Pourquoi le Japon augmente son quota de chasse à la baleine ? Pourquoi le Japon continue a continue a croire que la Corée lui appartient encore (ile de Dokdo que les japonais dénomment Takeshima).
Des hamburgers à la baleine vendus au Japon grâce à la pêche "scientifique" nippone
Tranche de baleine, laitue, mayonnaise pour 380 yens, soit trois euros environ: une chaîne de restauration rapide nippone proposait jeudi un hamburger au steak de baleine alors que la communauté internationale appelle le Japon à mettre fin à son programme prétendument scientifique de pêche au cétacé.
Le Japon affirme devoir tuer des baleines pour les étudier correctement et notamment analyser le contenu de leur estomac afin d'avoir des précisions sur leur régime alimentaire.
Mais les organisations écologistes et les pays hostiles à la chasse à la baleine estiment que le programme scientifique nippon n'est qu'une entreprise commerciale à peine déguisée. Ils soulignent que la viande des cétacés est vendue dans les supermarchés et restaurants japonais pour aider à financer le programme.
Chaque année, le Japon tue 400 rorquals communs dans l'Antarctique et 210 autres cétacés dans le Pacifique: 100 rorquals communs, 50 rorquals de Bryde, 50 rorquals de rudolphi et 10 cachalots.
Tu as l'air d'etre bien remonté contre le Japon !!
Ou as tu eu ces infos, car je peux t'assurer qu'au Japon, je n'ai jamais mangé de hamburger à la balaine !!!
Sans faire l'apolgie de cette chasse que je déplore, je pense que chaque pays tue et mange des animaux par rapport a sa culture, ce que les autres pays trouve ignoble !!
Quand au sujet de la Corée, je pense qu'il reste et qu'il restera toujours des conflits, mais qu'il y a eu des progrès de fais, enfin je l'espère.
Es tu deja allé au Japon
Mais ne m'agresse pas parce que je lance un sujet sur le Japon, j'estime que d'autres pays on un comportement beaucoup plus déplorable vis à vis de la politique internationale et des comportements avec les animaux !😉
Source AFP donc serieux à mon avis (voir yahoo actualité - relaté la semaine derniere par de nombreux journaux).
T'inquiete le Japon fait autant de conneries que les autres pays.... Mais cette question écologique sur les baleines m'inquiete beaucoup car certaines espèces sont vraiment en voie d'extinctions, 2000 individus pour la baleine bleues et 2000 pour la baleine à bosses !!! Même à Rouen, il doit y avoir plus de 4000 pigeons ! 2000 individus sur toutes la terre, autant dire rien... Un pays moderne comme le Japon continue a chasser cette bête qui n'est même pas un poisson - Le Japon un pays très écologique et propre (esprit civique que l'on n'a pas chez nous, à mon grand déssarroi ) - l'expo Aichi 2005 est une preuve que le Japon pense au recyclage et au renouvellement des energies mais pourquoi tuer des baleines ou des dauphins, n'y-t-il pas d'autres choses à manger que ça au pays des sushis !! Imaginons que nous mangions des steak d'ours brun?!! C'est impensabe ! Peut-etre que c'est bon, gustativement parlant, je ne dis pas le contraire... mais pourquoi exterminer une race (c'est un génicide...) au seul besoin d'en manger ?! On mange du cheval ou des grenouille chez nous, du chien en chine mais ils ne sont pas en voie d'extinction pour peu que je sache. Certe une "vie" baleine vaut une "vie" de poulet... mais à la fin, quand une espèce disparait, c'est la perte d'un patrimoine mondial et de sa diversité. L'homme a t il le droit de supprimer une espece ? Il ne s'agit pas de tradition culinaire.
Sinon, le Japon est un beau pays qui va des belles montagnes enneigées d'Hokkaido aux belles plages ensoleillé de Kyushu... A voir et a visier avec ses beaux parcs et temples traditionnels couplé au modernisme architectural des grandes villes. Les japonais sont très sympathiques quoique assez réservé et timide, les japonaises, moins timides et toujours tres souriant. Peut etre est du à cette fameuse tradition dyu masque kabuki qui veut qu'on soit toujours agréable envers les gens (et qu'on garde ses rancoeurs ??) C'est assez spécial, surtout ce "je suis d'accord" prononcé en japonais a chaque fois - un tic étonnant comme si les japonais ne voulaient jamais etre en désaccord avec vos propos meme si il pense le contraire, fort louable (politesse ?) mais déroutant. Seul regret le cout fort élevé de la vie pour une petite bourse comme moi 🏴☠️
En fait ca m'enerve assez facilement le sujet des baleines car deja c'est pas tout le monde qui en bouffe au japon et il pourrait carrement s'en passer, et en plus c'est meme pas bon ....
c'etait de la nourriture de subsistence .... revenue en force apres la guerre, a l'epoque, les pecheurs revenaient avec une grosse prise qui pouvait nourrir un village entier pour des mois ... et la, ils nous en font tout un plat ... en disant que c'est une attaque a leur culture alors que c'est carrement la bouffe du pauvre ...
pour 99% de la population, ils en pecheraient pas ils s'en porteraient aussi bien .. moi je dis c'est juste un truc de sale gosse .... !!!
Comme le combat pour etre au Conseil de securite ...
enfin bref, depuis l'histoire des otages en irak ou ils m'ont bien fait honte ... (les otages ont du s'excuser tres platement a la tele des milliards de fois de faire leur travail humanitaire et d'avoir cause autant de soucis a la nation ... et donc ont ete presente avec une facture concernant les deplacements des ministres et tout le reste ... )
Meme Colin Powel a trouve ca abuse ... franchement !!!
enfin bref, j'aime biensur le pays mais ya certains trucs qui m'enragent.. j'ai une vraie relation love-hate avec le japon !!
coucou !
d acc avec tout ce qui a ete dit...
sauf que attention a AFP, ...j'ai lu recemment ds Le Monde je crois, que les Japonaises etaient contentes des wagons reservees aux femmes ds le metro, sauf que bon, les 97% de mes etudiantes tokyoites trouvent ca nul. Faut prendre du recul.
Quant a la baleine, je ne sais pas pour les hamburgers, mais ca me parait possible. Tu peux trouver de la baleine en boite a cote du thon, pouf pouf comme ca c est facile a trouver, ds les supermarches.
Et bien sur c est a cause de l'apres-guerre mais maintenant ils veulent juste sauver la peau des pecheurs ( comme la France avec toutes les subventions pour les agricultuers qui produisent trop ). Je ne suis pas d'accord mais il faut essayer de comprendre les raisons. Et bien sur le genicide n'est pas total car... pour la plupart des animaux tues, ce sont des animaux pas du tout en voie d'extinction... cela n'excuse pas les 3-4 baleines par an qui sont en dnager et tues pour des raisons econoimiques et non pas scinetifiques (meme les Japonais n'y croient pas eux-memes).
Enfin, les Japonais respectent -trop- les autorites, etc etc... en France, rappelle-toi Mururoa, les Francais sont sortis ds la rue etc... c est un sport national chez nous de gueuler (et tant mieux). Mais ici c est mal vu. On ne donne pas son avis a moins qu'on soit interroges (et pour moi qui suis prof, cest dur a debloquer, je te jure). ils ne vont donc pas gueuler contre qq baleines dont ils n'ont rien a faire.
Car faut pas croire, les Japonais recyclent car ils y sont obliges sous menace de ne plus voir les eboueurs passer chez eux. Ils savent pas mieux trier que les Francais de base (je vis ds un quartier trad, je sais de quoi je parle, c est evident qu'ils ne comprennent rien a rien, pour certains). Rappel : y'a pas de parti ecolo ici, et on n'en parle jamais en politique. Ils s'en foutent, sauf si ca cree des emplois et que donc ca peut les faire sortir de la crise.
voili voilou. Faut toujours prendre du recul je pense.
bonne meditation !
aurelie
Traitons autrui comme nous aimerions qu'il nous traite.
je suis tout a fait d'accord avec toi. On ne peut pas tout comprendre, car notre culture est différente et on ne voir pas les choses et la politique de la même manière. Je pense qu'ils sont un "peu trop" respectueux de leur politique intérieur, ils n'osent pas aller contre les dirigeant. Mais ils sont comme ça aussi dans leur boulot !!
- Le Japon un pays très écologique et propre (esprit civique que l'on n'a pas chez nous, à mon grand déssarroi ) - l'expo Aichi 2005 est une preuve que le Japon pense au recyclage et au renouvellement des energies
le Japon? un pays ecologique? oh, oh, alors cela s´est le scoop de cette discussion! je suis allee un mois au Japon, j´ai adore, je vais y retourner en ayant appris la langue mais ils ne sont pas ecologiques du tout. et l´expo 2005 est quand meme plus tournee vers les nouvelles technologies que l´ecologie. c´est l´impression que j´ai eu en tous cas. pour moi un pays ecologique est un pays qui gere sa consommation de produits industriels. la-bas, il y a une quantite phenomenale de dechets par habitants parce que tout les pousse a consommer encore et encore. y´a qu´a voir la nourriture quasi tout est en portion individuelle, emballee au moins 3 fois. je ne trouve pas cela tres ecologiaue. par contre, c´est un pays tres propre, les rues sont vraiment tres agreables car propres sans mauvaises surprises canines par exemple ! A+
Je n'oserais commenter sur les baleines, de peur de me faire battre à cause des phoques. Et je viens d'une région rurale où l'on parade avec des cadavres de cerfs de Virgine et d'élans sur les toits des autos. Donc je suis totalement irrécupérable.
Mais, je voudrais poser quelques questions à Liliboum. Des choses qui m'ont intrigué lors d'un bref séjour au Japon.
Chaque pays a ses paradoxes. Au Japon, on voit plein de jardins, même sur des terrains minuscules, et il n'y a pas de déchets par terre, même dans des quartiers non touristiques. Ce qui m'a intrigué, c'est leurs aménagements des rivières et leur traitement de l'eau. Je n'ai jamais tant vu de rivières "artificialisées". Dans la plupart des villes, les rivières sont des canaux de ciment. Or, de tels aménagements, qu'on voit déja un peu chez-moi, enlèvent toute capacité d'épuration de l'eau. Une rivière vivante, ça a des berges végétales et des marais où l'eau s'épure. Alors, ma question, n'ont-ils pas de problèmes d'alimentation en eau potable ? Est-ce qu'ils se fient sur le centre montagneux et plus sauvage de leurs iles pour s'alimenter en eau et rejettent ensuite les eaux usées à la mer ?
Le deuxième sujet qui m'intrigue est moins clair. J'ai eu l'impression en Asie du sud-est d'une certaine animosité envers les japonais. La "guerre du Pacifique" n'est pas si loin. J'avais été sensibilisé au problème coréen par des films. J'ai aussi vu le mémorial récent aux prisonniers coréens au parc de la paix à Hiroshima. Plus récemment, j'ai entendu parlé, comme tout le monde, des manifestation anti-Japon en Chine. J'ai même probablement assisté à une manifestation d'extrême-droite à Tokyo, même si je n'ai rien compris de ce qu'il racontaient, sauf le mot "America". Pourtant, en discutant avec de jeunes japonais, j'ai perçu une réelle ouverture sur le monde, une volonté de s'entendre avec ses voisins et une conscience des "problèmes passés", pour ne pas dire des "fautes". Certains m'ont exprimé leur inquiétude face à des mouvements de replis et des déclarations belliqueuses de groupes qui nuisent aux relations avec les autres nations de la région. En bref, j'ai eu l'impression d'une volonté pacifique chez les jeunes, mais d'une crainte face à des courants plus belliqueux qui persisteraient. Quelle est votre impression, vous qui êtes sur place ?
Yvon LeD
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).
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 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
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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.
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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).
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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).
hi! Is it easy to use for paying for all the small purchases at the markets? INSTALLATION AND USE WITHOUT ISSUES—do you also need a VPN for China?
Secondly, for using phone and internet, I have Orange—is it reliable, or should I go with Airalo instead?
The info I found on the forum is a bit outdated, so I’m asking again!
1) What budget should I plan for 15 days, given that hotels with breakfast, transfers, and transport are already paid for? I know it depends on the person, but I’d love a rough idea. For meals, we’re thinking simple street food or small local restaurants.
2) I’ve heard that credit cards (we each have a Revolut + 1 Visa Premier) aren’t widely used and that it’s better to have cash. Can you confirm?
3) Are foreign credit cards still not accepted at bank ATMs? Still 7-Eleven or the Post Office? And what about American Express?
I'm planning a 19-day itinerary in Japan this summer.
For a first trip, Kyoto seems like a must. For the rest, I'm torn between:
- Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa for 5 to 6 days
- Kyoto 4 days
- Nara 2 days
- Koyasan 1 day
- Hakone/Mount Fuji 2 to 3 days
- Tokyo 3 days
Or dedicating the first 6 days to Kyushu.
Maybe there’s less traditional Japan in Kyushu compared to the Japanese Alps?
Maybe Kyushu is less crowded?
Thanks for your thoughts!
