Hello everyone! I’ve been lurking in this sub a while – all the advice is brilliant and has really helped me plan my trip.
I am going to Japan for 30 days next March/April (… Covid allowing) and I’m trying to fit an overnight trip to Matsuyama in. I am also keen to stay overnight in Miyajima and have already booked 1 night in Kinosaki Onsen. Does the following leg of my itinerary work for a day/overnight stay in each? Or will there be too much travelling to do?
OSAKA – KINOSAKI ONSEN – MIYAJIMA – MATSUYAMA – KYOTO
Also, would it be more sensible to stay in Hiroshima in order to get to Matsuyama the next day? And is Kinosaki Onsen to Miyajima feasible?
Thanks so much!
3 comments
[deleted]
For me it is not super clear on how many days each, but the order somehow make sense.
From Osaka you can take the direct train Kounotori that will take about 2h50 and it would only be about 25 minutes shorter if you were to take the Hashidate from Kyoto.
You will likely have to check-in by 5-6pm the latest, but if you get there when they start check-in, that will give you a bit more time to check out the town and start to soak in onsen.
Next morning you will likely not have a super early start as breakfast is likely to be served around 8am. Just check the train schedule to see when is the Hamakaze to Himeji, you really wand to get in that train as it will only take 1h45, so it’s a must. I would actually take time to stop and check out the caste, get lunch then continue to Miyajima.
Thing is, on that day you won’t have much time for visiting Miyajima, especially as most thing close around 5pm. You will at least want to take the morning for Miyajima, but the whole day if you want to hike Mount Misen. So right there, I would stay for 2 nights.
Next day I would personally take time to check Hiroshima peace museum, and check the schedule for the ferry to Matsuyama, ideally in the afternoon so you can have okonomiyaki for lunch in Hiroshima, but you might not have that much time anyway for Matsuyama, so you might want to sleep there for a night, visit the next day and take the train at the end of the day to go to Kyoto. Thing is, this is a good 4h train ride, so if you tell me you can afford an extra day, I would just go to Okayama, sleep there, next morning you can go check the castle (it is a reconstruction) and the garden, or go to the neighbor town of Kurashiki before going to Kyoto at the end of the day.
​
Personally I am quite ok with that amount of train each day and I personally do not care about changing accommodation frequently (I’ve done about 7 weeks over several trips with an average of less than 1.5 night by accommodation). So yes, I would do something like this, obviously when it make sense, put luggage in coin locker or leave it at your accommodation (even before or after check-in/out). oh, and pack as light as possible, minimum amount of cloth, do your laundry, it will be much easier with a lighter luggage/backpack.
​
If you have any question about those city or about logistic, feel free to ask extra questions, I’ve been to all these places (except Himeji, but I want to go).
My advice to you is as soon as you arrive in JAPANLAND™️ set your watch ahead 20 years.