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More details to come, but excited to share that I just booked travel for Spring Break to East Asia!
Spring Break 2013
March 9-13: Japan (Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto)
March 14-16: Hong Kong
March 17-24: South Korea (Seoul, Uslan, Busan, DMZ)
Guidebooks are ordered, now time to do some research! Recommendations and suggestions are welcome.
Are the flights themselves booked? Otherwise you could save significant travel time by doing HK first or last, rather than in the middle.
I’d recommend:
Hong Kong:
– Lantau Island / Ngong Ping 360 / Tian-Tan Buddha
– Victoria Peak (and there are tourist tat shops up here which are cheaper than the street markets no matter how good your haggling)
– Temple Street Night Market (and surrounding area for restaurants)
– Langham Place, Mongkok, for a peaceful shopping mall
– The Temple of 10,000 (ugly fibreglass) Buddhas
Japan:
– Sengakuji, Tokyo
– Meiji Shrine / Harajuku, Tokyo
– Nakano Broadway, Tokyo (better than Akihabara for geek shopping)
– Sensoji, Tokyo
– Suijobus river cruise on the Himiko or Hotaluna ships, Tokyo
– Ginkakuji, Kyoto (less visited than Kinkakuji, but I think the gardens are far more beautiful)
– Nijo Castle, Kyoto
– Kiyomizudera, Kyoto
– Sanjusangendo, Kyoto
– Himeji Castle, Himeji
– Ryoanji, Kyoto (If you only have time for one place in Kyoto, I highly recommend this)
– Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto
– Ninja Museum, Iga-Ueno (long trip to reach from Kyoto, easier from Nara)
– Deer Park, Nara
If you intend to travel from Tokyo -> Kyoto -> Tokyo, obtain a JR Pass before you travel, because it’s cheaper than the Shinkansen tickets otherwise.
South Korea:
– Gyeongbokgung, Seoul
– Changdeokgung, Seoul
– Hwaseong Fortress, Suwon
– Beomeosa, Busan
– Haedong Yonggungsa, Busan
– Bulguksa, Gyeongju
– Dosan Seowon, Andong
Phew!
Thank you, these are great!!
You’re welcome. Obviously they aren’t comprehensive, but hopefully they’re of some use 🙂