Bonjour à toutes et à tous. Le but de ce message est d'avoir votre opinion sur l'itinéraire que j'ai préparé pour un voyage au Japon. Idéalement je ferais ce voyage au mois d'octobre-novembre 2009, la date n'est pas fixée encore, mais bon on a encore du temps pour ça.
J'ai lu beaucoup sur le forum, mais aussi sur des blogues et les sites concernant le tourisme au Japon et je me suis procuré le Lonely Planet Japan. Cependant, j'aimerais quand même avoir votre opinion sur mon trajet. D'après moi il est bien logique (avec certains questionnement voir écrit en rouge), mais bon vaut mieux vérifier avec des gens qui ont déjà été là. Voici donc ce que je pensais faire comme itinéraire.
Jour 1 : Arrivée Narita - TOKYO
Jour 2 : TOKYO
Jour 3 : TOKYO
Jour 4 : HAKONE - retour à TOKYO
Jour 5 : YOKOHAMA - retour à TOKYO
Jour 6 : NIKKO - retour à TOKYO
Jour 7 : KAMAKURA - retour à TOKYO
Jour 8 : TOKYO
Jour 9 : MATSUMOTO (1/2 journée après-midi) et TAKAYAMA (en bus)
Jour 10 : TAKAYAMA
Jour 11 : KYOTO
Jour 12 : KYOTO
Jour 13 : OSAKA - retour à KYOTO
Jour 14 : NARA - retour à KYOTO
Jour 15 : KYOTO
Jour 16 : HIMEJI (avant-midi pendant 3-4h) et HIROSHIMA
Jour 17 : MIYAJIMA et HIROSHIMA
Jour 18 : NAGOYA
Jour 19 : TSUMAGO et MAGOME
Jour 20 : TOKYO
Jour 21 : TOKYO+départ et retour à la réalité
J'ai quelques précisions à faire. Pour TOKYO, vous aurez constaté qu'on utilise comme base TOKYO et que l'on rayonne autour et on revient coucher à TOKYO. C'est aussi le cas pour KYOTO. Évidemment, il est possible d'interchanger des visites, par exemple aller à Hakone le jour 6 au lieu du jour 4.
De plus, le jour 18, il est possible que l'on passe une partie de la journée à HIROSHIMA si on aime bien la ville avant de se rendre à NAGOYA. Nous allons à NAGOYA comme lieu pour coucher pour ensuite quitter le lendemain, car le but est d'aller à Tsumago et Magome et de profiter de la journée toute entière en faisant la randonnée pédestre. Avec un itinéraire comme je l'ai fait, On y serait un jeudi, donc ça serait bien! Sinon, je ne crois pas que NAGOYA valent la peine d'y séjourner, du moins pour un premier voyage.
Finalement, j'ai mis des destinations en rouge, car je me questionne si cela vaut vraiment la peine d'y aller. Pour ce qui est de Hakone est-ce que ça vaut vraiment la peine d'aller là une journée, car je regarde ça et ça semble un peu compliqué s'y rendre, un peu cher et que souvent on ne peut pas voir le Mont Fuji ?? Devrais-je remplacer cette destination par une autre ? C'est un peu le même principe pour KAMAKURA, puisque l'on va assurément à NIKKO, est-ce que ça vaut aussi la peine d'aller à KAMAKURA ?
Pour MATSUMOTO, j'ai lu qu'il y avait un très beau château, donc on arrêterait là quelques temps (genre une après-midi), avant de repartir en bus vers TAKAYAMA. Ça vaut la peine?
Et puis la journée 20, j'ai mis TOKYO, mais il est peut-être possible d'aller visiter une autre ville qui serait située pas trop loin de NAGOYA ou de TOKYO, mais là je ne sais pas trop quoi faire ??
Merci d'avance pour votre aide et dites-moi ce que vous en pensez.😎
Etant donné que Matsumoto, Takayama et la vallée de Kiso sont dans la même région, je vous suggère de grouper ces visites, en partant de Tokyo (Shinjuku) vers Shiojiri, de là vers la vallée de Kiso, retour à Matsumoto, bus vers Takayama, puis départ vers Kyoto. Ca vous fait un retour direct de Hiroshima vers Tokyo le 20 au soir.
Je vous conseille aussi de faire envoyer vos bagages encombrants directement de Tokyo à votre hôtel à Kyoto, puis vers l'aéroport depuis Hiroshima 1 ou 2 jours avant votre départ (demandez à votre hôtel le service de "takkyubin", tout le monde connaît au Japon), en ne gardant que le nécessaire pour quelques jours, ce qui vous laisserait libres de faire de derniers - menus de préférence - achats à Tokyo avant votre départ.
Bonjour.
Moi aussi je vais faire un voyage de 3 semaines au Japon, par contre mes dates sont fixes deja...
Donc je serai moi aussi interesse de voir les avis qui seront postes sur ce post...
Voila mon itineraire en gros, pour le mois d'Octobre 2008:
Dim.5 - Arrivee a Kansai International Airport
5->8 - Acclimatation pour le jet Lag, visite de Kyoto
9 - Visite de Osaka, retour a Kyoto
10 - Visite de Nara, retour a Kyoto
11 - Visite du Chateau de Himeji, retour a Kyoto
Dim.12 - Dernier Jour a Kyoto, depart vers Hakone
13 - Rester 1 jour entier a Hakone, profiter des Onsen, rester dans un vrai Ryokan pour l'experience
14 - Depart vers Kamakura, visiter et y dormir
15 - Depart vers Nikko, y rester pour la nuit
16 - Depart vers Tokyo.
17 - Festival a Kawagoe, avec "Bataille de chars" a voir.
18->25 - une semaine a Tokyo..., au programme: visite d'un quartier par jour, Ghibli Museum, Ueno, match de sumo, si possible participer a un cours de Kendo, et evidement magasins ( a faire en fin de voyage pour eviter de tout trimbaler;-) )...
26 - Depart de Narita Airport.
Comme vous pouvez le constater, j'ai un plan un peu plus "sedentaire": j'y vais avec ma femme et bien que nous aimons voir le plus de pays possible, on se dit que Kyoto et Tokyo necessitent bien une semaine chacun... Si vous avez des plans pour visiter dans les alentours, ou pensez que c'est trop... Merci de me le faire savoir... L'itineraire n'est pas encore fixe, a part les bilelts d'avions qui sont deja pris.
Pour me faire pardonner d'avoir en quelque sorte "piraté" ce post, je donne des tips: pas necessaire d'arriver et partir par le meme aeroport: mon billet me revient meme moins cher avec cette option arrivee a Osaka et depart de Tokyo, et nous economisons surtout un voyage sur le shinkansen... a partir de Kyoto, regrouper les aller-retour vers d'autres ville et prendre un JR pass 3 ou 4 jours pour la zone du Kansai seulement, c'est tres interessant financierement. Vu que vous bougez plus, un JR pass pour tout le Japon peut devenir interessant dans votre cas, mais il faudrait regrouper les deplacements sur 2 semaines, je suppose que vous le savez deja, mais au cas ou, notez que le JR pass national n'est disponible qu'en dehors du Japon Verifier le calendrier des festivals (http://www.japonfestivals.com/), ca serait dommage d'arriver dans une ville pour se rendre compte qu'on a rate le festival qui a eu lieu la veille... Pour le Ghibli museum, il vaut mieux prendre ses billets a l'avance par une agence agree, puisqu'ils ont des quotas pour les etrangers... Mais ca, c'est evidement si vous etes interesses par les animes... pour finir, vu que j'y vais cette annee, j'essaierai de tenir un blog du meme genre que celui-ci : http://kyoto-tokyo-2008.blogspot.com/, et je ne manquerai pas de poster mes avis sur les differentes villes.
Voila, merci beaucoup.
Merci bien pour les conseils, je vais certainement vérifier pour les Takkyubin, même si je compte voyager avec un sac à dos, ça peut être fort utile. Pour ce qui est de condenser la vallée du Kiso avec Takayama et Matsumoto c'est plutôt intéressant comme suggestion. Je pourrais donc remplacer une nuit à Nagoya, par une nuit à Matsumoto. Je vais regarder ça plus attentivement.
C'est plutôt dense mais il est toujours temps de changer d'avis une fois sur place. Pour Hakone, une journée, c'est peu mais il est clair qu'il vaut mieux annuler le déplacement si la météo n'est pas bonne. Par contre, si le ciel est relativement dégagé, non seulement vous pourrez voir le Mont Fuji mais surtout la vallée volcanique d'Owakudani. Le voyage en téléphérique est de toute beauté (j'ai dû vaincre ma peur) et l'arrêt près des sources chaudes très agréable + une belle vue sur le seigneur Fuji!
Attention, Hakone couvre toute un district, le téléphérique peut se prendre à Togendai ou à Gora, qu'on atteint en train depuis la gare de Hakone Yumoto.
Voici min itineraire final. Merci de me dire ce que vous en pensez: Date Trajet/Endroit Hotel 02-May Bruxelles - Osaka 03-May Arrivee Osaka le matin Carpe Diem…
Ma meilleure amie et moi partons en mai/juin 2009 pour 20 jours au Japon... Nous aimerions avoir vos avis sur notre itinéraire + budget... Jour 1: Arrivée à…
Après avoir malheureusement annulé mon voyage de 6 semaines en mars 2011 (Fukushima...:/)... Mon père (67ans) a décidé de partir 1 mois cette année, d'abord…
J’ai listé sur ce même post beaucoup de questions sur différents sujets qui me trottent dans la tête. Votre expérience, vos idées, vos conseils et suggestions…
Nous partons mercredi 1 oct au japon. (oui, oui...nous partons un peu à l'arraché..donc pas trop de temps pour s'organiser. Nous connaissons déjà Tokyo pour y…
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).
Bonjour
Je souhaite faire ce circuit vélo sur 2 ou 3 jours. J'ai du mal à comprendre et trouver le loueur de (bon) vélo qui me permet de démarrer à Onomichi et le laisser à Imabari. Quelqu'un peut m'aider pour les bons plans location et hébergements sur le circuit? Retour en transport à Onomichi...?
We’re flying to China in a few days for a four-week trip—our first time in this fascinating country! 🇨🇳
We’ll be sharing our adventure live on our travel journal, with photos and daily updates. Our itinerary, though classic, will let us discover the wonders of this vast country:
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
---
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.
---
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.
---
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!
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
I’ll be in Hong Kong from December 31 to January 3, 2027.
Any recommendations for things to see or do?
I’ll be staying in the Kowloon district.
I’d love to visit Lantau Island—what’s the best way to get there? And would you recommend buying a skip-the-line ticket for the cable car? Also, is there an entry fee for the Big Buddha?
I’m heading to Taiwan soon and would love some up-to-date info on Wi-Fi.
From what I’ve gathered, Taiwan offers it for free, but I’ve heard it’s not secure since it’s not protected by a "password." Since I’ve been traveling outside the EU for years without a local SIM card, I only use Wi-Fi in hotels, restaurants, and cafés. For me, that’s more than enough. So, my question is: Do these places secure their Wi-Fi with a "password"? If not, does buying a SIM card or eSIM seem like the only alternative?
Also, if any of you have recommendations for budget-friendly hotels in the main "cities," I’d love to hear them!
We’re planning a trip to China for two at the beginning of April and want to spend 2 nights in the Longji Rice Terraces—either in Dazhai, Tiantouzhaï, or Ping'an. I’ve seen that most of the hotels are made of bamboo, and you can hear every little noise. Since my husband is a very light sleeper, he’d really like to be sure he’ll get a good night’s rest. Can you recommend any quiet, well-soundproofed hotels in the area?
I’m reaching out to you because I’m planning our next big trip (Japan is really tempting us for the autumn!) and I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.
My husband and I have always loved traveling, and at 75, we have no intention of stopping... But I find that everything’s getting so complicated. I try to be "modern" by booking online, but as soon as there’s a problem, we hit a wall.
A friend nearly missed her departure last year because of a visa issue that wasn’t explained properly on a website... and no one to call for help, just automated messages.
It makes me a little nervous to be alone in front of a screen so far away, especially since at our age, we like knowing there’s real support if our health takes a turn while we’re there.
Anyway, I’m tired of seeing my file passed from one person to another without ever having the same contact... Do you know of any small, trustworthy agencies or people who still work the "old-fashioned" way and really look after their clients? I love my independence, but I need a real face behind my project.
Thanks in advance for your advice, and I look forward to reading your replies,
Catherine
I’m planning our trip to Japan from March 21 to April 11, 2026. We’re planning to travel by plane for long distances (Okinawa) and by train for the rest. I’d like to know if renting a car is easy and, most importantly, if driving with road signs written in Japanese isn’t too complicated. For trains, are there any tips to save money?
hi everyone, and first of all, I wish you all a happy new year and good health!
This coming October or November, we’re planning our first trip to Japan. The only downside is we’ll only have two weeks off.
For this first visit, I’m thinking of sticking to the Kyoto and Osaka area… saving Tokyo for another trip. Do you think that’s a good choice for a first-time visit?
I’ve put together a little itinerary below to get some feedback from those in the know. I’m only counting the days we’re actually there, not travel days.
Day 1: Kyoto
Ginkaku-ji – Philosopher’s Path with stops at a few shrines
temples Eikan-dō and Nanzen-ji
visit to the Samurai Ninja Museum in the late afternoon
Day 2: Kyoto
Fushimi Inari (allow 4 hours for the hike through the park)
visit to Sanjūsangen-dō temple
Shōseien garden
participate in a tea ceremony
Day 3: Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera temple
stroll through the historic district up to Kennin-ji temple
visit Kennin-ji temple
Yasaka-jinja shrine and Gion district in the late afternoon
return to the hotel via Pontochō Street
Day 4: Kyoto
visit Kinkaku-ji and Nijō Castle
visit the Imperial Palace gardens
end the day in the shopping streets (Shibkyogoku and Teramachi, among others)
Day 5: Kyoto
Arashiyama area
Togetsukyo Bridge, walk along the river, visit the Bamboo Forest
explore the area up to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple
Day 6: Kyoto
hike from Kibune to Kurama
Day 7: Kyoto
day trip to Nara (full day)
Day 8:
stroll around Kyoto before heading to Osaka
Day 9: Osaka
Katsuo-ji temple, then head to Minoh Falls and hike back via the Minoh Trail
end the day in the Osaka Castle area
Day 10: Osaka
Himeji Castle and an afternoon in Osaka
Day 11: Osaka
Osaka and return to the airport in the late afternoon for the flight home
Do you think this itinerary is doable? Are some days too relaxed or too packed?
I was thinking of adding a trip to Lake Biwa and Uji, but in that case, I’d have to cut some things. Are those places worth dropping some of the planned spots? And if so, which ones would you recommend cutting or shortening?
Thanks in advance—I’m all ears for both positive and negative feedback!
stephane
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Japan in April/May.
I’ll start my journey in Tokyo for 3 to 4 days.
I’d love your advice on accommodation, transportation, an itinerary, and whether a guide would be useful.
I’m traveling solo and could use a little reassurance.
Before I forget... how do payments work?
Hi there,
I’m looking for someone who could help me organize a trip to Japan for my niece and her son. I’ve seen that French-speaking guides are expensive, and the same goes for going through a tour operator.
Airline, local transportation, hotels, etc.
Thanks for your replies!
Betsyl
