Hi everyone,

So great to see our forum back up and running. What a nice surprise to see some familiar faces again!

Anyway, today’s topic: I’m heading to Japan and South Korea for three weeks. I’m looking for the best way to stay connected (I have a recent iPhone, eSIM compatible). I’ve read that Holafly is a good option, but I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks, everyone, and long live VoyageForum!

Hi there,

I’ve heard about the city of Gunsan (on the Yellow Sea coast) and I’m not sure if it’s worth the trip. I’d be using public transport, and it seems like a bit of a trek from Seoul.

Hi,

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?

Hi,

Great article that really captures what makes South Korea so appealing!

South Korea: Between Hallyu and the search for authenticity, the French are falling for the destination

Hi there,

I know gachapons are more of a Japanese thing, but I think it’s possible to find them in Korea too.

Would you happen to know any spots in Seoul or Busan?

I heard there’s a Bandai corner at the Korea Hotel Lotte Lotte World. But do you need to buy a ticket for the amusement park to access it?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Best,

Hi there, I’m planning to visit Japan in May this year, and I’d love to try doing it without taking a flight. I’m currently in Vietnam, and my plan is to travel to Shanghai and then take a ferry to Osaka. I can’t find any clear info online about whether this is still possible. Most links mention a weekly departure, but when I check the company’s website, it says passenger transport is suspended.

If any of you have more recent info, I’d really appreciate it!

Have a great day! 😊

Hi there,

We’re thinking of spending 3 weeks in Asia this fall to visit some of the major capitals on this vast continent. We’d like to get a (very rough) sense of just how fast Asia is moving compared to what we see in the West (we’re from Quebec). For now, our very preliminary list includes Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore. There are obviously plenty of other options—Seoul, Shanghai, etc.

What do you think? Thanks in advance!

Hi there, We’re heading to southern Japan for 15 days with the family in August. We just checked the train tickets. What a nasty shock! Any tips for traveling on a budget? Thanks

Hello,

I’m reaching out for your help because I’m struggling to figure out the best train and car route for a 25-night trip in Kyushu. Here are the cities I’d like to visit, along with my current itinerary, which doesn’t feel quite right. I’m also wondering where the best places to pick up and drop off the rental car would be. International flights from Osaka + the SL Hitoyoshi train ride are part of the plan.

Current (unsatisfactory) draft itinerary I’m trying to optimize: Day 1: Arrival in Osaka Day 2-3: 2 nights in Osaka Day 4: Osaka to Izumi (Kagoshima Prefecture) via overnight train to Izumi Day 5: Full day in Izumi, overnight in Izumi Day 6: Izumi to Hitoyoshi, stopping via Kumamoto (SL Hitoyoshi train) Day 7: Hitoyoshi Day 8: Ebino + overnight in Kobayashi or Takaharu Day 9: Cape Toi + overnight Day 10: Koshima + overnight near Obi or Miyazaki? Day 11: Nichinan Coast / Obi / Udo Jingu / Aoshima Day 12: Miyazaki Day 13: Aya + overnight in Miyazaki Day 14: Hyuga + overnight in Nobeoka Day 15: Around Nobeoka + overnight in Nobeoka Day 16: Shiiba + overnight in Shiiba Day 17: Shiiba + drive to Yamaga + overnight Day 18: Yamaga Day 19: Yamaga Day 20-22: Amakusa Day 23: Kumamoto Day 24: Kumamoto + overnight in Osaka Day 25: Departure for France

Does this seem balanced? Are there any ways to optimize travel times or the logical flow of the route? Where should I pick up and drop off the rental car?

Thanks in advance if anyone can help me think this through!

Hi everyone,

After years of silence and wonderful memories from our exchanges during two trips to South Africa, I’m back on the forum with plans for a trip to Japan.

We’re considering traveling from June 16 to July 9. I know this isn’t the best time weather-wise, but it’s our only option, especially since we want to include climbing Mount Fuji.

Here’s our itinerary—I’d love your thoughts: - Day 1: Arrival at Haneda in the evening (Night in Tokyo) - Day 2: Tokyo (Night in Tokyo) - Day 3: Nikko (Night in Tokyo) - Day 4: Travel to Hiroshima, then visit (Night in Hiroshima) - Day 5: Day in Miyajima (Night in Hiroshima) - Day 6: Day in Kagura Monzen Tojimura (Night in Hiroshima) - Day 7: Travel to Himeji, then visit (Night in Himeji) - Day 8: Himeji (Night in Himeji) - Day 9: Travel to Koyasan (Night in Koyasan) - Day 10: Koyasan (Night in Koyasan) - Day 11: Travel to Nara (Night in Nara) - Day 12: Travel to Kyoto (Night in Kyoto) - Day 13: Kyoto (Night in Kyoto) - Day 14: Travel to Fukui (Night in Fukui) - Day 15: Travel to Kanazawa (Night in Kanazawa) - Day 16: Travel to Hakone (Night in Hakone) - Day 17: Hakone (Night in Hakone) - Day 18: Travel to Kamakura (Night in Kamakura) - Day 19: Travel to Tokyo (Night in Tokyo) - Day 20: Travel to Fujiyoshida (Night in Fujiyoshida) - Day 21: Ascent via Yoshida Trail - Day 22: Descent via Yoshida Trail (Night in Fujiyoshida) - Day 23: Travel to Tokyo (Night in Tokyo) - Day 24: Departure from Narita

Let me know if any stops seem unnecessary or if you’d add something.

I’m planning to rent a car from Himeji (Day 9) until Hakone (Day 16) to make travel easier.

Have a great day!

Thomas

Hi there, These cities aren’t in the guidebooks much, but they’re absolutely worth a detour—just 180 km from Osaka and perfect for a stop on your way back from the south or heading down from Osaka. I’ve been here for five days, and the autumn colors are simply stunning: bright reds, vibrant yellows, deep maroons, and lush greens against a crystal-blue sky. Fall here is magical. Plus, the canal in central Okayama (Nishigawa) is all lit up. Hardly any Western tourists stop here, but there are plenty of Japanese visitors.

Hello,

I’m looking for advice from seasoned travelers about a roughly one-month trip to Japan. From late October to late November 2026.

We often travel in Southeast Asia but have never been to Japan. Based on what I’ve read, I’d love to hear your thoughts on:

- Is traveling day-to-day, without booking hotels or trains in advance, possible in Japan? (I’ve read many travel journals and blogs that say everything was booked way in advance… but that’s not how we usually travel.)

- Will the Japan Rail Pass be worth it for us? (According to an old simulator, I’m looking at around 400 € for trains compared to 570 € for the JRP.)

Here’s our rough itinerary (which may change):

- Arrival Osaka: 3 nights with Nara - Hiroshima and Miyajima Island: 3 nights - Kurashiki or Naoshima: 2 nights - Himeji: 1 night - Kyoto: 4 nights - Kanazawa: 2 nights - Takayama and Shirakawa-go: 3 nights - Around Mount Fuji: 3 nights - Tokyo with Nikko: 6 nights (no theme parks) Departure from Tokyo

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! :)

Hi everyone,

I’m planning another trip to Japan next July-August (three and a half to four weeks). We were lucky enough to visit the country back in 2012 and explored Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, and Miyajima Island.

This time, we’d like to spend a few days in Tokyo again and then discover other regions and cities. I really want to see Himeji Castle and Naoshima Island, but I haven’t decided on the rest yet.

Since we’ll be in Japan mostly in July (three weeks) and a bit in August (first week), I’m also thinking about the weather, which seems more favorable in the north (northern Honshu and Hokkaido), though the south (Shikoku, Kyushu) is tempting too.

I’d love to hear your advice on an itinerary, keeping in mind that we love variety—some history, temples, nature, and big cities.

Hi everyone, Has anyone taken a ferry with a car from Shikoku Island to Oita? Any tips and links to ferry companies would really help. Thanks for your feedback!

Hi everyone,

Great to be back here—it’s been years!

We’re heading to Japan with the family in mid-July and will mostly explore Kyushu for this second trip. We’ll wrap up with 3 days on Yakushima, but we’re planning to fly back to Osaka from Tanegashima after stopping by the space center. To get from Yakushima to Tanegashima, I’ve found two options: - Depart from Miyanoura port and go to Shimama with the Taiyo II ferry, but it arrives a bit too late for us (it gets in at 10:05 AM, and we need to be at the space center by 10:30 AM…) - Depart from Anbo port, but in that case, the boat goes to Nishinoomote, which is all the way at the north of the island—super inconvenient since the space center is at the very south!

Does anyone here know if there’s another way to make the Miyanoura/Shimama trip besides the Taiyo II ferry (like a private boat, a fisherman’s boat, or something else)? It feels silly to go all the way to the north of the island just to head right back down…

Thanks in advance! !

Hello Hello, We’re two couples of friends heading to this amazing country and need your help to validate our itinerary. First, I’ll share the overall plan for our trip. I can go into more detail for each day if everything looks good to you. Thanks Thanks

30/10 Arrival at HND 31/10 Tokyo: Chiyoda, Yurakucho & Shinjuku 01/11 Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara & TeamLab Planets 02/11 Day trip to Mount Fuji (Kawaguchiko) 03/11 Yanaka, Ueno, Shibuya & Izakaya 04/11 Ghibli Museum & Kichijoji 05/11 Shopping and Odaiba at sunset 06/11 Departure for Kyoto & first discoveries 07/11 Arashiyama, bamboo grove & zen temples 08/11 Fushimi Inari, Gion 09/11 Kyoto → Himeji → Hiroshima 10/11 Hiroshima (morning) → Osaka (afternoon) 11 & 12/11 Exploring Osaka and return to France 🙂

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Japan with my three grown-up kids, who aren’t exactly keen on rushing from one place to another with heavy luggage. I’ve tried to balance things so we can see as much as possible while still giving them time to enjoy the evenings. Here’s what I’ve come up with: - Arrival in Tokyo on May 17 - Staying in Tokyo from May 17 to 22, exploring the city, with a day trip to Nikko (round trip in one day): is it worth it, considering it’s a 2-hour train ride each way? - Sending our big suitcases directly to Osaka - Traveling to Kamakura on May 23: 1 night (with small luggage) - Traveling to Hakone on May 24: 1 night (with small luggage) - Heading to Osaka on May 25: staying from May 25 to June 2 in Osaka, where we’ll pick up our big suitcases Day trips from Osaka: - Kyoto: 2 days (round trip in one day) - Nara: 1 day (round trip in one day) My son would prefer to stay in Osaka for all 8 days, but I’m wondering if it’s a good idea to spend at least one night in Kyoto. What do you think? - Leaving for Himeji on June 3: is it possible to leave both big and small luggage in a coin locker to visit the castle, or is it better to do a round trip from Osaka? - Traveling to Hiroshima: 3 nights from June 3 to 5: - Hiroshima: 1 day - Miyajima: 1 day - Okayama and Kurashiki: 1 day: is it better to do a round trip from Hiroshima and return to Tokyo from there, or spend the night of June 5 in Okayama and head to Tokyo from there? - Back to Tokyo from June 6 to 9, with departure on the morning of June 9. Since I’ve never been to Japan, I’ve tried to focus on the most interesting spots. Are there any places I’ve missed that you think we should add, or others that might not be as worthwhile? About the luggage: is it a hassle to forward it to Kamakura, Hakone, and Kyoto? How much do coin lockers usually cost? My son says the JR Pass isn’t worth it—what’s your take? For accommodations, we’re leaning toward mid-range hotels with good value rather than apartments. Any great tips? I know I’m asking a lot of questions—I really appreciate anyone who can point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance!

Hi there,

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 €.

Hi there,

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.

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

I’ll be buying my ticket to South Korea soon and I’m wondering if it’s possible to improvise once I’m there.

It’s a two-month trip in July and August. I know it’s not the best time to visit South Korea (weather-wise), so it’s the low season, but I imagine there’ll still be tourists since it’s school holidays in Europe and other countries. Is it advisable to book hotels and trains well in advance (and possibly museum entries and other tourist spots)?

I really don’t like booking weeks in advance, and for a two-month trip, it’s complicated to plan everything.

Usually, I book the first few nights in the country ahead of time, then reserve a hotel two or three days before—or even the day before—and for trains and buses, I just go to the station and take the first one leaving. For museums and other tourist spots, I buy the ticket at the counter.

I’d like to travel this way in South Korea, but is it easy to do, or will I struggle?

Thanks in advance.

Hi there,

Can you easily pay by card in South Korea, or should you stick to cash?

Is it easy to withdraw money from ATMs with any foreign bank card?

I’ve read some conflicting info about this.

Thanks in advance.

Hello,

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

Thanks for your feedback! Have a great day,

Sabrina

Hi there!

I’m planning my very first trip soon, which will be to South Korea, and I’d love some advice and tips from people who’ve already been there.

I’ll be traveling in October with a friend, and we’re staying for a little over a month. We’ve planned to visit Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island, and we’d also like to check out some traditional villages—but I’m not sure which ones yet? (I’ve seen names like Gyeongju, Jeonju, and Andong?) So, I’d really appreciate any recommendations on that, as well as how much time you’d suggest spending in each city to make the most of it 🙂 If you have other destinations to recommend, I’m all ears 😉

As for accommodations, is it better to book everything in advance, or is it possible to find something on the day for that same night? I’m a bit anxious about this since we haven’t finalized the dates for each city yet...

If you have any other tips on things I haven’t mentioned, don’t hesitate! I’m open to everything! 😏

Good evening,

I’m taking a short trip to South Korea—half work, half leisure—and I don’t know anything about the country, its history, or its customs.

Would you happen to have one or two references I could read? Specifically, I’d love to know how workplace relationships, negotiations, and downtime work there...

Thanks so much for your help!

Best regards,

deb75

We only have 4 days to visit South Korea and we’re landing in Seoul. Is it better to focus on Seoul, or would it be possible to go as far as Gyeongju, stopping by Songnisan National Park to visit Beopjusa Temple, then heading to Gyeongju to see Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, and keeping 2 days for Seoul? Is this doable? We’d need someone to drive us there.

Hi everyone,

I’m embarking on my first trip to Asia, starting with South Korea.

I’ll be traveling with my 15-year-old daughter, who came up with the idea...

We’ll be there from July 15th to 22nd.

I’ve currently planned to stay in Seoul from the 15th to the 19th, then head to Busan from the 19th to the 21st. We need to be back in Seoul on the evening of the 21st because our flight is at 10 AM on the 22nd.

I love modern cities, but for a first trip to Asia, I’d also like to see some traditional sights. Do you think Busan is a good idea?

I’m considering staying in Gyeongju instead and spending two days in Busan...

What do you think?

Maybe another city in a different region of Korea?

Thanks for your help

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a 3-week solo trip to South Korea in April/May 2025. Here’s my current wishlist on the map—I need to check how realistic it is.

Questions: The DMZ: I haven’t planned to go, and I’m struggling to see the appeal. What do you think? Jeju: I’m on the fence about Jeju. It seems like the *place to be*, but I’m not sure what makes it so charming or what’s really a must-do there?

On my map, I’m hesitating about Hahoe. I’m definitely going to Jeonju because there are several sites in that area. For Hahoe, I’m unsure because I’d need to stop overnight and arrange transfers between Andong and Hahoe. Is Hahoe the same as Jeonju? (Hanok village)—if so, I’ll skip Hahoe.

Last question: In the south, there are lots of sites that interest me, but I’m wondering about transportation. Can I stay in one place for several days and do day trips to each site? Is that possible with buses?

Anyway, thanks in advance for your tips! Sabrina

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 there

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

philippe

hi

I booked my trip from May 5 to 26, 2027. I’m starting to plan my itinerary and look for hotels (I know it’s early!). While I’ve found some in Seoul and Busan, I’m noticing that elsewhere—like Yeosu—most hotels aren’t available (on Booking.com, for example, almost all are unavailable). AI tells me not to worry because hotels in South Korea only open bookings 6 months in advance, so it’s normal to see most of them unavailable on booking sites.

Could you confirm this for me and, of course, reassure me (!)? Thanks so much. philippe