Je pars cet été 3 semaines au Japon. Ce sera la première fois.
Je suis entrain de travailler sur le programme, surtout par rapport à la durée du JR pass.
J'aimerais prendre un pass d'une semaine (J'essaie de réduire le budget).
Voila donc ce que j'ai pensé (numero=jour):
1- Arrivée le soir à Narita.
2-(Pass) Départ Narita- Journée à Kyoto
3-(Pass)Kyoto
4-(Pass)Kyoto
5-(Pass)Nara
6-(Pass)Kyoto
7-(Pass)Kyoto
8-(Pass)Hiroshima + Miyajima - Retour Tokyo
9- Tokyo
10- Tokyo
11- Tokyo
12- Tokyo
13- Hakone
14- Region des 5 lacs
15- Tokyo(Disney)
16- Tokyo
17- Tokyo
18- Kawasaki (Nihon Minkaen)
19- Tokyo
20- Tokyo
21- Départ :(
Voila ! Alors tout d'abord, qu'en pensez vous ?
- Ferais je mieux de prendre le Pass 14 Jours ?
- Hiroshima + Miyajima, c'est faisable en un jour ? Ou je ferais mieux de faire que 4 jours à Kyoto et 2 jours la-bas ?
- La région des cinq lacs, ca vaut le coup? Ou juste Hakone ?
- Est ce que 8/9 jours à Tokyo (car je ne compte pas Disney et kawasaki), ça parait bien ? Ou bien trop ou pas assez ?
Dernière question : J'ai un petit tatouage sur l'omoplate. J'aimerais aller à L'Ooedo Onsen Monogatari à Tokyo. Savez vous si j'y serai autorisée.
Ou y a t'il d'autres onsen plein air a Tokyo ?
Voila, j'ai fini mon looong message.
Merci à vous !
Salut, je suis allée au Japon en janvier 2012 pendant 2 semaines et demi. Mon itinéraire était similaire au tiens. De mémoire, j'avais également pris la pass d'une semaine.
Pour ma part, j'avais passé six jours à Tokyo, incluant la visite de Kamakura, et cela m'avait semblé suffisant. Je pense que tu y passeras beaucoup de temps, mais en te pressant à d'autres endroits. Tu peux facilement faire l'aller-retour de Nara en une seule journée. Tant quà être dans cette région, je te conseillerais d'aller passer une nuit à Koya-san où tu peux passer la nuit dans un temple bouddhiste. Hiroshima se visite rapidement, il n'est pas nécessaire d'y passer la nuit. C'est d'ailleurs ce que tu as prévu je crois. Mais, il me semble ambitieux de partir de kyoto (2h30 de train je crois), de visiter Hiroshima et Miyajima (que je n'ai malheureusement pas eu le temps de voir...) et retourner le soir même à Tokyo (environ 5 heures). Je pense qu'il serait préférable pour toi de passer une nuit à Hiroshima, dans ce cas.
Je ne connais pas la région des 5 lacs. Je suis allée à Hakone deux jours. La région se visite en une journée, mais c'est un très bel endroit pour décompresser un peu. Personnellement, je n'ai pas regretté d'y avoir dormi deux nuits.
Dernier truc, puisque tu passeras beaucoup de temps à Tokyo, peut-être que tu pourrais y rester quelques jours avant de partir pour Kyoto. Cela te permettrait de te reposer un peu après ton vol et t’acclimater au décalage horaire.
Voici l'itinéraire que j'avais fait:
Jour 1: Tokyo
Jour 2: Tokyo
Jour 3: Tokyo
Jour 4 : Tokyo
Jour 5: Tokyo (Kamakura)
Jour 6: Tokyo
Jour 7: Hakone
Jour 8 : Hakone
Jour 9: Kyoto
Jour 10: Kyoto (Nara)
Jour 11: Kyoto
Jour 12: Hiroshima
Jour 13: Osaka
Jour 14: Koya-San
Jour 15: Osaka
Jour 16: Tokyo
Après coup, j'aurais passé une journée supplémentaire à Kyoto, car j'ai manqué de temps, je ne serais pas resté pour la nuit à Hiroshima (après avoir vu le musée, j'avais seulement envie de partir de cette ville, mais je n'avais pas prévu aller à Miyajima) et j'aurais dû aller à Koya-San en passant par Kyoto plutôt que par Osaka, qui m'a laissée indifférente.
Dernière chose:P J'ai également regretté d'avoir réservé dans des petits hôtels, plutôt que dans des ryokan.
- Hiroshima + Miyajima, c'est faisable en un jour ? Ou je ferais mieux de faire que 4 jours à Kyoto et 2 jours la-bas ?
Pas en venant de Kyoto le matin et en repartant sur Tokyo le soir ! Il faut au moins y passer une nuit ; voire plutôt une nuit à Miyajima car cette île blindée de touristes le jour (ce qui la rend peu intéressante de mon point de vue), se vide la soir (tout comme Nikko au passage...).
- Est ce que 8/9 jours à Tokyo (car je ne compte pas Disney et kawasaki), ça parait bien ? Ou bien trop ou pas assez ?
Ce n'est jamais trop sur Tokyo ! Perso, à chacun de mes séjours (annuels) j'y passe au moins une semaine et je trouve toujours que c'est trop court.
Mais attention, tu pars pendant la pire période pour la météo : très chaud et affreusement humide. La visite des villes s'en trouve fortement pénalisée car c'est vite éprouvant ; et pas la peine de compter sur le soir pour se rafraîchir : l'air est tellement chargé d'une chaude humidité qu'on a l'impression d'être dans un sauna même quand le soleil est couché.
Si tu peux partir en avril-mai ou octobre-novembre, ce sera l'idéal.
- La région des cinq lacs, ca vaut le coup? Ou juste Hakone ?
Ce n'est pas vraiment au même endroit : Hakone plutôt au sud-est du Fuji, les lacs au Nord. Oui, les 5 lacs, ça vaut le coup même si cette région n'est pas la plus belle du Japon (évidemment, il y a le Fuji quand même !). Le mieux dans la région des 5 lacs, pour être libre de ses mouvements et bien découvrir la région sans contraintes sera de louer une voiture.
Dernière question : J'ai un petit tatouage sur l'omoplate. J'aimerais aller à L'Ooedo Onsen Monogatari à Tokyo. Savez vous si j'y serai autorisée.
En principe non... Tout dépend de sa taille évidemment et de ce que tu appelles "petit"... Tu peux même te faire (poliment) sortir du bain si ça dérange trop.
Cela dit, je préconise bien davantage un onsen dans la nature que dans ce lieu ultra fréquenté et touristique...
J'aimerais prendre un pass d'une semaine (J'essaie de réduire le budget).
D'une manière générale et d'expérience concernant les voyages au Japon, prévois d'avance de dépenser davantage que prévu... Ne calcule pas trop juste ton budget.
Tout d'abord, pour un tel itinéraire, prenez un billet d'avion "open-jaw", c'est à dire qui arrive à Osaka-Kansai (KIX) et repart de Tokyo (Narita ou Haneda). Ca vous évite un trajet.
Restez une bonne semaine à Kyoto et ses environs (Nara, etc). Avec un JRpass de 7 jours, vous pourriez à la fin de votre séjour à Kyoto aller à Hiroshima-Miyajima (2 jours/1 nuit), revenir sur Tokyo en plusieurs jours en faisant des haltes soit en bord de mer intérieure (Shikoku), soit sur l'autre côte (Kanazawa, ...), puis dans les Alpes japonaise (Takayama, vallée de la Kiso, ...), y compris le pied du Fuji.
Enfin, finissez par un séjour étendu à Tokyo comprenant des excursions à la journée.
J'ai passé trois semaine au japon cet été avec un coup de coeur pour le japon que je ne connaissais pas. L'été n'est parait-il pas la saison idéale mais nous avons eu de belles journées ensoleillées (chaud et humide quand même mais supportable). la petite déception c'est que le Fujisan est dans la brume et donc très peu visible. par rapport à ton itinéraire :Kyoto mérite un peu plus de temps - C'est là qu'il fait le plus chaud hélas !L'idéal est d'arriver par Tokyo ou Osaka et de repartir par Osake ou Tokyo. cela permet de prendre le Pass qu'une semaine et de centrer les déplacements en milieu de séjour.Je pense que le séjour sans pass serait plus avantageux qu'un pass de 2 semaines (voir le coût des trajets sur Hyperdia.com)personnellement j'ai bien aimé Nikko surtout qu'il y fait un peu plus fraisHiroshima mérite au minimum une nuit Hakone est très touristique et cherJ'ai vu un occidental avec petit tatouage dans un onsen à Kyoto. Mais relativement peu d'occidentaux en fait. Bonne préparation dans cette période pationnante aussi du voyage.
Nous partons du 5 au 18 avril au Japon. Avec le voyage cela nous fera 12 jours pleins sur place. Nous atterrissons à Osaka le 6 au matin et repartons le 18 de…
Je viens à vous car j'ai pour projet avec des amies d'aller au Japon pour l'année 2016. J'aurai tout juste 18 ans et je pense que j'aimerai y aller peut etre…
Nous prévoyons un voyage en famille à Tokyo pour fin octobre 2026, et j’aurais besoin de vos conseils pour organiser ce séjour. Voici quelques informations…
Asie du Nord-Est › Japon / Corée du Sud · 8 replies
J’ai laissé une discussion pour l’Italie, mais à ce jour je change d’avis. Pour les vols faire un CDG NRT et retour depuis Seoul. Pour nous 3 ce sera une 1…
Après 5 voyages en Chine, nous nous sommes enfin décidés à aller au Japon en juillet 2019 (ça faisait longtemps que ça nous démangeaient...) J' aimerais en…
On arrive à 3 le samedi 17 octobre à tokyo puis on trace à kyoto en train direct.
Dimanche, lundi, on visite kyoto et le soir on part à osaka en train pour y dormir.
Le mardi, on prend une voiture de location à l'aéroport Itami pour tracer 6j/5 nuits en road trip sur shikoku:
- 2 nuits dans la vallée de l'Iya
- jeudi matin, on part sur Matsuyama pour 2 nuits.
- samedi, on part visiter mima (ville, quelques temples +nuit) et on rentre le dimanche pour rendre la voiture à osaka.
On part très tôt le lundi 26 en avion pour aomori au nord d'Honshu où on prend une voiture de loc à l'aéroport pour tracer 5j/4nuits:
- J1: péninsule de tsugaru (takayam inari, cap tappi, kanita); nuit kanita
- J2: transfert par ferry sur péninsule de mutsu (falaises, lac usori); nuit shimofuro)
- J3: départ pour monts hakkoda et onsen à gogo; nuit à définir
- J4: retour voiture à aomori le midi et balade en ville avant de prendre le train pour tokyo le soir
On dort à tokyo le vendredi soir, on se balade le samedi et on rentre le dimanche.
Avis sur la faisabilité routière du périple? on y est en plein Koyo donc va y avoir du monde...
ça fait de la route je sais mais on est 2 à conduire. on n'a pas peur de la route même en montagne et à gauche! juste, est-ce qu'on va galoper ou c'est honnête? L'IA me dit cool !! mais c'est pas elle qui conduit...
Avez-vous des astuces pour réserver les logements dans la vallée de l'Iya? car peu ont des adresses mail ou des sites (je sais, il y a booking mais ils n'y sont pas tous...et vu la période, je pense qu'il vaut mieux réserver avant!). La question est valable aussi pour le nord d'Honshu.
Pour la loc de voiture, je pense passer par alamo car au moins c'est en français et clair mais avez-vous des loueurs directs avec des sites compréhensibles (toyota rentacar, pppfffffff🏴☠️....)?
Autre question: il y a tellement de train que ce n'est pas la peine de les réserver avant? on peut aller au guichet et prendre des places direct?
Pour payer la voiture de location, faut-il une carte de crédit ou de débit?
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).