So we’re going on a holiday to Japan. The original plan was to go to Europe, but certain unforeseeable events (subprimes etc) have forced my hand. So we’re doing the next best thing, which is visiting Japan and going home (well Sang Boon’s home) to Korea.

Sang Boon and I are not the sort to go for tours, but we weren’t exactly sure what we’d see or do in Japan, so it was a mad scramble through the internet to come up with a good itinerary. Google was a great way to start, but a lot of the results that turned up were links to travel agents or fluff in general.

Given that you have to book your flights locally, we found three sites, and came up with a method that just about anyone can use to plot an itinerary rather painlessly, and maybe discover some other interesting things to see along the way:

1. WikiTravel: Search through WikiTravel for a place that interests you. It’s much better if you already know where you want to go. Great way to take a big bite right into whatever city or country you want to visit. Updated by visitors, it’s kind of like an ever growing lonely planet guide.

2. Flickr: So you’ve found a place on WikiTravel, but you’re not sure if it’s something you really want to see? No problem. Have a preview on Flickr. Chances are that with over a billion pictures, someone from Flickr has been there before you. A search usually turns up some images. Also good for choosing accommodation if you’re a fussy traveler.

3. Wotif: Chances are that if you’ve gone through WikiTravel you might already have an idea of where you want to stay. If you haven’t found a place yet, Wotif is a good way to book rooms in your destination. The rooms are sometimes a little cheaper, but can only be booked a month in advance.