Travel to Japan & Korea ! Which way is the Cheapest Way??

Question

I'm going to Korea this MArch or April ; I'm also interested in going to Japan. But what is the cheapest/best way to get there? If I go on train, I'll have to start in Seoul and go down to Pusan, and then take the ferry to Japan, and then i wanna wisit hiroshima ,osaka , kyoto and then reach Tokyo. If I were to go the longer way how long would it take, and how much would it be?? Anyone have websites for fare costs for the train and ferry and the During MArch & April??

Answer 1

I took the train from Daejeon, KR to Fukuoka, Japan last summer. There's a travel agency here in Korea that can arrange train AND ferry reservations and fares for a very good price. I paid about $210.00 round trip from Daejeon to Fukuoka (from Seoul, add about 20-30 dollars). To go to Tokyo, if you arrange through that agency, it's only $270.00 round trip. I put more detailed info. below. If you contact the travel agency, however, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN SPEAK KOREAN. Most people in that office do not speak much English. It's definitely worth it, though. Doing all the reservations seperately is a pain.

While you're in Japan, you're better off getting a JR Railpass. This pass is $250.00 and allows you to ride any JR train anywhere in Japan for a whole week. My sister got the railpass and went around the country literally from top to bottom.



Korea-Japan Through-ticket Train/Ferry

This ticket enables the holder to travel between Korea and Japan by train, transferring via the ferry crossing between Busan in South Korea and Shimonoseki in Japan.
Jointly operated by Hong-ik Travel Agency in Korea, and Nippon Travel Agency in Japan.

This ticket is worth purchasing if you don't have a Japan Rail Card.
Reservation Offices:
- Hong-ik Travel Agency: Seoul 02-717-1002
- Nippon Travel Agency: Osaka 06-6312-1253
- Nippon Travel Agency: Tokyo 03 3354 5311

Osaka to Seoul via Shimonoseki 18,000 Yen

Tokyo to Seoul via Shimonoseki 27,400 Yen

Name of ticket in Japanese: ‘Nikan kyodo kippu’
Some Representative Fares

Shin Osaka to Hakata by JR Shinkansen 14,890 (one-way); 27,900 Yen (return)
Pusan to Seoul by Semaul train 5,500 Yen (one-way)
* Osaka - Hakata - Pusan - Seoul (train-Beetle-train) 23,560 Yen (one-way)

Answer 2

I don't know much about Korea to help you on how much it is from Seoul to Pusan.

I can only help you on the Japan part.

http://www.jrbeetle.co.jp/english/index.html

That is *one of the ferries that operate between Pusan (South Korea) and Fukuoka (Japan).

From Hakata, Fukuoka (where the ferry comes in) you can easily visit Hiroshima by taking the train.

From Hiroshima you can take the Shinkansen "bullet train" to Osaka, Kyoto then onto Tokyo. That will cost roughly around $250 USD (United States Dollars).

Answer 3

Take the boat, it will be an adventure. However the flight from Pusan to Fukuoka is dirt cheap. I can't give you an exact number, but think LAX to SFO type prices.

Answer 4

The ROK is definitely cheaper. However Japan can be affordable if you plan it properly. However that just isn't enough money.