Want to go from Shanghai to Tokyo without ever leaving the ground (or water as the case may be)? Here’s the route in 7 easy steps:

1. Shanghai to Dalian by soft sleeper
2. Dalian to Incheon on the D-In Ferry
3. Incheon to Seoul by metro
4. Pick up your Korea-Japan through ticket in Seoul (it includes the ferry crossing to Japan as well as travel to most cities in Japan via the Shinkansen train)
5. Seoul to Pusan via KTX train
6. Pusan to Shimonoseki via ferry
7. Shimonoseki to Tokyo via the the Shinkansen train

Here’s the details:

Ferries www.shimonoseki-port.com/e/searoute_f/index.htm www.kampuferry.co.jp www.seoulsearching.com/transportation/boat/

Korea – Japan Ticket: app.korail.go.kr/2003/eng/html/sche/f_sche_007.html

Prices Train Shanghai – Dalian: 510 Yuan/soft sleeper Ferry Dalian – Incheon: US $ 130 (first class) Seoul – Tokyo through Ticket: 253800 Won Hotel in Seoul: 25000 Won/night