Japan and Korea with teens.

[DaleTrimont]

We haven’t had a foreign holiday for years, partly pandemic, partly for climate reasons we try not to fly. However the teenagers are getting older and we would love to do something really special now.
I have wanted to visit Japan for decades, and the dds would love to visit Korea. Anyone live in Korea ? We are mostly vegetarian and I am coeliac so that worries me slightly, ( trying to navigate gluten free in another country) two of us do eat fish sometimes which might be easier ?
One of the girls is mad about Kpop and would like to see a city, both would love to see rural Japan as would Dh and I.
I suppose my questions are 1. Is this going to cost an absolute fortune ?

1. Is being coeliac going to be a huge problem ?

3. Anything important to know about cultural norms etc ? Teenage daughters, will be 15 and 17 .

We might decide to just do Korea then, for now. Then save like mad for Japan in a couple of years time.
My main worry is communicating about food as I get so ill from gluten. Perhaps we would be better off renting a flat if possible, then I can cook for myself if necessary some of the time?
I was surprised to see on a vlog that nobody drinks the tap water. Also plumbing - used loo roll can’t be flushed and goes into a special bin ? Is that true everywhere ? Modest clothing on your top half but short skirts are fine ? The dds are generally quite covered up anyway and we won’t be visiting when it is very hot.
It sounds a reasonably safe place to visit. Seems sensible for us to try and learn a few Korean phrases , I am thinking about how we will manage with signs etc all in a completely different alphabet, but then that is part of experiencing a very different culture. I have been reading up on bowing, holding things with both hands, general politeness and formality.
Any ideas on particular things to do ? Dds like shopping, we all like history, culture, music and nature. One dd into K-pop.
Any apps we should get that help with communication and navigation ?
Tips on not offending anyone etc very welcome.
dds and I have very curly hair, looking at dramas it seems this is considered hideous and dreadfully unkempt… I am worried people will look at us with horror !

Get google translate - works on text as well.
There's an article in the times travel section about Korea today

If you want to see rural Japan then you simply must do the Magome-Tsumago trail. Stay in a ryokan at either end.

@jpgirl
Yes to that. If was memorable.

Last time I visited Seoul the best place to get vegetarian food was where the Buddhist monks were as they are all vegetarian.

In a lot of places (particular the transport system) the names were written using the Korean alphabet, then using the western alphabet so you could make an attempt at trying to pronounce them.

Toilet paper went in the bin, not the toilet. In many places the entire bathroom was a wet room (a shower head randomly positioned on the wall) so take a waterproof wash bag!

Generally we didn't drink the tap water.

I'll come back to you later with more details and info cos I'm on the way out shortly but I'll copy and send your post to my daughter who I'm pretty sure is gonna say the same thing i.e. “Stick with planning any holidays through places like “Visit Japan” and then you're given full guidance, info and can be sure you don't inadvertently run into trouble, have any huge shocks and get the most out of your time there from people providing the full experience and making sure you go home safe and happy

My daughter developed a strange and intense interest for all things Japanese when she was 8 or 9yrs old maybe and we didn't know why or what set it off but figured maybe something to do with the other kids at school and expected the novelty would wear off. She's now a grown woman in her 20's, doing her Masters in linguists and speaks fluent Japanese and Mandarin and is flying out to spend 6 months on an visa placement and exchange in Osaka in Feb or May next year.

Japan is eye-watering, curling up on the floor and crying expensive and one example is the flights we have provisionally booked for next year.

Two adults, premium economy seats flying direct from Heathrow to Tokyo with JAL is £3900 (flights only)

We're fortunate in that daughter has so many contacts and friends out there she met as pen-pals she arranged for us to stay with a host family (like Air B&B) that don't charge guests for their stay provided they contribute to the running of the home, farm and roll up sleeves / muck in with everyone else which for me is perfect.

Beautiful country but the most conflicting, confusing and contradictory one that does have its traditions and beautiful social customs but for all the beauty it holds in one hand, it snatches away with the other.

Korea – I'd skip that one completely.

Leave it with me and I'll ask and come back but link to website if you want to book a full once in a lifetime blow out a- book it all through somewhere like Visit Japan.

Also link to the kind of thing you'll find just going for a pee in the Japanese ladies loos 😅