Cheapest way to go to Japan or Korea from China?

[esroh]

Hello,

I plan spending a year in China to learn chinese and during school breaks i plan spending a week or so in Japan or Korea coz it was my dream visiting these countries. So anyone can tell me the cheapest way to go to Korea or Japan for a few days?

[James Johnston]

Walk or swim into Korea from Liaoning or Jilin. It's cheap and if you're lucky you can get an all expenses paid working holiday courtesy of the DPRK government. You may even get a celebrity visitor thrown in. I guarantee it's a holiday experience you'll never forget.

Otherwise you'll have to fly. Many provincial airports have direct flights to South Korea and Japan, and these are probably cheaper than going via Hong Kong. Typically tickets for Chinese airlines get cheaper the closer you leave it until the flight. If you try to book well in advance, you'll have to pay the full list price.

[Sarpedon]

There are ferries to Incheon (45 minutes to Seoul via subway) if you prefer not to fly.

There are tons of ferries according to this site:

http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/GK/GK_EN_2_3_2.jsp

All the contact info for the ferry companies is at the bottom too. Be aware that it will take the better part of a day or longer to get to Korea via ferry. Not sure about Japan, since I don't live there.

[whereishunter]

When i was living in Dalian i took the ferry to Korea. It was a great way to travel. The boat leaves around 5pm and arrives about 9am (I could be the same time both ways... Cant remember). Cost was just under 2000RMB return.

Getting to Japan from Korea is also easy. Take the train for Seoul to Busan, then also take a ferry to Japan. I have not done this but loads of my friends have. Depending on how much time you have, you might not even need to fly!!

[esroh]

So the cost of the ferry is around 2000rmb for trip back and forth? I will be in Tianjin next year so will the cost be around the same price or more expensive than going from Dalian?