Pour mon 2ème voyage au Japon en novembre 2015, je vais explorer Kyushu et retourner sur Tokyo et Kyoto.
Voici mon itinéraire sur Kyushu :
Jour 1 : Fukuoka - Nuit a Fukuoka
Jour 2 : Recuperation voiture de location - Dazaifu - Nuit a Dazaifu ou Fukuoka ??? Qu'est ce qui est le mieux ?
Jour 3 : Yanagawa - Nuit a Yanagawa
Jour 4 : Nagasaki - Nuit a Yanasaki
Jour 5 : Nagasaki - Nuit a Yanasaki
Jour 6 : Unzen - Nuit a Unzen
Jour 7 : Peninsule de Shimabara - Nuit a Kumamoto
Jour 8 : Kumamoto - Nuit a Kumamoto
Jour 9 : Aso - Nuit a Aso
Jour 10 : Beppu - Nuit a Beppu
Jour 11 : Fukuoka - restitution voiture location
Jour 12 : Train de Fukuoka a Kagoshima - Nuit a Kagoshima
Jour 13 : Train de Kagoshima a Fukuoka - Vol pour Hong Kong
Qu'en pensez vous ? est ce qu'il y a des étapes trop courtes ou trop longues ? Je voudrais un rythme pas trop intense pour pouvoir profiter de chaque endroit.
Bonjour,
Je trouve cela un peu charge et speed, voici quelques idees pour alleger le circuit :
Supprimer Kagoshima pour gagner plus de temps dans le circuit voiture.
Jour 1 a 3 : Fukuoka
Dazaifu et Yanagawa sont faisables a la journee depuis Fukuoka, la voiture est inutile surtout que pour Yanagawa - Nagasaki il va falloir faire du chemin en sens inverse.
Passez plutot les 3 nuits sur Fukuoka pour louez la voiture au matin du 4eme jour.
Jour 7 : Unzen et Shimabara, nuit a Unzen
Pourquoi pas passer par la petite ville de Isahaya avec ses arrets de bus en forme de fruits. Ca fait faire un petit detour mais c'est mignon et original. Il y a aussi un jardin avec un pont a lunettes comme a Nagasaki.
Jour 8 : Kumamoto, nuit a Kumamoto
Jour 9 : Takachiho, nuit a Takachiho
Takachiho est un petit village avec de superbes gorges : http://takachiho-kanko.info/en/
Je savais bien qu'il fallait que je demande des conseils sur mon itinéraire ... et en effet ils sont très avisés !
Supprimer Kagoshima pour gagner plus de temps dans le circuit voiture.
Kagoshima n'a t il pas d'intérêt ? Eventuellement je peux essayer de rajouter des jours en plus en en prenant sur Tokyo et Kyoto pour profiter de le faire. Car aller sur Kyushu et ne pas faire Kagoshima si ça a de l'intérêt c'est bête non ?
Jour 1 a 3 : Fukuoka
Dazaifu et Yanagawa sont faisables a la journee depuis Fukuoka, la voiture est inutile surtout que pour Yanagawa - Nagasaki il va falloir faire du chemin en sens inverse.
Passez plutot les 3 nuits sur Fukuoka pour louez la voiture au matin du 4eme jour.
Très bonne idée !
Le 4eme jour, direction Nagasaki via la prefecture de Saga et ses villes de potiers : Imari, Arita, Okawachiyama (www.benefukuoka.com/...08/okawachiyama.html)
Nuit sur le chemin
J'hésitai à faire ces villages d'après les guides mais c'est vrai que ton article m'a donné y envie d'y aller donc pourquoi pas ! Pour les hotels, vu que sur le post tu dis qu'il n'y a pas grand chose dans le village, n'est ce pas trop difficile pour se loger ?
Jours 5 et 6 : Nagasaki
Jour 7 : Unzen et Shimabara, nuit a Unzen
Pourquoi pas passer par la petite ville de Isahaya avec ses arrets de bus en forme de fruits. Ca fait faire un petit detour mais c'est mignon et original. Il y a aussi un jardin avec un pont a lunettes comme a Nagasaki.
C'est noté
Jour 8 : Kumamoto, nuit a Kumamoto
Jour 9 : Takachiho, nuit a Takachiho
Takachiho est un petit village avec de superbes gorges : takachiho-kanko.info/en/
Ca a l'air très joli en effet je l'ajoute a mon circuit.
Jour 10 : Region du volcan Aso puis nuit a Kurokawa onsen
Attention, le cratere est toujours ferme : www.city.aso.kumamoto.jp.e.pw.hp.transer.com/.....
Vu les récents événements, je me demande si c'est interessant de l'inclure à mon circuit si on ne peux pas accéder au cratère. Qu'en penses tu ?
Jour 11 : Yufuin
www.japan-guide.com/e/e4750.html
Jour 12 : Beppu
Je rajoute Yufuin, je l'avais vu en effet mais je l'avais oublié ! N'est ce pas trop redondant avec Beppu ?
En tout cas merci beaucoup pour tes conseils, c'est très sympa ;)
Kagoshima n'a t il pas d'intérêt ? Eventuellement je peux essayer de rajouter des jours en plus en en prenant sur Tokyo et Kyoto pour profiter de le faire. Car aller sur Kyushu et ne pas faire Kagoshima si ça a de l'intérêt c'est bête non ?
Je trouve que Kagoshima vaut le déplacement.Le Sakurajima est très impresionnant et le sud de la préfecture très beau : bains de sable, Mont Fuji du sud etc...
Après ça dépendra de ce que vous souhaitez mais si vous voulez venir sur Kagoshima (comme dit dans le premier message, en train car pas le temps en voiture) il faut libérer au moins deux jours.
J'hésitai à faire ces villages d'après les guides mais c'est vrai que ton article m'a donné y envie d'y aller donc pourquoi pas ! Pour les hotels, vu que sur le post tu dis qu'il n'y a pas grand chose dans le village, n'est ce pas trop difficile pour se loger ?
Je ne sais pas si il y a des ryokans ou pensions sur le village mais sinon la ville d'Imari est à 10 minutes de voiture.
Vu les récents événements, je me demande si c'est interessant de l'inclure à mon circuit si on ne peux pas accéder au cratère. Qu'en penses tu ?
En effet si c'est pour voir le volcan ça limite l'intérêt du déplacement car on ne voit que le dôme et de la fumée. le Sakurajima est bien plus impressionnant.
Par contre la région est assez belle, les rebords de la caldeira offrent une belle vue.
Je rajoute Yufuin, je l'avais vu en effet mais je l'avais oublié ! N'est ce pas trop redondant avec Beppu ?
Yufuin a un peu plus de charme que (le centre de) Beppu, c'est une plus petite ville.
Pour Kagoshima, je vais essayer de dégager 2 jours pour y descendre en train.
Pour le mont Aso dans tous les cas c'est sur la route donc on y passera, surtout si tu dis que le région est jolie ca nous fera une bonne petite ballade en voiture !
bonjour, je termine mon sejour de 14 jours dans le kyushu pour lequel benedicte m a bien aide...je viens juste intervenir pour les 3 villes de potier ou je pars demain, ce sont les 3 seules nuits que je n ai pas reservees, car ca n etait pas si faciles je commence par arita, imari puis karatsu, je vous raconte tres vite et vous donne le resultat....
je vous note aussi une gh vraiment pleine de charme a beppu, c yamada bessou...
Je serai preneuse moi aussi de vos impressions de voyage car je prépare moi aussi mon petit circuit sur cette île !
J'ai mis au programme (pour le moment) Kagoshima, Takashiho, Yufuin et Beppu avant de partir pour Shikoku.
Domo arigato 🙂
Bonjour Globreveuse,
Comment se passe le sejour ?
Le temps s'est bien refroidi sur Fukuoka (et Kyushu) depuis ce week-end, prenez soin de ne pas attraper un rhume :)
bonsoir benedicte, je suis a fukuoka depuis ce matin, et je n ai pas eu froid...nulle part d ailleurs, une journee pluvieuse, tres pluvieuse...a tokyo, et un jour ou deux nuages mais depuis..tres bo temps
aujourd hui j ai bien marché autour de tenjin, : le fukuoka jo puis ensuite l ohori koen, ou je suis restee un long moment..balade autour du lac puis le super musee d art moderne, les collections sont interessantes mais ce qui est magnifiqe c l expo sur le pret dune partie de la collection du musee fujita d osaka.. l entree un peu chere, enfin plus chere que tout ce que j ai paye en 20 jours, 1200 yen...mais je ne les regrette pas....une petite glace, et je suis repartie pour le joli jardin japonais,
repartie a pied jusqu a mon hotel....je vais bien dormir cette nuit.
je fais un petit compte rendu sur mes visites aux 3 villes potieres en reponse a ?..
qui part aussi bientot pour le kyushiu, bonne soiree, jeanne
comme promis, un petit retour sur les 3 villes de potiers dont j arrive.
d abord arita..je comptais sur le comptoir d information de la gare (cf LP) pour me trouver une chambre chez des particuliers (minshuku) car..pas d hotel a arita...c etait un dimanche..personne, donc je suis partie en find apres midi a imari...cote poterie, dimanche toujours, donc la moitie des boyiques etaient fermees..., ceci dit, il y en a tellement qu il restait un eventail tout a fait interessant, de nombreux styles, prix ...mais j ai garde le meilleur pour la fin, et ce qui est tres beau a arita c le musee de la ceramique du kushiu, une collection de pieces contemporaines exceptionnelles, cette visite en a fait une journee "top"
donc dormi a imari, tout pres de la gare, le village de potiers s appelle okawachiyama, il y a un bus, une petite demi heure qui part de la gare, j ai pris le premier a 9h30, ce qui m a permis de me balader tranquillement sur le sentier qui traverse la foret, et cun endroit superbe, puis le village ou les boutiques ne sont pas collees les unes aux autres, mais il y en a beaucoup, et la..j ai un peu craqué. .j y ai passé plusieures heures..il y a des maisons et des boutiques des 2 cotes de la riviere, cun village plein de charme..un vrai coup de coeur..
je suis retournee a imari voir les horaires pour karatsu, 3e etape de mon voyage chez les potiers, il y en avait un a quai...je l ai pris. karatsu, une deception cote poterie (mais il y a d autres choses interessantes, j y suis reste 2 nuits : le chateau..vue sur la plage, mais surtout la villa kyu takatori vraiment tres belle, promenade sur l immense plage, une experience de resto avec un menu tout tofu (kawashima tofu, facile a trouver tout pres de la gare, merci LP), je reprends donc apres cette petite parenthese, deception côté poterie, mais je ne juge pas la qualite du travail, mais j aime beaucoup plus la porcelaine que cette poterie plus lourde...Néanmoins si vous allez a karatsu, il faut prendre le plan a l office du tourisme, et aller a ochawango street, 3 poteries sont notees, il faut absolument voir Nakazato Toreemon, c tout autre chose, ce n est pas evident a trouver, la villa est cachee par un haut mur, mais c magnifique et l office du tourisme ne me l avait pas signale , j ai cherche en rentrant a l hotel sur internet tellement j etais scotchee. ..ses pieces sont vendues extremement cheres, ce potier est mondialement connu, il edt considere au jon comme tresor national...
donc, 3 villes de potiers, une qui a beacoyp de charme, les deux autres valent la peine d etre visitees, l une pour son musee, l autre pour un artiste exceptionnel....
bonsoir benedicte, je suis a fukuoka depuis ce matin, et je n ai pas eu froid...nulle part d ailleurs, une journee pluvieuse, tres pluvieuse...a tokyo, et un jour ou deux nuages mais depuis..tres bo temps
aujourd hui j ai bien marché autour de tenjin, : le fukuoka jo puis ensuite l ohori koen, ou je suis restee un long moment..balade autour du lac puis le super musee d art moderne, les collections sont interessantes mais ce qui est magnifiqe c l expo sur le pret dune partie de la collection du musee fujita d osaka.. l entree un peu chere, enfin plus chere que tout ce que j ai paye en 20 jours, 1200 yen...mais je ne les regrette pas....une petite glace, et je suis repartie pour le joli jardin japonais,
repartie a pied jusqu a mon hotel....je vais bien dormir cette nuit.
je fais un petit compte rendu sur mes visites aux 3 villes potieres en reponse a ?..
qui part aussi bientot pour le kyushiu, bonne soiree, jeanne
Bonjour,
Je crois que nous sommes quelques un(e)s à suivre ton voyage et participer à tes émerveillements.
Pour moi, ce sera en mai 2016. Les villes potières restent un nœud dans mon programme. Je voudrais en profiter pendant au moins 2 jours, voire plus. D'où la question des déplacements, de l'hébergement.
On est impatient d'avoir de tes nouvelles et des réponses avisées de Bénédicte, notre ange gardien.
Clo
et bien nos 2 messages ont du se croiser, puisque je viens de faire mon compte rendu sur mes 3 jours dans les 3 villes de potiers...a toi de voir si tu veux voir les 3 completement differentes les unes des autres, de toutes facons aucun probleme pour les visiter en 2 jours sans aucun stress, les liaisons sont tres faciles entre les 3 villes...jeanne
et bien nos 2 messages ont du se croiser, puisque je viens de faire mon compte rendu sur mes 3 jours dans les 3 villes de potiers...a toi de voir si tu veux voir les 3 completement differentes les unes des autres, de toutes facons aucun probleme pour les visiter en 2 jours sans aucun stress, les liaisons sont tres faciles entre les 3 villes...jeanne
Effectivement. Tu es très réactive et c'est agréable, on a l'impression d'être avec toi.
Clo
A Béné : Oui ! passage en ferry puis un petit itinéraire à Shikoku en voiture 🙂 On appréhende un peu la conduite à gauche, mais il paraît qu'on se déplace difficilement en transports en commun dans la vallée d'Iya.
Moi pour le moment je rencontre une grande difficulté à trouver un hébergement a Nagasaki du 21 au 23 novembre car tout est absolument complet .... 🙁 Il doit y avoir un évènement mais après avoir écumé booking, tripadvisor, ... je perds espoir !!
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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?
