Bonjour à tous,
Dans un premier temps, je souhaiterais avoir votre avis à propos de l’itinéraire sur lequel je planche pour notre séjour (ma conjointe et moi) en septembre prochain pour visiter le centre du Japon et assister à un match de rugby (France-Argentine, le 21 septembre à Tokyo).
Nous habitons à Montréal au Canada donc le décalage horaire sera différent d’un départ depuis la France.
Voici donc l’itinéraire anticipé :
Samedi 07/09 : Départ de Montréal
Dimanche 08/09 : Arrivée vers 15 h à Narita, nuit à Tokyo
Lundi 09/09 : Tokyo
Mardi 10/09 : Tokyo
Mercredi 11/09 : Départ vers Osaka
Jeudi 12/09 : Osaka-Kyoto
Vendredi 13/09 : Osaka-Nara
Samedi 14/09 : Osaka-Kobe
Dimanche 15/09 : Osaka
Lundi 16/09 : Retour vers Tokyo – Arrêt à Hakone ?
Mardi 17/09 : Tokyo-Yokohama ou autre excursion d’un jour (idées ?)
Mercredi 18/09 : Tokyo-Kamakura
Jeudi 19/09 : Tokyo-Tournoi de Sumo
Vendredi 20/09 : Tokyo
Samedi 21/09 : Rugby France-Argentine (on est mal parti…)
Dimanche 22/09 : Tokyo
Lundi 23/09 : Tokyo (férié ?)
Mardi : 24/09 : Retour au Canada
Notre idée est de passer les premiers jours à Tokyo pour récupérer du décalage et commencer nos visites de la ville. Ensuite, on se baserait à Osaka pour rayonner autour (Kyoto, Nara, Kobe) car nous aimons la vie nocturne. Et faire la même chose au retour en faisant des excursion d’un jour depuis Tokyo.
Je prévois donc acheter un JR Pass d’une durée de 7 jours seulement du mercredi 11/09 au mardi 17/09. Bonne idée ? Le calculateur de coût le laisse penser. Justement, en parlant d’achat d’un JR Pass, quel est le revendeur le plus fiable du Québec ou du Canada pour acheter ledit pass ?
Pour les autres journées, fonctionnement à l’aide d’une carte PASMO ou Suica. Laquelle choisir ?
Je devrais recevoir mes billets pour le match de rugby au courant de l’été donc pas de problème de ce côté-là mais qu’en est-il pour acheter des billets de Sumo pour le tournoi qui se déroulera durant notre séjour. Des pistes ? J’ai lu plein de choses à droite et à gauche et je suis un peu perdu. Je voudrais avoir des billets avant notre départ et pas devoir les acheter le jour même. Il semble qu’il faut y aller aux aurores pour en avoir le jour même.
Au niveau des hébergements, on s’oriente vers des séjours en hôtel ou Airbnb. Avez-vous des suggestions en terme d’hôtel et quartier (budget max autour de 150 $CAD par nuit)? Pour l’instant, j’envisage de rester dans le quartier de Shinjuku à Tokyo et de Kita à Osaka. Serait-il pertinent de prendre un hôtel dans le secteur de la gare d'Ueno pour notre arrivée depuis Montréal (moins de changement de trains, en plein décalage (17h Tokyo = 3h du matin MTL) avec des valises depuis Narita) et ensuite dans Shinjuku pour notre deuxième séjour à Tokyo ?
Je prévois également louer un pocket-Wifi pour la durée de notre séjour. Des idées de compagnie fiable et peu chère qu’on peut récupérer à Narita ?
Toutes suggestions sont les bienvenues et merci de vos réponses.
Pour l’instant, j’envisage de rester dans le quartier de Shinjuku à Tokyo et de Kita à Osaka. Serait-il pertinent de prendre un hôtel dans le secteur de la gare d'Ueno pour notre arrivée depuis Montréal (moins de changement de trains, en plein décalage (17h Tokyo = 3h du matin MTL) avec des valises depuis Narita) et ensuite dans Shinjuku pour notre deuxième séjour à Tokyo ?
Shinjuku peut se faire en direct depuis Narita avec le Narita Express ou un Limousine Bus si ton logement est près d'un hôtel desservi par ces navettes. Il ne faut de toute façon pas focaliser sur le trajet depuis l'aéroport, ce n'est pas déterminant sur la durée du séjour.
Perso, j'ai un faible pour Shibuya-Ebisu. Les hôtels de Shinjuku sont souvent dans la partie Ouest, peu animée, du quartier. Vérifie bien où est localisé ton hôtel si tu maintiens Shinjuku.
Je te suggère en tout cas d'essayer deux quartiers différents puisque tu passes deux fois par Tokyo.
Ne prévois pas à l'avance les excursions d'une journée depuis Tokyo, tu verras une fois sur place si tu as envie de t'échapper de la ville ou pas, et aussi en fonction de la météo (Kamakura sous la pluie, bonjour la déprime...). Ton séjour sur Tokyo est de toute façon assez court, si tu accroches à la ville, il est probable que tu cherches à en profiter un maximum une fois sur place.
Je te suggère aussi de passer au moins une nuit à Kyoto. Il ne faut pas croire que c'est un petit village à l'ancienne inanimé le soir, c'est une ville moderne qui compte 1,5 million d'habitants...
La dernière fois j'ai loué un wifi pocket avec Japan Rail-Pass via Vivre le Japon, 75 euros pour deux semaines (facile à récupérer, facile à rendre).
Sumo:
- site officiel pour les billets les billets partent très, très vite, il faut être sur le site dès l'ouverture de la vente.
- site de pré-vente, je n'ai personnellement pas (encore) essayé ...
Une journée pour Nara suffit pour visiter la plupart des sites d'intérêt, mais certainement pas pour Kyoto. Les sites d'intérêt y sont nombreux, il ne s'agit pas seulement de temples et de jardins, et la ville est très étendue ... zappez au moins Kobe et puisque vous aurez un railpass, prolongez votre séjour dans la région de 2 jours.
une carte PASMO ou Suica. Laquelle choisir ?
Bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet. Même prestations, mêmes zones de validité, les deux sont rechargeables dans les machines du métro comme dans celles des gares JR.
Serait-il pertinent de prendre un hôtel dans le secteur de la gare d'Ueno pour notre arrivée depuis Montréal (moins de changement de trains, en plein décalage (17h Tokyo = 3h du matin MTL) avec des valises depuis Narita) et ensuite dans Shinjuku pour notre deuxième séjour à Tokyo ?
Pas une mauvaise idée en effet : Ueno et Asakusa ont des liaisons directes avec Narita, plein d'hébergements d'un bon rapport qualité/prix et plein à visiter. Shinjuku (ou Shibuya ou Ikebukuro) pour votre 2ème partie de séjour vous permettrait de voir un aspect différent de la ville, tout en étant bien connecté au reste.
J'ai laissé Kujila et CalamityGin faire le gros du travail. 😉
Je te suggère aussi de passer au moins une nuit à Kyoto. Il ne faut pas croire que c'est un petit village à l'ancienne inanimé le soir, c'est une ville moderne qui compte 1,5 million d'habitants...
Je ne suis pas d'accord : je conseille plutôt de limiter les changements d'hébergement qui sont toujours chronophages.
La dernière fois j'ai loué un wifi pocket avec Japan Rail-Pass via Vivre le Japon, 75 euros pour deux semaines (facile à récupérer, facile à rendre).
La dernière fois, pour à peu près le même pris de revient, j'ai acheté à l'avance une carte SIM de Mobal qui avait l'avantage de me fournir un numéro de téléphone japonais, et j'ai utilisé le partage de connexion de mon téléphone pour utiliser mon ordinateur.
zappez au moins Kobe
J'ai mis trente ans à aller enfin à Kobe. J'ai aimé cette ville, mais je n'ai pas regretté pour autant d'avoir toujours eu d'autre priorités jusque là.
Je ne suis pas d'accord : je conseille plutôt de limiter les changements d'hébergement qui sont toujours chronophages.
Entre faire des allers-retours plusieurs fois entre Kyoto et Osaka et trouver un logement dans Kyoto, l'aspect chronophage est présent dans les deux cas. Mais je trouve quand même que l'ambiance d'une soirée à Kyoto vaut largement le coup d'y passer une nuit (je dirais même deux évidemment).
Merci pour les infos sur le sumo. Je sais que la date de mise en vente des billets pour le tournoi du mois de septembre à Tokyo est le 3 août à 20h (heure de MTL). Je me suis mis un rappel mais je doute d'arriver à en avoir. L'autre site a l'air de simplifier grandement les choses pour environ 15$ de plus. Ça me semble une bonne alternative surtout que les billets sont envoyés chez moi ou à mon hôtel. À suivre...
À la lecture des différentes réponses, je vais probablement zapper Kobe et prévoir deux jours à Kyoto, incluant une nuit (probablement au retour d'Osaka).
Pour moi, une seule nuit à Kyoto n'a pas vraiment d'intérêt.
J'y ai séjourné plusieurs nuits en novembre parce que je voulais pouvoir démarrer mes visites très tôt (période des couleurs d'automne).
Mais habituellement je loue à Osaka et je vais à Kyoto (ou ailleurs) à la journée. La durée du trajet est de 30 minutes et comme je séjourne toujours près de la gare "Osaka", j'ai tout le loisir de profiter d'une soirée à Kyoto avant de rentrer dormir, le dernier train étant vers minuit.
Cela dit, les soirées à Kyoto et à Osaka n'ont pas beaucoup de points communs...
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
Nous partons pour 18 jours dont 16 jours complets au Japon et comme il s'agit de notre toute toute première fois... on essaie de concocter un trajet mi-ville…
ça fais longtemps que je vous lis sur le forum et il est grand temps que je demande un peu de votre aide:) Je pars pour la 4 ème fois au Japon dans 2 mois (du…
Je prépare un voyage à Kyushu du 24/03 au 08/04 inclus. Voici une ébauche de mon itinéraire, j' aimerais avoir vos avis sur celui çi. Arrivée le 25/03 à…
J espère faire un voyage au japon en aout 2020 donc le temps de bien le préparer, voici l itineraire retenu vol paris /tokyo nuit à tokyo Shinkansen jusqu a…
J'organise un voyage au Japon sur 12 jours, mais la liste des lieux est, je pense, trop longue, et il va falloir faire des sacrifices, surtout que je comptais…
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
I booked my trip from May 5 to 26, 2027. I’m starting to plan my itinerary and look for hotels (I know it’s early!). While I’ve found some in Seoul and Busan, I’m noticing that elsewhere—like Yeosu—most hotels aren’t available (on Booking.com, for example, almost all are unavailable). AI tells me not to worry because hotels in South Korea only open bookings 6 months in advance, so it’s normal to see most of them unavailable on booking sites.
Could you confirm this for me and, of course, reassure me (!)? Thanks so much.
philippe
I’m looking for advice from seasoned travelers about a roughly one-month trip to Japan.
From late October to late November 2026.
We often travel in Southeast Asia but have never been to Japan.
Based on what I’ve read, I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
- Is traveling day-to-day, without booking hotels or trains in advance, possible in Japan?
(I’ve read many travel journals and blogs that say everything was booked way in advance… but that’s not how we usually travel.)
- Will the Japan Rail Pass be worth it for us?
(According to an old simulator, I’m looking at around 400 € for trains compared to 570 € for the JRP.)
Here’s our rough itinerary (which may change):
- Arrival Osaka: 3 nights with Nara
- Hiroshima and Miyajima Island: 3 nights
- Kurashiki or Naoshima: 2 nights
- Himeji: 1 night
- Kyoto: 4 nights
- Kanazawa: 2 nights
- Takayama and Shirakawa-go: 3 nights
- Around Mount Fuji: 3 nights
- Tokyo with Nikko: 6 nights (no theme parks)
Departure from Tokyo
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.
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.
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?
