My best firend is palnning a girls trip to Japan in April 2026. We’ve never been to Japan so we are super excited. We are all into K-pop and want to live out our K-pop dream. can you reccommend places to visit that offer that expereicne or any stores that we can purchase k-pop merch.
2 Likes
Hey @lynn just a little side note: K-pop is short for Korean pop (i.e. pop music from South Korea).
Also, if your girls really wants to live out the full-blown K-pop experience, you should totally consider going to South Korea (especially Seoul). That’s where the heart of K-pop is, agencies, idol events, flagship merch stores, etc.
4 Likes
If you want to experience K-Pop, you definitely want to visit South Korea, that’s where it all started! I personally love Japan’s cosplay and anime; it’s so fun and creative. Every Sunday in Harajuku, people dress up and showcase their costumes there
1 Like
Adding to the convo here. You’ll find J-pop in Japan, and it’s significantly different than K-pop. I second the other commenters here - if you’re looking to immerse yourself in K-pop, South Korea would definitely be your best bet. When I was there in March, K-pop was playing in the streets, G-Dragon had held a digital exhibition at Hyundai shopping centre and there was K-pop merch everywhere.
I would recommend visiting both countries, honestly. There are similarities, but they’re unique in their own right. You can get pretty cheap flights between the two countries, which only take about 2 hours or so.
2 Likes
Japan is such a great destination, and there is something for everyone. As everyone is saying, K-pop is a Korean thing, but if you’re into music, Japan has some great live music and jazz bars. Do a bit of research on spots in Tokyo. A lot of people find Tokyo to be a bit overwhelming, but it’s where I started my trip, and it was like being thrown into the deep end in the best way! I would suggest taking at least a few days to explore Tokyo before going elsewhere, you and your friends will have a blast!
1 Like