18 mai: Arrivée à Osaka à 15h45
19 mai: Osaka
20 mai: Osaka-Himeji (visite du fameux chateau)-Hiroshima
21 mai: Hiroshima-Miyajima
22 mai: Miyajima-Kyoto
23 mai: Kyoto-Fushimi-Kyoto
24 mai: Kyoto-Arashiyama-Kyoto
25 mai: Visite de Kyoto
26 mai: Kyoto-Nara-Kyoto
27 mai: Vistie de Kyoto
28 mai: Kyoto-Kanazawa
29 mai: Visite de Kanazawa
30 mai: Kanazawa-Takayama
31 mai: Visite de Takayama
1er juin:
2 juin:
3 juin: Visite de Tokyo
4 juin: Tokyo-Kamakura-Tokyo
5 juin: Visite de Tokyo
6 juin: Tokyo-Nikko-Tokyo
7 juin: Visite de Tokyo
8 juin: Départ de Tokyo à 16h15
Je le trouve pas mal cet itinéraire perso.
Je mettrais juste pas 2 nuit sur Hiroshima / Miyajima, mais une seule, en gardant 2 jours de visite et en rejoignant la prochaine étape en fin d'aprem.
Se limiter à 3 jours sur Tokyo est pour moi suffisant, si on veut se tenir aux visites "culturelles". Ce qui prends du temps sur Tokyo c'est tout le reste, qui finalement, ne plait peut-être pas à tout le monde, tout comme visiter des temples, chateaux, parcs & co ne peut pas plaire à tout le monde.
Par contre, je lisais que visiter Kanazawa en 1 journée depuis Tokyo était compliqué ?
Avant j'aurai dis oui ! Mais à partir d'avril 2015, la nouvelle ligne de Shinkansen reliant Tokyo à Kanazawa ouvrira et mettant la ville à seulement 2H30.
L'allez retour dans la journée va clairement être faisable (en partant tôt et rentrant tard) 😉
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/
et merci encore pour votre participation à mon voyage.
Alors en reprenant le dernier itinéraire nous allons le garder tel quelle et avons donc rajouter un jour à Tokyo, et ensuite il nous reste plus qu'un jour à ajouter ou nous hésitons de le faire sur matsumoto vu que justement il est sur le passage ou le rajouter à Kyoto ou encore dans une autre ville dans les alpes Japonaises?
Mais je pense que dans l'ensemble il va rester ainsi, et je pense tout de même garder les 2 nuits pour Hiroshima et myiajima afin de pouvoir être tranquille sans courir
Voici mon dernière itinéraire qui après vos conseils devraient jouer je pense non? Très peu de changement contrairement au dernier, nous avons juste ajouter un jour supplémentaire à Tokyo et l'autre jour qui nous manquait à ajouter nous l'avons mis à Matsumoto afin de voir y le château (même si je sais qu'il n'y a pas que ça dans la région).
Ce circuit, je pense nous permettrai d'avoir une bonne approche de certains lieux et prendre son temps à kyoto et Tokyo tout en visitant des lieux comme les alpes japonaises, qu en pensez vous?
18 mai: Arrivée à Osaka à 15h45
19 mai: Osaka
20 mai: Osaka-Himeji (visite du fameux chateau)-Hiroshima
21 mai: Hiroshima-Miyajima
22 mai: Miyajima-Kyoto (arrivée en fin de soirée)
23 mai: Kyoto-Fushimi-Kyoto
24 mai: Kyoto-Arashiyama-Kyoto
25 mai: Visite de Kyoto
26 mai: Kyoto-Nara-Kyoto
27 mai: Vistie de Kyoto
28 mai: Kyoto-Kanazawa
29 mai: Visite de Kanazawa
30 mai: Kanazawa-Takayama
31 mai: Visite de Takayama
1er juin: Matsumoto
2 juin: Tokyo
3 juin: Visite de Tokyo
4 juin: Tokyo-Kamakura-Tokyo
5 juin: Visite de Tokyo
6 juin: Tokyo-Nikko-Tokyo
7 juin: Visite de Tokyo
8 juin: Départ de Tokyo à 16h15
Attendez vous à avoir beaucoup de monde au château de Himeji, cela fait une dizaine d'années qu'il est fermé et il n'ouvrira que fin mars.
N'oubliez pas de faire un arrêt à Shirakawago entre Kanazawa et Takayama...
Kamakura n'est pas incontournable quand on a vu Kyoto et Nara... Si vous voulez vous balader au bord de l'océan, je vous conseille d'aller jusqu'à Enoshima. L'île (reliée par un pont) se visite en une demie journée.
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
Je prends note pour le marché qui sera surement une étape qui fera plaisir à ma compagne, shirakawago je prends note, c'est pour la visite de la ville ou autre chose en particulier?
Je prends note pour le marché qui sera surement une étape qui fera plaisir à ma compagne, ...
Oh, à vous aussi, il y a à manger et à boire (bière comprise), de l'outillage, de la coutellerie (j'ai eu droit à un mini-cours d'aiguisage), de l'art, de l'artisanat, du sabre, de l'armure (rien de formidable mais quand même), etc.
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
C'est sur que vue ainsi ça donne envie :), en plus votre blog est une vraie mine d'information cela vous nous aider avec tout vos articles sur la plupart des villes ou nous iront.
cela fait un moment que je n'ai plus rien poster au niveau des mises à jour sur mon voyage. Alors c'est officiel j'ai pris mes billets tour du monde et seront du 10 au 31mai au Japon.
J'atterris à Osaka pour repartir de Tokyo,
Voici un itinéraire semblable à l'ancien avec quelques ajouts et interrogations :
- 5 nuits à Kyoto (dont Fushimi, Nara, Arashiyama)
- 2 nuits à Matsue (en passant par Himeji)
- 1 nuit à Okayama (en passant par Kurashiki)
- 1 nuit à Miyajima (en passant par Hiroshima)
- 1 nuit à Osaka
- 2 nuits à Takayama
- 2 nuit à Kanazawa (en passant par Shirakawago)
- 1 nuit à Matsumoto
- 1 nuit à Kawaguchi-ko (voir le Mont Fuji)
- 5 nuits à Tokyo (dont Kamakura, Nikko, …)
Je ne connais pas du tout les étapes Matsue et Okayama ainsi que kawaguchi. Ma question réside dans ces 3 étapes devrai je les laisser ou les enlever afin de les rajouteurs ailleurs? Par exemple kyoto ou tokyo?
Okayama est sur le chemin entre Kyoto et Hiroshima, c'est tout a fait faisable.
Par contre je comprends moins Matsue qui est sur l'autre cote et moins facile d'acces : pour y aller depuis Kyoto il faut changer de train a Okayama. Cela me semble du temps de perdu dans les transports.
Pourquoi ne pas rajouter une nuit a Okayama et aller un excursion sur Naoshima ou Takamatsu (ile de Shikoku) ? Rajouter une nuit a Matsumoto est aussi tres bien.
Sinon oui on peut eventuellement rajouter ces nuits sur Tokyo ou Kyoto.
Je viens de recevoir un devis via une agence locale francophone qui me propose un devis à 2'200 euro par personne, JR pass 14j hébergement, 2 nuits en Ryokan, carnet de voyage etc.. etc...
Bien que le montant en soit ne soit pas énorme non plus, j'aurai voulu tout booker par moi même afin d'avoir vraiment le choix des hôtels et sûrement obtenir de meilleur pour le même prix. Mais ce qui était intéressant via cette agence était l'assistance ainsi que le carnet de voyage.
Pouvez vous me confirmer que même en ne parlant pas un mot japonais il est très facile de se débrouiller sur place pour les trains ainsi que les divers bus pour les alpes Japonaises?
Pouvez vous me confirmer que même en ne parlant pas un mot japonais il est très facile de se débrouiller sur place pour les trains ainsi que les divers bus pour les alpes Japonaises?
Je pense qu'environ 99 % des touristes étrangers qui visitent le Japon ne parle pas un mot de japonais, et ça se passe très bien.
Pour les bus, ce sera un peu plus difficile que pour les trains, mais pas insurmontable pour autant...
Je conseille vraiment de privilégier le "sur mesure fait par soi-même" 😛 !
Pouvez vous me confirmer que même en ne parlant pas un mot japonais il est très facile de se débrouiller sur place pour les trains ainsi que les divers bus pour les alpes Japonaises?
Lorsque je suis allée pour la première fois au Japon, il y a plus de 30 ans, je ne parlais et ne lisais pas un mot de japonais (bon, je savais dire bonjour, merci, excusez-moi, quelques mots relatifs au kendo et au judo, et compter jusqu'à 10, donc rien d'utile pour s'orienter ...). A l'époque, une fois sorti de Narita et de la gare centrale de Tokyo, quasiment aucune indication n'était traduite en anglais ni même transcrite en lettres romaines ("romaji"). Grâce aux indications, cartes et guides distribués par l'office du tourisme, ainsi que l'extraordinaire gentillesse de la population, nous avons parfaitement réussi à nous orienter et n'avons jamais étés en difficulté.
De nos jours, tout, même dans des bleds obscurs de fonds de campagnes, est au minimum transcrit en "romaji". De plus, le gouvernement essaie de faire venir un nombre croissant de visiteurs étrangers et se prépare en vue des jeux olympiques de 2020, et demande donc à la population de faire un effort pour améliorer son anglais.
Vous n'aurez donc aucune difficulté à vous débrouiller sans connaître la langue. Par contre, apprendre un minimum de vocabulaire (formules de politesse, chiffres, nourriture, ...) vous permettra d'avoir davantage de contacts avec les gens, surtout hors des grandes villes touristiques.
Un petit guide de conversation pour les visiteurs étrangers, édité par l'office du tourisme ...
et merci pour votre commentaire. Votre lien est parfait et je vais de suite l'imprimer, en effet à chacun de nos voyages nous essayons toujours de prendre un dictionnaire de la langue afin de se débrouiller au mieux et comme vous le dites il n'y a rien de mieux afin de faire connaissance avec les gens. D'ailleurs, votre commentaire me fais rappeler que souvent à nos retours de nos voyages nous racontons à nos proches souvent des situations marrantes en voulant parlé la langue locale qui nous a mené à chaque fois à de belles surprises !
C'est décidé on va commencer les réservations par nous même, nous allons en fin de compte garder notre itinéraire que nous avions modeler avec le forum il me semble plus cohérent et moins d'étapes. Bien que nous hésitons quand même sur le fait de tester l'expérience dans un temple avec les moines si quelqu'un l'a déjà fait?
Et nous sommes aussi preneur d'hôtel et Ryokan dont vous avez eu de belles expériences.
Ah et dernière questions est concenant le JR Pass 14jours j'ai vu qu'il coûtait 370frs par personnes est ce exactes? Ensuite y a une distinction première et deuxième classe nous pensions prendre la 2ème classe.
Et nous sommes aussi preneur d'hôtel et Ryokan dont vous avez eu de belles expériences.
Je me loge depuis plus de 30 ans dans des établissements de ce type: http://japaneseinngroup.com/ Ce sont de petits ryokans familiaux avec des prestations relativement basiques mais tout à fait correctes, dans des quartiers "populaires. D'aucuns vous diront qu'il ne s'agit pas de vrais ryokans car il n'y a pas les prestations plus ou moins luxueuses qui sont associées à ce mot, mais ils ont tort (et un plus gros budget que moi) 😉
A Tokyo, j'aime bien le Katsutaro, le Sawanoya, et un qui n'est pas sur cette liste, le Mikawaya Honten, un peu plus cher mais idéalement situé à Asakusa.
A Kyoto, je séjourne généralement au Hiraiwa Ryokan.
J'ai fait dans tous ces établissements des séjours prolongés (plus de 2 semaines à la fois) et ai été toujours très satisfaite.
Si votre budget le permet, payez-vous quelques nuits dans un ryokan de catégorie supérieure, vous ne le regretterez pas. Mon prof de Kendo séjourne au Gion Morisyo, charmant, idéalement situé et tenu par une famille adorable.
Ah et dernière questions est concenant le JR Pass 14jours j'ai vu qu'il coûtait 370frs par personnes est ce exactes? Ensuite y a une distinction première et deuxième classe nous pensions prendre la 2ème classe.
Aucune raison de prendre la 1ère, la seconde au Japon est mieux que la 1ère en Europe.
Je prévois voyager au japon au mois de mai 2015. J'aimerais avoir votre avis et vos conseils sur l'itinéraire que je suis en train de planifier. 1- Tokyo 7…
Comme beaucoup de personnes ici, J'ai la passion de l'Asie et tout spécialement du Japon. Avec ma compagne, on souhaite s'y rendre au printemps 2009, et ce…
Nous partons au Japon pour 1 mois en Avril 2016 et j'aimerais avoir vos avis sur notre ébauche d'itinéraire ci-dessous. Nous sommes actuellement en tour du…
Je vais passer un mois au Japon en août prochain. Je serai logée à Tokyo où je compte passer pas mal de temps et prendre mon temps pour visiter les différents…
Super excité! Je viens d'acheter mes billets d'avion! Nous arrivons à Tokyo (Ma femme et mon bébé de 2ans: Details important tout de même:D) le 9 Mai et…
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).