Bonsoir, je suis nouveau sur le forum et je mis suis inscrit dans le cadre de la préparation d'un voyage au japon que je vais effectué du 08 août au 02 Septembre. C'est mon premier voyage au Japon, j'ai seulement 20ans 😄, je part donc logiquement en quête de sagesse et de conseils 😉.
En fait j'ai déja prévu une bonne partie de ce voyage, mais il reste encore certaines zones d'ombres, notament sur des lieux à visité qui valent peut être le détour, et également sur l'éstimation de notre budjet. Je vous expose pour l'instant ce quoi ressemble mon (enfin notre, je part avec un ami) itinéraire :
Départ Vendredi 08 Aout, arrivé samedi 09 à Tokyo 3 journées a Tokyo, dont 3 nuits dans le JUYOH HOTEL à 3200yen/nuit. A partir du Mardi 12 Aout, on quitte tokyo pour... zones d'ombres justement. Rien de prevu donc jusqu'au Samedi 16 aout, location d'une semaine a Kyoto, jusqu'au Samedi 23 aout. Nouvelles periode indécise, mais nous souhaiterions peut etre aller a Okinawa (faisable sans se ruiner ?) Puis les trois derniers jours, du Samedi 30 Aout au Mardi 02 Septembre, retour sur tokyo, et arrivé à Paris mardi soir.
Voila ce qui est sur pour l'instant, enfin je n'est pas encore reserver d'hotel pour tokyo les 3 derniers jours... Il me reste donc en tout une bonne semaine et demie non remplie, 4 jours avant la semaine centrale a Kyoto, et 6 apres...
Avez vous des villes à me conseiller ? j'aimerais bien aussi passer une nuit dans une petite ville typique, sans touristes... Etant également un bon amateur de groupes japonnais, je compte essayer d'aller dans une ville possedant un festival. Est-ce que quelqu'un y est déjà aller, en reservant ou achetant directement sa place la bas? (car impossible de reservé par le net :s)
Pour la deuxième partie vide, je pense donc à Okinawa, j'ai vu que cette zone est composé de nombreuses petites iles, avez vous une ile ou une ville particuliere à me conseiller ? Est-ce raisonnable, car cela rajoute un billet d'avion supplémentaire dans les 350€ aller-retour...
Car niveau budjet, j'ai deja payer les billet d'avion, la semaine à kyoto, le Japan Rail Pass de 3 semaines, et c'est tout... 😕 Est-ce que 1000€ chacuns sufiront ? en sachant qu'il reste la nourriture, les logements, les petits transport, et les souvenirs...
Autre question, suis-je obliger de reserver tout mes logements à l'avance? Ou est-ce simple de se loger, de trouver des auberges/ryokan, tant que l'on est pas dans les grandes villes ?
Bref, 1000 et unes questions et incertitudes sur ce sejour, j'espere que vous pourrez repondre à certaines et nous conseiller pour notre premiere immersion dans ce merveilleux pays qui m'attire depuis si longtemps 😊
Ok merci 😉 Effectivement j'avais entendu parler de "saison des typhons" pour Aout, c'était également un facteur qui me faisait hésiter pour Okinawa... Je pense donc que l'on fera sans 😄.
Quatre semaines pleines au Japon pour un premier séjour, c'est un vrai bonheur... un vrai luxe même ! C'est très bien, tu vas adorer ! Tu tu donnes le temps de bien découvrir Tokyo et c'est très bien aussi, c'est une ville magique.
Concernant les vides dans ton itinéraire, il faut effectivement tenir compte de la météo. La période des typhons commence généralement dans la deuxième partie du mois d'août et dure tout le mois de septembre. Okinawa est effectivement l'une des régions les plus concernées. Mais il y en a aussi régulièrement à Tokyo, dans le Shikuko, Kyushu et l'ensemble du Honshu. Faut-il pour autant se priver d'étapes qu'on a envie de faire ? Pas sûr. Un typhon, c'est une journée de grosse tempête : en gros, il fait nuit, il pleut averse non stop et il y a beaucoup de vent. Mais cela dure rarement plus d'une journée. Sur 4 semaines, ce n'est peut être pas insurmontable.
En revanche, en dehors des typhons, le Japon est un pays très, très chaud l'été. A Tokyo, non seulement il peut faire nettement plus de 30°, mais surtout, le taux d'humidité avoisine souvent les 100 %. Ca peut donc être assez difficile à supporter. C'est, à mon avis, la meilleur occasion d'aller découvrir Hokkaido, l'île la plus au Nord du Japon. Il y fait quand même assez chaud (facilement 25°) mais c'est plus sec donc plus agréable. Et alors là, hormis Sapporo, c'est la pleine nature. C'est vraiment sympa et même top si tu as la possibilité de louer une voiture (ce que je conseille vivement de faire !).
J'ai effectivement du mal a tenir en place, depuis le temps que j'attend sa !🙂 Plus qu'un long mois...
Je comptais plutot aller dans le sud pour la derniere partie de mon voyage, histoire de passer une semaine au bord de mer (c'est l'été apres tout ^^), mais si même a Tokyo il fait si chaud, j'imagine pas la température dans le sud... En fait à defaut d'Okinawa, je cherche un endroit sympa qui fasse vraiment vacances d'été, avec plage et ambiance festive (pour cette partie là de mon voyage). Mais je ne sais pas si toute les côtes du japon sont praticables (j'ai un peu une image style bretagne en tête, rocailleux etc, par vraiment longue plage de sable fin comme okinawa...), et si une ville est plus conseiller qu'une autre pour ce que je cherche...
Et pour Hokkaido, c'est plus ce que je recherche pour le vide de la premiere partie, ce coté rural etc... par contre je n'est pas le permis 😕, ya t'il des bus pour relier les grandes villes aux villages plus ruraux ?
Alors là si tu cherches des belles plages, c'est Okinawa et pas ailleurs. Je ne connais pas, mais on m'a dit qu'elles étaient belles. Et ce qui est sûr, c'est que sur le reste du pays, les plages, c'est vraiment pas terrible. Les Japonais ne vont pas à la plage, ils préfèrent les bains chauds (onsens) et ils ne font jamais de bronzette. C'est pourquoi, dans ce pays si propre et si beau, les plages sont aussi moches et parfois sales. C'est incroyable vu la météo et la configuration du pays (que des îles...), mais c'est comme ça. Ca donne une idée du potentiel touristique inexploité...
Sinon à Hokkaido, oui, il y a sûrement des bus et des trains. Mais à la campagne, le réseau de train est assez maigre. Tu vas passer beaucoup de temps dans les transports... et tu ne verras pas les coins les plus reculés. Maintenant, évidemment, si tu n'as pas le permis et que tu veux aller à Hokkaido, tu arriveras sûrement à te débrouiller...
Je continu toujours à remplir les trous de mon itinéraire, c'est chose faite je pense entre la partie Tokyo et Kyoto du debut, sa donnerai :
Départ de tokyo le 12 Aout au matin pour kamakura, on visite les temples la journée, puis on dort dans un hotel ou ryokan. Le lendemain, direction assez tot vers un festival (normalement à 3 kilometres de kamakura, donc si on trouve pas de bus sa sera à pied ^^).
Le soir, direction la presqu'ile d'Enoshima, 10-15 kilometres de là, la part contre j'espere que l'on trouvera un bus, sinon on est pas arrivée ^^' Il faudra trouver un hotel/ryokan aussi. Le lendemain, jeudi 14 aout, visite d'Enoshima, puis direction Fujisawa (relié par un pont), on prend le train vers Yokohama, puis recherche d'hotel ryokan encore une fois, le lendemain visite de Yokohama et depart pour Kyoto en soirée ou le lendemain matin.
Mes seules grosses incertudes sont les réservations et les bus. J'ai chercher sur pas mal de site, mais les hotels ou ryokans sont en japonnais, donc pas de reservation (et même de compréhension) possible. Est-ce possible de trouver des hotels sans avoir réserver ? Et pour les bus, j'èspere qu'ils seront assez comphréhensible pour deux pauvres gajins ^^
Pas de panique pour les réservations: vous pouvez les faire aisément, en anglais, de 3 façons:
via le Welcome Inns reservation center, qui a des bureaux dans les aéroports, à Tokyo, à Kyoto par internet au fur et à mesure sur leur site www.itcj.jp, directement grâce à la liste papier d'hôtels et de ryokans à prix abordables que le Welcome distribue (demandez-en une directement à leur bureau de Paris dont vous trouverez l'adresse ici: www.tourisme-japon.fr )
Pareil pour les bus, demandez des horaires pour les destinations visées à l'office du tourisme.
Hello,
Je suis partie au Japon au mois d'août dernier et j'ai cherché comme toi un endroit où pouvoir me poser quelques jours à la plage. Zut, c'est l'été quand même. Après de grosses galères de tentatives de réservation à distance (comme tu l'as fait remarquer, à part à Okinawa, difficile de trouver des plages et des informations fiables en anglais), je peux te conseiller deux endroits : L'ile de MIYA JIMA : une plage aménagée et plutôt sympa permet de se baigner. On a passé 4 jours sur l'ile et on n'a pas regretté. Les groupes de touristes viennent passer la journée, ou deux jours tout au plus sur l'ile, et c'est un vrai bonheur de pouvoir profiter pleinement du site une fois tout le monde parti. La rando à pied jusqu'en haut de l'ile est vraiment super. Amanohashidate : à deux heures de train environ de Kyoto : Super langue de sable et plage aménagée. Charmant village d'un côté et point de vue avec téléphérique de l'autre.
J'espère que ces infos te seront utiles.
A bientôt !
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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).
