Japan vs South Korea.
Direct comparison for Indian travellers, visa, cost, best months, sights. Japan eVisa launched Sept 2025, ~₹450 consular fee via accredited agencies (NOT free); 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: Indian passports are NOT on the K-ETA list. Apply for a sticker visa via KVAC/VFS. e-Arrival Card mandatory at airport since Feb 2025.
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa for Indian passport | paid eVisa ~₹450 via accredited agency (since Sept 2025) | sticker visa via KVAC/VFS (NOT K-ETA. Indians ineligible) |
| Visa cost (per person) | ₹450 | ₹3,400 |
| 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
Paid eVisa launched Sept 2025 (~₹450), still one of the lowest visa costs for Indians in Northeast Asia. Flights are the gate (~₹52k Chennai-NRT) but JR Pass + cheap konbini food keeps daily cost reasonable. Pair with /destinations/kr or /destinations/tw for a multi-country trip via /architect.
Only Northeast Asia destination where Indians still need an in-person KVAC sticker visa, budget ₹3,400 + 5-10 working days. Best paired with /destinations/jp on a single ₹65k flight loop (Tokyo-Seoul leg ~₹12k).
Japan or South Korea for first-time Indian travellers?
Japan has the simpler visa for Indian passport (paid eVisa ~₹450 via accredited agency (since Sept 2025)). 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.