Bonjour Nous partons du 5 au 18 avril au Japon. Avec le voyage cela nous fera 12 jours pleins sur place. Nous atterrissons à Osaka le 6 au matin et repartons le 18 de Tokyo. Voilà le programme que j'envisageais 6 avril Osaka, nuit à Osaka 7 avril Départ pour Kyoto 8 avril Kyoto 9 avril Nara dans la journée 10 avril Kyoto 11 avril Départ pour Hakone 12 avril Hakone 13 avril départ pour Tokyo 14 avril Tokyo 15 avril départ pour Nikko, nuit à Nikko 16 avril retour à Tokyo 17 avril Tokyo Cela vous semble-t-il équilibré? Deux nuits à Hakone est-ce trop ? Est-ce que nous voulons en faire trop sur ces 12 jours ? Merci d'avance pour vos conseils

We just spent three weeks in Yunnan. I’ve started writing up a travel journal about the trip.

Bonjour à tou.te.s

Nous souhaitons partir en mai pour 25 jours, en Asie ou Amérique latine. Et après avoir regardé les destinations possibles en cette période de l’année. Nous nous sommes orientés vers la Chine mais depuis de nombreuse personnes nous ont déconseillé d’y aller pour les raisons suivantes (trop de monde sur les sites touristiques, les chinois sont pas avenants, bruyants et pas les plus civilisés, etc.). Nous ne savons plus quoi faire. Nous souhaitions partir dans un voyage avec un dépaysement culturel et naturel. Mixer paysage et jolis villages et villes, loin des foules touristiques. Il nous a semblé en regardant les forums que la Chine en mai (basse saison) et hors des sentiers battus pouvait être merveilleuse. On nous avait conseillé la région du Yunnan (Kunming, Yuanyang, Jianshui, Xizhou, Dali, Lijiang, Chengdu, Shaxi) et Pekin et Shanghai. Nous aurions aimé connaître vos avis. Une Chine sans trop de touristes et authentique est-elle possible ? Devrions-nous changer de destination ? Avez-vous des conseils ? Merci beaucoup

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

Hello everyone,

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!

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.

Bonjour. On a une escale de 12 h à Hong Kong le 29 août. On avait prévu d’aller visiter la ville. Est ce que cela vous semble risquer en ce moment, en raison des heurts ou des grèves possibles (pas envie de rater l’avion) ou est-ce toujours possible? Y’a t il un circuit à privilégier ou des coins à éviter? Merci d’avance.

Hi there, we’re planning to visit part of Zhangjiajie Park in one day soon. We’re staying in Wellington the night before. My question is about which entrance ticket to get on trip.com. They offer either just the ticket or a combo with the ticket, elevator, and cable car for Tianzi Mountain—not just the entrance and elevator. I’m a bit lost. :)

We want to make the most of the day, starting right when the park opens. If you have a recommended route, that’d be great. I’ve also heard to double-check the shuttle buses inside the park. Anyway, I’m not sure whether to start with the cable car or the elevator.

Thanks for your help, and if you have a map, that’d be awesome too.

Cheers, Olivier

Bonjour Je suis en train de planfier mon voyage au Yunnan en Chine, je voudrais chercher une agence de voyage pour m'aider. J ai trouvé un site d une agence : voyagesyunnan.com, quelq un le sait ? est-il fiable ? ou vous pouvez me recommander une ? Merci 😛 --

Attention ce message est un message promotionnel bidon posté par le prestataire lui-même (s'inscrire avec l'adresse service@voyagesyunnan.com pour faire sa pub faut oser !) que donc, logiquement, on ne peut que déconseiller.

L'équipe VoyageForum

Bonjour, je pars avec un collègue en Chine pour le mois de mars notre itinéraire ça serai Pékin et Shanghai et la muraille de chine à visiter on aimerai savoir par où commencer les distances les différents transports train avion et bus interne le prix les hébergements et le prix du visa cordialement.

We’re a retired French couple. We’ve just spent 4 weeks in China: - 1. Exploring Yunnan in a group (12 people); a journey that took us from the Vietnamese border in the south to the edges of Tibet in the north. - 2. A private trip to Guizhou with just a driver. We’re absolutely delighted with what we discovered: a modern country with excellent infrastructure (especially the low level of urban pollution thanks to the high number of electric vehicles, the absence of diesel, and no noisy motorbikes in these two less industrialized provinces), friendly Chinese people who were always ready to help us when we had difficulties or questions, and a rich natural and cultural heritage. The language barrier remains the biggest challenge, despite instant translation tools. For both trips, we booked through the agency CIELCHINE, which we highly recommend. The value for money is unbeatable. The services were luxurious, especially for us since we usually travel alone on a tight budget for accommodation and food. The agency’s staff were perfectly competent and, what’s more, warm and welcoming. For Yunnan, our guide SEBASTIEN, who was experienced and knowledgeable, won everyone over. In Guizhou, our driver HUANG was professionally flawless and guided us through villages he knows well. Friendly and full of humor, he’d spontaneously talk to people he met, which made us be treated with much more kindness and allowed us to exchange a few basic words. As you can see, I haven’t ticked anything negative—not because I’m hiding anything or have any ulterior motive, but because I’m completely satisfied and the experience even exceeded all my expectations.

bonjour, j'ai l'intention de me rendre prochainement à Xian afin de visiter outre l'armée de terre cuite, les divers tombeaux impériaux (quinling, maoling, zhaoling, etc). ainsi que le temple de famen. Pour des raisons de timing et notamment pour arriver à la première heure à l'armée de terre cuite avant l'arrivée de la foule, j'envisage d'utiliser le taxi plutot que le bus. Mais j'ai cru comprendre qu'il y avait pénurie de taxi à Xian et qu'il était difficile d'en reserver. Quelqu'un peut il m'éclairer? Merci

Bonjour,

Pour notre 3e séjour en Chine, j'aimerais visiter le sud, où je ne suis jamais allée .... Je pensais combiner une semaine dans la région des rizières de Longsheng (et Yanghsuo ?) et deux semaines dans la région de Kunming.

Je n'ai pas d'autre choix que de partir pendant les mois de juillet et août et je me demandais si un mois était préférable à l'autre ?? ou bien est-ce à peu près la même chose ?

Autre question : je lis beaucoup de choses qui me refroidissent un peu sur Dali et Lijiang, qui semblent extrêmement touristiques. Est-ce qu'il est possible de visiter cette région en étant un peu à l'écart de la foule, avez-vous des conseils à donner ? Je précise que je ne parle pas un mot de mandarin ...

Merci d'avance pour les suggestions.

Hi everyone I’m currently planning my trip to China for next August. I’m starting from scratch, so I’m counting on your advice and firsthand experiences! For now, I only know that I’ll arrive in China via Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong and leave 15 days later from another one of these three cities. In between, I’d love to explore a mountainous and natural region in the countryside. The Guilin area really appeals to me with its spectacular landscapes. I still have tons of questions: - What can you do during this often humid season? - Is it better to go through a local agency or organize everything yourself? - What itineraries would you recommend? Anyway, everything’s still up in the air, and I can’t wait to read your opinions, suggestions, and great tips to help me build this trip!

Bonjour! 10ème voyage en Chine dans quelques jours!! Et donc autant de fois à Beijing! C'est dire que j'ai visité la plupart (pour ne pas dire tous) des sites de la capitale, voire plusieurs fois pour certains!😉 Aussi cette fois je voudrais "sortir" de Beijing, et me promener dans un ou deux villages (s'il en existe encore..) hors de Beijing mais à pas plus de 1h30 voire 2 heures de Beijing. En ce qui concerne les villages j'ai regardé un peu sur Internet et j'ai trouvé: Jiuyua, Sanliushui, Beiji, lingshui, Chuangdixia, Beigou, lequel privilégier qui soit encore (si c'est possible!) un peu "authentique"et à2h maximum deBeijing? Si vous en avez d'autres à proposer...

Hormis les villages je compte me rendre à Jinshaling, est-ce accessible ?(travaux terminés?)La muraille à Jinshaling est-elle facilement praticable comme Badaling ou Mutianyu? Merci!

Hello everyone,

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

Nous aimerions partir au Japon en septembre prochain et si possible sans agence! Nous avons déjà beaucoup voyagé à travers le monde de cette manière mais, nous étions beaucoup plus jeunes et ''ce n'était pas au Japon''. Mes questions sont d'ordres pratiques, à savoir : Le Japon se visite de manière itinérante, donc refaire les bagages tous les deux ou trois jours et prendre le train ou le bus etc, ! Si l'on se trouve à Tokyo par exemple, comment fait 'on ? un taxi , un bus ou autre mais pour se rendre où et à quel endroit ? Il doit y avoir une multitude de gares ou d'arrêts de bus dans cette immense ville ou l'anglais n'est pas courant ? Ne perdons nous pas trop de temps à chercher ce que l'on doit faire et comment le faire ? Est-ce vraiment pratique pour des personnes de 70 ans , même si l'on est en pleine forme… C'est vraiment la chose qui me turlupine, c'est devoir être sur le trottoir sans vraiment être sur de trouver de l'aide et de se perdre . Le Japon, ce n'est pas New-York ou Paris voir même Bangkok, c'est vraiment un endroit des plus dépaysant qui ne ressemble à aucun autre endroit dans le monde. Je voulais ajouter que nous sommes très très visite, nous prenons tout notre temps pour chaque endroit donc les voyages en groupe ne sont pas notre tasse de thé ! Bref ... Merci pour vos réponses Bien cordialement Phibul😄

Bonjour,

Nous partons ( en principe !!🙂) au Japon dans 10 jours et notre circuit prévoit 2 jours à Kanazawa et 2 jours à Takayama. Je ne trouve pas grand chose sur ces 2 villes dans les guides, (3 pages sur kanazawa et 1/2 sur Takayama dans le Loneley planet ) L'un dans vous qui serait passer par ces 2 villes pourrait il me donner de plus amples informations sur les lieux à visiter ou les balades à faire dans les environs, sachant que nous n'avons pas de moyen de transport à disposition. Avec vos remerciements

Marc

Bonjour nous sommes 4 amis désirant partir au Japon en août 2021 nous recherchons une agence sérieuse pour un circuit sur mesure (avions, hôtel, guide francophone...) J'ai vu qu'il y avait Evaneos, Vivre le Japon, Keikaku.... qu'en pensez-vous. Merci pour vos conseils

Bonjour. Nous devons faire un voyage organisé de 28 personnes avec accompagnateur francophone sur un circuit itinerant " TUI NF ex NOUVELLES FRONTIERES"" de 11 jours à nuits au depart de PARIS arrivée à TOKIO et depart de KYOTO via HAMANAKO, MISUGI, HIMEJI et HIROSHIMA. Je souhaite entrer en contact avec des personnes ayant dejà fait ce type de séjour et recueillir leurs infos. Merci

Michel GINESTET

Bonjour. Notre circuit (classique ) pour fin novembre est quasiment bouclé. Après Tokyo, Matsumoto, les Alpes Jap, Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, Osaka , il nous reste 3 jours et on n’arrive pas à se décider: Okayama, Yoshino, Mt Shigi, balade campagne /rizière, voire un coin sympa en bord de mer ... On a exclu pour cette fois le Fuji, Hiroshima et Miyajima. Merci d’avance pour vos suggestions.

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Japan with my three grown-up kids, who aren’t exactly keen on rushing from one place to another with heavy luggage. I’ve tried to balance things so we can see as much as possible while still giving them time to enjoy the evenings. Here’s what I’ve come up with: - Arrival in Tokyo on May 17 - Staying in Tokyo from May 17 to 22, exploring the city, with a day trip to Nikko (round trip in one day): is it worth it, considering it’s a 2-hour train ride each way? - Sending our big suitcases directly to Osaka - Traveling to Kamakura on May 23: 1 night (with small luggage) - Traveling to Hakone on May 24: 1 night (with small luggage) - Heading to Osaka on May 25: staying from May 25 to June 2 in Osaka, where we’ll pick up our big suitcases Day trips from Osaka: - Kyoto: 2 days (round trip in one day) - Nara: 1 day (round trip in one day) My son would prefer to stay in Osaka for all 8 days, but I’m wondering if it’s a good idea to spend at least one night in Kyoto. What do you think? - Leaving for Himeji on June 3: is it possible to leave both big and small luggage in a coin locker to visit the castle, or is it better to do a round trip from Osaka? - Traveling to Hiroshima: 3 nights from June 3 to 5: - Hiroshima: 1 day - Miyajima: 1 day - Okayama and Kurashiki: 1 day: is it better to do a round trip from Hiroshima and return to Tokyo from there, or spend the night of June 5 in Okayama and head to Tokyo from there? - Back to Tokyo from June 6 to 9, with departure on the morning of June 9. Since I’ve never been to Japan, I’ve tried to focus on the most interesting spots. Are there any places I’ve missed that you think we should add, or others that might not be as worthwhile? About the luggage: is it a hassle to forward it to Kamakura, Hakone, and Kyoto? How much do coin lockers usually cost? My son says the JR Pass isn’t worth it—what’s your take? For accommodations, we’re leaning toward mid-range hotels with good value rather than apartments. Any great tips? I know I’m asking a lot of questions—I really appreciate anyone who can point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance!

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?

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!

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?

Thanks for your help, Petra

Hi there! After a wonderful trip in 2024, we’ll be heading back to Japan at the end of July 2026 to reunite with our daughter, who will have been there for a few months.

Last time, we did a route: Tokyo – Japanese Alps – Kyoto – Osaka – Hiroshima. This time, we’ll have 10 days to ourselves before our daughter joins us for a full week. We’re thinking of spending 2 days in Tokyo and 1 day at the end of the trip for shopping.

We’re looking for ideas for a route (by train and bus) that’s a little off the beaten path, especially avoiding the most touristy spots like the best-known temples in Kyoto. Our favorite spots in 2024: Kanazawa, Takayama, and Miyajima Island. We love temples, gardens, and would love to explore the nature, which looks incredible.

Thanks in advance for your tips and suggestions!

Hi there, We’re planning a trip to Japan with my boyfriend in November 2025. We’ll have 12 full days (excluding flight time), arriving in Tokyo and departing from Osaka. Do you have any itinerary ideas to recommend? We’re up for adventure and discovering the local culture. We’d also love to do some typical activities: watch a sumo match, experience a tea ceremony, stay in a ryokan, etc... We’re open to all suggestions! Thanks! 🙂

Hi there,

My wife and I are heading to Japan from March 27 to April 22, 2025. On the evening of the 21st, we’ll be staying in Tokyo to catch our international flight. For this first trip, we’ve prioritized a fairly classic itinerary. Here’s the plan:

- Osaka (arriving at Kansai Airport) - Hiroshima - Itsukushima (also known as Miyajima) - Kyoto - Nara - Kanazawa - Shirakawa-go - Takayama - Tokyo

We’ll likely finish our sightseeing in Tokyo around March 17.

We’re thinking of heading somewhere "quiet" or "by the sea," maybe an island, between the 17th/18th and the evening of the 21st.

What are your thoughts or experiences?

Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to return to Japan for 15 days in April. This will be my second trip there. I’m starting to think about my itinerary.

I arrive in Tokyo in the evening and will spend one night there before taking the train to Hiroshima. I’ll stay in Hiroshima for 2 nights. Then, I’m heading to Kyoto (there are still so many beautiful things I want to see there), and I think I’ll stay for 3 nights. I also want to go back to Nara to visit the Pink Temple (probably in the morning before heading back to Kyoto).

And after that? I’d like to return to Hakone to try and catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji (I didn’t see it last time—it was cloudy). I’m thinking of staying one night there, probably in Odawara.

And then? I’ll head back to Tokyo and take the train to explore the surrounding areas and spend the day at some sites?

While in Tokyo, I want to visit Yokohama. I went to Kamakura last time and really loved it, but I don’t think I’ll go back.

I’ll end my trip in Tokyo, with my second-to-last night at the Muji Hotel and my last night near the airport.

That’s the plan so far—I’m open to your suggestions and itinerary tips!

Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone, and thanks to all the contributors on this Japan forum who’ll help me prepare an upcoming trip with my wife in October–November this year. We’ve already been to Japan before, back in 2013 for 15 days in August, visiting the major tourist hubs: Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, and Ogimachi. This time, we’re taking more time—about a month—with the following points of interest: Start of the trip with a few days in Tokyo Osaka International Exposition on October 11–12, 2025 Jidai Matsuri Festival in KYOTO on October 22, 2025 Karatsu Kunchi Festival from November 2–4 Our goal is to blend into the crowd and make connections in festive atmospheres. Do these stops sound interesting to you? Is it a good idea to stay in a central location between October 10 and 23 to get to the Osaka Expo and the Jidai Matsuri Festival in Kyoto using public transport, and to explore the region in between? Between Kyoto and the KARATSU Festival from October 23 to November 1, we’re thinking of traveling by shinkansen with a stopover for a few days to visit Hiroshima and the surrounding area. Looking forward to your thoughts if you have time—this is just a first draft, and we’d love to dive into more details.