Bonjour, Je cherche des infos pratiques sur Yakushima, conseils/bon plans pour le ferry, les bus et les logements sur place mais surtout les meilleures randonnées à faire, j'aurais adoré consacrer plus de temps à cette île mais comme je compte faire Shikoku et Kyushu également, je ne peux y rester que 5~6 jours maximum, sachant que la météo est capricieuse en aout je souhaite optimiser mon séjour pour voir les plus beaux coins de l’île dans les meilleures conditions possibles. Merci d'avance pour vos conseils 🙂
Tu peux déjà voir les retour de randonnée sur ce site.
Met la carte en mode "OpenCycleMap" pour avoir la carte de sentier pédestre. C'est pratique pour créer son propre parcours.
"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).
Je pense passer 7 jours sur Yakushima (et 10 sur Kyushu), je ferai les randonnées à la journée car mon amie n'est pas familière des treks sur plusieurs jours. Donc dans cette esprit je cherche les plus belles randonnées à la journée.
Bonjour,
Excuse moi je n'avais pas vu ton message précédent, je vais regarder mes cartes et notes de 2013 et te revenir là-dessus. Je ne pourrais pas te fournir certaines infos car ma femme étant japonaise, certains détails m'ont échappés🤪 .
Tu pars toujours en août?
Oui fin août si tu as quelques infos elles sont les bienvenues, je me renseigne au maximum avant le voyage, d'ailleurs il y a un très bon ouvrage à télécharger ou acheter version papier sur le site yakumonkey pour ceux que ça intéresse. Merci d'avance.
Voici la description de notre randonnée on l’a fait deux fois en 2011 et en 2013 donc certaines infos sont à vérifier notamment à l’auberge de jeunesse de Myanoura qui me paraît être le meilleur endroit.
Concernant la période pour randonner sur les sommets, je déconseille d’y aller au printemps comme nous l’avons fait la première fois avec l’idée de profiter des cerisiers en fleurs dans le même voyage car il y a trop de neige. En septembre nous avons commencé notre marche alors qu’un typhon passait au niveau de Kyoto ce qui a failli poser un problème pour le trajet en bateau mais nous a laissé un ciel de traîne bleu électrique.
C’est une destination populaire pour les japonais, beaucoup de gens veulent y aller un jour et il y a foule sur les sentiers jusqu’au vénérable Jomon Sugi.
Les deux fois où nous nous sommes rendus à Yakushima c’était en une journée à partir de Nagoya en prenant le premier métro puis Shinkansen (avec 1 changement). La principale difficulté a été à chaque fois de trouver le bon autobus à Kagoshima pour se rendre de la gare jusqu’au au port: un vrai casse tête et c’est une fois rendu au terminal du bateau que l’on se rend compte du volume de voyageurs qui s’y rendent. Si je le faisais seul je passerai la nuit sur place, en plus la ville est face à un volcan en activité, c’est assez exotique.
À Myanoura il y a myriade d’hébergement chez l'habitant ce qui n’est pas forcément très accessible en raison de la langue et ça peut être réservé longtemps à l’avance par contre il y a une auberge de jeunesse plus internationale où l’on parle anglais vraiment très utile niveau renseignements et j’y avais acheté une carte 1:25000 de bonne qualité. Entre l’auberge et le port il y a un arrêt de bus sur le trottoir (une simple borne avec les horaires inscrits) pour se rendre au départ du sentier. Shiratani Unsuikyo. Là on paye l’accès au parc.
www.yakukan.jp/.../yakubus150406_e.pdf
Sur la carte que j’ai empruntée sur le web j’ai souligné notre itinéraire, pour un bon marcheur c’est deux jours. Pour boire il y a des sources mais il vaut mieux être prudent et toujours avoir de l’eau en rab. Il faut être autonome en alimentation (et s’être gavé de bons glucides la veille du départ). Avoir un matelas et sac de couchage pour les nuits en cabane (non gardées). Prévoir des conditions de moyenne montagne en été avec un supplément de pluie.
Au départ de Shiratani Unsuikyo (fin de la route) et jusqu’au refuge shin-takatsyka c’est de la montée dans une forêt superbe avec une pause lorsque après avoir franchi puis descendu un petit col on se retrouve sur une ancienne petite voie ferrée. À l’extrémité de ce segment se trouve des toilettes (on ne peut pas les manquer) ainsi que le début d’une montée éprouvante sur un terrain difficile puisque l’abrasion a dénudé les racines et des escaliers ont été installés. Il faudra peut-être composer avec le flux descendant des touristes. Les deux cabanes d’altitude sont à 1h30 de marche l’une de l’autre. Nous avons atteint la deuxième à la nuit tombante, juste le temps de faire à manger. Le cadre autour de la première cabane (Takatsyka hut) est plus agréable donc c’est un bon choix pour ceux qui souhaitent redescendre le lendemain.
Le deuxième jours peu de temps après le départ on entre dans un nouveau décor d’altitude qui est vraiment unique tant que l’on bénéficie d’un minimum de visibilité et c’est une longue journée car une fois rendu au sommet du Mont Miyanoura c’est une très longue descente dans un terrain toujours très inégal.
Une vidéo que j'ai réalisé vite fait sur place:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvaKJbXcXhI
À partir du Mont Miyanoura, si le ciel est dégagé et que l'énergie est au Rendez-vous, je conseille de faire un saut au Mont voisin nommé le Nagatadake car il y a une vue plongeante sur la côte nord-ouest de l'île.
Pour poursuivre la traversée à Partir du Mont Myanoura on descend dans un décor fabuleux mais le terrain n'est pas de tout repos, perso je préfère les montées. Je préconise donc les chaussures hautes avec une semelle en vibram.
Toujours si on a la patate et qu'on veut faire une petite montée après la rude descente il y a le Mont Kuromidake il doit y avoir une très belle vue normalement...(à 2.57 dans la vidéo).
Après le croisement avec le sentier vers le Kuromidake la pente devient plus sage, je conseille de dormir à la cabane Yodoko pas loin de la route (il peut y avoir du monde) ce qui permet le lendemain d'aller faire un tour À Yaku Sugi Land en utilisant la navette.
Le Lonely Planet 'Trekking in Japan' conseille de poursuivre la traversée en descendant sur la côte via un chemin assez interminable et peu intéressant.
Nous nous sommes rendu à un Onsen au bord de l'eau (voir carte), il faut autant que possible demeurer nu sorti de l'eau même si on a décidé de rester là à relaxer ainsi les nouveaux arrivants seront moins gênés de se dénuder à leur tour pour rentrer dans l'eau.
Pour conclure je dirais que pour la traversée et dans le but de dormir dans le deuxième refuge d'altitude (Shintakatsuka) il faut soit partir aux aurores soit aller à bonne allure sans faire de grosses pauses si on démarre vers 9-10 heures. Également, sur la carte certaines distances paraissent courtes, c'est de la dénivellée donc bien manger des Ramen et autres glucides complexes. Nous on est adeptes de la semoule versée dans de la soupe déshydratée japonaise avec quelques raisins secs😎.
N'hésite pas si tu as des questions...
Ah c'est drôle que vous parliez de semoule car je pensais en prendre pour Yakushima, est-ce commun au Japon ? facilement trouvable dans les combinis ? Je cherche de l'alimentation ayant un rapport poids/calories intéressant et facilement trouvable sur place, je pense faire le ravitaillement à Kagoshima car il est probable que les prix de Yakushima ne soient pas les mêmes et l'horaire d'ouvertures des magasins aléatoire ou propre au rythme de vie sur l’île (ouverture tard dans la matinée, j'ai pu le lire sur un blog).
bonjour,
En général, pour ce qui est de cet aliment spécifique, nous l'apportons de chez nous. C'est l'avantage d'avoir un bagage assez léger et on ne perd pas de temps à courir sur place à chercher un substitut.
Les deux fois où nous nous sommes rendus à Yakushima c’était en une journée à partir de Nagoya en prenant le premier métro puis Shinkansen (avec 1 changement).
Bonjour Pierre-Yves, bonjour à tous.
si je te lis bien, tu as passé une seule journée sur Yakushima : conseilles-tu ce genre d'expérience (une journée sur place).
Mon idée serait de rejoindre cette île depuis Kagoshima par bateau (3H aller retour).
Pour info, je vais passer une quinzaine de jours entre la Corée et le Japon la deuxieme quinzaine d'avril 2018. je suis en train de préparer mon itinéraire.
Merci à toi (et si d'autre peuvent apporter leur éclairage, il sera bienvenu 😉)
CDG DJE PTP KEF JFK DUB BER AMS SCL IPC VIE LIS LON BRU CAS MAD NRT ATH OSL GLA GVA BOG MIA HKG BKK PNH HKT FCO LAX HNL ITO SVO SGN DLI HAN LPQ XKH VTE PQC NAP BCN OLB YUL YYZ GOT NYO BUD LJU LIN BLQ OPO PDL HAM ICN HER MEX MID TPE VCE CPH TOS HEL CAG ...
Perso j'y ai passé 7 jours et j'ai trouvé ça juste si tu fais 3h aller 3h retour ça ne vaut pas le coup, grand minimum 2 jours sur place en s'organisant bien avant par rapport aux bus qui ont une fréquence pas très élevée, je conseil de prendre le pass bus très vite rentable. Aller à Yakushima sans aller dans la montagne c'est vraiment dommage, ce que j'avais beaucoup apprécié c'est faire le tour de l'île en bus. La montagne à Yakushima est magique elle vaut vraiment le détour.
Une petite vidéo faite sur place https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnGrpTy_I3I
Bonjour Laurent,
Merci pour ta réponse ;-)
compte tenu des délais finalement serrés, je préfère donc réserver Yakushima pour une autre fois... on ne peut pas tout faire.
CDG DJE PTP KEF JFK DUB BER AMS SCL IPC VIE LIS LON BRU CAS MAD NRT ATH OSL GLA GVA BOG MIA HKG BKK PNH HKT FCO LAX HNL ITO SVO SGN DLI HAN LPQ XKH VTE PQC NAP BCN OLB YUL YYZ GOT NYO BUD LJU LIN BLQ OPO PDL HAM ICN HER MEX MID TPE VCE CPH TOS HEL CAG ...
Je t'en prie 🙂 je tiens à préciser que la location de voiture contribue fortement à optimiser son séjour sur l’île, on peut trouver les horaires de bus sur papier à l'office du tourisme de Miyanoura (à 100 mètres de l'arrivée du ferry) et on peut également y acheter le pass bus.
Salut,
ma phrase était peut-être mal tournée et c'est le voyage d'aller qui nous a pris une journée entière en quittant Nagoya tôt le matin. Je conseille de rester 3 jours.
Bon voyage.
Content de revenir ici, ça faisait des années! Nous partons en famille au Japon mi-juillet et nous allons explorer principalement l'île de Kyushu pour ce 2ème…
J'envisage sérieusement de partir trois semaines au Japon avec mon compagnon soit en mars/ avril 2019 à la saison des sakura en fleur soit début novembre 2019…
Le départ est immiment! dans une semaine (le 23 pour être exacte) nous nous envolons pour le Japon. Un mois entre Kyushu, Yakushima et Kyoto. Ce voyage c'est…
Je pars au Japon (à Kyushu) en mars 2009. Je souhaite randonner sur l'île de Yakushima mais est-ce déjà la bonne période? Je ne sais pas s'il reste de la neige…
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).
hi! Is it easy to use for paying for all the small purchases at the markets? INSTALLATION AND USE WITHOUT ISSUES—do you also need a VPN for China?
Secondly, for using phone and internet, I have Orange—is it reliable, or should I go with Airalo instead?
