Asia destination playbook

Build an Asia trip around Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei

Asia is best experienced in compact city clusters with strong public transport, great food, and clear walking routes. This playbook is built for solo travelers, couples, and small groups who want a clean plan with transit friendly stay zones and realistic daily pacing. Focus on two or three cities rather than six, and you will save money while enjoying deeper local time.

Pick two cities with direct connections

The strongest Asia itineraries pair two hubs with direct flights or fast trains. Tokyo with Seoul or Tokyo with Taipei makes a great combo, and Seoul with Busan is ideal if you want a shorter domestic hop. Keep travel days under four hours to protect energy and avoid losing a full day to airports.

Stay near a metro line, not necessarily downtown

In Tokyo, areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ueno work well, but you can save money just one or two stops out. In Seoul, Hongdae and Myeongdong are practical bases with transit access. In Taipei, Ximending or Zhongshan offers a good mix of food and transport. A strong metro base reduces taxi use and keeps your daily costs consistent.

Plan food as a budget advantage

Asia is one of the best regions for affordable, high quality meals. Build your day around a market or food street and you can eat well without expensive restaurants. Aim for one sit down meal and one market or casual meal per day, and you will stay within budget while still trying local specialties.

Transit passes are worth it for heavy sight days

Passes are best when you have multiple rides in a day. For example, Tokyo Metro passes can pay off if you are moving between districts for sightseeing. In Seoul and Taipei, stored value cards are simple and often more flexible. Compare a day pass to your expected travel to avoid overpaying.

Sample 8 day Tokyo + Seoul plan

• Days 1 to 4: Tokyo with a mix of modern districts and a day trip to a nearby shrine town.
• Days 5 to 8: Seoul with markets, palace day, and a river walk evening.

Recommended Asia guides

• Hidden gems in Tokyo neighborhoods for walkable district ideas.
• Budget itineraries playbook for pacing and cost control.
• Cheap flights playbook for timing and alert setup.
• Visa tips for first time travelers for documentation prep.