Travel guides
Preparation, transfers, sample itineraries and shopping. Written once and kept current.
GuideTokyo
Narita and Haneda Airports to Central Tokyo: How to Choose Skyliner, N'EX, Keikyu, or the Airport Limousine Bus
From Narita to Tokyo: take Keisei Skyliner to Ueno in 36–41 minutes for ¥2,580; for Shinjuku or Tokyo Station, JR N'EX reaches Tokyo in as little as 53 minutes for ¥3,140; choose the TYO-NRT bus for ¥1,500 when budget comes first. From Haneda, Keikyu reaches Shinagawa in 11–14 minutes for ¥330. Includes fares and times for Access Express, Airport Limousine and Tokyo Monorail, plus a stay-area route guide; checked on official sites in 9/2026.
- Transport
- Budget
GuideTokyo
How to Choose Tokyo Transit Passes: Are Suica, Welcome Suica, the Tokyo Subway Ticket, and the JR Pass Worth It?
On a first Tokyo trip, start with an IC card and pay per ride (Welcome Suica has no deposit and is valid for 28 days). If you take four or more subway rides in a day, add a 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket for 2,000 yen; a JR Pass is never worthwhile if you stay in Tokyo and do not go to Kansai. See what TOURIST PASMO, Suica on iPhone, and the Tokyo Metro day pass do and do not cover, with a decision chart. Prices verified in September 2026.
- Transport
- Budget
GuideOsaka & Kyoto
Kansai Airport to Osaka and Kyoto: Choosing HARUKA, Rapi:t, Kansai Airport Rapid, or Limousine Bus
There are five ways to reach the city from Kansai Airport: JR Limited Express HARUKA, Kansai Airport Rapid, Nankai Rapi:t or Airport Express, limousine bus, and taxi. Using fares and travel times verified in 2026/9, this guide explains which route to take for Namba, Umeda, Shin-Osaka, or Kyoto, where to buy tickets, and when the last services depart.
- Transport
- Budget
GuideSeoul
Incheon Airport to Central Seoul: AREX Express and All-Stop Trains, Airport Buses, and Late-Night Arrivals
AREX Express reaches Seoul Station from Incheon Airport in 43 minutes from T1 or 51 from T2 (13,000 won). For Hongdae, the All-Stop Train costs 4,650 won from T1 with T-money. Buses 6001/6015/6002 cost 17,000 won to Myeongdong, Seoul Station, or Hongdae. Compare four options, N6000 night buses, taxis, neighbourhood choices, and Seoul Station City Airport Terminal; official sites checked 2026/9.
- Transport
- Budget
GuideSeoul
Seoul Subway and T-money Complete Guide: Where to Buy, How to Top Up, and Whether the Climate Card Is Worth It
Seoul subway adult base fare is 1,550 won; transfers within 30 minutes are discounted. Count separately charged trips when comparing Climate Card short-term passes, and add 3,000 won for a new physical card. You cannot board at Incheon Airport with the pass, but a covered AREX all-stop trip from Seoul can end at T1 or T2. How to buy, top up, and refund T-money; covered routes and pass choices. Verified with official sources in 2026/9.
- Transport
- Budget
GuideTokyo
Where to Stay in Tokyo: Comparing Shinjuku, Ueno, Tokyo Station, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ikebukuro, and Ginza, Plus Airport Access, Accommodation Tax, and Luggage Delivery
Where should you stay in Tokyo? Compare Shinjuku, Ueno, Tokyo Station, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ikebukuro, and Ginza by the same criteria: access from Narita and Haneda, transit routes, nearby attractions, neighborhood character, and who each area suits. Includes a comparison table, a Yamanote Line diagram, Tokyo’s accommodation tax as verified in 2026/9 (changing to 3% in 2027/4), and Airport TA-Q-BIN luggage shipping rules.
- Budget
- Hotels
GuideTokyo
Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea Guide: Ticket Prices, Fantasy Springs, Disney Premier Access (DPA), Standby Pass, and Which Park to Choose for Your First Visit
Tokyo Disney one-day Passport prices vary: most weekdays in 9/2026 cost ¥9,900 and weekends ¥10,900. At 14:00 daily, tickets go on sale for the same date two months later. Free Priority Pass is no longer on the official service list; only paid Disney Premier Access (¥1,000–3,500 per person per use) shortens waits. Covers hours, the 25th anniversary, Standby Pass, Entry Request, Fantasy Springs access and first-visit park choice; checked on the official site in 9/2026.
- Itineraries
- Family
GuideOsaka & Kyoto
Universal Studios Japan Guide: Tickets, Express Passes, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Entry, and a One-Day Itinerary
From 2026/9, Studio Passes require a specified admission date, and adult one-day tickets start at 8,400 yen. This guide clearly explains the differences among Universal Express Pass 4, 5, 7, 8, and Premium; how to obtain an Area Timed Entry Ticket for SUPER NINTENDO WORLD; September opening hours; baggage and food rules; and JR access from central Osaka, using information verified in 2026/9 on the official website and an officially authorized ticketing website.
- Itineraries
- Family
GuideFukuoka
Fukuoka in Three Days and Two Nights: Hakata, Tenjin, Dazaifu and Yatai, Just Two Subway Stops from the Airport
Fukuoka Airport is just two subway stops and 260 yen from Hakata. This three-day, two-night plan for first-timers covers Day 1 in Hakata and Nakasu's yatai, Day 2 at Dazaifu Tenmangu, Tenjin and Ohori Park, and Day 3 in Mojiko or Yanagawa, with fares and travel times checked in 2026 / 9 and advice on buying subway day passes and Dazaifu Stroll Tickets.
- Transport
- Itineraries
- Food
GuideSapporo
Three days in Sapporo: New Chitose Airport, an Otaru day trip, and winter clothing
JR Rapid Airport reaches Sapporo from New Chitose Airport in as little as 37 minutes for ¥1,230. This three-day itinerary covers Odori Park, the Clock Tower, Tanukikoji and Susukino on Day 1; Otaru Canal and Sakaimachi Street on Day 2; and Mt. Moiwa or Shiroi Koibito Park before the airport on Day 3. It also covers the announced 2027 Snow Festival dates, winter clothing and traction. Fares and opening hours were checked in September 2026.
- Itineraries
- Seasonal
- Food
GuideTaipei
Taoyuan Airport to Taipei: Airport MRT, Bus, Taxi and the HSR Connection
Checked September 2026: how to get from Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) into Taipei by Airport MRT (NT$160, 35 to 39 minutes), the 24-hour 1819 bus, a metered taxi, or straight onto the High Speed Rail for Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, plus what to do when you land after the last train.
- Transport
- Budget
GuideTaipei
Taipei Metro and EasyCard Guide 2026: Fares, Day Passes, Bank Card Tap-In, Buses and YouBike
Checked September 2026: how to pay for Taipei's metro (NT$20 to 65 by ticket, EasyCard or a contactless bank card), where to buy and cash out an EasyCard, when the NT$150 One-Day Pass or 24 to 72-hour passes pay off, how to tap on and off city buses, how visitors rent YouBike 2.0, and the NT$1,500 no-drinking rule.
- Transport
- Budget
GuideTaipei
Taipei 4-day itinerary for first-timers: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, National Palace Museum, Jiufen and Taipei 101 by MRT
A day-by-day plan for four days in Taipei: which MRT station to get off at, opening hours and ticket prices checked on the official sites in September 2026, what to eat in each neighbourhood, and the swaps that save you a wasted Monday or a rained-out sunset.
- Itineraries
- Food
- Culture
GuideTaipei
Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu in one day: the public-transport route from Taipei
How to see Yehliu Geopark, the sky lanterns of Shifen on the Pingxi line and Jiufen's lantern-lit old street in a single day using buses and trains from Taipei, with the fares we verified in September 2026, where to buy tickets, and when a day tour is the better deal.
- Transport
- Itineraries
- Nature
GuideTaipei
Taipei night markets: Shilin, Raohe, Ningxia, Tonghua and Nanjichang, with MRT exits, hours and the Michelin stalls
How to pick a Taipei night market and eat your way through it: the nearest MRT station and exit, official hours, what to order and how to say it, paying and queueing, when to beat the crowds, and the stalls the city lists as Michelin Bib Gourmand picks, checked in September 2026.
- Food
- Culture
- Nightlife
Guide
Taiwan High Speed Rail and TRA tickets: fares, the 35% early-bird deal, apps, passes and station transfers
How visitors buy train tickets in Taiwan: THSR standard fares from Taipei to Taichung, Tainan and Zuoying, the early-bird discount, T Express and convenience-store pickup, non-reserved cars, the THSR Pass, TRA reserved trains and EasyCard on local trains, and how to get from out-of-town HSR stations into the city. Checked on the official sites in September 2026.
- Transport
- Budget
Guide
Taiwan food guide: what to eat and how to order it, with Chinese names you can point at
Beef noodle soup, xiaolongbao, braised pork rice, oyster omelette, popcorn chicken, bubble tea sugar and ice levels, breakfast shops, douhua, mango ice season and vegetarian labels, plus how tick-sheet ordering, paying, self-serve tea and the receipt lottery work in Taiwan's small eateries.
- Food
- Culture
GuideKaohsiung
Kaohsiung in 3 Days: Pier-2, the Cijin Ferry, Lotus Pond, Night Markets and Fo Guang Shan
A three-day Kaohsiung plan checked on the official sites in September 2026: HSR to Zuoying and the metro from the airport, light rail and ferry fares, Pier-2, Hamasen and Cijin, Lotus Pond and the old city gates, Ruifeng or Liuhe night market, and bus E02 to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, with closing days and a Meinong alternative.
- Itineraries
- Food
- Culture
GuideSeoul
Everland vs. Lotte World: Which to Choose? A Complete First-Timer's Guide to Tickets, Transport, Must-Try Rides and Fast Passes at Seoul's Theme Parks
Seoul parks compared: Everland: large outdoor park in Yongin; Suin–Bundang Line→Giheung→Yongin Everline (transit card ₩1,550)→Jeondae·Everland→shuttle. Lotte World: mainly indoors, direct from Jamsil Exit 4; Sun–Thu 10:00–21:00, Fri–Sat to 22:00; adult combo ₩67,000. Plan T Express, Amazon Express, Atlantis, Gyro Drop; Q-Pass/Magic Pass priority access, seasonal events, height rules, Seoul Sky add-ons. Tickets/hours checked 2026/9: official park/Everline sites and Korea Tourism Organization.
- Itineraries
- Family
GuideBusan
Gyeongju Day Trip from Busan: KTX or Intercity Bus, Daereungwon–Bulguksa Bus Routes, Admission and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond at Night
Busan–Gyeongju day return: KTX Busan→Gyeongju stations, 28–37min, then bus from Geoncheon-eup; Nopo's Busan East→downtown deluxe bus ~50min/₩7,700. Daereungwon (Cheonmachong ₩3,000)→Cheomseongdae→Gyochon/Hwangnidan-gil lunch→bus 10/11: Bulguksa (free)→12: Seokguram→downtown Donggung/Wolji at dusk (until 22:00). City bus ₩1,500; intercity +9% from 2026-10-01. Spring cherry/autumn foliage timing. Fares/times checked 9/2026: both terminals', city and temple official websites.
- Transport
- Itineraries
- Culture
GuideJeju
Renting a car in Jeju: Taiwan-issued IDPs, airport shuttles, coverage, deposits, fuel and returns
Under the 2022 Taiwan–South Korea reciprocal IDP agreement, a traveler with a valid Taiwan-issued International Driving Permit, Taiwan licence and passport can rent a car in Jeju. This guide covers the minimum age of 21, airport Gate 2 desk and Gate 5 shuttle, CDW and full exemption, deposits, fuel, parking, fines, child seats, returns and alternatives without an IDP. Rules and figures were checked with Taiwan and South Korean authorities, Jeju Airport and LOTTE rent-a-car in September 2026.
- Transport
- Before you go
GuideSapporo
Otaru day trip from Sapporo: JR, Sankaku Market, the canal, Mt. Tengu and Yoichi
JR Rapid Airport reaches Otaru from Sapporo in as little as 32 minutes for ¥800, roughly every 30 minutes by day. Walk from Otaru Station through Sankaku Market, the canal and Sakaimachi Street to Minami-Otaru. Add a canal cruise (40 minutes; ¥1,800 by day, ¥2,000 at night), Mt. Tengu (¥2,000 winter return), or Nikka's Yoichi Distillery (book the free tour). Includes the 6–13 February 2027 Snow Light Path, luggage storage and the 23:08 last train. Fares and times were checked in September 2026.
- Itineraries
- Food
- Culture
GuideBangkok
Ayutthaya Day Trip from Bangkok: Choosing Between Two Train Stations, 300-Baht Seven-Site Pass, Temple Loop and Last Train Back
Bangkok–Ayutthaya day trip: Krung Thep Aphiwat Central vs Hua Lamphong trains, durations, early/late services; minivans vs tours. Temple loop: Mahathat, Ratchaburana, Phra Si Sanphet, Chaiwatthanaram, Yai Chai Mongkhon and Bang Pa-In Summer Palace. Fine Arts Dept. foreigner fees: 80 baht/temple, 300 baht/seven sites. Dress, thunderstorms, last train. Verified 9/2026 via official State Railway of Thailand, Fine Arts Dept. and Tourism Authority of Thailand sites.
- Transport
- Itineraries
- Culture
Guide
How to Get Online in Thailand: Airport AIS and True Tourist SIMs, eSIM, Taiwan Carrier Roaming, and Pocket WiFi (2026)
Buy an AIS or True tourist SIM at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang Airport, install an eSIM before departure, or use Taiwan carrier roaming? Compare official September 2026 plans and prices from AIS, True, Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile, plus NBTC passport-registration rules: up to 3 SIMs per carrier and tourist SIMs valid for at most 60 days. A comparison table and decision chart help you choose by trip length, group size and phone eSIM support.
- Before you go
- Staying online