Whether it’s a city break you desire or a beach escape, a weekend getaway in East Asia is your perfect vacation.
Sip tea on a mountain, dive in a sinkhole, and explore an artist village. And of course, eat your way through seafood markets and noodle shops — here are six exceptional East Asia weekend getaways.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto is a treasure trove of history — sites such as Fushimi Inari Shrine and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove attest to this. Make time to explore the cobbled alleys between bamboo houses, and by the Kamo River, alongside people dressed in floral yukata (lightweight kimonos) and carrying parasols.
Hungry? Visit Nishiki Market, where vendors have sold fish since the eighth century. Today they also sell everything from sashimi to regional favorite candies.
And don’t forget to hit Kyoto’s fine dining spots for multicourse kaiseki meals: these often include a procession of grilled fish, egg custard, and tofu stew. Try Gion Nanba, hidden behind a small yellow door, and Yagenbori, which occupies a 9th-century tea house.
Busan, South Korea
Hundreds of beach umbrellas line the golden sands of Busan’s (in)famous Haeundae Beach, known as a haven for beachgoers swimming in calm waters by day and partying to an electronic soundtrack by night.
This southern beach town is more than a summer party destination. Hike to Gamcheon Culture Village, a former 1950s shantytown that’s now a thriving artist village. From afar, the colorful houses perched on a steep hill resemble blocks. Local artists paint murals on the walls of the art galleries, craft stores, and cafés below — creating a technicolor aesthetic.
Spend another morning at Jagalchi, South Korea’s largest seafood market. Each morning, fishermen haul their catch — clams, oysters, squid, lobsters, and crabs — from their boats to the stalls. Choose what you want to eat, and bring it to the second floor for shop owners to cook.
Tainan, Taiwan
The capital of Taiwan until the late 19th century, the southern city of Tainan has historic, cultural and gastronomic offerings. Visit Anping Fort, a mid-1600s red-brick fort, one of the few remnants of the Dutch’s brief colonization before Ming loyalist Koxinga expelled them.
Nearby is Anping Tree House, where the roots of an old banyan tree have overtaken a brick house. Walk on the metal and wood walkways built into, and propped up by, these gigantic roots.
No visit to Tainan is complete without eating danzimian, yellow noodles soaked in prawn-based broth and served with minced pork, bean sprouts, cilantro and prawn. The best place to try danzimian is at the original Du Hsiao Yueh shop, founded in 1895. It’s now a popular chain, and displays show how street peddlers used to make the noodles.
Miyako Island; Okinawa, Japan
Miyako-jima, or Miyako Island, a 50-minute flight from Naha on Okinawa’s main island, is the quintessential beachy East Asia weekend getaway. Make time to visit Aragusuku Beach, with its pristine waters and sea turtle habitats, and Cape Higashi-Hennazaki, with its iconic lighthouse.
Irabu-jima, a smaller island connected to Miyako-jima, is the perfect spot for snorkeling in clear waters off the beaches near IRAPH SUI, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Miyako Okinawa. You’ll also find Toriike Pond, a sprawling blue sinkhole with an underwater tunnel connecting to the ocean, where skilled scuba divers can explore.
Hualien, Taiwan
Named for the Indigenous Nruku people, Taroko National Park, with its network of black marble cliffs, meandering turquoise rivers, and namesake gorge, is one of Taiwan’s most stunning natural wonders. Many hiking trails, including the short and scenic Lushui Trail, bring visitors up close to the birds and butterflies that inhabit the cliffs’ crags.
A kayak tour is another way to experience the gorge, and these depart from the tree-shrouded precipice of Qingshui Cliff.
If you want to relax, south of the gorge lies Qixingtan Beach — a pebbly, calm stretch of shore ideal for swimming in crystal-clear water and stargazing.
Suzhou; Jiangsu, China
A half-hour bullet train ride from Shanghai, Suzhou, with its waterways and stone arched bridges, is a city of yesteryear.
Go on a slow boat ride down the canals, where red lanterns strung on traditional homes illuminate the water at night. By day, stroll through the 16th-century Humble Administrator’s Garden among many longstanding classical gardens in the city, and admire its lotus ponds from the pavilions.
The mountainous areas surrounding Suzhou give it a distinct flavor — in particular, the green-tea-growing region of Dongting by Lake Tai. Visitors can learn about tea harvesting and sample tea at one of the many tea plantations. Try biluochun, literally translated as “green snail spring,” which has grown here for more than 1,000 years.
End your East Asia weekend getaway with an evening of Kunqu opera, an art form with a 600-year history, at the Jiangsu Suzhou Kun Opera Theater.
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