North-East Asia

I am travelling to Gwangju 9 to 29 July for business and will be quite occupied. I am staying at the Holiday Inn in Gwangju. Are there any tips about the area around the Holiday Inn or any other must see activities?

Hi all,

Heading west after Turpan, I'm thinking of just giving up on taking the train to Hetian/Hotan, and simply overnighting in Kashgar instead before heading on towards Tashgurkan/Pakistan. Some people who went through a month or two ago had a horrific time (no Hotel would take them in Hetian) and the current situation is just a mess all round. Pity that it might be the last chance to see any remaining old town stuff / mosques / etc. before they are all destroyed forever. (not that I was…

I'm currently in Tokyo on a last-minute trip to Japan!

I have a homestay booked in Kyoto tomorrow for 3 days (Sunday-Weds). I'm going to take the bullet train over (when in Rome...), but I didn't realise how expensive it was (thinking the price was a return ticket) Anyway, I will buy my bullet train ticket at Shinjuku station tomorrow (is this the best idea?!)

I didn't buy a JR Pass (like a fool) and I'm curious to more creative ways to meander back to Tokyo for my flight next Monday (15th). I…

The topic isn't mentioned in LP or RG. However, Japanese websites mention bears. For example, Bear Bell rental fees:

http://tumago.jp/english/forwarding.html

This recent warning:

http://www.hida.jp/english/index.html

I was also browsing a web hiking guide for the Higashiyama hills/mountains east of Kyoto, and they also advised having a bear bell.

I'm not worried about bears as such. I just surprised that bears would be so close to highly populated areas.

Hi, im currently re-booking places in japan to visit as i arrive in Japan next Saturday. This is my first time in japan and if I enjoy it I will look for a part time job and live there for awhile. Is there anywhere in particular that I defiantly have to visit. if anyone is able to give advice from the JR pass to general locations to visit I would really appreciate it.

Hi everyone,

[If you don't want to read the whole lengthy post, I'd be grateful if you could scroll down to the itinerary (in bold) and offer any general thoughts!]

I'm going on a two-week honeymoon to Japan in October 2020. I've been doing a lot of research online, on this forum, and with the Lonely Planet guidebook to Japan, and have a tentative itinerary planned. But I feel like no amount of research can substitute for direct and bespoke feedback from people who have already visited the…

Hello fellow travellers. I have an internship in Beijing next year for ten weeks and I am trying to find inexpensive, clean and safe accommodation. I can't afford a glam hotel for that long, but can pay more than a dorm room. Does anyone have any suggestions for something between the two? I was wondering about staying with a Chinese family in exchange for tutoring the children English on the weekend or evenings? But I have no idea how to go about setting that up. All suggestions appreciated…

Hi-

so we were all set to go with a plan for Oct 4th-21st-and now I have a possible other option!

Right now we are planning

Oct 4th-8th -Tokyo
Oct 8th-Shirahone Onsen (Yarimikan)
Oct 9th-10th-Takayama (Fall Festival)
Oct 11th-15th -Kyoto (day trip Osaka, ,maybe Nara)
Oct 16th-Koya San (temple stay)
Oct 17th -Miyajima (arrive mid-late afternoon)
Oct 18th -either Miyajima again or overnight Hiroshima
Oct 19th -Travel to Tokyo and see Himeji and Okayama on the way
Oct 20th -MOTO GP Race (Motegi…

Hi, we are a family of 2A and 2 boys (9 and 11) spending 12 days in Japan in Sept. We arrive 15th and are spending 5 nights in Tokyo. We are departing from Narita on 25th. I was planning on maybe spending a few nights in Kyoto, but have not booked accommodation yet.
I wanted to get some ideas on any places you have been to that are less known but really awesome. Somewhere that will open my (little Aussie city dwelling) kids eyes to the beauty of the country and Japanese way of life. Somewhere…

I'm planning a trans-Mongolian journey to China by train. I have a problem getting a Chinese visa. The consulate asks for proof of transport: how I will entry into China. I wish to use the train from Ulan Bator to Beijing, but unfortunately it looks that is not possible to buy the ticket online and even the local agencies wrote they can only try to book it but I will know if the ticket will be available only a few days before departure. It also appears that the Chinese consulate in Ulan Bator no…