22 - Devour world-class food in Japan's capital of cuisine
For flavours you've never had before, Osaka's got it all.
Tokyo has size and Kyoto has history — but Osaka has cool
If you think the Japanese are reserved, you’ve obviously never been to Osaka. Whether it’s their rough-and-ready local dialect or their reputation for wisecracks, Osakans are proudly different — and their city is too.
Osaka is still more about the lifestyle and atmosphere than any particular sight, though there are plenty of big-ticket experiences to be had here too.
Food plays a huge part in the city's vibrant culture. A visit to Osaka is about indulging in kuidaore (“eat til you drop”) beneath the giant animatronic crabs and glowing pufferfish of neon-drenched Dotonbori or cultivating a pick-and-mix dinner from sizzling street food stands.
It’s also about exploring the manga shops and cosplay cafés of Den Den Town, or rummaging in the thrift stores of Amerika Mura, and seeking out offbeat experiences you can’t find anywhere else. Want to design your own pot noodle? Spend the day at an onsen theme park? Ride rollercoasters at Hogwarts? Do it in Osaka.
Dan - InsideJapan customer, Japan 2023
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Kyoto
Whoosh into Kyoto’s futuristic central station on the bullet train and you’ll be greeted by karaoke bars and concrete, not Zen gardens and mysterious shrines. But don’t let that fool you.
Mount Koya Come to Koya for age-old mountain temples in mist-wreathed forest; stay to feel close to something deep and old and mysterious.
Can't do September?
Japan has four distinct seasons: spring (March-May), summer (June-August), autumn (September-November) and winter (December-February). There are benefits to visiting all year round.
Where in the world is Osaka?
26 - Get under the skin of the K-beauty scene
Immerse yourself in South Korea's skincare wizardry.
Today, K-Beauty is a global phenomenon
On the most basic level, K-Beauty just means Korean skincare and beauty products. In reality, it’s so much more than that - as anyone with even a passing interest in skincare will tell you.
And, although you can purchase stylishly packaged Korean beauty products on the international market, nothing compares to immersing yourself in the world of Korean grooming in person. And there's no better place to do it than Seoul.
Your first stop is visiting a beauty shop, which you'll find sprouting like beautiful, blemish-free mushrooms on almost every street corner. Within, you'll find a dizzying array of weird and wonderfool tools and products - going far beyond your K-beauty-starter-kit-sheet mask.
Social media vastly influences what's hot and what's not in the world of K-beauty, so you might find snail serum (yep) is the must-have one day, and cryo rubber masks the next. Either way, there's a whole world waiting to be explored if you're on the quest for 'glass' skin.
When you're all shopped out, consider visiting a traditional jjimjilbang (think public baths with optional spa treatments) or grabbing a facial treatment at a fraction of Western prices.
If you've got a short layover in Seoul, it's well worth perusing the K-beauty scene to revive yourself pre or post-plane, and out of curiosity if nothing else.
"Getting a full body scrub by a Korean ahjumma is a hilarious and humbling experience I will never forget. But I was so invigorated afterwards that all my jetlag instantly disappeared." Samantha - InsideAsia team
Where in the world is Seoul?
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Incheon Korea’s arrivals lounge to the rest of the world, Incheon is often ignored thanks to the presence of Seoul just to its east. However, the place has some fascinating historical strings to its bow, plus one of the best Chinatowns outside China itself.
Read more Suwon Head to Suwon to take in the delights of a splendid, World Heritage-listed old fortress, and to delve into Korea’s rich folk traditions – and, for carnivorous sorts, there’s the chance to savour Korea’s best barbecued meat on the way around.
Can't do September?
Korea has four distinct seasons: spring (March-May), summer (June-August), autumn (September-November) and winter (December-February). Most people visit in spring or autumn, when temperatures are great. Summer is very hot and humid, while winter is very, very cold - although if you love snow, illuminations and winter festivals, it's brilliant.
27 – Scout out the best street food in Phnom Penh
Work your way through Cambodia's culinary delights.
A city alive with energy, art and youthful verve
Phnom Penh may no longer be the “Pearl of the Orient”, but don’t judge a book by its chaotic exterior cover.
Sitting at the confluence of three great waterways, Cambodia’s capital was once considered to be the most beautiful city in Asia. Today, it has more concrete apartment blocks than French-colonial buildings, but beauty is only skin-deep, so they say — and that’s certainly true here. Phnom Penh has plenty of charm left for those who take the time to look.
For us, that charm comes best in the form of the city's varied street food on offer - all calling out to be dived into (often from the back of a Tuk-Tuk). From the country's proud national dish - Fish Amok - to freshly squeezed tropical juices and what can only be described as a sweet Cambodian sugar burrito, Phnom Penh's street food scene has lots to say.
It’s a place to hop between micro bars, snack in hand, and to eat nompang (like a Cambodian bahn mi) baguettes and deep-fried bananas on the banks of the Mekong. More than anything, it’s a place to make friends with the locals, who are endlessly open and engaging.
"While walking at night along the streets, look for ladies with a cooler, a little lamp, rolling what looks like green burritos - you're in for a treat!" Robyn - InsideAsia staff
Where in the world is Phnom Penh?
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Kratie
A tatty yet alluring colonial town on the Mekong River, not far from the Laos border, Kratie is one of a handful of places left in the world to spot the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin.
Southern Cardamom Part of one of Southeast Asia’s largest remaining wilderness areas, the densely forested Southern Cardamom Mountains are a refuge for Asian elephants, pileated gibbons, clouded leopards and countless species as yet unknown to science.
Can't do September?
Cambodia has one of the simplest weather systems in Southeast Asia: just two seasons and little variation across regions.
- Dry season - October to late April
- Wet season - May to late September
- Hottest months - Feb to June (32-35°C / 90-95°)
- Coolest months - Oct to Dec (28°C/ 82°F).