Je viens d'élaborer un programme de visites sur 5 jours à Tokyo.
Ma priorité est de voir les cerisiers en fleurs. Je sais que Tokyo est très moderne mais les gratte-ciels c'est vraiment à petites doses pour moi. Mais j'aime bien l'animation des grandes villes quand même.
Ensuite, je ne veux pas speeder, je veux goûter, prendre le temps mais c'est difficile de se représenter une journée sans connaître Tokyo.
PROGRAMME TOKYO 5 jours
JOUR 1 : dimanche 27 mars 2016
MATIN : ASAKUSA (quartier ancien Shitamachi et quartier moderne)
- La Tour Tokyo Sky Tree (monter au 8ème étage, gratuit)
- Temple Senso-ji, (plutôt en semaine car très fréquenté)
- Asakusa-jinja , sanctuaire shinto
- Sumida Koen (cerisiers en fleurs), balade à pied le long de la rivière
- Balade à pied (LP page 157)
Balade en bateau sur la Sumida , embarcadère Tokyo cruise
- Manger au Daikokuya des tempura à l’ancienne
APRES-MIDI : UENO
- Parc Ueno koen (cerisiers en fleurs)
- Musée national de Tokyo (2 heures) ou baignade au Rokuryu Kosen
JOUR 2 : lundi 28 mars 2016
MATIN : KORAKUEN
Jardin botanique Koishishawa Korakuen
Temple Tokyo Dai-jingu
Sanctuaire Yasukuni-jinja
Onsen Spa Laqua 2634 yen/21 euros
APRES-MIDI : SHIBUYA (marée humaine, le cœur de la jeunesse tokyoïte)
Shibuya crossing, le chien Hachiko,
Purikura no mecca, musée (1 salle) d47 museum
- Manger au restaurant du musée d47
JOUR 3 : mardi 29 mars 2016
MATIN : SHINKUJU
- Gare de Shinkuju
- Monter à 200 m au siège du gouvernement métropolitain
- Parc Shinkuju-gyoen, cerisiers en fleurs, 200 yens ; Ferme à 16h30
APRES-MIDI : HARAJUKU et AOYAMA
- Meiji jingu, le plus célèbre sanctuaire shinto de Tokyo
- Parc Yoyogi-koen, cerisiers en fleurs mais peu de cerisiers ?????
JOUR 4 : mercredi 30 mars 2016
MATIN : Ginza et le marché de Tsukiji
Le marché de Tsukiji (5h-13h)
Le parc Hama-rikyu Onshi-teien, cerisiers en fleurs ?
APRES-MIDI : Palais impérial et Manurachi
Balade LP page 159
Parc Palais Impérial, cerisiers en fleurs ?
Parc Chidorigafuchi, cerisiers en fleurs (introuvable sur la carte)
Musée arts modernes MOMAT
JOUR 5 : jeudi 31 mars 2016
Voir ce qui n’a pas pu être fait ou bien autre chose ????
Départ de nuit pour KYOTO
Je vais faire quelques petits commentaires, je pense que tu as globalement fais tes recherches et c'est pas trop mal.
JOUR 1 : dimanche 27 mars 2016
MATIN : ASAKUSA (quartier ancien Shitamachi et quartier moderne)
- La Tour Tokyo Sky Tree (monter au 8ème étage, gratuit)
- Temple Senso-ji, (plutôt en semaine car très fréquenté)
- Asakusa-jinja , sanctuaire shinto
- Sumida Koen (cerisiers en fleurs), balade à pied le long de la rivière
- Balade à pied (LP page 157)
Je n'ai pas le LP et ne peux pas commenter sur la balade. L'interet de monter au 8e etage de la sky tree est a mon avis tres limite. Soit tu montes en haut, soit tu n'y vas pas et tu vois de l'exterieur. Ca fait deja une bonne matinee....
Balade en bateau sur la Sumida , embarcadère Tokyo cruise
Pour faire une boucle ou aller quelque part ? (ca aussi le matin = beaucoup me semble-t-il)
- Manger au Daikokuya des tempura à l’ancienne
APRES-MIDI : UENO
- Parc Ueno koen (cerisiers en fleurs)
- Musée national de Tokyo (2 heures) ou baignade au Rokuryu Kosen
OK, plus raisonnable pour une demie-journee.
JOUR 2 : lundi 28 mars 2016
MATIN : KORAKUEN
Jardin botanique Koishishawa Korakuen
Temple Tokyo Dai-jingu
Sanctuaire Yasukuni-jinja
Onsen Spa Laqua 2634 yen/21 euros
Tu peux aller a Laqua si tu veux mais pour alleger un peu je te propose de zapper, c'est juste derriere Korakuen et c'est un peu dommage de *commencer* la journee par un onsen. Tu pourras y retourner en soiree.
Je vais combiner avec quelque chose que tu mentionnes plus loin. Je te propose :
- Korakuen
- descendre sur Tokyo Daijingu (un sanctuaire, pas un temple btw)
- Yasukuni, et aussi le long de l'avenue Yasukuni Dori (juste au sud le long du sanctuaire), blindee de cerisiers pour le coup.
- Chidorigafuchi (un des haut lieux de Tokyo pour les cerisiers) que tu mentionnes plus bas est juste a cote, juste au sud-est de l'enceinte de Yasukuni. Regarde sur une carte (google maps fera l'affaire), Chidorigafuchi est le long des douves en face du parc Kitanomaru-koen.
Tu descends Chidorigafuchi jusqu'a Hanzomon et tu pourras prendre le metro direct jusqu'a Shibuya.
Ca prendra une bonne grosse matinee bien chargee tout ca, voire un peu plus, mais Shibuya ce n'est pas excessivement time-consuming, pas grave, tu peux "deborder".
APRES-MIDI : SHIBUYA (marée humaine, le cœur de la jeunesse tokyoïte)
Shibuya crossing, le chien Hachiko,
Purikura no mecca, musée (1 salle) d47 museum
- Manger au restaurant du musée d47
JOUR 3 : mardi 29 mars 2016
MATIN : SHINKUJU
- Gare de Shinkuju
- Monter à 200 m au siège du gouvernement métropolitain
- Parc Shinkuju-gyoen, cerisiers en fleurs, 200 yens ; Ferme à 16h30
APRES-MIDI : HARAJUKU et AOYAMA
- Meiji jingu, le plus célèbre sanctuaire shinto de Tokyo
- Parc Yoyogi-koen, cerisiers en fleurs mais peu de cerisiers ?????
OK, oui Yoyogi n'est pas vraiment connu pour ses cerisiers.
JOUR 4 : mercredi 30 mars 2016
MATIN : Ginza et le marché de Tsukiji
Le marché de Tsukiji (5h-13h)
Le parc Hama-rikyu Onshi-teien, cerisiers en fleurs ?
Perso je prefere Hamarikyu a Korakuen. Si tu aimes les jardins, Rikugien vaut aussi le coup (mais plus loin)
APRES-MIDI : Palais impérial et Manurachi
Balade LP page 159
Parc Palais Impérial, cerisiers en fleurs ?
Parc Chidorigafuchi, cerisiers en fleurs (introuvable sur la carte)
Musée arts modernes MOMAT
Je n'ai pas le LP et ne peux pas commenter en profondeur. J'imagine vu que tu parles du Momat et des jardins externes du palais que c'est le coin nord-est. Le Momat.... mouaif.... Si tu aimes les jardins, vas plutot au Rikugien ou Kiyosumi-Teien...
J'ai beaucoup les renovations faites a Marunouchi, devenu un quartier tres agreable le long de la Nakadori, la gare de Tokyo est superbe
Merci beaucoup, Tensaibuta, d'avoir pris le temps de me répondre !
J'ai bien noté tes suggestions et tes commentaires.
Concernant la Balade en bateau sur la Sumida, c'est juste que le LP dit que c'est encore mieux de voir les cerisiers sur le bateau. Et après, au retour, je peux revenir à pied!
Côté taux de fréquentation des visiteurs le dimanche, tu commencerais aussi par ASAKUSA ?
Personnellement, je ne vois pas l'intérêt de programmer quasiment à l'heure près la découverte de Tokyo. Liste quelques quartiers que tu juges incontournables pour toi mais n'élabore pas un programme que tu ne pourras pas tenir le moment venu pour de nombreuses raisons : mauvaise évaluation des distances, météo empêchant certaines étapes, lieux te prenant davantage de temps que prévu et surtout, découverte de lieux que tu n'avais pas listés.
Evite par exemple d'avoir le réflexe métro pour aller d'un quartier à l'autre, la découverte du "vrai" Tokyo, c'est aussi d'emprunter les petites rues des tokyoïtes...
Un, je voyage seule et donc je suis seule à déterminer où j'aimerais aller. Comme cela, le soir, au lieu de me poser la question de la journée suivante, de savoir ce que je vais faire, je peux me reposer ou - surtout - rencontrer d'autres voyageurs pour discuter, ce qui me semble plus agréable.
Deux, je prépare toujours mes voyages comme cela et cela ne me contraint en rien; il y a plein d'aléas dans un voyage qui font que telle ou telle chose ne sera pas faite et ça m'est égal, mon leit motiv étant de prendre mon temps et de goûter. Et puis, rien ne m'empêche de revenir.
Tu demandes "des critiques" sur ton programme et, finalement, tu n'en veux pas. Tu sais, si tu ne veux pas de conseils, ce n'est pas forcément la peine de venir lancer ce genre de discussion alors...
Je t'ai répondu en fonction de ce que je connais de la manière de découvrir Tokyo.
JOUR 1 : dimanche 27 mars 2016
MATIN : ASAKUSA (quartier ancien Shitamachi et quartier moderne)
- La Tour Tokyo Sky Tree (monter au 8ème étage, gratuit)
- Temple Senso-ji, (plutôt en semaine car très fréquenté)
- Asakusa-jinja , sanctuaire shinto
- Sumida Koen (cerisiers en fleurs), balade à pied le long de la rivière
- Balade à pied (LP page 157)
Balade en bateau sur la Sumida , embarcadère Tokyo cruise
- Manger au Daikokuya des tempura à l’ancienne
APRES-MIDI : UENO
- Parc Ueno koen (cerisiers en fleurs)
- Musée national de Tokyo (2 heures) ou baignade au Rokuryu Kosen
Vous allez sacrément courir et ne faire que survoler les divers points d'intérêt ... Le quartier d'Asakusa est vaste, comporte plusieurs parties outre les abords du temple (et du jinja, qui est dans son enceinte) et si vous vous intéressez à son aspect traditionnel il vous faudra flâner dans les petites rues.
Premier conseil, louez un vélo pour la journée: http://www.tokyobybike.com/2015/01/where-can-i-rent-bicycle-in-tokyo.html, ce qui vous permettra de sillonner efficacement toute cette zone, des deux rives de la Sumida à Ueno, Akihabara et jusqu'à Kitanomaru koen (près du Budokan, au dos du palais impérial, les cerisiers sont spectaculaires), dont les abords de la Skytree et le parc le long de la Sumida.
Second conseil, commencez la visite par l'office du tourisme et la documentation détaillée sur le quartier.
Troisième conseil, allégez votre programme, pensez aux distances, temps de trajet et de visite ...
JOUR 4 : mercredi 30 mars 2016
MATIN : Ginza et le marché de Tsukiji
Le marché de Tsukiji (5h-13h)
Le parc Hama-rikyu Onshi-teien, cerisiers en fleurs ?
Faites-vous plaisir et rendez-vous au Hama-rikyu en bateau au départ d'Asakusa ou de Hinode-Pier. Ca donne une vue de la ville et une arrivée au parc différentes.
Quant au marché de Tsukiji, attention aux conditions de visite tôt dans la journée, puis après aux hordes de touristes (chinois entre autres) qui en rendent l'accès de plus en plus restreint et difficile (et l'accueil de plus en plus froid).
Plus généralement, examinez bien les plans de Tokyo et considérez-là par zones et planifiez en fonction de la rationalité et des temps de transports entre celles-ci.
Bonjour Odile.
J'ai lu ton planning avec intérêt et j'ai deux remarques à formuler (à prendre de manière constructives, bien sur).
Premièrement, je trouve que certaines journées son vraiment très chargées. Tu auras du mal à réaliser un tel programme en mode "no stress".
Ensuite, tu dis avoir comme objectif de centrer tes visites à Tokyo sur les visions de sakura et... ce n'est pas vraiment le cas.
Je te conseille de reconsidérer l'ensemble en sélectionnant les meilleurs endroits ou on peut observer les fleurs... et ensuite de visiter ce qui est intéressant aux alentours, si tu as le temps.
Par exemple en suivant les indications de ce site.
Au moins tu auras vu ce que tu es venue chercher.
Bon séjour à Tokyo!
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
Concernant la Balade en bateau sur la Sumida, c'est juste que le LP dit que c'est encore mieux de voir les cerisiers sur le bateau. Et après, au retour, je peux revenir à pied!
Je ne sais pas ce qui est indiqué dans le LP. Il y a des boucles, mais aussi des trajets en sens unique, et même un seul arrêt du bateau tu te retrouverais assez loin, et une boucle il y en a pour plusieurs heures.
Côté taux de fréquentation des visiteurs le dimanche, tu commencerais aussi par ASAKUSA ?
De toutes façons, Asakusa sera blindé, dimanche ou pas, beaucoup de touristes (beaucoup de Chinois)
Partons en couple3semaines au japon en novembre nous souhaitons tokyo kyoto hiroshima et ile myashima auriez vous un bel itinéraire à partager merci beaucoup…
Ca sera mon 6ème voyage au Japon, je ne recherche pas la visite touristique, cette fois j'y vais 3 mois pour le travail, je serai basé dans les environs de…
Formalités administratives › Japon / Corée du Sud · 30 replies
Je suis déjà allé au Japon une fois, c'était un vol British Airways avec escale à Londres et il y avait 99% de japonais à bord.. J'ai déclaré de moi-même…
J'ouvre ce top afin de réunir vos meilleures adresses culinaires au Japon. Merci d'expliquer pourquoi vous aimez tant le lieu et la spécialité. A défaut de ne…
Bon apres des débats et des imprévus, nous partirons finalement dans le honshu central. Pas d'itineraire particulier, nous partons 15 jours, je pense passer à…
De retour d’un voyage d’un mois en Chine, nous vous proposons notre itinéraire. Cela pourra peut être donner une idée aux futurs voyageurs qui souhaitent découvrir ce beau pays.
Beijing → Temple du Ciel / Cité interdite
Jinshanling → Grande Muraille
Zhangjiajie → montagne Tianmen et la porte du Ciel
Wulingyuan → montagnes Avatar / pics rocheux
Fenghuang → maisons au bord de la rivière
Ping’an → rizières en terrasses
Tiantouzhai → village / rizières
Yangshuo → rivière Li / montagnes karstiques
Shanghai → skyline avec la Perle de l’Orient
Notre récit est à découvrir sur notre CARNET DE VOYAGE écrit au jour le jour. On peut y trouver de nombreuses photos ainsi que quelques informations de voyage.
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
---
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?
