Pick Japan if you want cherry blossoms or autumn colours, a nonstop flight from Delhi and a food scene that works for vegetarian families with some planning. Pick South Korea if you want spring or autumn walking weather and are comfortable with a consulate visa application, since India cannot use K-ETA. Both need a visa before you fly.
| What to compare | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Best months to go | Late March to May and late September to early December See the best-time guide for Japan → |
Spring (March to May) or fall (September to November), per Visit Korea See the best-time guide for South Korea → |
| Weather in peak season | Cherry blossoms late March to April; autumn colours in November; typhoons possible in August and September See the best-time guide for Japan → |
Summer is hot and humid with a rainy season and typhoons; winter is cold, good for skiing and hot springs See the best-time guide for South Korea → |
| Flight time from Delhi | Nonstop Delhi to Tokyo Haneda, about 8 hours 25 minutes[1] | |
| Visa for Indians | Visa needed before travel; single-entry tourist eVISA applied through VFS Global, Rs 500 visa fee plus service charges See the visa guide for Japan → |
Visa needed before travel; K-ETA is not available to India. Single entry up to 90 days costs INR 3,600 at New Delhi, plus service charges See the visa guide for South Korea → |
| Vegetarian and Jain food | Vegetarian and Jain families can manage with planning; hidden fish stock (dashi) is the main risk See the food guide for Japan → |
|
| For seniors (walking, toilets, medical access)our editorial view | The Japan visa guide carries notes for senior travellers; the evening nonstop from Delhi lands in Tokyo the next morning See the visa guide for Japan → |
Not yet verified |
| Crowd levelsour editorial view | High crowds and higher prices late March to early April at popular blossom spots, per JNTO See the best-time guide for Japan → |
Not yet verified |
| Language easeour editorial view | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
Rows marked "our editorial view" are our judgement, not a measured fact. Everything else cites a source or the guide it comes from.
About Japan
Japan suits families who want a polished, easy-to-navigate trip with a clear seasonal highlight. The most comfortable months are late March to May and late September to early December; cherry blossom season brings crowds and higher prices, and August and September can bring typhoons. From Delhi, nonstop flights to Tokyo Haneda take about 8 hours 25 minutes. Indian tourists need a visa before travel: the single-entry tourist eVISA is applied through VFS Global, with a Rs 500 visa fee plus service charges, and the live visa issuance notice must be shown at the airport. Vegetarian and Jain families can eat well with planning, though hidden fish stock (dashi) is the main risk. Japan is 3.5 hours ahead of India, and the currency is the yen.
About South Korea
South Korea suits families who want a compact trip in spring or autumn. Visit Korea recommends March to May or September to November for walking, when temperatures are moderate; summer is hot and humid with a rainy season and typhoons, and winter is cold, good for skiing and hot springs. Indian tourists normally need a visa before travel and cannot use K-ETA; a single-entry visa for up to 90 days costs INR 3,600 at New Delhi, plus service charges. The eligible group visa issuance fee waiver runs through 31 December 2026, but it is not visa-free entry and not a blanket individual fee waiver, so check the current mission checklist before planning around it.
Trips to Japan
Trips to South Korea
We have no open trip to South Korea right now. Tell us your dates and we will help you find one.
Quick questions
Sources
- Air India: Fly Non-Stop from Delhi to Tokyo Haneda · checked 24 Oct 2026
- All Nippon Airways (ANA): International Route Information · checked 24 Oct 2026
- Japan Airlines: Flights from Delhi to Tokyo · checked 24 Oct 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency: Normals (1991-2020), Tokyo: monthly values · checked 22 Oct 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization: A Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Japan · checked 23 Oct 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization: Weather and Geography: Japan's weather through the seasons · checked 22 Oct 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO): Timezone · checked 24 Oct 2026