Thanks in advance for any help or additional insight you can provide.
My husband and I got married earlier this year, and was extremely pleasantly surprised that Japan is opening up for tourists starting next month. We are hoping to go 11/4-11/14.
Background context: Husband (39M) and I (40F). We’ve both been to Japan before. We are looking primarily for three things: 1) Local food (especially ramen), 2) outdoor scenery, and 3) things that we can do without little kids like explore whiskey distilleries or sake breweries (because we’re leaving our kiddos home – this may be our last trip by ourselves for at least 5-10 years easy).
Day 1 Fri 11/4: Transit out of SFO 11:30am. Travel day.
Day 2 Sat 11/5: Arrive Haneda at 2:50pm. We will spend the evening near our hotel (JAL Toyosu) exploring Odaiba with a minor stop in Asakusa to wander and see Senjo-ji en route from the airport. **Husband has asked we stop and have kaiten sushi. Does anyone have any excellent suggestions for the best kaiten sushi in Tokyo? Considering this is one of his only asks I’d really want to make sure he gets what he wants even if it means we go somewhere out of the way.**
Day 3 Sun 11/6 : Wake up early enough to get some yummy food at Toyosu market and see it. Transit to Fukuoka at 10:30am via Haneda. Arrive in Fukuoka around 12:30pm. Visit Ohori Park, Canal City and Nakasu area and eat at a Yatai.
Day 4 Mon 11/7: Full day in Fukuoka. Go to Shofukuji & Kushida Shrine has an Inari Shrine which will be cool to see. Visit Dassai brewery retail store and Bar Kitchen for their fabulous whiskey collection.
Day 5 Tues 11/8: Pick up rental car & trek through Arita and Imari for pottery. Arrive in Nagasaki early afternoon. Settle in. Night time views of Mt. Inasa Ropeway.
Day 6 Weds 11/9: Half day in Nagasaki. Covering the Nagasaki Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum before heading out to Unzen Onsen. Explore hot springs and take a moment to relax.
Day 7 Thurs 11/10: Take Shimabara ferry to Kumamoto. **Question for those who have done it… did you make a car reservation? I was told if it’s not heavy travel season like Golden Week or New Years we should be okay…** See outside of Kumamoto castle and the surrounding castle town, and spend the evening doing some eating and shopping in Central City.
Day 8 Fri 11/11: Depart Kumamoto, drive to Takachiho Gorge. Spend rest of the day in Mt Aso area. Overnight in Mt. Aso area.
Day 9 Sat 11/12: Head to Beppu. Hoping to see the hells of beppu and eat some onsen cooked eggs. We are staying in a ryokan so dinner and breakfast will be covered.
Day 10 Sun 11/13: Drive from Beppu to Shimonoseki to visit Karato fish market. Eat Fugu. Return to Fukuoka and return rental car. This is the night where I go hit a Don Quixote and buy Japanese sweets and souvenirs.
Day 11 Mon 11/14: Leave Fukuoka on a 9am flight back to Haneda, and have a 5 hour layover to Narita and fly home to SFO. We probably won’t risk missing our flight home – and just take the airport bus.
