Hello,
I'm going to Japan in late October, I am mostly focusing on Tohoku & Tokyo (for shrines, and hopefully autumn leaves). The main issue is, I can't drive and I'm dependant on public transport.
I'm doing Aomori -> Morioka -> Hiraizumi -> Sendai (with day trips from each location: Hirosaki, Hakkoda-ropeway, Kakunodate, Geibikei Gorge, Yamadera, Matsushima) and until then I have hotels all booked.
Then I was considering 2 nights in Aizuwakamatsu and then moving onto 2 nights in Nikko. But I'm getting cold feet about Aizu..
Getting to Aizu from Sendai is ~2h, and there seems to be enough to do in town for a day (Sazaedo is very unique and Tsuruga jo is nice too). However, trying to get to Ouchijuku via public transport seems .. not great, and I would probably skip it (3 hours one way?!). Kitakata also seems far (1.5h one way) just to have ramen..
I'm considering staying in one of the onsens that has a decent shuttle to/from Aizu station), but then a journey to Nikko is 4.5-5h by train somehow, whereas it could be just 2.5h from Sendai?
is the journey between Aizuwakamatsu and Nikko particularly scenic that time of year? (It's going through a national park) is there a reason why Google doesn't suggest just going back to Koriyama (1h) and then going to Nikko(1.5h)?
Should I just skip Aizu? or do Aizu as a daytrip from Koriyama and stay the night there and continue to Nikko next day in the morning?
Is there a different spot between Sendai and Nikko worth spending the night? (if I got straight to Nikko I arrive on a Sunday, which could make it crowded during koyo season)
Or should I brave Nikko on a Sunday (I will have another day there, but could also add one more to comfortable do the temples, Kegon Falls) then go back to Tokyo and maybe have a 2 night onsen stay somewhere near Mt Fuji (that is hopefully public transport/ shuttle friendly?
I have decision paralysis, I will appreciate any advice as I'm a bit lost on this and I really want to iron the itinerary and book things in advance.. and it's only 2 months to go! Thank you
by _feelthemoment