Asia for a Westerner
 

I'm considering a Spring Break trip at the end of March. Milleage flights are very reasonable on American to either Tokyo (50K) or China (70K). I've traveled extensively around Europe alone and generally feel okay, but somehow traveling alone to Asia just feels more unsettling in terms of a culture-shock and getting around perspective.

I'm looking for some advice on the following:

1) How doable are each of these options in terms of the culture shock and expense issues?
2) Any recommended sidetrips?
3) Which place seems to best fit my interests (art museums, especially Impressionism; architecture; gardens)?

Options:

1) Tokyo
2) Tokyo and sidetrip? Kyoto?
3) Beijing and sidetrip
4) Shanghai and sidetrip
5) Some combo or 3 and 4, or one of them and Hong Kong?

Thanks for your help!

Joe

I think Japan is a lot easier for a first Asian country. It is very safe and easy to get around on public transit. Taxis drivers are mostly honest and use their meters, and in general people will be helpful. In China you do a lot more negotiating and have to be a bit more wary of strangers tryng to separate you from your money.

But if you've traveled before, you'll be able to get around any of these cities easily.

I'd recommend Tokyo for a couple of days, then go to Kyoto. Or fly into Oasaka, and visit Kyoto, & Osaka. All three of them would meet your needs.

You wouldn't have any problem getting around any major Asian city. The infrastructures are well set up to accommodate travelers in a wide range of budgets. Independent travel may require a bit more pre-planning than joining a tour, but most tourist destinations are safe and accessible, even for single travelers.

I'd agree that Japan would be a good choice for a first trip and certainly offers stunning art and architecture and very good musuems. End March might be a bit early for the best of the Japanese gardens, but they're still impressive. (Not much Impressionism -- or any Western art -- anywhere in Asia, but most cities have good Asian art collection.) The downside is that Japan is quite pricy.

You don't say how much time you have all together. If you have two weeks, you could do Tokyo, Kyoto and Hong Kong.

Don't know how this fits in with your mileage options but another good destination would be Singapore + a side trip to another place in Southeast Asia, like Cambodia/Angkor, Bangkok or Bali. All are full of art and architecture. are Gardens are especially prolific in Singapore and Bali.

Thanks, guys. I'd have about 7 to 8 days depending upon flights. It does seem like Tokyo has some good Western art and is the best from a millage point of view (but then not so good from a rest of expenses point of view) ...

Is Tokyo plus Kyoto in a week too fast?

2 weeks for Tokyo and Kyoto is fine. It's enough time for a couple of days outside the city too. In Tokyo, the Bridgestone Museum has impressionists. There is also the Tokyo Museum of Western Art. And the Museum of Modern Art. And more.

Kyoto Is full of art, too. If you have interest in a smaller city with a Wide variety of traditional and modern art, I can recommend Kanazawa.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...Tokyo_to/Tokyo

Where I began best in terms of less culture shock

But pocketbook/wallet shock due to Yen strnegth currently

Usually find my best deals with FF miles betterbidding.com

for Priceline.com discounts up to 70% www.otel.com too rarely

Kyoto add on doable in a week easily would go for that.

Bejing will have lots cheaper tours hotels through ctrip.com

Actually over time have come to prefer China

but a bit of an acquired taste for most due to culture shock.

Happy Planning

A week is good for Tokyo and Kyoto. I'm curious, though, why you would go to Japan, or anywhere in Asia, to see European or American art. Asian art and architecture, both traditional and contemporary, predominates.

With 7 or 8 days (is that on the ground or does it include travel time?) choose one country and one or two cities. Gardens and architecture are everywhere. Like others, I'd say don't choose on the basis of seeing western impressionist art. You will see glorious Asian art everywhere in these places.

I would choose Japan over China, but Hong Kong or Singapore would be a excellent choices. In fact, I think SIngapore might be the best introductory city for you. English is one of the two official languages. It's a very manageable place to get around with wonderful public transport. The gardens are superlative. The Museum of Asian Civilization is a treat.

Hmm, thanks. I hadn't considered Singapore. I think my interest in Western culture is why I am more into Europe than Asia ...

If you go to Japan, don't miss the Miho outside of Kyoto: Designed by I.M. Pei

http://www.miho.jp/english/index.htm

You'll need to make advance reservations.

I second lcuy's reco for the Miho Museum, but it's not Western art...but advance reservations - since when?

Joe, expand your horizons! Many of us are absolutely addicted to various Asian destinations. Yes, I still go to Europe, but it's never as exciting as Asia!

Fair point!

I believe Hong Kong is a good option to introduce you to the Asian culture - it is a fine blend of Western and Asian so it is really easy to get used to it. I'd consider to combine HK with Beijing, which is very Asian indeed. It doesn't quite fit your interest in impressionism, but it boasts wonderful park complexes and has some astonishing architecture, the historical as well as modern one. And there is also the bustling art district in the outskirts of Beijing.
I wouldn't personally suggest to go for Singapore. It is interesting place indeed and I enjoyed going there, but - it is way too much westernised, organised, everything's neat or colonial. You won't get your hands on Asia there. In HK, you have westernised places but you can also explore sites that doesn't seem to be touched by any influence at all, it is a city full of astonishing opposites. I'd skip Shanghai for a similar reason.

One thing to consider about going to either Japan or China:visas. You don't need one for Japan; you can just show up. You do need one for China, applied for in advance. I just got mine for our upcoming trip in October. Because I don't live in a city where I can walk the passports in to a Chinese consulate/embassy, I had to use a service. I got the passports with one year multiple entries back 8 days after sending them in. But total costs for pictures, shipping, the visa and the service company cost $200 each. You have to really want to go to China as it's very expensive. You'd want to stay longer than 7-8 days to get your money's worth.

Susie is correct about a CHina visa, but you don't need a CHina visa to go to Hong Kong. Also, no visa required for Singapore.

Yeah my friend recently mentioned the China visa, which I didn't realize either. Thanks for the tips.