Hello! After quite a while of waiting (thanks Covid) my significant other will finally be able to visit me in Tokyo. Currently, we’ve just planned one big trip right at the beginning of December, and I’m looking for some ways to improve it.
As I’m here on a work visa I don’t qualify for the JR Pass, so we decided to take advantage of the Seishun 18 offering. (If you’re reading this and not familiar with it, it’s basically a super cheap stamp pass where you can take only local trains all across Japan).
We will do a relaxed 10 day trip from Tokyo > Kyoto > Naoshima, where we will use the shinkansen for the outbound trip, and then local trains back from Naoshima > Himeji > Osaka > Tokyo.
However, the entire Osaka to Tokyo trip takes over 10 hours, and it’s a bit of a special day for us. I’d love to surprise him with a nice stopover at another town, and maybe add 1-2 nights in a more rural area.
Do you think it’s realistic (and fun) to go from Osaka to Magome and hike to Tsumago in the middle of December? We could then take the local Chuo line back to Tokyo the next day.
Otherwise, there are Fujiyoshida and Kanazawa on the wishlist, but both are not really “on the way” at all.
Any other ideas or suggestions? Something smallish with interesting historic houses would be great, not a lot of action needed for that day. 🙂
2 comments
Seishun 18 can only be used from Dec 10. Not sure when is your “beginning of December”.
Haven’t been to Magome so can’t really comment, sorry.
Kanazawa is probably not a good idea because Kanazawa~Naoetsu is not covered by the Seishun 18 since it’s no longer JR line. You could, however, use the Seishun to Kanazawa and take the bus to Shirakawago, which is the real ” smallish with interesting historic houses”. But then it’s going to be Takayama -> Nagoya -> Tokyo.
Another option is to visit Matsumoto and the surrounding area. But it’s also 8 hour Osaka to Matsumoto…
The good middle position would be Toyohashi and Hamamatsu area. The Toyokawa Inari shrine is pretty good, but that’s about it.
Is it technically possible to use Seishun 18 Kippu to get from Osaka to Nakatsugawa and hike Magome to Tsumago on a same day? Yes.
Is it advisable to do so? Well, it’s about 5½ hours by train and bus. It will be another 6½ hours on the following day to Tokyo.
Honestly, in December – there are not a lot of alternatives – Nagiso (further down Chuo line) – the most likely one.