Hi everyone!
English is not my first language so sorry for any mistake.
This fall, my boyfriend and I will be living one of our life’s greatest dreams and leaving for a six weeks trip in Japan. I will probably post a full itinerary once we’re ready, but for now we’re looking for some advice. We have already booked some parts of the trip, but we are still working on part of the itinerary: I wanted to ask this sub – that has already been so helpful for our planning – because we are still hesitating between a first option which would include the Seto Sea and part of Shikoku, and another which would be exploring Kyushu. I have detailed them below.
Our imperatives right now are that we have to be on Kobe on 10/13, and in Kyoto on 10/21, leaving us **7 to 8 days** to fill. Neither of us have a license, so **we can’t drive ourselves** (probably the biggest challenge thus far). We love trains so that’s OK with us. We also love history and cultural activities, as well as hiking and nature – we have already a 4 days trek included in an other part of the trip, on the Kumano Kodo. I also love contemporary art, and my boyfriend grew up in a mountainous region, so he very much enjoys discovering them abroad.
Considering our dates, our lack of car, our long trip (meaning we need to have some rest time), our interests and your knowledge of those areas, what do you think of those itineraries and which one would you choose? I really love the Kyushu option but I’m afraid it would be a lot, and still leave us with only a taste of the region without being fully satisfied.
Thank you so much in advance for your help, and please let me know if you have any question, suggestion or comment on the itineraries!
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**Plan A: The Seto Sea and Shikoku**
* Sunday 10/13: Full day in Kobe, in the evening train to Okayama.
* Monday 10/14: Morning – Koraku-en Garden, then lunch.
Afternoon- explore the city by foot (chill day to prepare for the rest).
Early evening, train+ferry to Naoshima Island (around 2 hours).
* Tuesday 10/15: Teshima day trip, taking the ferry from and to Naoshima Island. (Probably a day of electric biking to the different museums).
* Wednesday 10/16: Visit Naoshima, then go to Takamatsu in the evening by ferry – Night in Takamatsu.
* Thursday 10/17: Explore Takamatsu, especially the Ritsurin-Koen Garden as well as a train trip/hike to the Yakuri-Ji temple. At night: Jazz show.
* Friday 10/18: Morning – train to Matsuyama, go the the hotel, have lunch.
Afternoon – Matsuyama Castle+ Dogo onsen.
* Saturday 10/19: Day trip to Ozu to see the Pokopen Yokocho Museum about the Showa era, the old district and the castle; on the way back, take this [sightseeing train](https://www.jr-eki.com/global/en/travel/iyonada_top/index.html).
* Sunday 10/20: Morning – Going to Uchiko to visit the Yokaichi old town as well as the Uchiko-za Theater, Lunch there.
Afternoon – Going back to Matsuyama, leaving the hotel to go enjoy an evening/ night in a luxury Ryokan;
* Monday 10/20: Transfer to Kyoto
**Plan B: Kyushu**
* Sunday 10/13: Full day in Kobe, train to Himeji in the evening
* Monday 10/14: Morning – Himeji Castle. Lunch.
Afternoon – Explore the town for a few hours, then take the train to Kumamoto.
* Tuesday 10/15: Morning – Kumamoto Castle.
Afternoon – Explore the town by foot, or take the scenic train to go and chill at the Misumi port.
* Wednesday 10/16: Morning – train to Aso Station. Go to the hotel, visit the museum.
Afternoon – Electric bike tour of the grasslands near Mount Aso
* Thursday 10/17: Whole hiking day around the volcanoes (probably this [itinerary](https://www.komoot.com/fr-fr/tour/1486783771) I found on Komoot)
* Friday 10/18: Morning – transfer to Fukuoka.
Afternoon, rest and stroll in the city, maybe visit the castle and the park
* Saturday 10/19 & Sunday 10/20: I haven’t prepared the itinerary yet, but I have a lot of things in the guide and this Subreddit that I’ve saved so I’m not worried.
* Monday 10/21: Transfer to Kyoto
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by NomnomOverlord