Major city · North Korea (DPRK)
Rason
Spend 1–2 days in Rason to see the Imperial Hotel & Casino, Sonbong Port Monument and Pipha Island; longer only for business or border trips.
Rason is a small free‑trade city on the China‑Russia border with a few sights and limited tourist services. One to two days covers the main attractions; extra time is only needed for business or border excursions.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- KPW
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (cold, limited services)
- Airport
- check
- Nights
- 1–2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Check your own government travel advice for North Korea b…US passports are not valid for the DPRK without special v…
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- North Korea (DPRK) ↗Check your own government travel advice for North Korea before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- North Korea (DPRK) ↗Entry is only through controlled arrangements when permitted at all; there is no independent visa route.
- North Korea (DPRK) ↗US passports are not valid for the DPRK without special validation from the State Department.
- North Korea (DPRK) ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to North Korea before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide8 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Rason110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Rason, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Foreign cards, ATMs and transfers do not work: see Insurance & payments above.North Korea (DPRK)-wide
- SafetycheckCheck official travel advice; the city is generally safe for escorted tourists but requires permits.
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- Airportcheckcheck No commercial airport in Rason (Nearest international airports: Yanji (YNJ, China) or Vladivostok (VVO, Russia)…
- Getting aroundMost tours arrive by road from Yanji, China via the Tumen River Bridge.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- check No commercial airport in Rason (Nearest international airports: Yanji (YNJ, China) or Vladivostok (VVO, Russia); tours usually arrive by road from Yanji.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
Feb
Avoid
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Mar
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Apr
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
May
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jun
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jul
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Aug
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Sep
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Oct
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Nov
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Dec
Avoid
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)), coolest Jan (−15°C (5°F)5°F (−15°C) low), wettest Jul (13 rain days), driest Jan (3). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Rason: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
−15°C (5°F)5°F (−15°C)
3 rd
Feb
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
3 rd
Mar
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
5 rd
Apr
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
7 rd
May
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
8 rd
Jun
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
10 rd
Jul
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
13 rd
Aug
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
12 rd
Sep
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
8 rd
Oct
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
5 rd
Nov
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
4 rd
Dec
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
3 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Most tours arrive by road from Yanji, China via the Tumen River Bridge. Within Rason walking is common; taxis are scarce and must be arranged through a guide.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Khasan (Russia)
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Train or road via the border crossing; requires Russian visa
Border crossing is possible only with proper visa and tour arrangement.
Kumgangsan mountain resort
cautionDoor to door: check
Cruise ship from Rason port (check availability)
Service is irregular; confirm with your tour operator.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Tongmyongsan Hotel
Simple rooms, used by Russian dockworkers; near Rajin station.
Imperial Hotel (Emperor Hotel and Casino)
Hotel attached to the casino, primary tourist accommodation.
Bipa‑do Hotel
Located on Pipha Island, reachable without ferry.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- check
- Mid
- check
- High
- check
Watch out
Safety
- A travel permit is required; Rason is the only place offering a visa stamp for eligible passports (not Japan or US).
- Train services on the Pyongra Line are generally not available to tourists.
- Foreign‑exchange markets operate at unofficial rates; card issued locally works only in Rason.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Rason. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, limited services)
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Rason
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