Coucou, j'ai 18 ans, je vais faire un voyage au japon pendant une dizaine de jours du 27 aout au 10 septembre (les dates peuvent changer selon les dates de disponibilitée d'avion, mais ca reste dans les environs). mon programme est de rester sur Tokyo, et evantuellement descendre vers le sud (mont Fuji Hama). je pensait partir seulle mais je pense que partir avec quelqu'unégalement passionné(e) peut être interessant.
j'adore le Japon depuis quelques année et j'apprends la langue depuis un ans à peu près.
Moa aussi veux partir au japon. Pas tout de suite mais l'année prochaine je pense. J'ai 19 ans. Je voudrai simplement que tu me donne tes impressions au retour de ton séjour.
Si tu peux m'avoir un contact mail la bas ce serai la fete.
Voila, ta bien de la chance de pouvoir partir.
Tien moa au courant
Merci
@+
je connais deja des personnes au Japon ! si tu veux, je peux leur demander si vous pouvez prendre contact.
tu sais deja quelle partie du Japon tu aimerais visiter? et pourquoi au japon?: une destination au pif ou un pays qui tu passione?
Moi aussi je suis attiré par ce pays que je trouve un peu hors du commun, sais-tu dès ton retour faire pars de tes impressions sur ce pays, car j'envisage un voyage là-bas courant 2004, donc tout les renseignements et expériences sont les bienvenus.
Si tu veux mes impressions sur ce pays, j'y suis allée en 1998. Enfin j'ai eu la chance de vivre pendant un an sous le meme toit avec une japonaise, lorsque nous etions etudiantes a l'etranger. En repartant elle m'a invité a lui rendre visite la-bas... ce que j'ai fait sans hésiter!
Je suis allée d'abord 2 semaines a Chiba (pres de Tokyo) dont un séjour un Kyoto, puis je suis remonté au Nord pour voir une seconde amie a Utsunomiya et les environs.
J'ai bien entendu eu la chance de la connaitre avant de partir, en Europe. Il est tres important de connaitre leur culture avant d'arriver sur place: leurs habitudes, les choses a ne pas faire etc... de facon a ne pas faire de gaffe... bref des choses toutes betes comme, retirer ses chaussures avant d'entrer, comment s'assoir, ne pas faire de bises ou se serrer la main (comme le ferai n'importe quel latin), ne jamais etre trop direct dans ses affirmations (pas de critiques), rester très respectueux, faire preuve de curiosité, ne pas refuser de gouter a tout (ils le font volontiers en France, car ils sont tres curieux, ils apprécieraient d'autant plus ton geste si tu en fais de meme), ils sont egalement très a cheval sur l'hygiène (voire maladif !), ils prennent le temps de vivre, de manger (ils sont assez lents), ils ont preuve de civisme (ne pas griller une personne dans une file d'attente ou meme pour monter dans un train! sinon on est vraiment mal vu!). Enfin des choses basics quoi!
Sur place, on est sur une autre planete, toutes les choses high tech, tu ne les verras en Europe avant 2 ans, c est la folie!
Etant donné le manque de superficie par rapport a la population, tout est calculé au milimetre, les parkings sont en hauteur, les stations essences sont assez particulieres (je te laisse le soin de decouvrir!), meme les toilettes sont differentes de l'europe! C'est vraiment une autre planète!
C'est un peu hard, dans le sens ou ils ne parlent pas l'anglais (contrairement a certains pays du sud-est asiatique). La bas tout en JAPONAIS, et comme tout est automatisé c'est galère: par exemple lorsque tu achetes un ticket de métro, bah la machine te réponds en japonais !! C'est pas la fin du monde, mais s'il s'agit de ton tout premier voyage, tu n'as pas choisi le pays le plus simple.
Heureusement que j'avais ma japonaise, qui m'a ete d'une grande aide.
Si tu as vraiment la possibilité, va chez l'habitant, je te jure que c'est une super expérience .
En plus; ils adorent la France, on a la cote: ceux sont des fadas de la mode et du luxe francais etc.
Dernier conseil, emmène dans ta valise pleins de petits cadeaux typiquement francais du type chocolats, parfums MADE IN FRANCE surtout: tu pourras les offrir aux gens dont tu feras la connaissance sur place, ils apprécieront!!! (ca se fait bcp de se faire des Kdos la bas)
N'oublies pas de bien cibler la moment ou tu decouvriras ce pays; juin est a eviter (typhoon et pluie) par contre soit avril (au moment ou les cerisiers sont en fleurs, c'est indescriptible) ou encore en novembre (lorsque les feuilles des arbres deviennent rouges vifs, c'est tres impressionnant), un bon nombre de photographes viennent pdt ces périodes.
Attention, coté budget pour le sejour, tu risques de l'exposer !! Le Japon reste le pays le plus cher au monde! renseignes toi bien. Et pour le retour, si tu as un surplus de kilos à l'aeroport, c'est tres difficile de négocier (a moins de payer une petite fortune)
Enfin ce pays de tradition et de modernité est vraiment déroutant... Ce fut pour une super expérience, que je renouvellerai surement
Voilà, bon séjour et ramène nous tes impressions !
Le Japon ne m'attire tjs pas mais j, ai lu ton récit jusqu'au bout et laisse moi te féliciter pour la description que tui fais de ce pays....
Tu passes facilement du général au particulier et inversément et en fait, tout y est, ou presque....
Tu y évoques également ce qui me rebute le plus c.a.d. le barrage de la langue....
J'ai la chance d'évoluer aisément dans 3 des langues les + populaires au monde (français, espagnol et anglais) mais cela n'est pas encore suffisant....sniff...et trop tard maintenant pour en apprendre d'autres.
Fervente admiratrice de ce pays j'aimerais y partir le plus tôt possible genre octobre ou novembre (je supporte plus de rester ici, j'ai besoin d'air !!!) et y rester au moins un mois.
Le seul problème c'est que j'aurai bien aimé partir avec quelqu'un, (c'est toujours plus sympa de partager) ou au moins connaître quelqu'un là-bas, sur place, ça peut toujours aider et c'est super sympa de pouvoir faire des échanges.
Je parle un peu japonais et tès bien anglais donc si ça motive quelqu'un ou s'il y a une personne avec des contacts là-bas près à les partager, n'hésitez pas !
Ps: très sympa ta description Aixx, ça me donne encore plus l'envie d'y aller, moi la barrière de la langue, je ferais tt pour qu'elle disparaisse !
Je pars a la fin de la semaine (le 4octobre) et je reste un mois a tokyo. Je suis tres interessé par ta proposition. A tokyo tu peux louer une chambre avec cuisine commune pendant un mois pour a peu pres 35000yens par personne (les chambres sont pour deux). Par contre si t'es seul, pour ce prix là (a peu pres 2000Fr) tu n'as qu'un lit dans un dortoir. Alors voila ce que je te propose, si tu es libre de partir et que tu me contactes rapidement, je me demerde pour te trouver un billet pas chere (environ 5000Fr)... et zou on est parti.
PS : je te rassure, preparer ce genre de voyages en 4jours c parfaitement faisable. N'aie surtout pas peur de ne pas avoir le temps.
ta proposition m'interresse enormement le seul probleme c que moi je ne peux pas partir à la fin de cette semaine mais plutot mi-semaine prochaine. Peux être que je pourrais te rejoindre qu'en penses-tu ?
sinon peux tu me donner un peu plus de détails (billets d'avion et logements, .... stp). Par ce que j'ai super envie de partir mais que je ne suis pas tres riche !!!😉
Je ne peux plus changer mon billet malheureusement. MAis je vais quand meme t'expliquer le principe et te donner mes tuyaux.
Au Japon il y a les guesthouse, reservé au etranger. Ils te proposent en générale trois truc
une chambre double avec salle de bain. La cuisine est commune. (55000 yens par personnes)
un lit dans un dortoir (35000 yens)
et carrement un appart... mais là c meme plus la peine de donner le prix.
Au fait 10000yens ca fait a peu pres 500francs. Vu mon budget je vais sans doute dormir en dortoir. J'ai trouvé un billet a 5000francs. Donc en gros pour l'instant j'en ai pour 7000francs, et sur place je compte manger des bentos pour pas cher. Pour plus d'info il faudrait que tu me files ton email et que je te passe mon numero de tel, ce sera plus simple.
N'oublies-pas que l'Expo universelle aura lieu à Aichi en 2005, et 2004 serait devenir une année idéale pour voir le Japon, avant la ruée. J'ai laissé des liens utiles dans le forum "Événements".
Je suis toujours heureux de revenir chez moi au Canada.
Correction... après avoir passé les douanes canadiennes, je me sens bien d'être revenu au Canada.
Me rendant bientôt au Japon, j'aurai voulu savoir si quelqu'un avait déjà fait l'expérience des "capsules"? Et si oui est-ce que c'est à faire ou non?? Merci
Même si je consulte le forum régulièrement, il y a un bout que je n'ai pas posé une question. Tellement, que j'ai dû me créer un nouveau compte/nom d'usager…
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…
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.
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Days 8–10: Kyoto & Nara (May 1–3)
Route: Takayama → Kyoto (~4 h 30).
Activities in Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari (red torii gates), Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Gion (geisha district).
Day trip to Nara:
Free-roaming deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Stay: Kyoto (3 nights).
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Day 11: Osaka or Himeji (May 4)
Route: Kyoto → Osaka (~1 h) or Himeji (~1 h 30).
Option 1: Osaka → modern vibe, street food, castle.
Option 2: Himeji → stunning UNESCO-listed castle.
Stay: Osaka.
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Days 12–13: Kanazawa (May 5–6)
Route: Osaka → Kanazawa (~4 h 30).
hi! Is it easy to use for paying for all the small purchases at the markets? INSTALLATION AND USE WITHOUT ISSUES—do you also need a VPN for China?
Secondly, for using phone and internet, I have Orange—is it reliable, or should I go with Airalo instead?
The info I found on the forum is a bit outdated, so I’m asking again!
1) What budget should I plan for 15 days, given that hotels with breakfast, transfers, and transport are already paid for? I know it depends on the person, but I’d love a rough idea. For meals, we’re thinking simple street food or small local restaurants.
2) I’ve heard that credit cards (we each have a Revolut + 1 Visa Premier) aren’t widely used and that it’s better to have cash. Can you confirm?
3) Are foreign credit cards still not accepted at bank ATMs? Still 7-Eleven or the Post Office? And what about American Express?
