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

At the easterly side of East Asia, Japan and South Korea are perennial favorites of savvy travelers. But if you had to choose just one of them for your next vacation, which would it be? Below, two of our travel writers make the case for their favorite.

 If you’re interested in it, Japan has it

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

Advertisement

I’ve traveled in Japan and South Korea, and both are wonderful. Yet the former is the country I return to again and again for its varied experiences. Here are some of the reasons you should love Japan, too.

Japanese trains are irresistable

The incredible railway network that blankets all of Japan is one of the country’s top draws, easily beating South Korea’s trains. Even with the price hikes in October 2023, the Japan Rail Pass offers fabulous value for shuttling between cities at up to 320km/h (200mph), relaxing on a comfortable Limited Express, exploring tiny local branch lines or enjoying cultural experiences on the special Joyful Train excursion services.

The best routes: A few of my favorite train trips include 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.

This is a country for all seasons

Japan is several times the size of South Korea, and crosses a lot more climatic zones – from tropical Okinawa to the northern island of Hokkaidō, 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 Hokkaidō 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 short-sleeve weather: Kumamoto and Kagoshima are delightfully sunny and warm even into late November.

Relaxing in ryokan and onsen is part of the culture

Formal appearances can be deceiving: Japanese people love to relax, and they’re great at it. They’re also excited to share their traditions with visitors. Ryokan (traditional Japanese inns), especially those with attached onsen hot-spring baths, provide the perfect way to build intensive relaxation time into your trip.

Advertisement

From the moment I arrive at a ryokan, my worries melt away, and all I have to think about is what book I want to read sitting by the scenic window in my room. In a picturesque onsen town, I fancy going for a little wander in a yukata robe as I ponder which of the often multiple onsen baths I want to slip into to soak away my cares (and relieve my sore traveler muscles). Gunma’s Kusatsu-Onsen is renowned as a center of wellness and healing, yet tiny Bessho Onsen near Ueda in Nagano – up the side of a mountain reached by a small private railway – is my favorite place to go.

Thousands of onsen can be found around Japan, from the famously beautiful one in Matsuyama that inspired Miyazaki’s 2001 movie Spirited Away to the one inside the railway station at Echigo-Yuzawa. I love dipping my tired toes into one of the stone public foot baths that you’ll find in many tourist areas.

There is wonderful natural beauty

An antidote to a very urbanized society, Japan’s outdoor activities are many and widespread. Once you get out of Japan’s cities, the natural beauty is a stunning surprise, accessible by both Shinkansen and local trains. Hiking is incredibly popular, while so many people love skiing that there is a special seasonal spur of a Shinkansen bullet train line that goes directly to the Gala Yuzawa ski resort.

Don’t miss the gorgeous Sanriku Coast in the Tōhoku region, with its rugged peninsulas and promontories. Rugby-loving Kamaishi or sleepy Miyako, with its stunning Jōdogahama Beach, are great starting points for exploring this region.

South Korea should be your next destination for culture and adventure

Tom O’Malley has ventured both north and south of Korea’s DMZ, and worked on the current editions of the Korea and Seoul Lonely Planet guidebooks. His favorite Korean dish is sundubu-jjigae (spicy tofu, pork and kimchi stew).

For this throwdown of east versus slightly more east, I’m fighting in the K-corner – though in full disclosure, I really love Japan, too. Still, in the spirit of partisanship, here’s my take on why South Korea deserves to be your next destination.

Now is the time to ride the wave of Korean culture

First, a question: how far would you have gotten in Squid Game? I reckon I’d have made it past the terrifying giant doll and then died trying to nibble the dalgona (sugar candy biscuit) without it breaking. The fact that you almost certainly know what I’m on about illustrates something: Korean culture is crushing it right now. From Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite winning Best Picture at the Oscars to girl group Blackpink blowing up Coachella, the world can’t get enough of South Korea. It’s a phenomenon dubbed hallyu (the “Korean Wave”), and it’s been building for years.

If you had the chance to time travel back to belle époque Paris, say, or London in the swinging ’60s, you’d go, right? Japan peaked in the 1980s before the bubble burst, yet South Korea’s golden age is happening right now, and you should absolutely be part of it.

It's easy to travel around the whole country

I appreciate that’s all a bit abstract, so let’s go head-to-head, starting with size. Japan is almost four times bigger than South Korea. And while there’s arguably more to see in Japan overall, that’s part of the problem. Itinerary planning is a headache, and getting around is expensive.

No such worries apply in South Korea, however. You can travel the length of the country – from the electric capital Seoul to the bustling southern port city of Busan – in just a couple of hours by high-speed train, with side forays to any number of incredible places, like the ancient tombs and temples of Gyeongju, or the dreamy peaks and waterfalls of Seoraksan National Park. Or why not venture right to the edge of North Korea with a trip to the DMZ?

The fiery flavors of Korean food are a delight

And then there’s the food, to my mind always one of travel’s chief pleasures. Japanese cuisine is elegant, subtle and often…well, raw. Are those really the best food adjectives? Personally, I want my meals to slap me around the face with flavor, heat and spice – and that’s exactly what you get from Korean cuisine.

Whether you’re cooking up galbi (beef short ribs) on a tabletop grill, going hard on chimaek (fried chicken and beer) or slurping down a fiery kimchi-and-pork stew, eating is a hearty, visceral pleasure in Korea. And a word about banchan, those little side dishes of delicious treats you get with most meals: they’re both free and refillable. What’s not to love?

From sizzling street food to hearty stews, Korean food is known to be an indulgent blend of tradition and flavor. Here are some of the country's best dishes to look out for:

• Bibimbap: Rice topped with egg, vegetables and spicy sauce

• Bulgogi: Slices of grilled beef wrapped in lettuce leaves

• Dakgalbi: Chicken, veggies and rice cake sautéed in a spicy sauce

• Kimchi jjigae: Stew made with classic spicy version of fermented cabbage

• Pajeon: Batter pancakes flavored with spring onions

• Samgyetang: Chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng in a soup

Meeting local people will be a highlight of your visit

A final word has to go to the true highlight of any trip to South Korea: the Korean people themselves. It’s as if hospitality, helpfulness and respect are hard-wired into their DNA. You can guarantee that as you travel through the country, you’ll have encounters with locals that will leave you feeling that little bit more positive about this planet we all share.