Voila après un an passé en Nouvelle Zélande nous rentrons en France avec ma fiancée, et notre vol s'arrête sur Hong Kong pour une semaine :)
On sait pas par ou commencer nos recherches, que faire, ou aller etc.
On aimerai en fait faire de la visite et aussi du shopping, gouter a des plats typiques et hors du commun.
On a notre retour le 8 octobre a oo.15 ( on comprend pas trop aussi mais on suppose que c'est dans la nuit du 7 au 8 qu'on repart). Le 6 et 7 on voudrais être sur l'ile de l'aéroport voir le bouddha et faire une journée a disney :)
On est donc opérationnel du 2 au 6 au matin, la journée shopping on veut surtout voir des affaires (chaussure, t-shirt´ jupes etc) on a déjà tout en électronique.
Pour ce qui est balade on veut découvrir un peu la culture, les temples, les gens, etc
Aussi on cherche des plans pour dormir, enfin pas spécialement des backpackers mais des hôtels correct abordable.
Merci a vous pour toutes vos infos :)
Emilie et Jb
Voyage en NZ. Départ le 10/10/2012 : suivez nous au travers de notre blog : http://www.1001escales.fr
Bonne vacances! J'habite à hongkong. Je peux vous aider. Et plus, je désirer monter ma français.
Votre dits -- "On a notre retour le 8 octobre a oo.15 ( on comprend pas trop aussi mais on suppose que c'est dans la nuit du 7 au 8 qu'on repart). Le 6 et 7 on voudrais être sur l'ile de l'aéroport voir le bouddha et faire une journée a disney :)"
Vous dits, "On est donc opérationnel du 2 au 6 au matin, la journée shopping on veut surtout voir des affaires (chaussure, t-shirt´ jupes etc) on a déjà tout en électronique."
Je ne comprend pas, excusez-moi. Vous étes faiez du shopping tous jours au matin du 2 au 6? En outre, quel est le type et prix de affaires vous preferer? Si vous desirerez, je propose ma copaine.
Contrairement à la Chine Populaire, Hong Kong a un office du tourisme excellent, avec quelques bureaux bien placés : dans la gare du métro d'arrivée depuis Shenzhen, à Tsim Sha Tsui juste avant l'embarcadère du ferry et un autre sur l'île de Hong Kong.
Je suis allée à celui de Tsim Sha Tsui et une jeune femme parlant un excellent anglais, très jolie (ça m'est égal mais je suppose que pour un homme c'est une valeur ajoutée !), très compétente et très patiente m'a donné plusieurs cartes et un tas d'informations : sur les musées, sur les promenades à faire dans les vieux quartiers, sur les îles (ferry, visites), sur les restaurants (avec description de leurs meilleurs plats), incroyable. C'est ce qu'il vous faut car je suppose que vous arriverez sans guide papier.
Pour les hôtels, c'est le gros problème, Hong Kong est très cher ; enfin je suppose qu'arrivant de Nouvelle Zélande le contraste est moins fort qu'arrivant de Chine Populaire. La difficulté justement c'est de trouver quelque chose de décent à prix moyen. Il y a soit des cagibis pas trop chers soit des hôtels à plus de 80 € la chambre. Il faut que vous choisissiez aussi où vous voulez votre hôtel ; les deux meilleurs endroits sont : à Tsim Sha Tsui ou sur l'île de Hong Kong, et dans ce dernier cas je vous conseille d'être près d'un embarcadère.
Moi j'ai passé la première semaine d'août à Hong Kong, j'ai choisi un hôtel sur l'île de Hong Kong au métro Sheun Wang, non loin des embarcadères que j'ai utilisés tous les jours : pour aller à Kowloon, pour aller à Lantau (l'île de l'aéroport) et pour aller à Macao ; il y a des passerelles pour faire tous les trajets à pied sans traverser une route. Mais c'était quand même 87 € la nuit. Je te conseille de regarder un site comme booking.com, ils ont plus de 300 hôtels à HK, ça te donnera une idée. Il y a cartes, conditions d'annulation (ils sont plus stricts souvent à HK), commentaires de clients, etc... A toi de choisir.
Pour aller à Lantau, à Disney Land comme vers le Bouddha, il y a aussi le métro (environ une demi-heure), plus rapide, car le ferry abord l'île de l'autre côté. C'est très bien expliqué sur le dépliant que te donnera l'office du tourisme.
Il ne vous reste que deux ou trois jours pour les visites, si on enlève Lantau et le shopping ; les musts sont le mont victoria sur l'île de Hong Kong, traverser en ferry de Tsim Sha Tsui à Central, de jour, de nuit, chaque fois que vous pouvez, le spectacle des buildings illuminés de l'île de HK depuis Tsim Sha Tsui, les marchés de Kowloon, les quartiers de gratte-ciels de l'île de HK, une ballade dans les vieux quartiers de HK, etc... Vous ne verrez pas tout. Ça dépendra aussi du temps.
Pour manger, les centres commerciaux ont souvent de bonnes adresses, on peut y manger chinois, japonais, vietnamien, thaï, indien, français, italien, et j'en passe... Je me suis régalée. Il y a notamment l'IFC Mall qui est sur le chemin des passerelles entre Central et Sheun Wang sur l'île de HK et l'Ocean Mall si ma mémoire ne me fait pas défaut, le centre commercial qui est juste en face de l'embarcadère de Tsim Sha Tsui. Certaines adresses sont bon marché et d'autres (les occidentales notamment) nettement plus chères.
J'ai adoré Hong Kong et mes six jours ne m'ont pas du tout suffit, je te souhaite bon voyage là-bas. Pasqualina.
A HK, le shopping peut faire l'objet d'une sortie après dîner, les magasins ferment en général vers 22 heures, et certains encore plus tard. Ceci pour libérer la journée pour les visites
J'ai oublié de te parler des musées : deux musées sont très faciles d'accès car tout près des deux embarcadères du ferry : le tout nouveau musée de la Marine à Central et le musée d'art (expositions variées, ancien et moderne) à Tsim Sha Tsui. Et il y a le musée d'histoire de Hong Kong à Kowloon un peu plus loin de Tsim Sha Tsui, prendre un bus pour 3 ou 4 stations. Ils ferment vers 17 h ou 17 h 30 je crois, un peu plus tard le week end et si je me souviens bien n'ont pas le même jour de fermeture : pas de fermeture pour le musée de la Marine, le jeudi pour le musée d'Art et le mardi pour le musée d'Histoire, à vérifier avec l'office du tourisme, les jours que j'ai donnés ici sont du Lonely Planet et mes documents de HK sont au fond de la valise.
Ils sont les auberge qui je recommend pour mon amis l'etrangers.
Onedoz, J'aime bien le "Espace Elastique B&B" -- il est situeé le center-ville dans Tai O -- un petit ville tranquil et original. Restez un jour ou deux peut-etres? Pasqualina est raison, c'est ne pas cher en hong kong. (Je ne sais pas comment dit en français, je aller écrire en anglais -- some of these locations above are not the prime, nor the living space may be smaller than you expected or used to, especially if you go the budget route. If you have a place or area in mind, you can send it to me -- If I know, I am happy to tell you how far away it is from the metro or ferry or activities that you wish to enjoy. Tsim Sha Shui and Mong Kok and Causeway Bay and Central or some city centers, but if your activity is for nature or if time is not a constraint, I don't see the point to stay all nights there. There is much more to see, depends if you want to venture out this time or stay put at the most popular centers. (Think about most tourists go to Paris or Marseille/Nice, but there is so much more to offer in France.) Even the suburban cities -- say Shatin / Tai Wei and Tsuen Wan -- are as populated as Lyon and Montepeiller, respectively. Hope this will give you a better idea to stay in Hong Kong. Have a good day!)
J'ai longtemps hésité à réserver le Bishop Lei, le premier nom de ta liste de Top 10 Budget hotels, la chambre sans vue sur le port était à plus de 100 euros en août, et il fallait mettre encore 50 euros de plus pour avoir la vue que montre la photo, ce n'est pas exactement ce que j'appelle un hotel budget, un hotel pas cher. En septembre, en semaine (car les prix augmentent le week end à HK), la chambre sans vue est 87 € et la suite avec vue 127 € et il y a une piscine sur le toit. Il est sur booking.com.
Tu parles de "cagibis" qui seraient bon marché .
Tu peux en dire un peu plus ? Ce sont des mini-chambres, genre cellules ? Propres ? A peu près quel prix ?
"La vie est un voyage qui se vit au présent ou jamais ...."
Va voir sur booking.com, tu demandes le classement par tarif, et tu regardes les 50 premières adresses. Evidemment la 1ère est une des pires : 6 m2 la chambre double pour 24 € la nuit en septembre, mais les clients disent que c'est plus petit et plus sale que sur les photos, l'air conditionné ne marche pas ou quand il marche il goutte sur le lit, la chambre ou la couverture sentent mauvais, cafards sous le lit, etc... Il ne faut pas réserver sans lire les commentaires. A ce prix là en Espagne tu as une chambre simple mais propre et où tu peux bouger, jamais en-dessous de 10 m2. Je me souviens avoir lu des commentaires quand je cherchais une chambre pour août disant qu'ils n'arrivaient pas à rentrer leur valise dans la chambre parce que le lit prenait presque toute la place !
En effet, j'ai eu une chambre en longueur mais impeccable, avec une salle de bains nickel et une courette privative , pour 20 euros à Algésiras, avant de prendre le bateau pour le Maroc .
Je vais éplucher les offres de booking.com Merci pour l'avertissement .
"La vie est un voyage qui se vit au présent ou jamais ...."
Il faut ne pas se faire d'illusions sur le shopping à HK 🤪
S'il y a une concentration énorme de centre commerciaux, les prix ne sont pas décrochés de l'Europe et ça vaut aussi pour l'électronique où on gagne à peine 5% par la TVA mais avec les soucis de garantie ensuite.
Si les chinois achètent du Vuitton à Paris, c'est bien que c'est pas si avantageux.
A part les contrefaçons bien sûr, à marque équivalente, j'ai jamais vu de différences flagrantes. Regarder bien les prix européens avant de ramener 1 valise pour rien 😛
Pour le shopping branché, le Times Square à Causeway Bay est pas mal avec beacuoup de jeunes japonais qui viennent ici.
Le quartier a pas mal de petites boutiques pointues contrairement aux gros centres qui ne proposent rien de bien original par rapport à nos magasins.
Un temple très animé et sympa c'est le Temple Wong Tai Sin ( le métro arrive juste devant )
Bonjour. Tu as rasion. Bishop Lei toutjours est ne pas cher, mais parfois le prix est 55€ pour nuit. En réservent, je vourdrais indiquer les prix est differences si faire un reservation sur internet ou pour telephonez -- Attention, SVP. Et, le prix fluctue pour jour... C'est ne pas simple.
J'ai longtemps hésité à réserver le Bishop Lei, le premier nom de ta liste de Top 10 Budget hotels, la chambre sans vue sur le port était à plus de 100 euros en août, et il fallait mettre encore 50 euros de plus pour avoir la vue que montre la photo, ce n'est pas exactement ce que j'appelle un hotel budget, un hotel pas cher. En septembre, en semaine (car les prix augmentent le week end à HK), la chambre sans vue est 87 € et la suite avec vue 127 € et il y a une piscine sur le toit. Il est sur booking.com.
Je trouve les jeunes hongkong quelquefois ne pas font du shopping à Times Square... Peut-etre les jeunes japonais ou hongkong qui est riches.
Si les jeunes est riches fairent du shopping, Times Square ne pas le favori. Avec bon sens, je rarement achete les contrefaçons en hongkong.
Il faut ne pas se faire d'illusions sur le shopping à HK 🤪
S'il y a une concentration énorme de centre commerciaux, les prix ne sont pas décrochés de l'Europe et ça vaut aussi pour l'électronique où on gagne à peine 5% par la TVA mais avec les soucis de garantie ensuite.
Si les chinois achètent du Vuitton à Paris, c'est bien que c'est pas si avantageux.
A part les contrefaçons bien sûr, à marque équivalente, j'ai jamais vu de différences flagrantes. Regarder bien les prix européens avant de ramener 1 valise pour rien 😛
Pour le shopping branché, le Times Square à Causeway Bay est pas mal avec beacuoup de jeunes japonais qui viennent ici.
Le quartier a pas mal de petites boutiques pointues contrairement aux gros centres qui ne proposent rien de bien original par rapport à nos magasins.
Un temple très animé et sympa c'est le Temple Wong Tai Sin ( le métro arrive juste devant )
Je voudrais partir 2 semaines à Pekin et Hong Kong (16j avion compris). J'ai cru comprendre que niveau climat septembre et octobre serait un bon choix. J'ai vu…
Je pars samedi matin de shanghai avec mon copain pour quasi une semaine a HK. La 1ère raison c pour notre visa et par la même occaz on va découvrir un peu le…
J’ai réservé J’ai réservé un –court- voyage d’une semaine à Hong Kong début novembre. J'ai quelques interrogations d'ordres divers: ’ai pour l’hébergement: je…
Une amie cambodgienne voudrait savoir combien elle dépenserait de dollars honkongais en une semaine a HK?????????? elle logerait chez une amie... le budget est…
Je vais passer une semaine à Hong kong avec mes deux filles 9/12 ans puis 4 semaines en chine continentale. J'avais prévu une première semaine très cool…
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
---
Days 1–3: Tokyo (April 25–27)
Arrival and adjustment (no car needed yet).
Neighborhoods to visit: Shinjuku, Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Odaiba.
Suggested activities: Ghibli Museum, Sumida River cruise, izakaya meals.
Late cherry blossoms (yaezakura) possible at Shinjuku Gyoen.
Pick up the rental car on the morning of April 27.
---
Days 4–5: Mount Fuji & Hakone (April 27–28)
Route: Tokyo → Kawaguchiko/Hakone (~2 h).
Activities:
Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda (Fuji views + late cherry blossoms)
Onsen baths, Hakone Open-Air Museum.
Stay: ryokan with onsen and views of Mount Fuji.
Activities:
Preserved old town, sake breweries, UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go.
Stay: traditional minshuku (thatched-roof house).
Cherry blossoms are finishing at this altitude — beautiful mountain/nature contrasts.
---
Days 8–10: Kyoto & Nara (May 1–3)
Route: Takayama → Kyoto (~4 h 30).
Activities in Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari (red torii gates), Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Gion (geisha district).
Day trip to Nara:
Free-roaming deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Stay: Kyoto (3 nights).
---
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.
---
Days 12–13: Kanazawa (May 5–6)
Route: Osaka → Kanazawa (~4 h 30).
