New discussions · Northeast Asia

Hello,

I’m currently planning a trip to Japan with my two kids.

Before going any further, my main question is about the budget. While flights are pretty straightforward—just compare prices—when it comes to daily expenses, I have no idea what to expect.

We’re thinking of traveling between mid-July (around the 19th, give or take 2-3 days) and mid-August (returning by August 20th at the latest). Duration: 15 days (though we could stretch it by 2-3 days if it makes sense price-wise). Family of 4, including two kids aged 9 and 12.

Before we had kids, we used to travel pretty "rough" and book things on the spot (we often took basic flights), but this time, it might be trickier. That said, we’re not looking for luxury—just somewhere decent to sleep and shower so we can save money for as many activities and sightseeing as possible.

For those who’ve recently had a family trip like this or are familiar with Japan, I’d love any advice—especially what a reasonable daily budget might look like (or at least the absolute minimum to make the trip feasible).

Thanks in advance!

P.S.: I’ll admit I struggled a bit with the categories, so if this post needs to be moved, no problem! ;-)

After Seoul, I’m back on the forum again 😏, to talk about Inwol in Jirisan. I’ve planned to stay there for 3 nights to hike the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail—two sections, partly... I’m really struggling to find accommodations in Inwol that are close to the trail. I know it’s early and not all options are listed yet, but even when I set dates closer together, it’s still not obvious... If you know the area, I’d love any tips! My whole itinerary depends on finding a place to stay...

Thanks, Philippe

Hi there, I’m planning my trip for May. Here’s my itinerary for 4.5 days in Seoul: May 5: afternoon at Mangwon Market, Mangridan-gil, Han River May 6: Gyeongbokgung, Tongin Market & Seochon, Bukchon, Insadong, Jogyesa Temple, and Ikseon-dong May 7: Namdaemun Market, Deoksugung Palace, stroll along Cheonggyecheon, Seoullo 7017, Hongdae May 8:Changdeokgung + Changgyeonggung, Gwangjang Market, Jongmyo Shrine, Jongno Boulevard for the big parade May 9:Morning in Gangnam, Bongeunsa, Namsangol Hanok Village, N Seoul Tower Plaza

What do you think of this itinerary? Is there anything I should add, remove, or swap out? I tried to keep travel time to a minimum, but I might be missing something. I’d love to hear all your thoughts—thanks! Philippe

Hi,

According to my calculations, I’ll be in Zhangjiajie on Monday, November 16th. I adjusted my itinerary to avoid the weekend.

I’m wondering:

1- Do I need to book the park entrance in advance (like, is there a visitor limit?)

2- I plan to take the elevator and maybe a cable car (I’ll walk the rest—I’m in good shape). Should I book those too, or can I sort it out when I arrive?

3- On Wednesday, November 18th, I’m aiming for Tianmen Mountain. Same question—do I need to reserve? I read it’s under construction right now. And apparently, it’s line C.

3 bis - Also, is it possible to go all the way to the top by bus only, without the cable car, and finish on foot?

Thanks for your help.

Hi everyone,

I’m starting to think about a trip to Japan, though I haven’t yet decided on the exact duration or itinerary, and I have a few questions for those who know the country well or have traveled there recently.

First, about getting around: what do you think are the most economical and reliable ways to travel across Japan and move between cities? I’m thinking of trains, overnight buses, domestic flights, regional passes, etc. I’m not necessarily looking for the fastest option, but rather a good balance between cost, simplicity, and reliability.

I also have a question about the return ticket. Since I don’t yet know how long I’ll stay in Japan—or even if I’ll return directly to France (I might continue to another Asian country)—is it mandatory to have a return or exit ticket before entering Japan? Would a ticket to another Asian country suffice?

Regarding accommodation, I usually prefer staying in youth hostels rather than hotels. Are hostels easy to find all over Japan, including outside Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka? And what’s the average budget per night for something clean and well-located?

Finally, I’d like to get an idea of the overall budget for the trip. Is Japan still relatively affordable when traveling simply, or do expenses add up quickly? I’m mainly thinking about:

transportation between cities; local transportation; youth hostels; food; potential domestic flights.

My plan is to travel fairly freely, without necessarily booking everything in advance, so I can adjust my itinerary or stay longer in places I like.

If anyone has traveled this way in Japan, I’d love to hear about your experiences, tips, and maybe an idea of the daily budget to expect.

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

As mentioned in a previous post, I’m heading to Hong Kong and then spending a month in China (passing through Shenzhen).

I’d like to have some cash on me, so I’m wondering where’s the best place to exchange? In Shenzhen city? At Hong Kong Airport? Somewhere else?

For Hong Kong/Macau, I was thinking of using my bank card + Octopus card—I’m not sure if that’s the right call.

Thanks for your insights!