Japan Trip from South Korea: Flights, Ferry and Where to Go

A Japan trip from South Korea is one of the easiest international trips in Asia: the flights are short, there is no time difference, South Korean passport holders can usually visit without a visa, and from Busan you can even go by sea. The real decisions are which gateway to fly into and how to fit the most into a short break. This guide covers both.

Entry rules

South Korean passport holders can usually visit Japan for short tourist stays without a visa. Entry rules can change, so check the current requirements with the Embassy of Japan in Korea before travel. Our Japan visa requirements guide explains how entry works.

Flights and the ferry

Flights from Seoul to Tokyo take around two hours, and Korean airports also connect with Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Okinawa and many smaller Japanese cities. That makes it easy to start somewhere other than Tokyo, and to fly into one city and out of another. Check current schedules with the airlines, as routes change by season.

From Busan, ferries also cross to Fukuoka and other ports in western Japan. A ferry suits travellers who want to bring more luggage, see the coast, or start a Kyushu trip without flying. Japan and Korea use the same time zone, so there is no jet lag and a trip can start on the morning you arrive.

Where to go first

For a short break, choose one region and stay with it rather than crossing the country.

• Fukuoka and Kyushu — the closest region to Korea, with food stalls, hot-spring towns such as Beppu and Yufuin, and easy day trips. Ideal for two to four nights.
• Osaka, Kyoto and Nara — street food in Osaka, temples in Kyoto and the deer park in Nara, all within an hour of each other by train.
• Tokyo — shopping, food, theme parks and day trips to Mt Fuji or Hakone.
• Hokkaido — snow and winter festivals from December to February, and flower fields in summer.
• Okinawa — beaches and a warmer climate, especially from spring to autumn.

Returning visitors often try somewhere new each time: Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Shikoku or the Japan Alps. Our Japan travel guide links every planning page.

Golf, onsen and food trips

Golf is one of the most popular reasons to visit Japan from Korea, especially in Kyushu, where courses, hot springs and good food are close together. Onsen stays with a traditional dinner are another favourite, and so are food trips built around Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo. Groups can combine all three in a few days.

When to go

Cherry blossom in late March and early April and autumn colour in November are the busiest seasons. Korean holidays matter too: Seollal and Chuseok bring a surge of travel, and so does the summer holiday period from late July. Book early for those dates, or travel just before or after them. The best time to visit Japan guide goes season by season.

Money and practical tips

Carry some yen in cash for small restaurants, temples and rural inns, and check before travelling that your cards work in Japan. A rechargeable IC card pays for trains and convenience stores, and forwarding luggage between hotels makes rail travel easier for families and groups.

For travel agents in Korea

Explera works with Korean travel agencies and tour operators at net rates, with Korean-speaking guides, port and airport meets, and golf, onsen and group programmes. Agents can find our trade terms at Japan DMC for Korean travel agents.