East Asia is a region of hyper-modern cities and old shrines, often only a few streets apart. Its public transport is excellent, so the secret to a good trip is less about what you see than how you group your stops. Here are the four cities most first-time visitors choose, and three rail-linked routes that connect them without wasting days.
Four cities to start with
Tokyo. The city is enormous, but it’s divided into distinct neighborhoods you can explore one at a time. Spend a morning in Asakusa around Sensō-ji Temple, then cross to Shibuya for the famous scramble crossing, or wander through Shinjuku’s backstreets at night. Fit in a day at the Tsukiji outer market, a stroll in the Meiji Shrine’s forest and a ramen or izakaya dinner somewhere small. Four nights is a good minimum.
Kyoto. The old capital has more than a thousand temples and shrines. Fushimi Inari’s thousands of orange torii gates are best at dawn, before the crowds. Other highlights are Kiyomizu-dera, the bamboo grove at Arashiyama and the Gion district, where you may glimpse maiko (apprentice geisha) in the early evening. Stay at least two nights, three if you want to visit Nara as a day trip.
Seoul. A mix of palaces, hillside neighborhoods and high-rises. Gyeongbokgung Palace has a changing-of-the-guard ceremony, and Bukchon Hanok Village keeps traditional houses. Namdaemun and Gwangjang markets are the places for street food, including mung-bean pancakes and tteokbokki. Give it three nights.
Taipei. Smaller and more relaxed than its neighbors, with some of the best night markets in Asia. Shilin and Raohe are the best known, and Taipei 101’s observation deck gives city views. Taiwan’s hot-spring town Beitou and the old mining villages of Jiufen and Shifen are easy half-day trips. Plan three nights.
Three rail-first routes
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Japan classic (10–12 days): Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka. Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, about two hours and fifteen minutes on the fastest trains. Hakone makes a good stop for hot springs and views of Mount Fuji on a clear day. Osaka, a short train from Kyoto, is the food capital, with street snacks like takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
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Korea (7–9 days): Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan. The KTX high-speed train links Seoul and Busan in about two and a half hours. Gyeongju, the ancient Silla capital, has royal tombs and temples, while Busan is a beach city with fish markets and colorful hillside villages.
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Taiwan (6–8 days): Taipei, Taichung, Tainan. The high-speed rail runs from Taipei to Tainan in around one hour forty-five minutes. Taichung has art museums and tea shops, and Tainan is Taiwan’s oldest city, known for its temples and street food.
Planning tips
Get a transit card. Suica or Pasmo in Japan, T-money in Korea and EasyCard in Taiwan work on subways, buses and even convenience stores. Load them onto your phone if you can, or buy a physical card at the airport.
Rail passes. Japan’s nationwide JR Pass became much more expensive in late 2023 and is usually only worth it if you cover many long distances in a week. For a route like Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka, individual tickets are often cheaper. Check a calculator before buying.
Book the popular things early. Timed-entry attractions such as the Ghibli Museum, teamLab exhibitions and some restaurants and palace tours can sell out weeks ahead.
Include a nature day. Megacities are tiring. Add a hike, a hot spring or a coastal walk to keep your energy up: Hakone in Japan, Bukhansan National Park outside Seoul or the trails near Taipei’s Elephant Mountain.
Mind the calendar. Cherry blossoms peak in late March to early April, and autumn colors in mid-to-late November. Lunar New Year (January or February), Golden Week (late April to early May) and Chuseok in Korea fill trains and hotels, so book early or avoid those dates.
Pack light. Trains have limited luggage space and many stations have stairs. Use luggage forwarding services in Japan if you carry large bags.
Final note
Don’t try to see all three countries in a single short trip. Pick one route, leave an empty afternoon here and there, and you’ll find more than the itinerary can promise. For a closer look at routes, see our guide to rail clusters in East Asia.