routes I’m considering:
**Option 1: More mountain and nature-focused**
Tokyo: 8 nights, with day trips to Nikko and maybe the Izu Peninsula
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi/Mt. Fuji): 1 night. The place looks stunning, but I’m worried Mt. Fuji might not be visible due to the weather
Kyoto: 6–7 nights (including a trip to Nara)
Osaka: 1–2 nights, where I’d like to drop off my things to make the Kumano Kodo easier
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights—an experience I haven’t seen much elsewhere, but I thought it sounded really interesting
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Takayama: 3 days
Kanazawa: 3 days (From what I understand, the Osaka–Takayama–Kanazawa–Tokyo route is convenient for transport)
Tokyo: 1 night (return)
**Option 2: More varied but a bit vague in parts**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kobe + Himeji: just passing through—I’m not sure if it’s worth a night
Naoshima: 1 night—still pretty unclear for me
Takamatsu: 2 nights. An interesting city, but I’m not sure how long to stay
Shimanami Kaido: biking from Imabari to Onomichi, then heading to Hiroshima
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Kyushu road trip (Aso + onsens + Fukuoka): 5 nights (also pretty vague—I could fly from Fukuoka back to Tokyo)
Tokyo: 1 night
**Option 3: More balanced/simplified**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kawaguchiko: 1 night
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Koya-san: 1 night
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights
Takayama: 3 nights
Kanazawa: 3 nights
Tokyo: 1 night
A few key points:
I haven’t made any reservations yet, except for the flight tickets.
I know my plans are too packed and will need to be adjusted.
I’m specifically looking for advice on which stops to cut or shorten.
Hello everyone,
Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips.
I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Day 2 to 4: Beijing
Day 5: Datong
Day 6 & 7: Pingyao
Day 8 to 10: Xi'an
Day 11: Luoyang
Day 12: Dengfeng
flight
Day 13 & 14: Chongqing
flight
Day 15 & 16: Lijiang
Day 17: Dali
Day 18: Kunming
Day 19: Jianshui
Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang
Day 22: Travel via Guilin
Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo
Day 25: Guilin
Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie
flight
Day 28 & 29: Shanghai
Day 30: Departure from Shanghai
But to do this itinerary independently:
1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think?
2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority?
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
I’m planning a 5-week trip between Yunnan and Sichuan from mid-October to the end of November 2026:
Arriving in Kunming, I’ll do a loop in the far south of Yunnan via Thonghai, Jhiansu, Zhemi, Yuanyang, Nafa, Jinping, Mengzi, and Shilin (visiting markets, villages, and hiking), then head to northern Yunnan/southern Sichuan on the same theme (passing through Kunming again) via Dongchuan, Huize, Qiaojia, Puge, Xichang, Lanba, Butuo, Huolie, Dimo, Riha, Niuniuba, Meigu, Mabian, and Leshan, before arriving in Chengdu (where I’ll take my return flight to Paris).
This would be a trip with a strong ethnic/rural focus. Since I’ve never traveled in China, I’d love to hear your thoughts on doing this solo. Are there public transport options in the region? What tips do you have for traveling through this area as smoothly and enjoyably as possible? I’ve done quite a bit of backpacking in the mountains of northern Vietnam and really enjoyed using local motorbike drivers. Is something like that available in this region (through local tourist agencies or hotels)?
What should I be cautious about? Are local tourist agencies (or hotels) offering tours and guides reliable? If you know of any specialized sites sharing tips or experiences, or names of local agencies, hotels, etc., please don’t hesitate to share them! :)
In short, all your advice (on any topic that comes to mind!) is very welcome.
Thanks so much!
While researching South Korea, I came across the term "templestay," which refers to a Korean program that lets you stay in a traditional temple to discover Buddhism and Korean culture by living like the temple residents and doing activities like making lanterns.
A templestay isn’t just for foreign tourists—on the booking site, I saw that some temples are more geared toward foreigners, with English-speaking monks.
I was wondering if it’s still worth it, especially in temples where the monks don’t speak English?
I'm 69 years old and heading to China, where most tourist sites are free or discounted for me. However, trip.com either refuses to let me book because the sites are free or doesn’t apply the discount. Does WeChat apply this discount if I book through them? How can I just reserve without paying and pay on-site? Is that possible?
I’d love to get some feedback on our 30-day / 29-night itinerary in China. We’ll be there in September as a family with two kids (6 and 10 years old).
Do you think I should cut a few nights between Wulingyuan (Avatar Mountain) and Yangshuo? I’ve planned 15 nights total there.
We’ll be on a round-the-world trip starting May 2026 and will need to do schoolwork with the kids. Hoping to fit it in during train rides!!
Ever since I started planning this China itinerary, I’ve been discovering completely mind-blowing places I’d never heard of before—30 days feels way too short for China!!!
Here’s our itinerary:
Beijing - 4 nights
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Temple of Heaven
Xi’an - 3 nights
Terracotta Army
Muslim Quarter & Great Mosque
Chengdu - 3 nights
Zoo - Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Wenshu Yuan Temple
Hi there,
We just got back from a 2-week trip to China as a couple, and before we left, the budget was the hardest thing to picture concretely. We found plenty of info on visas, apps, transport, and itineraries, but way fewer detailed breakdowns of what you *actually* spend on the ground.
So, we took the time to share our real budget for 14 days. In our case, we spent around 1,800 € per person, with a big chunk of that going toward round-trip flights at about 600 € per person. We were also pretty surprised by how affordable China can be once you’re there—transport is often cheap, and a lot of everyday expenses stay reasonable.
The trickiest part, in the end, was figuring out how to pay while you’re there, since it’s not always obvious if you’re not prepared. But once everything’s set up and you get the hang of it, it’s really smooth.
If this can help other travelers get a better idea before they go, we’ve broken it all down here:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/budget-2-semaines-de-voyage-en-chine/
Hi everyone,
I’ve been planning several itineraries for a trip to Japan with my wife but would love your insights before we start booking!
In short, we want to go during Golden Week, see late-blooming cherry trees, and have the freedom to get around with a rental car.
Here’s the plan:
18-day itinerary in Japan (April 25 → May 12)
Goal: freedom, late cherry blossoms, culture & nature
---
Days 1–3: Tokyo (April 25–27)
Arrival and adjustment (no car needed yet).
Neighborhoods to visit: Shinjuku, Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Odaiba.
Suggested activities: Ghibli Museum, Sumida River cruise, izakaya meals.
Late cherry blossoms (yaezakura) possible at Shinjuku Gyoen.
Pick up the rental car on the morning of April 27.
---
Days 4–5: Mount Fuji & Hakone (April 27–28)
Route: Tokyo → Kawaguchiko/Hakone (~2 h).
Activities:
Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda (Fuji views + late cherry blossoms)
Onsen baths, Hakone Open-Air Museum.
Stay: ryokan with onsen and views of Mount Fuji.
Activities:
Preserved old town, sake breweries, UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go.
Stay: traditional minshuku (thatched-roof house).
Cherry blossoms are finishing at this altitude — beautiful mountain/nature contrasts.
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Days 8–10: Kyoto & Nara (May 1–3)
Route: Takayama → Kyoto (~4 h 30).
Activities in Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari (red torii gates), Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Gion (geisha district).
Day trip to Nara:
Free-roaming deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Stay: Kyoto (3 nights).
---
Day 11: Osaka or Himeji (May 4)
Route: Kyoto → Osaka (~1 h) or Himeji (~1 h 30).
Option 1: Osaka → modern vibe, street food, castle.
Option 2: Himeji → stunning UNESCO-listed castle.
Stay: Osaka.
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Days 12–13: Kanazawa (May 5–6)
Route: Osaka → Kanazawa (~4 h 30).