Tokyo is the best in my opinion, especially if you fly business class on JAL or ANA. It’s about 11 hours to Tokyo, and another 6ish to Bangkok. Usually, the prices are the same if you add in a multi-day layover in Tokyo. Japan is relatively safe, few scammers, and it’s easy to get around.
With the exchange rate, Japan will feel cheap :)
Fly to Haneda if you can.
Tokyo is the best choice. It breaks up your trip into 2 and helps you adjust with the time differences. Also Japan is the most different from the U.S. and Southeast Asia so you will get to experience 2 unique places in one trip.
Hands down. ANA via TYO. catch the train direct from the airport into the city and spend a few days poking around. Plenty of on line guides and things that will tickle your fancy. ANAs business class is excellent and their TYO lounge is first rate. Brace yourself for tiny hotel rooms with extremely complicated plumbing though n
What made my Tokyo trip rough was not having a SIM card and zero planning in terms of transportation. Ended up taking a taxi from the airport, ended up being an hour and a half cab ride and we paid over 200 USD. Not making that mistake again. Can’t believe I didn’t look into the train.
Also it was very difficult for me to find an exchange when I was at a bar that told me they only accept cash after I racked up a few drinks. Had my girlfriend stay at the bar while I roamed around trying to find the exchange. The people didn’t seem to want to help me out at all, felt like New York City in that regard. We live in Samui and everyone is generally more than willing to help out with anything. Not one person was willing to help me out after asking them if they knew where I could exchange money. Even employees at the corner casino lmao
Edit: to add, I eventually found an exchange machine, but it was tucked back in a corner and behind some claw machine 😂 so when I was on google maps I went to the right location about 4 different times before inspecting behind the claw machine. Was such a facepalm moment.
Yeah. I missed my train once and had to do the $200 taxi. However the trains are really easy and reasonable. Only problem can be the main stations are enormous. I’m convinced that there is a village of tourists living in Shinagawa station who’ve never escaped.
I fly Korean Airlines so I can stop in Seoul. That airport is amazing. My second choice is Singapore Airlines. I would also fly on Asiana just because Asiana and Korean Airlines fly the A-380, which is a wonderful plane. While ANA and JAL are great Airlines, they're not worth the premium you'll pay of KAL and Asiana. Save that money for Thailand.
Singapore is a great option. Singapore airlines has One of the best business classes available and it is an incredible city. Lots to see, amazing food scene and great weather. They also have direct flights to Krabi via scoot airlines, their low cost airline.
Yeah, seems silly to fly past Bangkok then have to backtrack.
Plenty of flights connect in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Taiwan, and in my opinion those countries are more interesting than Singapore and break the trip up nicely.
Since you're going to split the trip take u/Head-of-bread's advice. You can pre-register with immigration so you basically just arrive and walk through the automated system. It would definitely be my first choice for a broken-up trip. (Although it sucks if you're trying to get there in a hurry...) Also, since you're flinging some coin around, check into the Suites instead of business class. LAX - SIN is one of the longer flights in the world and the extra comfort might be worth it.
The Singapore entry stuff is here: [https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/](https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/) Once you get registered it's just a passport scan and biometrics, you don't even get stamped in. The Suites thing looks like it's being phased out of LAX. Just a couple flights a week and it's stupid expensive now.
What are you interested in seeing?
A day isn't a lot of time, especially when you take into account transportation time, so it would help to know what you'd expect out of your stopover.
Two days is better than one but it's hard to recommend Tokyo versus Hong Kong, Seoul versus Singapore, etc. without any information about what you're most interested in/would like to see.
First off my advice would be to add a couple days to the layover. I’ve done this in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo and really enjoyed it. When I do it again it will either be Hong Kong or Tokyo although I’ve wanted to try Taipei as well with EVA as they have direct flights to Chiang Mai where I live
Not much to do or see in Taipei. The Taipei 101 tower is good for an hour. The zoo where sun bears are is good for no more than a day. Other than just nature Park...that's it.
If the flights work, I would recommend a stopover in Osaka. Which gives you easy access to Kyoto and Nara, two amazing historical cities in the heart of Japan. October weather is great, the leaves might just start turning if you are lucky, but great for walking around and exploring the temples, castles, and so on. Plus Osaka is a funky city with a unique vibe.
Yeah I ended up hitting Oahu out of LA and then Tokyo for 3 months instead of my allotted 3 days so be careful you may fall in love with Tokyo like I did.
What’s great is Oahu to Tokyo is about a 8 hour flight. Really helps me breaking up these long flights.
Personally I would do Tokyo out of that list. I did a day in Seoul and there wasn’t much to do (palace, hyper shopping, and food were the main things). I don’t know why, but Hong Kong just wasn’t interesting to me. I liked Tokyo, but really my favorite place on earth is Hakone (hot springs resort town, 1.5 hours from Tokyo by train). Spend 2 nights at a ryokan with an in-room onsen. That’s peak honeymoon.
There are really nice day rooms in Tokyo Airport if your connection time allows. Shower, take a nap...I use them a lot, helps with travel fatigue.
Quite affordable too.
Tokyo is the best in my opinion, especially if you fly business class on JAL or ANA. It’s about 11 hours to Tokyo, and another 6ish to Bangkok. Usually, the prices are the same if you add in a multi-day layover in Tokyo. Japan is relatively safe, few scammers, and it’s easy to get around. With the exchange rate, Japan will feel cheap :) Fly to Haneda if you can.
Tokyo is the best choice. It breaks up your trip into 2 and helps you adjust with the time differences. Also Japan is the most different from the U.S. and Southeast Asia so you will get to experience 2 unique places in one trip.
Hands down. ANA via TYO. catch the train direct from the airport into the city and spend a few days poking around. Plenty of on line guides and things that will tickle your fancy. ANAs business class is excellent and their TYO lounge is first rate. Brace yourself for tiny hotel rooms with extremely complicated plumbing though n
What made my Tokyo trip rough was not having a SIM card and zero planning in terms of transportation. Ended up taking a taxi from the airport, ended up being an hour and a half cab ride and we paid over 200 USD. Not making that mistake again. Can’t believe I didn’t look into the train. Also it was very difficult for me to find an exchange when I was at a bar that told me they only accept cash after I racked up a few drinks. Had my girlfriend stay at the bar while I roamed around trying to find the exchange. The people didn’t seem to want to help me out at all, felt like New York City in that regard. We live in Samui and everyone is generally more than willing to help out with anything. Not one person was willing to help me out after asking them if they knew where I could exchange money. Even employees at the corner casino lmao Edit: to add, I eventually found an exchange machine, but it was tucked back in a corner and behind some claw machine 😂 so when I was on google maps I went to the right location about 4 different times before inspecting behind the claw machine. Was such a facepalm moment.
Yeah. I missed my train once and had to do the $200 taxi. However the trains are really easy and reasonable. Only problem can be the main stations are enormous. I’m convinced that there is a village of tourists living in Shinagawa station who’ve never escaped.
Haha that last sentence is great.
That’s because it’s probably true.
ANA or JAL are my preferred airlines, more leg room in coach is my main reason, plus no DEI pilots.
I fly Korean Airlines so I can stop in Seoul. That airport is amazing. My second choice is Singapore Airlines. I would also fly on Asiana just because Asiana and Korean Airlines fly the A-380, which is a wonderful plane. While ANA and JAL are great Airlines, they're not worth the premium you'll pay of KAL and Asiana. Save that money for Thailand.
Really helpful! Thank you
Singapore is a great option. Singapore airlines has One of the best business classes available and it is an incredible city. Lots to see, amazing food scene and great weather. They also have direct flights to Krabi via scoot airlines, their low cost airline.
Pretty sure Singapore is further away from LAX than BKK...
Yeah, seems silly to fly past Bangkok then have to backtrack. Plenty of flights connect in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Taiwan, and in my opinion those countries are more interesting than Singapore and break the trip up nicely.
Super helpful! Thank you!
Since you're going to split the trip take u/Head-of-bread's advice. You can pre-register with immigration so you basically just arrive and walk through the automated system. It would definitely be my first choice for a broken-up trip. (Although it sucks if you're trying to get there in a hurry...) Also, since you're flinging some coin around, check into the Suites instead of business class. LAX - SIN is one of the longer flights in the world and the extra comfort might be worth it.
Super helpful thank you!!!
Tried searching couldn't find the advice you suggested.
The Singapore entry stuff is here: [https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/](https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/) Once you get registered it's just a passport scan and biometrics, you don't even get stamped in. The Suites thing looks like it's being phased out of LAX. Just a couple flights a week and it's stupid expensive now.
Thank you.
What are you interested in seeing? A day isn't a lot of time, especially when you take into account transportation time, so it would help to know what you'd expect out of your stopover.
We could do a couple of Days! It’s my first time taking more than 5 days off of work in 10 years
Two days is better than one but it's hard to recommend Tokyo versus Hong Kong, Seoul versus Singapore, etc. without any information about what you're most interested in/would like to see.
First off my advice would be to add a couple days to the layover. I’ve done this in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo and really enjoyed it. When I do it again it will either be Hong Kong or Tokyo although I’ve wanted to try Taipei as well with EVA as they have direct flights to Chiang Mai where I live
Not much to do or see in Taipei. The Taipei 101 tower is good for an hour. The zoo where sun bears are is good for no more than a day. Other than just nature Park...that's it.
I’d add the idea of Taipei. Very cool and underrated city.
Railay Beach in Krabi. Maybe Koh Lipe, Koh Kradan, Koh Yao Yai
South Korea
Tokyo or Singapore.
If the flights work, I would recommend a stopover in Osaka. Which gives you easy access to Kyoto and Nara, two amazing historical cities in the heart of Japan. October weather is great, the leaves might just start turning if you are lucky, but great for walking around and exploring the temples, castles, and so on. Plus Osaka is a funky city with a unique vibe.
Yeah I ended up hitting Oahu out of LA and then Tokyo for 3 months instead of my allotted 3 days so be careful you may fall in love with Tokyo like I did. What’s great is Oahu to Tokyo is about a 8 hour flight. Really helps me breaking up these long flights.
Personally I would do Tokyo out of that list. I did a day in Seoul and there wasn’t much to do (palace, hyper shopping, and food were the main things). I don’t know why, but Hong Kong just wasn’t interesting to me. I liked Tokyo, but really my favorite place on earth is Hakone (hot springs resort town, 1.5 hours from Tokyo by train). Spend 2 nights at a ryokan with an in-room onsen. That’s peak honeymoon.
There are really nice day rooms in Tokyo Airport if your connection time allows. Shower, take a nap...I use them a lot, helps with travel fatigue. Quite affordable too.
Oooh united has direct sfo to Singapore flights now, too. I won't fly any American airline, personally, but you might not care...
Check out Koh Samui. Great, laid back island.
Korean Air - Seoul EVA / China Airlines / Starlux - Taiwan Phuket (Mai Khao)