Japan was the first highly developed Asian country I ever visited, and at the time, I thought it was the most incredible and futuristic place. I loved the incredible kindness of Japanese people and the perfectionism in the way they do everything. And even the most chaotic areas in Tokyo were charming in their own hectic way. But after just a couple of days in South Korea, my perception of Japan turned on its head. There are many reasons why South Korea is more enjoyable to visit than Japan. Here are just a few of them.
Quick mini guide for visiting South Korea
Planning a trip to South Korea? Here’s a helpful guide to South Korea to help plan your epic adventure!
Where to Stay in Seoul
Where to Stay in Busan
Read my full guide on Where to Stay in Busan.
When to Visit
- Spring and autumn season (May or Sept) are ideal
- Summer is hot, humid and rainy
- Winter is cold but less crowded
Things to Do
Don’t Forget
- An e-SIM so you can stay connected
- Play drinking games like the locals!
- Try the best Korean foods
South Korea has innovation without being overstimulating
I’ve been to Japan twice and at least once each time, I had a moment of panic out in public where I felt like I was going to be sick. There are lights on everything, there are people everywhere, but worst of all, everything makes a sound – storefront signs, 3D billboards driving by, ads on bus stops and buildings… certain parts of major Japanese cities are an endless cacophony of noise. And everything is so crowded that you feel trapped and unable to escape this chaos.
I was expecting Seoul to be the same, but I found that even in the busiest and most touristy areas, you have room to move. You’re not constantly assaulted by loud cartoonish sounds like you’re in some demented casino. And yet, you still benefit from all the amazing conveniences of a highly advanced society like efficient and clean public transportation, robots that clean or help you to your hotel room, and self-service machines for just about everything from ordering food to your table to getting a tax refund.
South Korea is more welcoming to foreigners
Japanese people are probably more polite than anyone on earth, but being polite is a long way from being welcoming. I prefer to be treated like a normal person rather than royalty as long as I feel like my presence is welcome. The Japanese have more of a tendency to gatekeep. There are bars and restaurants that you can’t go into as a foreigner unless you’re accompanied by a Japanese person. And while I respect their right to do that, as a visiting foreigner, it does make you feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells to not offend people. (As an aside, can you imagine the outrage if a restaurant in Germany did that?)
By contrast, from the moment we arrived in South Korea, it felt like locals were happy to have us and went out of their way to be helpful and to share their culture, even when there was a complete language barrier and without us having to ask. We got directions in train stations and help enjoying Korean cuisine, even from other diners. People are more open to foreigners and more understanding if you don’t know all the local customs perfectly, but they’re delighted if you’re making an effort.
Shopping is more enjoyable in South Korea
There are a couple of things that make shopping in Japan kind of uncomfortable for Westerners. For one, the popular department stores like Don Quijote (Donki) are all a cramped overwhelming mess, with a ton of music and noise and little room to move around the aisles. When you shop for clothes, Japanese shop clerks follow you around to see if you need any help. And even though I know they’re coming from a place of respect and helpfulness, I can’t help but feel nervous about it. When you pick something to try on, they will also walk you to the fitting room and then wait outside while you try on the clothes. Then there’s the issue of the bag you have to put over your head so you don’t get makeup or facial oils on the clothes you try on. All of this makes shopping in Japan kind of a tense experience. And can we all agree that a $10 shirt from Uniqlo doesn’t require this much fanfare?
In South Korea, shopping is a way more comfortable and casual. Though you still have to take off your shoes in the fitting room, that’s pretty much the only difference between shopping in Seoul and Paris or New York. You can always ask for help if you need it, but you’re not stalked around the entire store like someone they suspect of stealing. And Korea’s answer to Donki, which is Daiso, just feels like a Target in the US. It has a mix of useful and fun things, and it’s easy to navigate without having a panic attack.
There are fewer crowds at tourist sites in South Korea versus Japan
I say this all the time, but overtourism ruins cities. I’ve visited both countries in autumn and have additionally returned to Japan in the spring. And there is no time of year when walking around Tokyo or Kyoto as a tourist doesn’t suck. Some of these religious sites, which are supposed to be peaceful and quiet, are teeming with crowds from sunup to sundown. The stalls at traditional food markets all have long lines. There are even crosswalks like Shibuya Scramble which are only famous because of how insanely busy they are.
Meanwhile even the most popular markets and neighborhoods in Seoul are still manageable. Sure, there are a lot of people, but at least you have some personal space, and you don’t have to wait in a long line for everything. And neighborhoods like Gamcheon Culture Village and Bukchon Hanok Village are still enjoyable to stroll around in the middle of the day. In Japan, similar places like Higashiyama in Kyoto are intolerable. So much so that the city has banned tourists from Gion because they don’t let geishas go about their day.
You can eat well in South Korea without reservations
One of the things that makes visiting Japan kind of a hassle is that you have to plan ahead and reserve good restaurants ahead of time. The alternative is to waste up to an hour and a half waiting in line to get a table. We even waited to sit down at a ramen restaurant at 6 am. And if you’re wondering, this isn’t a popular TikTok restaurant problem. We had to wait in line in the middle of nowhere in Fujikawaguchiko with Japanese workers taking their lunch, too.
From Seoul to Busan, we didn’t have any issues getting a table at the last minute in South Korea and we ate incredibly well – because I don’t go anywhere that has less than 4.5 stars. In fact, the only restaurants in South Korea where we had an issue getting a table were all Japanese omakase restaurants. In the end, we didn’t even bother. Not having to preplan every meal made visiting South Korea far more enjoyable and relaxed. We ate when we were hungry and not when we had a reservation that was made two months ahead of time.
South Korea is a lot cheaper
Even the most popular neighborhoods in Seoul and Busan have affordable accommodation. So much so that you can stay at a 5-star hotel for less than $200 a night (and if you book the right hotels, you can get a tax refund on your stay!) Transportation is so cheap that even taking taxis everywhere is an affordable option. And dining and drinking are significantly more affordable in South Korea than Japan, even in touristy neighborhoods. It really opens up your budget so you can spend more on the best skin care products in the world.
Japan is the first country many Westerners visit in Asia, but we should consider branching out. It doesn’t have a monopoly on cherry blossoms, advanced technology, or cutesy desserts.
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