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In our sequence of Steal this Cultural Journey blogs, we share a few of our shoppers’ and journey specialists’ favorite journeys, so you may take them to make use of on your personal inspiration. One in every of our group, Grant, just lately deliberate a visit combining Japan with South Korea. Working with our sister model, InsideAsia, this journey highlights one of the best of every nation for first-time travellers – whereas surfacing the variations and similarities between these difficult neighbours.
Learn extra from Grant, beneath.
Combining Japan and South Korea in a single journey is considered one of my favorite journeys to plan.
An area information as soon as advised me that one of the simplest ways to grasp the variations between Japan and Korea is to have a look at their gardens. In Japan, they’re created superbly, with meticulous construction and order in thoughts; in Korea, nature relentlessly finds its manner. And that’s reflective of the 2 nations – Japan’s appeal comes from its preservation of custom, whereas Korea’s ppalli ppalli (fast fast) tradition revs life forwards at lightning tempo.
I believe visiting each Japan and Korea in a single journey is one of the simplest ways to expertise this intriguing distinction – and to understand every for what makes it so distinctive. Right here’s a visit I deliberate just lately, constructed to showcase precisely that.
The travellers
The Beckers have been clear about one factor: they beloved exploring and didn’t wish to simply sit on a seashore and drink cocktails.
Japan had been on the high of their listing for some time, however they hadn’t thought-about South Korea. They didn’t want a lot convincing. They beloved the sound of Seoul’s fast-moving tendencies and Korean islands, excellent for boat and bike explorations.
The journey
The household wished a good period of time in each South Korea and Japan, so we break up their time in half.
For a contact of luxurious, I booked them into 4* lodging all through – with a conventional ryokan inn on the finish for a last, full immersion into outdated Japan. From secret backyard palaces, to an onsen theme park – that is the Beckers’ cultural journey.
Seoul, for secret palace gardens and Korean BBQ
The household will land in Seoul – a metropolis outlined by its ppalli ppalli (fast fast!) tradition. It’s a metropolis that by no means stops transferring, with new bars, festivals and eating places that pop up nearly weekly. And but, there are 5 conventional palaces in Seoul alone. Gyeongbok Palace is essentially the most well-known, and it’s undoubtedly value stopping by for the altering of the guard, however I counsel visiting Changdeok Palace first. It has a secret backyard, initially designed for the ladies of the palace, with vibrant, flicked-roof pavilions and a lotus pond. It’s a hidden pocket of Seoul that not everybody is aware of exists.
The primary night meal has bought to be a real Korean feast – and for me, that’s Korean barbecue. Grilled meat takes centre stage (or desk), with seemingly countless banchan facet dishes. A high Korean ingesting tip: let different individuals refill your glass, it’s good manners.
Jeju, for craggy island exploration
Jeju erupted from the ocean over one million years in the past, starting life as an underwater volcano.
Right now, it’s a craggy, mountainous place, with epic mountaineering. Hallasan is the tallest peak in Korea and Jusangjeolli Cliff is Jeju’s reply to Northern Eire’s Large’s Causeway, made up of honeycomb-like pillars of columnar basalt rock. For a household that loves dramatic landscapes and the place out of doors hikes are a necessity, Jeju delivers.
I like to recommend hopping on a ferry round Udo island, a smaller, neighbouring island to Jeju. I made a cease right here on my final journey, and the place the bottom is flat (and right here, a lot of it’s), it’s my new favorite place to cycle by way of the countryside.
Busan, for fish markets and Korean seashore life
Again on mainland Korea, the coastal metropolis of Busan is a pure subsequent cease, referred to as South Korea’s second metropolis.
Jagalchi Fish Market is considered one of Korea’s greatest and most energetic markets – it’s a very native expertise, the place you may attempt uncooked fish, clams, or the charcoal-grilled catch of the day. It’s locations like this that having an Insider information is so helpful – they’ll show you how to out relating to selecting what to eat!
A bus experience down the coast, you’ll discover Gamcheon Cultural Village: a vibrant assortment of peach, cobalt blue, pink, yellow and turquoise buildings overlooking the ocean. It’s a terrific place to spend a day, taking images, sipping espresso and searching down avenue murals. Catching sundown on Haeundae Seashore with a comfort retailer beer is likely one of the most Korean issues you are able to do.
Tokyo, for sumo stables and skyscraper metropolis views
Most travellers begin their Japan journey in Tokyo – however not everybody stays in Ryogoku. It has a extra native Tokyo ‘neighbourhood’ really feel, however with a subway cease for quick connections with the remainder of the town. Often known as the house of sumo, this space is charactersied by its sumo stables, sumo-sized clothes shops and chanko nabe (sizzling pot) eating places – a scrumptious, protein-rich dish favoured by coaching wrestlers.
Two nights in Tokyo could give a style of the town, however to get a really feel for its sheer scale, I’ve booked a nighttime slot at Tokyo Skytree, for lit up, panoramic views.
Kyoto, for a tea ceremony and torii gates at sundown
Kyoto, with over 1,600 temples and 400 shrines, is the historic, cultural centre of Japan – and the nation’s unique capital.
For one thing that feels quintessentially Japanese, I like to recommend a tea ceremony on the primary day. With tatami mat flooring and a really serene environment, it’s the proper antidote to the quick tempo of Tokyo.
Fushimi Inari is a well-liked spot for good purpose – it has not one, not two, however 1000’s of torii gates. It’s visually putting, however it will possibly get actually busy throughout the day. Visiting simply earlier than the solar goes down, at golden hour, and also you’ll discover it’s a lot quieter. The sunshine could be actually stunning and to me, it’s much more particular.
Hakone, for sizzling spring onsen and a pirate ship crossing
Hakone is the grand finale of this journey – time to hit the recent springs.
By day, Hakone is a implausible place to discover. Go to the open-air artwork museum, experience the railway funicular for prime mountainside views, or board the pirate ship that takes you throughout Lake Ashi (with an opportunity to identify Mount Fuji).
Because the night attracts in, there’s no higher place to be than an onsen. The Beckers are staying at Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu. Each room has its personal, personal, sizzling spring bathtub on the balcony (rotenburo), however there are communal onsen baths too. There’s additionally an infinity onsen pool on the roof.
Simply throughout the highway is Yunessun – an onsen theme park (with slides). There are 23 baths to select from – some in which you’ll be able to put on swimming costumes, others you may actually bathe in wine.
That’s the great thing about Japan: there’s all the time one thing that takes you abruptly…
Meet Grant
Grant is a journey marketing consultant who fell in love with South Korea for its numerous pure magnificence and excellent meals. He lived in Japan for seven years, ate loads of okonomiyaki and was continuously out and in of onsen!
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