Japan vs South Korea: which impressive East Asian destination should you visit?

19.11.2024 - 18:39 / lonelyplanet.com

Nov 19, 2024 • 8 min read

At the easterly side of East Asia, Japan and South Korea are perennial favorites of savvy travelers – and for good reason.

But if you had to choose just one travel destination in East Asia, which one would get the nod? Below, two of our regular writers on the region make the case for their favorite.

Regular Japan visitor and rail expert John Walton expounds on the many ways – both fast and slow – to explore his favorite country to visit. His top Japanese journeys include following rural rail lines up to relaxing hot spring towns and exploring local foodways.

I’ve traveled in both Japan and South Korea, and both are wonderful. Yet the former is the country I return to again and again.

The incredible railway network that blankets all of Japan is one of the country’s top draws – and wins out over South Korea’s trains, which I’ve also taken. Even with its recent price hikes, the Japan Rail Pass offers a fabulous value for shuttling between cities at up to 200mph (320km/h), relaxing on a comfortable Limited Express, exploring tiny local branch lines or enjoying cultural experience on the special Joyful Train excursion services.

If I had to pick a few favorite train trips, I’d go with the Tohoku Shinkansen’s top-speed section north of Omiya, the single-car branch line between Abashiri and Kushiro in Hokkaido, the Limited Express Yakumo from Okayama to Matsue and the SL Ginga steam trains from Takasaki.

Navigating the expansive Japanese rail network is surprisingly straightforward, even for first-time visitors. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Most stations feature English signage, and station staff are generally happy to assist. 

Consider getting a prepaid IC card, which simplifies fare payment for short urban journeys. 

For lengthier trips, the Japan Rail Pass provides a cost-effective option (¥50,000 or about US$335 for seven days).

Remember that train schedules are punctual, so arriving early ensures a smooth boarding process.

Onboard amenities can vary. Only the tourist-focused Joyful Trains have reliable meal service, but you can stock up on bentō lunches at convenience stores in the station.

Japan is several times the size of South Korea, and crosses a lot more climatic zones – from tropical Okinawa to the northern island of Hokkaido, snowy in winter but delightfully cool in summer.

This means not only is there simply more to do, but that there’s more variety – plus a wider range of seasons of pleasant weather.

Since I’m no great fan of the rain and humidity of the tsuyu early-summer season, I’ll head north to Hokkaido then, where the temperatures are balmy but not muggy, to enjoy the freshest of fish in historical Hakodate. Come autumn, I love to head southwest to Kyūshū to extend