eSIM for China mainland & Japan & South Korea

This plan covers an East Asia loop such as Shanghai and Beijing, Tokyo and Kyoto, then Seoul, on one eSIM. All three countries have very strong mobile networks in cities and along their high-speed rail lines. The big differences are in the rules and apps: mainland China's Great Firewall, Korea's map restrictions and Japan's LINE culture.

A one-way East Asia route that suits a first visit to all three countries: Shanghai and Beijing linked by high-speed rail, a short flight to Seoul, the KTX to Busan, then a flight to Osaka for Kyoto and the shinkansen to Tokyo.

Length

13 days

Bases

7

When to go April to May and mid-September to November are the most comfortable in all three countries; avoid China's Golden Week in early October and Japan's Golden Week in late April to early May, when trains and sights are at their busiest.

1. 01

   Day 1 Shanghai

   Shanghai: the Bund and Yu Garden

   Walk the Bund in the morning for the colonial-era waterfront and the view across the Huangpu River to Lujiazui. Head along East Nanjing Road, then south to Yu Garden and the old City God Temple area. In the evening, return to the Bund to see the Pudong skyline lit up.

   Signal Strong 5G on China Unicom. Check WhatsApp, Google and email straight away on arrival and keep a VPN installed as a backup.

2. 02

   Day 2 Shanghai

   Shanghai: the Former French Concession and Pudong

   Spend the morning at the Shanghai Museum's ancient bronzes and ceramics, then walk the plane-tree lanes of the Former French Concession and the Tianzifang alleys. In the late afternoon, take the metro to Lujiazui and go up the Shanghai Tower for the view from one of the world's tallest observation decks.

   Signal Excellent across the city and on the metro. Use Amap or Apple Maps rather than Google Maps for accurate directions.

3. 03

   Day 3 Beijing

   High-speed train to Beijing

   → High-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing South, about 4.5 to 5.5 hours.

   Take a morning high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing South, booking through the 12306 app or a ticket agent with your passport. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven and its park, where locals play cards and practise tai chi, then walk the Qianmen pedestrian street.

   Signal Good 4G and 5G along the high-speed line, with short drops in tunnels and cuttings.

4. 04

   Day 4 Beijing

   Beijing: Tiananmen and the Forbidden City

   Book Forbidden City tickets several days ahead with your passport. Cross Tiananmen Square, go through the Meridian Gate and walk the length of the palace to the Imperial Garden. Climb Jingshan Park's hill opposite the north gate for the view over the roofs, then explore the Shichahai hutongs and lakes.

   Signal Strong coverage, though security checkpoints at Tiananmen can involve long queues, so keep your passport and booking ready offline.

5. 05

   Day 5 Beijing

   The Great Wall at Mutianyu

   → About 1.5 to 2 hours by road each way.

   Take a tour bus or private car to Mutianyu, a restored section with watchtowers along a forested ridge. Ride the cable car or chairlift up, walk the wall in either direction, and take the toboggan down if you like. Back in Beijing, visit the Lama Temple in the late afternoon if time allows.

   Signal Generally good at the Mutianyu entrance and on most of the wall; weaker on the far, steeper sections.

6. 06

   Day 6 Seoul

   Fly to Seoul: Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon

   → Flight Beijing to Seoul, about 2 hours.

   Fly from Beijing to Seoul Incheon and take the AREX express into the city. In the afternoon, visit Gyeongbokgung Palace in time for the changing of the guard, see the National Folk Museum inside its grounds, then walk up through Bukchon Hanok Village and the cafés of Samcheong-dong. In the evening, try bindaetteok and other stall food at Gwangjang Market.

   Signal Your phone switches to SK Telecom on landing. Very strong 5G across Seoul. Google Maps lacks walking directions in Korea, so use Naver Map or KakaoMap.

7. 07

   Day 7 Seoul

   Seoul: Changdeokgung, Insadong and Namsan

   Join a timed tour of Changdeokgung's Secret Garden, then browse Insadong's galleries and tea houses. In the afternoon, visit the National Museum of Korea, and finish with the cable car up Namsan to N Seoul Tower for the night view.

   Signal Excellent across the city, including the subway and the cable car up Namsan.

8. 08

   Day 8 Busan

   KTX to Busan: Gamcheon and Jagalchi

   → KTX from Seoul Station to Busan, about 2.5 hours.

   Take the KTX to Busan. Visit Gamcheon Culture Village's painted hillside houses, then go down to Jagalchi Fish Market and the Nampo-dong streets. In the evening, walk Gwangalli Beach for the view of the lit-up Gwangan Bridge.

   Signal Strong 5G on the KTX and across Busan.

9. 09

   Day 9 Osaka

   Busan's coast, then fly to Osaka

   → Flight Busan to Osaka, about 1.5 hours.

   Take a bus or taxi to Haedong Yonggungsa, the seaside temple built on the rocks, then walk along the coast to Haeundae Beach and the Dongbaekseom island path. Fly from Busan Gimhae to Osaka Kansai in the afternoon, take the Nankai line into Namba, and spend the evening in Dotonbori's neon-lit canal streets.

   Signal Your phone switches to KDDI's au network in Japan; give it a few minutes after landing. Full coverage in central Osaka.

10. 10

    Day 10 Kyoto

    Kyoto: Fushimi Inari and Higashiyama

    → JR or Keihan train from Osaka to Kyoto, about 30 to 50 minutes.

    Take the train to Kyoto and go straight to Fushimi Inari, walking up through the torii-lined paths as far as the Yotsutsuji viewpoint. In the afternoon, visit Kiyomizu-dera and its wooden terrace, then walk down the old stone lanes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka to Yasaka Shrine, ending in Gion's teahouse streets at dusk.

    Signal Good across Kyoto, including the lower slopes of Fushimi Inari.

11. 11

    Day 11 Kyoto

    Kyoto: Arashiyama and the Golden Pavilion

    Be at the Arashiyama bamboo grove early, then visit Tenryu-ji's garden and walk across Togetsukyo Bridge. Take the bus to Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, and the Ryoan-ji rock garden nearby. Spend the evening at Nishiki Market or along Pontocho.

    Signal Strong coverage throughout the city and on its buses.

12. 12

    Day 12 Tokyo

    Shinkansen to Tokyo: Shibuya and Shinjuku

    → Nozomi shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo, about 2 hours 15 minutes.

    Take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo, looking out for Mount Fuji on the right-hand side on a clear day. In the afternoon, walk through Meiji Jingu's forest, down Harajuku and Omotesando to the Shibuya scramble crossing. End in Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho.

    Signal Good on the shinkansen with brief drops in tunnels; excellent across Tokyo.

13. 13

    Day 13 Tokyo

    Tokyo: Asakusa, Ueno and the bay

    Visit Senso-ji in Asakusa early, then walk Ueno Park and the Tokyo National Museum. In the afternoon, take the Yurikamome line across the Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba, or go to teamLab Planets in Toyosu if you have booked it. Allow time for the train to Narita or Haneda.

    Signal Excellent across the city, the Tokyo Metro and the airport rail links.