Je viens de m'inscrire sur ce forum super actif et à peine arrivé, je me permets déjà de poster mon premier message.
Voilà : je prévois avec ma chérie et 2 amis de partir 2 semaines en Chine cet été (la deuxième moitié de juillet plus exactement). J'y suis déjà allé 2 fois (la première fois à Beijing pendant 5 semaines pour un voyage linguisitique, et la deuxième fois dans le cadre d'un voyage organisé). Par contre pour ma copine et les potes, ce sera la première fois.
On a une petite idée du trajet qu'on fera :BeijingTianjinQufuHangzhouSuzhouShanghai
(avec éventuellement Nanjing) Mais rien n'est définitif.
Vous allez me dire que 2 semaines, ça fait court. C'est pourquoi je me permets de vous solliciter conseils avisés.
On a surtout besoin de conseil pour les trajets entre les "étapes" : faut-il réserver les trains ou les bus en avance ? A fortiori faut-il prévoir de réserver les auberges de jeunesse (si oui, on est pas contre 2-3 adresses sympas, propres et pas chères) ? Pour le reste, on essaiera de se débrouiller sur place, même si des avis sont toujours les bienvenus.
Je vous remercie par avance pour vos réponses.
PS : ce sont surtout les problèmes de déplacement d'une ville à l'autre qui me tracassent le plus.
bonjour!
à priori pas de gros problèmes de reservation au niveau des trains ou bus (essayez de vous y prendre 2 jours à l'avance c'est suffisant), pareil dans les auberges. mais n'hésitez pas à poser la question dans celles-ci au cas où... la seule chose est d'essayer de ne pas arriver trop tard pour ne pas se retrouver devant une porte fermée, mais en comptant large si vous arrivez avant 23h il n'y aura aucun problème.
bon voyage
raphael
en fait, en juillet, il n'y a pas trop de touristes en Chine sauf les étudiants chinois rendrent chez eux pendant le vacance d'été. 2 semaines pour 6 destinations, il faut voir plus vite.
Merci pour vos réponses. C'est vrai que 2 semaines, ça fait assez court.
Sinon quelqu'un a déjà essayé la remontée du Grand Canal Hangzhou-Suzhou ? Pareil que pour les trains et les auberges, vaut-il mieux réserver le bateau par avance ?
Pour finir si quelqu'un connait des adresses "chez l'habitant", je serais assez intéressé. De même s'il y a d'autres voyageuses ou voyageurs qui auraient à peu près les mêmes projets pour cet été, j'aimerais savoir comment ça se passe de leur côté.
Je suis chinois, mais malheursement je n'ai pas encore essayé prendre bateau sur Grand Canal, c'est sûrement amusant. Je pense pour le bateau Hangzhou-Suzhou, ça fait un jour ou une nuit, ce n'est pas très loin. Je pense il ne faut pas réserver les billets, normalement, moins de chinois locaux prennent bateau sauf les voyageurs. Mais pour les trains, habituellement, chinois réservent les billet 3 ou 4 jours avant, c'est plus sûreté. On peut réserver les billets en gare, en agence de voyage ou dans l'hôtel. Si vous logerez dans les auberges, je pense il ne faut pas réserver car on peut trouver beaucoup de auberges partous en chine, mais pour l'hôtel c'est mieux réserver par avance.
Bonsoir
je pense qu'il vaut mieux réserver les transports à l'avance, poru les trains c'est indispensable surtout si tu veux dezs couchettes 'dures'
pour le bateau Hangzhou - Suzhou, je l'ai pris de nuit environ 12h en réservant 2 ou3 jours à l'avance
compte tenu du temps dont tu disposes, le mieux est de faire tes réservations pour l'étape suivante dès que tu arives dans une ville et que tu as trouvé un herbègement
Comme les transports sont assez lents essaie d'avoir des couchettes pour gangner un peu de temps, c'est assez confortabel pour pouvoir attaquer les visites dès ton arrivée
bons préparatifs
bonne idee pour prendre le bateau
pour suzhou--hangzhou
le bateau parti a 17:30..150km, 14 heures
nomalement, tu peux acheter le billet 2 heureus avant que le bateau partie
et pour le billet, tu peux reserver ou acheter directement au guichet labas
le tarif: 78 yuan--200 yuan sa depend du bateau et de la chambre
et si en juillet je suis a suzhou en chine, sa se peut que je peux vous aider ...
meme je veux aller a hangzhou...hoho
Merci pour vos réponses. C'est vrai que 2 semaines, ça fait assez court.
Sinon quelqu'un a déjà essayé la remontée du Grand Canal Hangzhou-Suzhou ? Pareil que pour les trains et les auberges, vaut-il mieux réserver le bateau par avance ?
Pour finir si quelqu'un connait des adresses "chez l'habitant", je serais assez intéressé. De même s'il y a d'autres voyageuses ou voyageurs qui auraient à peu près les mêmes projets pour cet été, j'aimerais savoir comment ça se passe de leur côté.
Merci encore pour les réponses ^^
If I am rich , I will buy a big globe , turn it around and go wherever be pointed to
Mail ou Msn: zouhanzouhan@hotmail.com
(que pour les voyageurs mais pas de commerce)
D'après ce que j'ai compris, il suffit de s'y prendre 2-3 jours à l'avance. Mais est-ce qu'il y a des offices de tourisme pour organiser tout ça ? Les auberges et les hôtels proposent-ils ce genre de service ?
En tout cas, je suis vraiment reconnaissant pour toutes vos réponses :)
Je te déconseille le bateau Hangzhou - Suzhou. Je l'ai pris il y a sept ans, et c'était absolument sans le moindre intérêt, en plus d'être assez sale. On ne voyait strictement rien puisqu'il faisait nuit, et j'avais vraiment l'impression de perdre mon temps.
Ceci dit, depuis ces années, peut-être qu'il y a des bateaux plus modernes qui font le trajet. Si jamais il y avait un trajet de jour, ce que j'ignore, ça pourrait peut-être avoir un peu plus d'intérêt.
Perso j'ai visiter la Chine pendant 2 mois les vacances dernieres.
Franchement 2 semaines c'est peu, je te conseillerai de restreindre tes chaoix de destinations si tu veux profiter un minimum. Je dois avouer que je ne suis pas aller la ou tu pense visiter, mais en un mois j'ai fais shanghai, Hua Chan, Xian, Changdu, Kunming pour finir pendant 5 jours a se reposer a Dali.... vu les distances moi et mes potes ont a ete tue par tous ces trajets...
Pour les billets il vaut mieux reserver quand t'arrive dans la gare le premier jour dans la ville.... c'est super chiant parce que tu veins de faire 15 heures de trajet et tu veux dormir mais reserver par les hotels ca marche pas toujours.... on s'est retrouver avec des assis dur pendant 18 heures a cause de la femme de l'hotel qui nous disait qu'elle allait reserver...... c'est une experience mais je le referais jamais je pense..... (bien que beaucoup de chinois le supporte sans broncher et meme en debout!!!)
Pour le bateau, je suis aussi d'avis que c'est pas terrible, je l'ai fait et j'ai pas mal regretté cette perte de temps.
Par contre il sera très facile de faire Shanghai-Hangzhou dans la journee, en train ( le train N509 part par exemple a 7h19) . Le trajet dure moins de 2 heures (possible également en bus mais un peu plus long), il coute 33 yuan pour des places assises confortabels (equivalent de notre 2eme classe).
De la gare, tu prends le bus touristique numéro 2 (facile a trouver, il est en bois et tout décoré, et part régulierement en face de la gare) (ou tu prends un taxi) et tu t'arretes a l'arret du XiHu (西湖)(le lac de l'ouest, splendeur de Hangzhou, que tu traverses (possibilité de prendre des petits bateaux ...), et tu t'arrange pour finir la balade de l'autre côté de la rive. La bas (ou où que tu sois si tu t'es trompé !), tu prends le taxi et demande a aller au LingYingSi (灵隐寺)(le temple magnifique de Hangzhou). Pour 60y (mais qui valent le coup a mon avis) tu te retrouve propulsé dans une foret, avec des grottes (interet relatif ..!) a visiter, et le fameux temple (mais en payant a nouveau : 30y!!). S'il te reste du temps (ce qui est certain !), tu peux soit reprendre le taxi (ou un petit bus que tu trouvera pile devant l'entree du temple) et aller à la vieille ville ( Qing He Fang 清河坊), te promener la et reprendre le taxi pour la gare ferroviaire le soir soit si tu es plus aventureux, prendre un taxi et demander a aller à 梅家邬 MeiJiaWu, la campagne de la région, avec ses champs de thé et ses restos au bord de la route ou on te tue la poule (mince c'est pas de saison avec la grippe !..) devant toi et ou tu peux manger pour qq yuans des plats delicieux.
Si tu te décides a manger qq chose avant de rejoindre le temps, c'est a dire au bors du lac, ou de nombreux restos (un peu touristiques) se jouxtent, n'hesites pas a demander du XiHuCuYu (西湖醋鱼)
(si tu lis le chinois sur ton ordi, n'hesites pas non plus a imprimer certains trucs et a les montrer aux chauffeurs de taxi, serveurs de restos, et aux gens dans la rue, les chinois sont extremement serviables et gentils et t'aideront sans probleme, meme si c'est parfois plus difficile que d'autres ..)
A la fin de la journee, tu rentres donc a Shanghai par le train (que tu auras deja reservé avec le billet aller et plutot un jour ou deux a l'avance si possible (surtout si ca tombe un weekend), en allant directement a la gare et en faisant la queue (:-( ) en faisant attention a tes affaires ! et en essayant de baragouiner en chinois ou en anglais ou en montrant un papier sur lequel tru auras ecrit ta destination, le nombre de personnes et ton heures de voyage souhaitée, pas de souci, shnaghai est une megalopole et ils parlent bie l'anglais et sont tres civilisés, tu n'auras pas de problemes pour reserver a partir de cette ville .
Tu rentres donc crevé certes ... mais je persiste a croire qu'une grande journee suffit surtout si tu pars 2 semaines seulement et prevoit tant de choses a faire ..)
Voila pour Hangzhou, je peux te donner d'autres idees pour Suzhou, Beijing et Shanghai si ca t'interesse ... 😉
Sinon de facon generale, drole d'idée a mon avis d'aller a TianJin si tu restes seulement deux semaines (c'est pas le lieu le plus immanquable et n'oublies pas que les trajets prennent ENORMEMENT de temps : Beijing-Shanghai, une 20aine d'heures de train ... prépare ton budget pour Suzhou, ils ont augmenté le prix des jardins et c'est intouchable, perso je prefere la mini petite ville de TongLi, sans les jardins mais avec les canaux, les temples et beaucoup plus calme, pour les hotels pas besoin de resever, fin juillet la chine n'est pas surpeuplée par contre n'oublie pas de negocier a fond, quite a baragouiner dans toutes les langues mais a faire comprendre que c'est trop cher et que tu n'est pas d'accord car sinon arnaque arnaque ... surtout face a 4 jeunes frenchies euh ben voila c'est tout je crois 😛
Bonne préparation de voyage en tout cas et n'hesites pas a demander plus d'infos
Merci infiniment XiaoLan pour tes précieux conseils. Je vais devoir bien réfléchir à réorganiser le trajet. Et oui, je pense que je te recontacterais pour d'autres conseils :)
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Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
We’re planning a 17-day trip to South Korea in October 2026 with my husband and our daughters, who’ll be 9 years old.
I’d love to get your thoughts on our draft itinerary.
First, some key details:
1/ Jeju Island is a must for us. I’ve personally dreamed of going there for years after reading a novel about it.
2/ Our girls are used to road-trip style travel since they were born, so this kind of trip won’t be an issue for them.
3/ We plan to travel by train, except on Jeju where we’ll rent a car (we already have an international driver’s permit).
Itinerary:
Seoul: 1 arrival day at 10 AM + 4 full days
Gyeongju: 2 days
Busan: 3 days
Jeju: 4 days
Seoul: 2 days
Hi there,
My girlfriend (23) and I (24) are heading to Japan for the first time from October 20th to November 6th. Here’s our itinerary:
6 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Hakone (ryokan already booked)
4 nights in Kyoto (hotel already booked)
2 nights in Osaka
4 nights back in Tokyo
I’d like to book hotels for Tokyo (both stays) and Osaka, but I’ve gotten so many different recommendations.
I’ve read that Shinjuku is the place to be for its huge hub, accessibility, and things to do, but I’ve also heard about Shibuya, Asakusa, and Ueno.
I’ve looked at hotels, and first off, I’m surprised by the prices compared to what I’ve seen on forums (I guess inflation’s hit here too… and maybe I’m late to the booking game?). I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options.
For our first stay in Tokyo, I’d prefer a hotel (not a residence or Airbnb) since we’ll be arriving at night, and it’s our first time in Japan. It’d be great to have a place with a reception, staff who speak at least a little English, and can give us some guidance. For the second stay, we could consider other options if it’s better.
Budget-wise, we can go up to 150–180 € per night, but if we can save some money to spend elsewhere, that’d be amazing!
I’m open to all recommendations, hotel suggestions, or any other tips for Tokyo (first stay), Osaka, and Tokyo (second stay).
Hi there,
I’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?
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).
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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?
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!
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
