Bonjour à tous !
Je vais visiter Tokyo 10 jours en janvier prochain et je me renseigne déjà sur les titres de transports. Comme je prévois rester à Tokyo, je ne crois pas qu'acheter un JR Pass serait rentable. À travers mes recherches, j'ai vu qu'il y a la carte Suica. Si j'ai bien compris, cette carte n'est bonne que pour les trains JR, tandis que la Pasmo est bonne pour tous les trains, métro et bus autres que JR. J'ai lu que Tokyo était desservies par plusieurs compagnies de métro (?) alors je suis bien embêtée de savoir quelle carte choisir. Si ça peut guider les explications, je vais loger dans le quartier Shinjuku...
De plus, je vais arriver par l'aéroport de Narita et je veux prendre le train pour me rendre à Tokyo. Est-ce que TOUS les trains partant de l'aéroport Narita pour Tokyo nécessitent une réservation de sièges? J'ai lu que le Skyliner oui et le Narita Express aussi. Je suis ambivalente à réserver un siège (et si mon vol avait du retard ?? je perd mon argent et ma place ?) Est-ce que ces billets peuvent s'acheter à mon arrivée à Narita ?
Bref, je trouve le tout un peu / pas mal compliqué 😕, pourriez-vous éclairer ma lanterne svp ?!!
Les cartes Suica et Pasmo sont strictement équivalentes, valides pour quasiment tous les transports urbains et périurbains toutes lignes confondues (trains JR, Toei, Tokyo Metro, Tobu, Keisei, etc.), les bus, les achats dans les distributeurs et les combinis et de plus en plus de consignes à bagages.
On ne peut pas les utiliser pour le Shinkansen et autres trains avec réservation obligatoire.
Les sièges pour le Skyliner et le Narita Express peuvent être achetés sur place à Narita, pas besoin de réserver en avance. Alternativement, vous pouvez en effet prendre un train sans réservation avec la carte Suica ou Pasmo, le moins cher et le plus rapide étant le Keisei Narita Sky Access jusqu'à Nippori puis le JR Yamanote jusqu'à Shinjuku.
Bon voyage, et ne vous faites pas de souci, vous verrez que tout est plus simple qu'il n'y paraît en matière de transports à Tokyo.
Il y a aussi des trains beaucoup moins chers, a partir de 1000 yens, Keisei Mainline ou Keisei Access Express. Pour Shinjuku, le moins cher est Keisei Mainline a Nippori puis changer a la JR Yamamote Line.
Et vous n'etes pas oblige d'avoir une carte de ce genre du tout, vous pouvez payer avec des pieces et billets dans des machines automatiques pour chaque deplacement.
Et vous n'etes pas oblige d'avoir une carte de ce genre du tout, vous pouvez payer avec des pieces et billets dans des machines automatiques pour chaque deplacement.
En effet, on peut acheter les tickets au fur et à mesure mais les cartes Suica ou Pasmo sont vraiment pratiques, évitent d'avoir à chercher le prix de chaque trajet et de se retrouver avec des tonnes de petite monnaie, et font même gagner quelques yens sur chaque trajet d'ailleurs.
évitent d'avoir à chercher le prix de chaque trajet
J'aime bien. Ça fait partie du dépaysement du voyage. 😊
Cela vient peut-être que prendre un TEC est à la base dépaysant pour moi vivant à la campagne.
En plus, c'est à ce moment que je me débarrasse de la monnaie. J'ai tout le temps pour faire le compte juste sans stresser et sans embêter personne comme ça peut être le cas à la caisse d'un kombini (là, je donne souvent un billet).
"Un bivouac c'est un peu comme le dépucelage et la première cuite, une espèce de rite qui fais de toi un homme" (MonsieurHenri du site randonner-léger.org).
évitent d'avoir à chercher le prix de chaque trajet
J'aime bien. Ça fait partie du dépaysement du voyage. 😊
Cela vient peut-être que prendre un TEC est à la base dépaysant pour moi vivant à la campagne.
Chacun ses plaisirs 😉
En plus, c'est à ce moment que je me débarrasse de la monnaie. J'ai tout le temps pour faire le compte juste sans stresser et sans embêter personne comme ça peut être le cas à la caisse d'un kombini (là, je donne souvent un billet).
Ca va en dehors des heures de pointe, lorsqu'il y a plusieurs distributeurs de billets ou qu'on n'a pas que quelques minutes pour prendre une correspondance. Lorsqu'on s'est trouvé une ou deux fois à trier sa monnaie après avoir passé 5 minutes à essayer de trouver le tarif sur un plan difficilement lisible, avec 5 usagers qui grommellent derrière son dos, on passe à la Suica/Pasmo ...
je vais au distributeur uniquement après avoir trouvé le prix et avoir le compte juste dans ma main. 😉 Cela évite de rester plus de 20 secondes devant la machine.
"Un bivouac c'est un peu comme le dépucelage et la première cuite, une espèce de rite qui fais de toi un homme" (MonsieurHenri du site randonner-léger.org).
Pour le bénéfice des usagers de VF, des pass « spécial étrangers » sont offerts à tarif réduit. On peut se les procurer à l'aéroport. J'ai transmis tous les détails à Coclichou en privé, car c'aurait été trop long et inintéressant. Mais j'ai oublié de répondre à ta question sur le métro; il y a effectivement 2 lignes distinctes, mais je n'ai pas vu de différence quant à l'utilisation.
Comme le dit si bien Isabelle Boulay : À l'âge que j'ai je veux voyager léger, aucun amarre pour m'empêcher de partir...
Bon, revenons à nos moutons.
La carte Suica permet non seulement de payer le métro, le train et le bus, mais surtout de payer dans les konbini par exemple. Elle est quasiment indispensable, même pour ceux qui préfèrent déchiffrer longuement la carte des tarifs pour acheter un ticket papier qu'ils ne pourront même pas conserver comme souvenir.
Pareil pour la Pasmo évidemment. Après, le choix se fait selon que l'on soit plus pingouin que robot, ou l'inverse.
Il existait dans le temps une formule avantageuse N'Ex + Suica, mais il me semble qu'elle n'existe plus. Elle a peut-être été remplacée par autre chose...
il y a effectivement 2 lignes distinctes, mais je n'ai pas vu de différence quant à l'utilisation.
Il y a bien plus de 2 lignes distinctes, mais disons qu'il y a au moins deux réseaux distincts.
La différence ne saute pas aux yeux, surtout avec une Suica, mais en fait, les trajets empruntant deux réseaux différents sont plus chers que ceux réclamant une correspondance sur le même réseau.
'quasiment indispensable' ... je viens de passer 39 jours au Japon sans la moindre carte. D'ailleurs, beaucoup de Japonais utilisent aussi seulement du cash.
On peut passer autant de temps que l'on veut dans n'importe quel pays sans carte bancaire, mais on peut aussi se servir d'une carte visa pratiquement partout au Japon.
Bien sur que les espèces font partie des habitudes des japonais, mais la très grande majorité des magasins, restaurants et services est équipée pour accepter les cartes de crédit... même étrangères. Bien sur que lorsqu'on voyage en campagne il est préférable d'avoir du cash sur soi, mais on peut maintenant en retirer pratiquement partout, les agences postales sont quasiment toutes pourvues d'un distributeur.
Pour utiliser quotidiennement ma carte suica (ou autres), quand je suis au Japon, il faut bien reconnaître qu'elle n'a que des avantages: gain de temps indéniable à l'entrée des gares et stations de métro, utilisation dans tous les bus (même à Kyoto depuis cette année), utilisation dans les conbini, les distributeurs de boissons... et j'en passe. Le rechargement ne demande que quelques secondes.
Par ailleurs, il suffit d'observer le nombre de japonais qui l'utilisent et de constater la diminution du nombre de distributeurs de tickets de métro pour s'en convaincre.
Beaucoup de japonais utilisent aussi leur téléphone pour payer leurs achats sans contact.
Mes 25 ans de séjours au japon! http://www.soleilrouge.org/
Okinawa et Miyakojima: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6477376;idl3=9084144203&idl=3731943&idl2=8709057
Sakura: Balade de printemps: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6988760;idl3=9084144203&idl=3731943&idl2=8709057
Le japon, traditionnel pays du cash ... c'est en train de changer. Ils ont mis très longtemps a utiliser massivement les cartes. Et comme toujours dans ce cas, on ne fait pas que rattraper son retard, on innove et on va un cran plus loin. Si je ne paye que très rarement plus de 20 eur en cash, je peste toujours quand je rencontre le dernier magasin de la région qui n'accepte que du cash. Au japon c'est pareil, sauf qu'ils ont un peu zappé la carte de débit style Bancontact / Mistercash et ont adoptés une carte sans contact. La même que celles utilisées dans les transports.
Bien entendu le cash fonctionne encore toujours et on ne te regardera jamais de travers même si tu sors un billet de 10000 JPY pour payer un bento, mais les choses évoluent.
PS: on te regarde parfois étrangement quand tu as un billet de 2000JPY, tellement ils sont rares.
Ne t'en fais pas, c'est très simple de se déplacer à Tokyo. Je ne suis pas du tout expérimenté comme Marathon mais les 3 fois où j'y suis allé, ça s'est toujours bien déroulé. Tu n'as qu'à suivre les indications et ça va bien.
Par contre, tu aurais dû tenter de trouver une façon d'atterir à Haneda au lieu de Narita. Le trajet est tellement long entre Narita et Tokyo.....ça ne finit plus de finir..mais bon.....Nous y retournons cet hiver et malheureusement, nous avons dû acheter nos billets avec une arrivé à cet aéroport.....:(......Pour le départ par contre, c'est Haneda et nous en sommes ravis....
Je dis que c'est long car nous avons toujours pris l'option la moins cher, donc, la plus longue. C'est la ligne Keisei jusqu'à Ueno. Le train fait TOUS les arrêts et ça prend environ 1h10 1h20 si je me rappelles bien. Au final, ce n'est pas si pire, mais après 15h de vol, tu as juste hâte d'arriver à l'hotel :)
J'y serai du 18 au 28 janvier. Ouin, j'ai vu ça que ça aurait peut-être été plus simple d'arriver par haneda, mais trop tard car on avait réservé la veille. Je me console en me disant que je verrai du paysage...
Prenez le N'Ex (Narita Express) et vous verrez du paysage un peu plus vite, mais surtout plus confortablement 😛
(perso j'aime bien le train local, ça met dans l'ambiance tout de suite, mais c'est vrai que selon sa forme après le vol, ça parait long tout ces arrêts, puis on est un peu regardé de travers par certains avec nos valises :o)
Blog Japon : récits de voyages au Japon, des articles sur le Japon, des photos du Japon et des recettes de cuisines japonaise (par ma femme) : https://blog.m0shi-m0shi.com/
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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).