après un premier voyage "d'initiation" en 2013 (tokyo, takayama, kanazawa, kyoto, nara, koyasan, naoshima, miyajima, hiroshima, tokyo) , je suis en train de planifier 30 jours au japon 15 sept/15 octobre
les 10 premiers jours se calquent un peu sur mon premier voyage, avec d'autres escapades au départ de tokyo et kyoto
(nikko, himeji) et osaka, c sur "la suite" que j'ai besoin de votre aide.
j'ai choisi, mais plusieurs d'entre vous m'ont bien aidé dans cette décision.. de consacrer entre 12 et 15 jours au kyushu.
au départ d'osaka (jour 11 de mon voyage) j'envisage de prendre l'avion pour kagoshima donc mon circuit serait
kagoshima
ibusuki
kuamamoto
kurokawa onsen
beppu
arita imari karatsu (je ne sais pas s il est facile d'aller d'une de ces villes a l'autre ?)
karatsu
fukuoka
(retour vers ? tokyo ou une autre destination s il me reste quelques jours)
je n'ai pas oublié nagasaki, c juste que j'attends vos conseils a ce sujet (et vos avis sur mon circuit, a quelles villes dois je consacrér le plus de temps, je ne m'en rends pas bien compte)
quant à nagasaki, est ce qu'il est plus logique (plus facile ?) d y aller avant kumamoto ou après beppu ?
n'hésitez pas a me dire non plus si vous trouvez qu'il y a trop de stop, et que je vais courir un peu (c mon sentiment, car je suis une "lente) en même temps, je ne sais pas quoi supprimer -
question subsidiaire, est ce que le jr pass est valable sur ce circuit, je pense que dans ce cas la, (car mon voyage dure plus de 21 jours, il serait peut être plus interessant d'arriver a fukuoka et à repartir en avion de kagoshima...
un grand merci a tous ceux qui me liront, et plus encore à ceux qui me répondront, a bientot j'espère,
arita imari karatsu (je ne sais pas s il est facile d'aller d'une de ces villes a l'autre ?)
Oui, tout est relié par des trains. Ne pas oublier la petite ville de Okawachiyama, vraiment très belle, si vous avez le temps (pas de train mais des bus).
je n'ai pas oublié nagasaki, c juste que j'attends vos conseils a ce sujet (et vos avis sur mon circuit, a quelles villes dois je consacrér le plus de temps, je ne m'en rends pas bien compte)
Voici mes conseils :
Kagoshima : deux jours
Ibusuki : une demi-journée
Kumamoto : deux jours
Kurokawa onsen : une nuit
Beppu : deux jours
Arita, Imari : une journée
Karatsu : une journée
Fukuoka : deux jours
Pour Nagasaki, comptez deux jours pour la ville en elle-même.
quant à nagasaki, est ce qu'il est plus logique (plus facile ?) d y aller avant kumamoto ou après beppu ?
Je ferais ceci : Fukuoka -> Beppu -> Kagoshima -> Kumamoto -> Nagasaki -> Saga -> Fukuoka
Cela permet de faire une boucle sans perdre trop de temps dans les transports. Finir et repartir de Fukuoka permet encore un gain de temps puisque l'aéroport est situé très près du centre-ville (7 minutes de métro).
n'hésitez pas a me dire non plus si vous trouvez qu'il y a trop de stop, et que je vais courir un peu (c mon sentiment, car je suis une "lente) en même temps, je ne sais pas quoi supprimer -
En restant deux jours pleins (deux nuits donc) dans chaque grande ville et en ajoutant une excursion dans des villes adjacente permet de bien visiter sans trop courir. Je pense donc que c'est à peu près bien dosé.
question subsidiaire, est ce que le jr pass est valable sur ce circuit, je pense que dans ce cas la, (car mon voyage dure plus de 21 jours, il serait peut être plus interessant d'arriver a fukuoka et à repartir en avion de kagoshima...
Le JR Pass sera valable sur presque tous les trajets.
Repartir vers la France ? Peu importe l'aéroport sur Kyûshû, il y aura de toute façon une correspondance.
merci beaucoup pour ton message. je l'avais entrevu hier sans m'y attarder car j'avais l'impression que mon tour du kyushu avait beaucoup bougé mais comme je n'avais pas ma carte sous le nez, je voulais attendre avant de revenir vers toi..
effectivement, ca a bien bougé mais ca me parait tout a fait "efficace", descendre par l'est et remonter par l'ouest, cela fait une boucle.
néanmoins, 2 questions, car des destinations ont ""disparues". Pour certaines comme Ibusuki, j'ai bien compris, elle se transforme en "excursion" a partir de kagoshima, sans y passer de nuit.
en revanche, je ne sais pas dans quel sens je dois aller pour atteindre Kurokawa onsen., destination a laquelle je tiens beaucoup, Faut il y aller après beppu ou bien en "remontant" après Kagoshima en partant de Kumamoto (et repasser j'imagine par kumamotot pour aller vers nagasaki ??)
karatsu, Imari, arita ont été remplacées par Saga, est ce que parce que tu penses que c'est une meilleure base pour visiter ces 3 villes ???je ne trouve rien dans le LP ...sinon, quelle est celle de ces 3 villes ou je dois passer mes 2 uits...j'imagine que c plus sympa de ne pas avoir a deménager...
voili voilou...je vais un peu attendre tes réponses (ou celles d'autres intervenants qui auraient un avis...) et puis je vais voir tout cela avec mon calendrier pour voir si tout se "cale" bien avant mon retour vers tokyo...
Pour certaines comme Ibusuki, j'ai bien compris, elle se transforme en "excursion" a partir de kagoshima, sans y passer de nuit.
Oui, y passer une nuit est inutile car c'est proche de Kagoshima et l'aller-retour peut être fait dans la journée.
Faut il y aller après beppu ou bien en "remontant" après Kagoshima en partant de Kumamoto (et repasser j'imagine par kumamotot pour aller vers nagasaki ??)
Les deux solutions se valent vu qu'il faudra de toute façon faire un aller-retour (Kumamoto - Kagoshima - Kumamoto pour la première solution ou Kumamoto - Kurokawa - Kumamoto pour la seconde).
aratsu, Imari, arita ont été remplacées par Saga, est ce que parce que tu penses que c'est une meilleure base pour visiter ces 3 villes ???je ne trouve rien dans le LP ...sinon, quelle est celle de ces 3 villes ou je dois passer mes 2 uits...j'imagine que c plus sympa de ne pas avoir a deménager...
Karatsu, Arita et Imari se trouvent dans la préfecture de Saga. Karatsu est la plus grande ville donc peut-être la plus pratique ? A moins de rester à Imari ou Arita et de visiter Karatsu sur le retour vers Fukuoka (se faire envoyer ses bagages à l'avance dans ce cas).
j'ai un peu avancé depuis notre dernier échange, malgré tout j'ai quelques problemes pour organiser les déplacements en train, car plusieurs fois je me suis trouvé devant plusieurs propositions qui "changeaient vraiment les choses" au niveau de la durée des trajets, c poour cela que j'ai du changer parfois l'ordre du circuit...dis moi ce que tu en penses
donc, on repartait le jour 11 (avec un début de voyage tokyo environs kyoto osaka), premier changement, j'ai zappé fukuoka a l'arrivée car cela coupe le sejour de cette cille en 2, et cela me parait être une perte de temps, mieux vaut, à mon avis y rester éventuellement davantage à la fin du circuit kyushu ???
jour 11 - départ d osaka en fin d'après midi pour beppu - nuit à beppu
jour 12 - Beppu - nuit a beppu
jour 13 - départ de beppu en début d'après midi - nuit a kagoshima
jour 14 - kagoshima le matin - AR a ibusuki l'am - nuit à kagoshima
jour 15 -départ pour Kumamto - nuit à kumamoto
jour 16 - kumamoto - nuit à kumamoto
jour 17 - depart pour Kurokawa onsen - nuit
jour 18 ?? mont aso, je ne sais pas s'il est facile, n'etant pas motorisée d'aller voir la caldera et les environs, est ce necessaire d'y consacrer une journée car j'imagine que si je vais beaucoup aimé les onsens, je ne vais peut être pas y passer la journée...a voir
jour 19 retour vers kumamoto (la, un peu difficile aussi de planifier, je ne sais pas s'il y a souvent des bus dans les 2 sens)
puis depart vers karatsu
même probleme, je ne sais pas organiser ces 2 jours sur karatsu/amari/arita, j'arrive a karatsu, partir tout de suite pour l'une des 2 autres villes et finir par karatsu, ce qui paraitrait plus logique puisque je vais repartir de karatsu, rester dans la même ville et le même hotel les 2 nuits, a voir
donc jour 19/20 villages des potiers
jour 21 karatsu nagasaki (alors la, grave probleme avec hyperdia...nagasaki seul n est pas accepté et celon ce que je choisis j ai de gros ecarts de durée ??? nuit a nagasakijour 25
jour 22 nagasaki et nuit a N
jour 23 nagasaki et nuit
jour 24 nagasaki fukuoka nuit à F
jour 25 fukuoka
jour 26 fukuoka
jour 27 départ pour tokyo
voila la première proposition, j'ai donc un peu de marge (le mont Aso jour 18, fukuoka 3 nuits est ce que ca n'est pas beaucoup...
je peux faire probablement quelques aménagements,
merci a tous ceux qui voudront bien mettre "leur grain de sel" et particulièrement a benedicte, qui m'a deja bien aidé,
jour 18 ?? mont aso, je ne sais pas s'il est facile, n'etant pas motorisée d'aller voir la caldera et les environs, est ce necessaire d'y consacrer une journée car j'imagine que si je vais beaucoup aimé les onsens, je ne vais peut être pas y passer la journée...a voir
L'accès au cratère est fermé depuis août. Si il rouvre d'ici là, il est facile d'y aller : il y a un bus depuis Kurokawa jusqu'à la gare d'Aso où il y a un bus pour aller près du cratère (un toutes les heures donc attention au timing).
jour 19 retour vers kumamoto (la, un peu difficile aussi de planifier, je ne sais pas s'il y a souvent des bus dans les 2 sens)
Oui il y a des bus dans les deux sens.
jour 21 karatsu nagasaki (alors la, grave probleme avec hyperdia...nagasaki seul n est pas accepté et celon ce que je choisis j ai de gros ecarts de durée ??? nuit a nagasakijour 25
merci benedicte, de ta prompte réponse. Apparemment, je vais supprimer le mont aso de mon circuit, sur quelle ville reporterais tu cette journée ?
je vais maintenant, rederouler mon trajet complet, pour voir le "probleme" du JR pass, est que le Jr notaional est valable partout dans le kyushu ou est ce qu'il vaut mieux prendre le pass régioanal, dis moi si tu as une idéee, et ensuite je revois l'itinéraire complet, un pass de 3 semaines sur 31 jours de voyage, il faut que je vois comment il est le plus judicieux de l'installer"
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Je prépare doucement un voyage d'une vingtaine de jours au Japon: Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara et Osaka. Niveau trajet aérien, partant de Nantes, je m'oriente vers…
We’re arriving as a group of three in Tokyo on Saturday, October 17th, then heading straight to Kyoto by direct train.
On Sunday and Monday, we’ll explore Kyoto, and in the evening, we’ll take a train to Osaka to spend the night.
On Tuesday, we’ll pick up a rental car at Itami Airport for a 6-day/5-night road trip around Shikoku:
- 2 nights in the Iya Valley
- Thursday morning, we’ll head to Matsuyama for 2 nights.
- Saturday, we’ll visit Mima (town, a few temples + overnight stay) and return on Sunday to drop off the car in Osaka.
We’ll leave very early on Monday the 26th by plane for Aomori in northern Honshu, where we’ll pick up another rental car at the airport for a 5-day/4-night trip:
- Day 1: Tsugaru Peninsula (Takayam Inari, Cape Tappi, Kanita); overnight in Kanita
- Day 2: Ferry transfer to the Mutsu Peninsula (cliffs, Lake Usori); overnight in Shimofuro
- Day 3: Head to the Hakkoda Mountains and onsens galore; overnight TBD
- Day 4: Return the car in Aomori by noon and explore the city before taking the train to Tokyo in the evening
We’ll spend Friday night in Tokyo, wander around on Saturday, and head home on Sunday.
Thoughts on the road feasibility of this trip? We’ll be there right in the middle of Koyo season, so it’ll be busy...
I know it’s a lot of driving, but there are two of us who can take turns. We’re not afraid of driving, even in the mountains and on the left side! Just wondering, are we going to be rushing, or is this manageable? AI says it’s all good, but it’s not the one driving...
Any tips for booking accommodations in the Iya Valley? Not many places have email addresses or websites (I know Booking.com exists, but not all listings are on there... and given the season, I think it’s better to book ahead!). Same question applies for northern Honshu.
For the rental car, I’m thinking of going with Alamo since at least it’s in French and straightforward, but are there any direct rental companies with user-friendly websites (Toyota Rentacar, ugh... 🏴☠️)?
Another question: With so many trains, is it even necessary to book them in advance? Can we just go to the ticket counter and grab seats on the spot?
For paying for the rental car, do we need a credit or debit card?
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,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
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).
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
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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.
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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).