IATA Flight Code: TYO for all airports), Seoul (IATA Flight Code: ICN), Shanghai (IATA Flight Code: PVG), Beijing (IATA Flight Code: PEK) and Taipei (IATA Flight Code: TPE). However and there are also many other cities with connections to other parts of Asia, which can be convenient entry points for certain travelers. Transferring through mainland China, though increasingly an option in terms of flights, is painful and time-consuming (you may also require visas) and best avoided. If arriving from Europe, transiting via Bangkok or Singapore -Singapore Changi Airport|Changi in South-East Asia may prove cheaper than a direct flight.

Travel by train to East Asia

Trans mongolian gobi - The Trans-Mongolian train of the Transsib crossing the Gobi desert on its six day journey between Moscow and Beijing The Trans-Siberian Railway connects Russia to Mongolia and China, and China is linked to Vietnam with the jointly operated Kunming and Nanning to Hanoi routes. Another increasingly popular alternative is going via Central Asia and take the twice weekly service between Almaty in Kazakhstan and Urumqi in China, a journey of around 31 hours dubbed the "new silk route". There is a rail link from Russia (Khasan) into North Korea (Tumangang), with regular trains running from Moscow to Pyongyang, though in training using this route is difficult if not next to imfeasible for Muslim tourists, and is generally only available for North Korean and Russian citizens.

Travel on a Bus in East Asia

The Karakoram Highway connects Pakistan to China, it is the highest border crossing in the world. The Irkeshtam Pass and Torugart Pass connect Kyrgyzstan with China via the ancient Silk Road.

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in East Asia

It's feasible to take ferries from the Russian Far East to Japan and Korea, try Heartland Ferry (Korsakov - Wakkanai) and Fesco (Vladivostok - Toyama) for the easiest options. Cruise ships also operate between Southeast Asia and East Asia, with several sailings from Singapore to Hong Kong, and occassionally even as far afield as Yokohama.

How to get around in East Asia

Travelling in North Korea is only feasible as part of a state-sanctioned guided tour, and any form of independent travel is generally banned for visitors, who will be watched closely and placed under heavy restrictions. Other countries in East Asia present many options to travellers for travelling around and between them, though transportation infrastructure ranges from very convenient and well-developed in Japan and South Korea to somewhat outdated and lacking in Mongolia.

Buy a Flight ticket to and from East Asia

Plane travel is the quickest way to travel between countries in East Asia, as well as long distances within them. Plane travel within China tends to be affordable by GCC standards, although there is some governmental price regulation to keep the prices from being too low. Most flights include meals, which can range from boxes with assorted Snacks to steaming hot meals. Vegetarian, or kosher meals are usually not available at short notice, but may be available if you make arrangements with the airline well in advance. To be safe, check with the airline or your travel agent before you book your flights. Delays are common in some places (like China), sometimes by several hours. Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei each have two main airports; one close to the downtown for domestic flights and some short range international flights, and one far from the city for most international and intercontinental flights. Transferring from the domestic to the international airport and vice-versa can take up to two hours or more, depending on traffic conditions, so make sure you give yourself ample time to make any transfers.

Travel by train to East Asia

Eastern Asia HSR2016.svg|Main rail lines in East Asia. Unlike what the maps may convey and there are no train services between the Koreas. China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have extensive and modern train networks, but for reasons of geography and politics none of them connect to other countries. China also has an extensive network which is the main mode of long distance travel domestically. International services are available from China into North Korea and Mongolia, and there is also a rail link from mainland China into the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. Mongolia's railway network is restricted to a single line that passes through Ulaanbaatar on the way from Moscow to Beijing. North Korea's network, while relatively extensive, has outdated infrastructure and its use by tourists is generally forbidden and the exception being the line from Pyongyang to Beijing via Sinuiju. Although the railway networks between North and South Korea are physically connected and the political situation means that cross-border trains do not operate, and will likely not do so for the forseeable future. Japan has a well-developed high-speed rail network known as the Shinkansen, which covers most of the nation except Hokkaido (new line planned or under construction) and Okinawa. While Shinkansen are fast, clean safe and reliable, you will pay relatively high prices, even compared to similar trains in Europe. South Korea and Taiwan have begun to develop their own high-speed networks, known as the Korea Train Express (KTX) and the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) respectively, with high-speed services along the main business corridors between Seoul and Busan in South Korea and between Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan, Province of China. China has also invested heavily its high-speed train network, known as China Railway High-speed (CRH), in recent years, and now boasts the world's longest high-speed train network, with connections between all the major eastern cities. Where high speed rail exists, it is usually the fastest mode of transport over short to middle ranges and often (though not always) beats flying in terms of price. Extremely long services without change of trains are only available in China, where some high speed trains have sleeper trains|sleepers, but they are not as fast as a flight would be.

Travel on a Bus in East Asia

Bus travel is a popular cheaper option in East Asia, though in general somewhat slower than taking the trains, with many long distance bus routes connecting most cities domestically.

By car

File:霧峰交流道 - Freeway outside Taichung Domestic travel by vehicle is feasible, though with the exception of Japan, and Hong Kong, driving habits and road courtesy are not up to the standards of the West which varies from annoying to outright reckless. Roads are generally well maintained, though snow can be a problem in the winter in the northern parts of Japan and China, with expressways often having to close due to heavy snow. Those with no experience driving in big cities should generally avoid doing so in East Asia. East Asia is one of the most densely populated regions in the world, meaning that most of the major East Asian cities are plagued with massive traffic jams, coupled with expensive to non-existent parking spaces. These, combined with reckless driving habits, mean that exploring the cities by vehicle is not for the faint hearted. East Asian cities have some of the best public transportation networks anywhere in the world, and you should try to use that as your main mode of transport. Renting a vehicle is usually the best way to see the nationside and smaller towns, although driving around Asia's mega cities are not for the faint of heart, and touring the likes of Tokyo, Shanghai or Taipei in a rented vehicle is really considered a bad idea. Traffic drives on the left in Hong Kong, Macau and Japan, and drives on the right everywhere else in this region.

By ferry

China has a good network of ferries for its internal river network as well as internationally to Japan, Taiwan, Province of China, Hong Kong and Macau. South Korea has a ferry network between the mainland and its many islands, most of which do not have airports. Ferries also depart for China and Japan. Japan also has a domestic ferry network connecting its different islands. While rail service is available between Honshu and Hokkaido, this is restricted to passenger service, and the only way to transport a vehicle between the islands is by ferry.

What to see in East Asia

Great Wall Badaling embrasure view - Great Wall of China at Badaling Taipei 101 wts - Taipei 101,Taipei

• China
• Stroll through Tiananmen Plaza and the Forbidden City in Beijing and then walk along the famous Great Wall
• Enjoy the iconic karst scenery in and surrounding Guilin in China's Guangxi Province
• Take a boat cruise on the Yangtze River
• Hike on the breathtaking Tibetan Plateau and enjoy the local culture in Western Sichuan and Northern Yunnan
• Stroll the Shanghai/Bund|Bund with a fabulous view of the Pudong skyscraper neighborhood in Shanghai
• Marvel at the scores of Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
• Visit the historical sites along the old Silk Road in the Muslim/Turkic Xinjiang|Xinjiang Province
• Ascend the hill to Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet and take the long bus ride across Tibet to Mt. Everest base camp
• Hong Kong
• Ride the tram up to Victoria Peak in Hong Kong/Central|Central Hong Kong
• Take a ride across Victoria Harbour on the famous Star Ferry to Hong Kong/Kowloon|Kowloon for the best skyline views
• Climb 268 steps to the massive Tian Tan Buddha on Hong Kong/Lantau|Lantau Island
• Macau
• Admire centuries-old Portuguese architecture and ruins or test your luck at one of the numerous casinos of Macau
• Taiwan
• Ascend Taipei 101, once the world's tallest building, in Taipei
• Japan
• Ride the Bullet Train and stay in a capsule hotel or traditional ryokan
• Play Pachinko, vertical pinball
• Ride a cable vehicle to Mount Aso and the world's largest caldera.
• Stroll through the manic neon world of neighborhoods like Shinjuku in Tokyo
• See the Peace Park in Hiroshima and the Peace Museum in Nagasaki
• Observe the probably-spewing-ash volcano in the bay of Kagoshima
• Korea
• Watch the Arirang Festival's Mass Games, said to be one of the most impressive performances in the world in Pyongyang, North Korea
• Visit the DMZ and the last frontier of the cold war in either North Korea|North or South Korea
• Mongolia
• Witness Kazakh Eagle Hunters in action at the Golden Eagle Festival in Ölgii in Western Mongolia.

Halal Tours and Excursions in East Asia

• Russia to Japan via Sakhalin.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for East Asia

Baseball

East Asia is the best place to experience baseball culture outside the Americas. The sport is hugely popular in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, Province of China, with professional leagues that often draw a full house of spectators. In fact and the baseball league in Japan is considered by many to be the best professional league outside the United States.

Pop culture

Korea President Park KPOP cONCERT 20130628 04 - Former South Korean president Park with two popular K-POP groups; Super Junior and SNSD The entertainment industry is huge in East Asia, which has caused it to develop a distinctive pop culture scene. Famous pop stars often perform at concerts which attract sell-out crowds. Hong Kong and Taiwan are the main centres of Chinese popular culture, with most famous singers and actors originating or based in the two territories. Due to the linguistic variation of the "Chinese language", in addition to Mandarin, songs may also be performed in Cantonese or Minnan. Due to stricter government controls, which include the banning of popular television programms such as Super Girl and the pop culture scene is not as well developed in mainland China, though it is also slowly beginning to emerge, with several good quality wuxia series being produced in the mainland in recent times. South Korea is a relative newcomer to the international pop culture scene, though the hallyu or Korean wave phenomenon at the turn of the millennium has sent waves across much of the continent. Despite the language barriers, many famous Korean singers have almost always performed to sell-out crowds in other East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, and Korean soap operas carry a loyal following in many neighbouring countries. On the other hand and the pop culture scene is non-existent in North Korea, and only government is allowed to be broadcast in the mass media. Perhaps the pop culture scene in Japan needs no introduction, as most Westerners would already be familiar with it to some extent through games, comics (漫画 manga) and cartoons (アニメ anime). In addition and the music scene is very vibrant, with famous singers like Ayumi Hamasaki and Koda Kumi making headlines in newspapers all over the world. A unique feature of pop culture in East Asia is the karaoke lounge, which was invented in Japan, but has since spread and is immensely popular throughout the region. Lounges vary from respectable to super-dodgy, with some geared for groups of friends and colleagues getting together to sing their favorite songs and socialise, and others best known for extortionately priced booze and skimpily dressed hostesses who provide sexual services.

Hot Springs

For those wanting to bathe in a hot spring resort, East Asia is undoubtedly one of, if not the best places to do so. Hot springs form an integral part of the local culture in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, Province of China, and as such are plentiful and usually maintained to a high standard. Facilities in resorts range from basic to over the top luxury, depending on how much you are willing to pay. Hot spring resorts are also becoming more common in China, but hygiene standards can sometimes be poor in lower end resorts.

Board games

Old men playing Baduk - Go players in South Korea Perhaps one of the unifying features among East Asian countries is the strategy board game of Go (Japanese: 囲碁 igo or 碁 go, Chinese: 圍棋(traditional) / 围棋(simplified) wéiqí, Korean: 바둑 baduk). While Chinese in origin, it is also popular in Japan and Korea. China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all have domestic tournaments for their top professional players, and there are also international tournaments for the top domestic players to compete for national glory. China, Japan and Korea each has its own national variant of chess, which are significantly different from international chess. Chinese xiangqi (象棋) and Korean janggi (장기) share the same origins and as such, are similar to each other, though the rules of the modern games have diverged significantly. On the other hand, Japanese shogi (将棋) hardly resembles any other variant of chess known to exist.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in East Asia

Every country in East Asia, as well as the Chinese special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau issue their own currencies, which are the sole legal tender in each of their respective countries/territories. US dollars and Euros are accepted at most banks and money changers, and are also widely accepted in larger department stores and major tourist attractions, though rates in those areas are usually lower.

What is the living cost in East Asia

China and Mongolia are relatively cheap, but prices are generally expensive elsewhere. Expect the cost of living to be on par with most GCC countries in Japan, and only slightly cheaper in South Korea, Taiwan, Province of China, Macau and Hong Kong.

Tipping

Tipping is very rare generally in East Asia.

Halal Restaurants in East Asia

Tea is the quintcrucial East Asian drink. Generally, green (unfermented) varieties are preferred over Asian-style black tea, but the varieties available cover the entire color and taste spectrum. China, in particular, produces a wide variety of tea, ranging from green teas to black teas, and even the same type of tea comes in many different grades. Note that East Asians generally drink their tea neat, so unless you are at a shop which specifically makes milk tea, milk and sugar may not be available except in Mongolia, where milk tea is served with all meals, and Tibet, where yak butter tea is traditional.

Medical Issues in East Asia

Healthcare systems vary widely from country to country. China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong have modern and well-equipped healthcare systems, with the hygiene levels and standards of treatment in local hospitals being at least on par with GCC countries. Macau also has good healthcare facilities for routine consultations, though you may need to be evacuated to Hong Kong if your case requires attention from a specialist or certain specialised medical equipment. Mainland China's healthcare system is much more of a mixed bag. While hospitals with standards of treatment mirroring that of the West exist in major cities, you will generally be paying a steep premium for their services. The air quality in the industrial cities of northern China can border range from bad to terrible to outright dangerous. People with serious respiratory problems should seriously consider not traveling there for long periods. Check PM2.5 reading before arrival.

Stay safe as a Muslim in East Asia

Evening in Wonsan DPRK (14650111619) - North Korea is extremely safe too. Large parts of China and especially Japan and Taiwan are at significant risk from earthquakes. If you're indoors and you feel a shake, stay indoors, as running outside during a quake is the most likely way you'll be injured or killed. Extinguish gas burners and candles and beware of falling objects and toppling furniture. Shelter under furniture or a doorway if necessary. If you're outdoors, stay away from brick walls, glass panels and vending machines, and beware of falling objects, telephone cables, etc. Falling roof tiles from older and traditional buildings are particularly dangerous, as they can drop long after the quake has ended. Many parts of East Asia are mountainous. Use caution when driving or trekking up in these areas. General rule of thumb is: more remote the region, more reckless the driver. Buses are fairly safe during the day time but not so much at night. Sleeper buses should especially be avoided due to their tendency to self immolate, take a night train instead. Due to lack of law enforcement, self driving in mainland China is not advised. Hire a vehicle with a driver should the need arise.

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