Bonjour,
Nous avons réservé nos billets pour cet été et après avoir étudier un peu le forum, je me lance pour vous soumettre notre planning,
j'attends donc vos remarques, commentaires... !
Dim 14/7 : arrivée au Japon 14h50 par vol ANA, nuit à Tokyo
Lun 15/7 : départ pour kyoto ¨+ installation
Mard 16/07 : Kyoto
Merc 17/7 : Kyoto
Jeudi 18/07 : Kyoto
Vend 19/07 : Nara dans la journée mais nuit à Kyoto
Sam 20/07 : Kyoto
Dim 21/07 : ?
Lun 22/07: Hiroshima ou Miyajima
Mard 23/07 :Hiroshima ou Miyajima. On veut visiter les deux mais ne pas être embété avec les bagages, donc je pensais trouver un seul hotel dans l'une de ces villes...
Mercredi 24/7 :départ pour tokyo, quel quartier ? Ueno certainement,
J'aimerai aller faire une escapade au mont fuji, mais sur la journée, est-ce possible ?
Jeudi 25/07 jusqu'au 30/07, jour de notre départ.
Alors, il me reste quelques trous ...
qu'en pensez vous ?
Une autre question, comment faire avec le JR pass, car celui de 7 jours ne sera certainement pas possible ou alors il faut que je change mes dates,
et celui de 14j ne sera peut-être pas rentable ...
Un peu dommage de ne pas avoir pris un billet arrivant à Osaka et repartant de Tokyo ...
Entre le 15 et le 17, c'est la préparation finale pour le défilé des chars du Gion à Kyoto, il faut aller flâner dans les rues où sont assemblés les chars, surtout le soir, ambiance garantie et bonnes affaires la journée si vous êtes intéressés par tout ce qui est textile.
Le 21, grand marché aux puces au temple Toji (au sud de la gare), à ne pas manquer.
Vous pourriez visiter Hiroshima entre le 18 et le 20, en laissant vos bagages à votre hôtel à Kyoto (la plupart des hébergements acceptent de garder vos bagages si vous revenez chez eux).
Si vous en restez à votre plan de départ, envoyez vos bagages directement de Kyoto à votre prochain hôtel à Tokyo par le service de "Takkyubin", en ne gardant que le nécessaire pour 2-3 jours.
A Tokyo, Ueno/Asakusa est une zone pleine d'hébergements bon marché et de choses à voir/faire/acheter, bien connectée au reste de la ville et à l'aéroport, mais pas idéale si vous voulez "clubber" le soir car les transports urbains s'arrêtent vers minuit 1/2.
Faites vos calculs d'itinéraires sur www.hyperdia/com pour savoir si un JRpass de 7-14 jours ne serait pas rentable dans votre cas, sachant qu'il ne l'est pas particulièrement à l'intérieur de Tokyo ni de Kyoto (mais bien pratique pour les destinations proches de ces deux villes).
Une autre question, comment faire avec le JR pass, car celui de 7 jours ne sera certainement pas possible ou alors il faut que je change mes dates,
et celui de 14j ne sera peut-être pas rentable ...
Le JRP 7 jours est à peu près amorti avec le trajet Tokyo-Kyoto A/R et la différence entre le JRP 7 jours et le JRP 14 jours est plus que compensé par le trajet Kyoto-Hiroshima A/R.
En plus, cela te permettra d'aller à Nara, Fushimi-Inari ou Uji depuis Kyoto, et à Tokyo, de prendre la Yamanote pendant quelques jours ou d'aller à Kamakura, Yokohama ou Nikko...
En effet, il est dommage d'arriver à Narita et de filer directement à Kyoto sans profiter un peu de Tokyo... Ou dommage de ne pas prendre un vol Paris-Kyoto Tokyo-Paris.
Concernant les quartiers dans Tokyo, personnellement je ne trouve pas que Ueno déborde de charme, ni ne soit très bien situé...
rebonjour,
je n ai pas finalisé programme et le depart est prevu dans moinsde 2 mois
bon j ai qd meme reserve les hotels pour la premiere semaine mais apres je ne sais tjrs pas ou aller tellement tous les sites m interessent !
je refais donc appel a vos avis et competences !
samedi 13 : depart
dim 14 : arrivee tokyo
lundi 15 : depart kyoto pour 6 nuits (dont visite dede nara)
dimanche21 : depart pour miyajima + nuit
lundi 22 : hiroshima+ nuit
mardi 23 : c est la que ca se complique ! soit osaka avec mont koya (mais je connais vos avis sur ce site !) ou takamastu sur shikokuou rien et retiur direct sur tokyo ? en fait j aurais aime une viste de deuxjours qq part avant de rejoindre tokyo ....
mardi 30 : depart pour paris
je vous avoue que je suis un peu perdue , il faut pourtant que je me decideafin de reserver les hotels !
autre doute : sur le site hyperdia si je calcule j en ai pour 446 euros pour 2 pour les trajets doncjr passne vajt pas le coup pourtant j ai lu de nombreuses fois qu il etait rentabiliser facilement ....
Nous partons nous aussi le 11/07/13 pour 25 jours au Japon.
Tokyo du 12 au 22/07
Kyoto du 22/07 au 29/07
Hiroshima/Miyajima du 29/07 au 31/07
et retour à Tokyo du 31/07 au 06/08.
En calculant sur Hyperdia j'ai vue que nous payons 552e en prenant nous même nos billets donc 100 e de moins qu'avec le JRpass.
Sachant que nous faisont :
Tokyo--Kyoto
Kyoto--Nara
Kyoto--Osaka--Kyoto
Kyoto--Hiroshima--Kyoto
Hiroshima--Miyajima--Hiroshima
Hiroshima--Tokyo
De plus information importante le Nozomi n'est pas inclus dans le Jrpass alors que moi en calculant avec le Nozomi je paye moins cher et gagne du temps car je n'est pas d'escale pour le trajet d'Hiroshima à Tokyo ce qui n'est pas à négliger.
Pour le logement nous passons par le site Airbnb et nous sommes logé chez l'habitant à Tokyo et à Kyoto car nous voulions une immersion plus importante. Et au vue des prestations des gens qui vont nous recevoir le rapport qualité prix est plus intéressant que pour les hôtels.
( C'est le 4 eme voyage que nous faisons en passant par Airbnb et on à jamais été déçus )
Nous avons pris qu'un hôtel à Hiroshima pour 2 nuits.
Voilà un résumé qui j'espère pourra vous apporté un éclairage sur votre propre voyage.
merci pour vos reponses!
je vais approfondir mes recherches sur hyperdia car je ne suis pas super fortiche en anglais et j ai peut eyte pas compris toutes les subtilités mais j ai ne suis pas la seule !!!!!
kojack, tu n as pas souhaité ajouter une autre destination comme je l envisage ?
enfin sur ce sujet je suis tjrs dans l attente de vos idees car vraiment indecise !
En calculant sur Hyperdia j'ai vue que nous payons 552e en prenant nous même nos billets donc 100 e de moins qu'avec le JRpass.
Tokyo-Kyoto 13720 ¥
Kyoto-Hiroshima 11290 ¥
Hiroshima-Tokyo 18750 ¥
Soit 43760 ¥, donc 350 € par personne, sans compter tous les trajets annexes (Kyoto-Nara, Kyoto-Osaka, Hiroshima-Miyajima ou la Yamanote à Tokyo).
Or, un JR Pass 14 jours vous suffit, soit 330 €...
(et le ferry Hiroshima-Miyajima est gratuit 😇)
Nous partons aussi en juillet
Arrivé le 27 juillet à Tokyo pour le Sumidagawa Hanabi taikai
le 29 départ pour kusatsu en bus (spa resort liner http://www.spaliner.net/ ) pour une nuit et retour à Tokyo le 30 au soir
Nous restons à Tokyo jusqu'au 3 août (visite Ghibli, Odaiba.......)
4 août départ pour Kyoto nous avons choisi le seishun 18 Kippu (un seul billet pour nous 2) 11500 yen
c'est plus long mais, une bonne expérience déja fait en 2005).
Nous restons une semaine à Kyoto au Hana hostel kyoto en chambre avec douche.
départ pour Osaka le 11 aout pour 5 nuits au Hana hostel osaka dans un mini studio
12 - 13 visite de osaka
14 visite de nara retour Osaka le soir
15 visite de Kobe retour Osaka le soir
16 grosse journée train pour Narita
17 départ pour la France
Nous avons choisi le Seishun pour son prix c'est vrai que le revers c'est que l'on va avoir 2 grosses journées train
mais avec Hyperdia comme bible et la ponctualité des trains ^^
j'en ai un très bon souvenir des paysages japonais et des correspondances dans les petites gares...
Salut, je pars en mars/avril prochain pour le japon, avec ma femme et notre petit qui aura 15 mois. Nous cherchons aussi sur Airbnb pour tokyo et kyoto pour une duree de 5 jours chacun, nous partons 15 jours en tout. peux tu me donner des retours sur tes loc et sur les quartiers?
J'organise pour 7 personnes (dont 3 ados) une dizaine de jours au Japon (fin juillet) en utilisant, je pense, le Japan Rail Pass. J'aimerais un avis sur…
Voilà cela fait quelques années que je souhaite visité le japon, je dirais même que c'est mon rêve! Et après 5 ans de longue négociation avec mon conjoint il a…
Je vais pas faire surper original mais je pars pour 18 jours au japon au mois de juin. Voici l'itineraire (un classique?) Tokyo 4 jours Kanazaya 1 jour Kyoto 3…
Avec mon mari nous allons visiter le japon fin mars/début avril 2009 Nous partons 10 jours J’aurais voulu avoir vos conseils sur notre itinéraire prévu.…
Voici mon itinéraire (prévu) pour mon prochain séjour nippon. J'aurais voulu connaitre vos impressions... Y a t-il des endroits qui mériteraient plus de…
je demande vos avis de connaisseurs sur un voyage de env 1 mois au Japon.
De fin octobre à fin novembre 2026.
Nous voyageons souvent en Asie du Sud-Est mais avons jamais fait le Japon.
D'après mes diverses lectures j'aimerais bien que vous me dites si :
- voyager du jour au jour, sans avoir pris les hôtels, ni le train en avance...est possible au Japon.
(j'ai lu plein de carnets de voyage ou blogs qui indique que tout a été réservé longtemps en avance .. mais ce n'est pas notre façon de voyager habituellement).
- le Japan Rail Pass sera favorable pour nous ?
(d'après un simulateur (vieux ??) je suis à environ 400 euros de train par rapport à 570 pour JRP)
Voici notre circuit prévu en gros lignes (qui peuvent bouger) :
- Arrivée Osaka 3 nuits avec Nara
- Hiroshima et île de Miyajima 3 nuits
- Kurashiki ou Naoshima 2 nuits
- Himeji 1nuit
- Kyoto 4 nuits
- Kanazawa 2 nuits
- Takayama et Shirakawa go 3 nuits
- autour Mont Fudji 3 nuits
- Tokyo avec Nikko 6 nuits (sans aucun parc d'attraction)
départ Tokyo
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