Hi! I’m Ryan, a Canadian traveller on a mission to help you maximize your vacation & travel smarter in less time. Join me as I share useful (and unsponsored) travel guides, lifestyle advice & practical information based on over a decade of part-time independent travel.
Drafting up a first-time Japan itinerary? I'm willing to bet that the island of Hokkaido didn't quite make the cut. With the popular charms of the Japanese "mainland" of Honshu beckoning, it's not much of a surprise that Hokkaido often gets overlooked by travellers from abroad. Let's buck the system and offer up an alternative to the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka triangle. The beautiful island of Hokkaido, (literally) chillin' out in the northern reaches of Japan, is a highly underrated corner of East …
Latest Blog Posts
Gwangjang Market: What to Eat & Do in Seoul’s Oldest Traditional Market
With over a century of wheelin' and dealin' to back it up, Gwangjang Market in Seoul breathes rarified air. In fact, Gwangjang tops in as the oldest remaining traditional market in Korea. From shoes to fashion accessories and modern clothing to hanbok (traditional Korean formal wear), Gwangjang Market's got just about everything under the sun. And lest we forget the food. Besides being famous for its textiles and hanbok, Gwangjang Market is at its heart a foodie paradise. All of the best …
8 Insanely Fun Day Trips from Seoul, Korea
With its lip-smacking food, bustling street markets, and gleaming modern façades, it's hard to contest that Seoul is one of the best cities to visit in East Asia. But don't let this never-ending metropolitan buzz fool you: There's far more waiting outside Korea's capital than first meets the eye! Of all the main reasons to stick around for more than one day in Seoul, top of mind should be to take on the city's surroundings and check out Korean life beyond the big city. The best day trips …
6 Exciting Things to Do in Myeongdong (Seoul, Korea)
Even if you only manage to squeeze in just 24 hours in Seoul on your first Korea itinerary, you'll be beating yourself up later if you skip out on Myeongdong. One of the most interesting neighbourhoods in Seoul, Myeongdong is the city's consumerist heaven, chock loaded with with massive department stores, fashion boutiques, and—how would any visit to beauty-obsessed Korea be complete without this?—a metric ton of cosmetics shops. Of course, travellers who aren't into dishing out won on the …
Is the Japan Rail Pass Worth It?
Got an idea for the perfect Japan itinerary? If you're planning to spend any time moving around The Land of the Rising Sun, there's a good chance there'll be some train travel involved. (And, if not, there should be!) The rail system in Japan is one of world's best, driven by their awe-inspiring shinkansen (bullet trains). Debuting in 1964, the shinkansen was well ahead of its time, scooting travellers between Tokyo and Osaka at 200 miles a hour decades before high-speed trains were even a …
