Japan vs South Korea.
Direct comparison for Indian travellers — visa, cost, best months, sights. 7-Day JR Pass ₹28k saves ₹15-20k on shinkansen if you do Tokyo+Kyoto+Hiroshima; buy in India before flying. Meanwhile in South Korea: K-ETA is multi-entry 2 years — single application gets you back twice without paperwork.
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa for Indian passport | eVisa free | K-ETA |
| Visa cost (per person) | Free | ₹3,500 |
| Round-trip flight (Chennai) | ₹52k | ₹46k |
| Daily mid-range cost | ₹8.0-15.0k | ₹6.0-10.0k |
| Best months | Mar-Apr (sakura); Oct-Nov (koyo) | Apr-May, Sep-Oct |
| Top city | Tokyo | Seoul |
- 1. Tokyo Shibuya
- 2. Kyoto Fushimi Inari
- 3. Mount Fuji
- 4. Osaka Dotonbori
- 1. Gyeongbokgung Palace
- 2. Busan beaches
- 3. Jeju volcanic coast
- 4. DMZ tour
Japan or South Korea for first-time Indian travellers?
Japan has the simpler visa for Indian passport (eVisa free). South Korea has cheaper flights from India (~₹46k). If budget is the constraint, pick the one with the lower combined visa+flight cost.
Which is cheaper to travel daily — Japan or South Korea?
South Korea is cheaper at mid-range (₹6k/day baseline vs ₹8k). The gap is biggest on stays + food; transit costs are roughly similar.
When should I visit Japan vs South Korea?
Japan is best in Mar-Apr (sakura); Oct-Nov (koyo). South Korea is best in Apr-May, Sep-Oct. Different windows means you can do both as a multi-country trip if windows align.