London -> Seoul -> Japan

17 comments

1. Fushimi Inari’s in Kyoto, not Osaka 😉

   Personally I’d consider whether you really need to do Nagasaki if you’re also doing Hiroshima. Nagasaki is a 5 hour round trip from Fukuoka, in the opposite direction from Hiroshima. I feel like you’re going to be spending a lot of extra hours on a train to see very similar sites that are already on your direct route east to Tokyo. But you know best what you’re interested in seeing, so if you’ve researched both cities and are sure you want to do both, go for it.

   If you’re interested in seeing temples, I think you need several days in Kyoto. Osaka also has several good ones, but Kyoto has so many within walking distance of each other that it feels like the better payoff for time/travel spent. Also take a few days in Tokyo, there’s just so much to try and do that only 1 or 2 days will probably have you rushing so much that you’re not able to enjoy yourself.

2. The whole trip is over ambitious.

   If you’re spending let’s say 10 days in Japan you would do better just visiting one region. For example Tokyo + a few day trips, or Kansai with a few day trips. For 12 days in Japan you can start maybe thinking 6 days in Tokyo + 6 in Kansai. If you’re entering through Fukuoka via Busan, you can maybe do Fukuoka + Hiroshima + things around Kansai, or just visit Kyushu.

3. You will be on huge rush, I’ve done Seoul and Fukuoka last autumn and I needed 10 days in Seoul just to see what I wanted without looking for souvenirs and shopping, and two days in Fukuoka. I would skip other cities in Korea. With this itenary you will not be able to see anything in Seoul, because a lot of attractions are far away from each other. You must be prepared to spend some timer during the day on buses and Underground.

4. I’m currently in Fukuoka, came from Busan.

   I did/doing Busan > Fukuoka > Nagasaki > Hiroshima > Kyoto and tbc the remaining. Did 3 days in Busan (spent 7 days there before) and will be in Japan for 30 days.

   Even so, I think my current plan before Kyoto is rush, and tiring. I’m not sure if you want to do that. Instead of ferry, perhaps you can check out flight? I took a flight here which is only an hour, +/- 3h for check in and baggage.

   As another person suggested, perhaps you can skip Nagasaki and just head to Hiroshima. Nagasaki to Hiroshima for JR line request 3 change of trains, about 3 hours ride.

   I will spend more days in Kyoto & Hiroshima (for Miyajima). I can update later after I’m done with my above part of the trip

5. Far too many places IMO, you’re just running from one place to the next.

   [https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1108.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1108.html)

   Look at the amount of cool places Kyushu has. I’d split time between SK and Kyushu, you could maybe do something adventurous like stop in Tsushima for a couple of days between SK and Japan.

   You could maybe see sumo in Fukuoka at the end of your trip as well.

6. I think you have too much packed in there, and the itinerary has entered the “can’t see the forest for the trees” territory. The essential pieces of information that are missing are:
   – how many days in each location, and
   – travel time between cities.

   **S. Korea**
   – Travel from Seoul to Busan is about 3 to 3.5 hours, the ferry from Busan to Fukuoka is about 3.5 hours (by fast ferry, the slow ferry is more like 6 or 7 hours) plus more time to get through Japanese customs and immigration,
   – Do a guided bus tour from Busan to see Gyeongju (I booked mine through Klook). These come with guides and you’ll be able to hit several sites without the stress of trying to figure out navigation and logistics. It’s not worth it to do guided tours in Seoul except if you’re interested in visiting the DMZ; everything can be accessed by the subway.

   **Japan**
   – Agree with another post that Nagasaki is not great since it’s far from Fukuoka and in the opposite direction as the rest of your trip. Hiroshima will have similar history and be more impactful. Personally, I would minimize time in Fukuoka and reallocate that time in other parts of Japan. I found Fukuoka to a typical mid-size Japanese city and you will get the same vibe from Osaka,
   – Hiroshima/Miyajima is worth as least 2 days/1 overnight,
   – Pick either Osaka or Kyoto as a base. These are about 30 minutes apart by commuter train. Save yourself the hassle and time of packing/unpacking, checking out/in, and transferring luggage. If you’re into history and traditional Japanese culture, I would choose Kyoto,
   – Skip Osaka Castle and go see Himeji Castle instead. This can easily be done in as a half-day trip from Kyoto,
   – It is easy to get FOMO and overwhelmed by Kyoto. As a history/architecture nerd, google “UNESCO world heritage sites in Kyoto” to identify your must-see sites as a starting point to building your Kyoto itinerary,
   – Kyoto runs on buses and attractions are spread out, meaning you can waste a lot of time sitting in public transit. Cluster your top sites by area to minimize travel time, then ask at the tourism office at Kyoto Station for the most efficient way to get to those areas. Even then, it’ll take you longer to get anywhere and fight the crowds at the most popular sites,
   – Kyoto is about 3 or 3.5 hours by bullet train to Tokyo,
   – Use Tokyo as a base for day trips to historical sites such as Kamakura (former capital of Japan in the 1100s) and Nikko (several magnificent shrines and the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the daimyo who united Japan and ushered in the shogunate and Edo Japan until the Meiji Restoration).

   A final note as a history nerd: Korean and Japanese cultures and histories are vastly different and intertwined, and they still have a complex relationship. If you can, get yourself either a timeline and/or do some basic reading so you can get a better understanding/appreciation of the historical sites and events.

7. 14 cities in 20 days…I don’t even do that in consulting. This trip sounds worse than work

8. “Hongdae” is an area in Seoul…

9. Thank you all for the feedback! It’s definitely an overly ambitious trip. I’ll go over it again.

10. Just for some context, I’m about to do virtually this exact trip over the course of 2 months with 4 weeks in both countries and I still don’t think I’m going to get to see and do everything I’d like!!

    I know not everyone has the time or money for that, but I just think you’d get more out of your trip focusing on 1 country or at least just only go to Seoul/Busan over the course of a week and then go off to Japan for the remaining time.

    I’m going:

    Seoul -> Andong -> Daegu -> Gyeongju -> Busan -> Fukuoka (flight) -> Hiroshima -> Kobe -> Osaka -> Kyoto -> Tokyo

11. South Korea – Autumn Fiolage

    Highlight:
    – Gangwon Seoraksan Park either via cable car or bit of hike)
    – Busan Jalgachi Market for seafood, traditional food
    – Jeju – Seongsan Ilchulbong

    Check the weather on the sea from Busan to Fukuoka. Other option fly (much cheaper)

    Download Naver Map, Papago
    Buy Simcard in airport (The card can be use a T-money) Top up in any convenient store/airport . Use for transpo and convenient stores

    Japan

    Highlight:
    Fukuoka – you can go around for one day in the Canal City. Don’t forget to visit Reclining Buddha (highlight in Fukuoka)

    Hiroshima – 2/3 to explore including Miyajima Park. There are deers in the park if you will not visit Nara next to Kyoto

    Kyoto (overtourism)- visit early in the morning for Inari Shrine. you need to plan accordingly the places you want to visit in Kyoto (west, east, north, south). get by the Tourist Information in Kyoto Station

    Nara – you can do side trip for a day (Biggest Buddha)

    Osaka – better go to Osaka Castle early morning then near to sunset in Umeda Sky Building. The view are better at this time then go to Dotonbori

    Fuji – MUST see

    From Osaka go directly to Fuji visit Chureito Pagoda then go back to Kawaguchiko Station. Choose the Bus Lane that go to Lake Shojiko it gives you better view with less crowd. Everyone is choosing the Red Line Bus.

    Tokyo

    Tokyo University – Hachiko and Professor statue

    MeijiJingu Gaien – Gingko Lane

    November – There is a Thanksgiving Holiday. Expect the local crowd everywhere

    Download

    *NaviTime for transpo, Better buy JR Pass as you are travelling from one prefecture to another. One way ticket is already quite expensive (Osaka-Tokyo) 14-17k Yen

    *Pasmo/Suica for city trains/convenient stores or 1 day pass train

    *24/48/72 Tokyo Subway Ticket really save time and money

    If you have Klook app, you can buy all of these with discounts in your country and redeem in Korea/Japan airport.

12. Just a recommendation. If you take a ferry from busan check the sea conditions before hand. I threw up once and my girlfriend threw up 6 times.

13. I lived in Korea for a year.

    Suwon and Daegu are not worth visiting.

    Do not spend any longer than 7 days in Korea.

    3 days in Seoul is enough. Make sure to visit Insadong, Itaewon, Myeongdong and Namsan tower.

    Jeonju is worth visiting but not necessary to stay the night in.

    I preferred Busan to Seoul but that was during the summer where I spent most of my time at the beach. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is the best temple in all of Korea, in my opinion. 2 days is enough.

    I’d sacrifice time in Korea for more time in Japan.

14. Agreeing with what most people are saying re: Nagasaki. I went last year and *loved* it there, but Hiroshima is more convenient and frankly a better tourist destination. Give Hiroshima the Nagasaki day and go to Miyajima for the day. Everything else is cramped but feasible, I’d really recommend not overdoing it as far as sights, pick your biggest interests and stay in that area for the day. Time lost traveling from place to place will be time wasted.

15. I’m probably biased because I live in Korea, but I would reduce the number of places/time in Korea. Whether somewhere is “worth” seeing depends completely on your interests. Hongdae is in Seoul, so you don’t need to devote extra time for that. In Korea, I would do Seoul, Busan, and maybe one more place if you want, but I tend to like spend more time really looking around one place rather than seeing a lot of places quickly.

    Most of your plans in Tokyo seem to be in the west corner of the city except for one thing in Ueno. If you’re going there anyway, you might as well take a look around Asakusa.

    Kyoto and Osaka also have Nintendo stores. Depending on how your day is going they might be a better option for you and less crowded than the one in Tokyo. The Tokyo one is next to a Pokemon center, so that could be nice, but it may be in part why they are both so crowded.

16. Seoul and Gyeongju real nice but please spend more days in Japan.

17. this looks fun!