The hearty hotpots of the mountains are, for example, dramatically different from the delicate sushi for which the coast is famous. It's also intensely seasonal, meaning you can visit at a different time of year and experience totally new tastes. Japan is a long and slender, highly volcanic archipelago. It's over two-thirds mountains, with bubbling hot springs at every turn. In the warmer months there is excellent hiking, through cedar groves and fields of wildflowers, up to soaring peaks and ancient shrines the latter founded by wandering ascetics.
In the winter, all this is covered with snow and the skiing is world class. And if you've never paired hiking or skiing with soaking in onsen, you don't know what you've been missing.
Meanwhile in the southern reaches, there are tropical beaches for sunning, snorkelling and diving. Japan is incredibly easy to get around: you can do a whole trip using nothing but its immaculate, efficient public transport. Major cities have subway networks that are signposted in English and these days we're seeing and hearing more English all over. But if getting off the beaten track and outside your comfort zone is what you're after, you can have that experience, too.
Jump to: Table of contents. Nara's 15m-tall gilt-bronze Buddha statue was first cast in the 8th century, at the dawn of the Japanese empire. It's hard, in fact, to describe the Great Buddha without using superlatives; it's simply remarkable. It's also just one of many outstanding examples of Buddhist art to be found in Nara. There are several other important temples here, as well as the Nara National Museum.
Lonely Planet Editors Writer. Excellent food, lots of shopping, and great night life. I agree that both are great. I agree that Tokyo is more expensive and harder to maneuver. I've been there 10 times and I've been to Seoul once and I've finally figured tokyo out!
Both are very clean and friendly but I think Japanese people, especially in the service industry go out of their way. I really like both,so I would say go where the deal is better - seoul and then go to tokyo another time. Or better yet, go to Kyoto or Nagasaki where you will experience smaller city Japanese culture. Skip to main content.
Sign in to get trip updates and message other travelers. Seoul vs Tokyo? Browse all 13, Seoul topics ». Watch this Topic. Browse forums All Browse by destination. Seoul forums. All forums. Level Contributor. Report inappropriate content. Destination Expert for Seoul, Rothenburg.
Re: Seoul vs Tokyo? Ricky J. Raymond H. Ask a question. Tourists entry to South Korea? See All Seoul Conversations. When is the best time to visit Korea? View Hotel. Hotel PJ Myeongdong. Royal Hotel Seoul.
The Shilla Seoul. Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 3. In some ways, each is the quintessential Asian city, with sprawling skylines, an alluring mix of ancient and modern structures, pulsating nightlife and street food markets bathed in neon light. While I still expect South Korea to drop its quarantine requirement before the end of , Japan will not reopen until sometime in And it had almost nothing to do with tangible considerations.
Is Seoul expensive? Of course it is—big surprise! However, repeat trips to the capital of South Korea have helped equalize my opinions of the two cities—and not just because I traded inconvenient but charming hanok properties for some of the best hotels in Seoul, i. In one way, when considering things to do in 3 days in Seoul vs a similar amount of time in Tokyo, these are also relatively congruent.
Just as a trip to Tokyo allows you to contrast the futuristic Tokyo Sky Tree with ancient Senso-ji temple, you can travel from Gyeongbukgung Palace to the N Seoul Tower in mere minutes. With this being said, I do find Tokyo slightly more satisfying to explore, if only because its flatter geography makes urban walks less strenuous—and I say this is an extremely fit person.
Tokyo seems slightly more expensive than Seoul, but not in every category. With this being said, Japanese cuisine is simply more diverse and interesting than what you find in Korea, even if multiple return trips have allowed me to transcend barbecue and bulgogi. However, while nowhere in the league of Nikko or certainly Mt.
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