Read Asia as regions such as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, not as a pin.
Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka is the spine.
Regions
- Japan — Japan is stop 1 in a Asia map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- South Korea — South Korea is stop 2 in a Asia map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Thailand — Thailand is stop 3 in a Asia map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Vietnam — Vietnam is stop 4 in a Asia map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Indonesia — Indonesia is stop 5 in a Asia map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- United Arab Emirates — United Arab Emirates is stop 6 in a Asia map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
Routes
- Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka — Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Seoul-Busan-Jeju — Seoul-Busan-Jeju — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Bangkok-Chiang Mai-islands — Bangkok-Chiang Mai-islands — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Hanoi-Ninh Binh-Hoi An — Hanoi-Ninh Binh-Hoi An — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
Icons
- Japan — Why Japan photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- South Korea — Why South Korea photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Thailand — Why Thailand photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Vietnam — Why Vietnam photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Indonesia — Why Indonesia photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
Pairings
- Slow pair — Pair Japan with South Korea; drop a third stop before you add one.
- Weather pair — Do not force a wet coast and a dry highland into the same week.
- Honeymoon pair — Two city nights plus three quiet nights recover better than a trophy circuit.
Dropping the third city is usually a gain.
When to goPlacesHow to travelCultureCostHoneymoon notesToday