Itinerary check – 7 days Setouchi region (Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Okayama, Takamatsu, Osaka)

Hi everyone, I’m planning to do a solo trip to the Setouchi region in early March (to avoid sakura crowds).

Some background

* Have been to Japan before so looking for more off the beaten path experiences
* Planning to use the JR Setouchi pass to get around mostly
* Super excited to try local food (even convenience store food!) and desserts
* Into nature, architecture, art, handicrafts, ghibli, AOT, kaiju
* Am also looking forward to the train journeys, do let me know if there’s anything interesting to look out for on the way.

Please help to critique my itin, hope it’s not too packed!

* **1 Fukuoka**
* Kushida Shrine
* Kawabata Shopping Arcade
* Hakata Old Town Area
* Lunch at Shungetsuan Shotenjimae (Soba)
* Canal City – Ghibli Store
* Dinner at Shin Shin Hakata Ramen
* Try some Amaou Strawberries
* Any idea where I should get these, preferably in small amts? Are there common supermarket brands or should I go to a department store
* **2 Hiroshima**
* Brek at Tanya (Beef Tongue)
* Train to Hiroshima
* Lunch at Okonomimura
* Atomic Bomb Done
* Peace Memorial Park and Museum
* Buy souvenirs at Calbee+
* Dinner at Bakudanya (Tsukumen)
* **3 Miyajima**
* Train/Ferry to Miyajima
* (High tide) Itsukushima Shrine, Torii Gate
* Mt Misen Hike (Up via Daisho-in, down via Momojidani)
* Snacks: Momiji Manju, Oysters
* Gigantic rice scoop
* Toyokuni Shrine 5 Storey Pagoda
* Dinner: Mame-tanuki (Anago)
* **4 Okayama > Kurashiki**
* Ferry/Train to Okayama
* Korakuen
* Okayama Castle (see outside only)
* Lunch: Tenjin Soba
* Train to Kurashiki
* Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
* Denim Street
* Buy washi tape souvenirs
* Dinner at Umenoki (Misokatsu)
* **5 Takamatsu > Shodoshima**
* Train to Takamatsu over Seto bridge
* Excited for this as a proxy for the Sunrise Seto sleeper train! Planning to pass through around 7+am, suppose I should sit on the left
* Ferry to Shodoshima
* (Low tide) Angel Road
* Olive Park
* Marukin Soy Sauce Museum
* Nakabu-an (Somen)
* 24 Eyes Movie Village
* Heard the buses are infrequent on this island so planning to rent a power-assisted bike to cycle around instead. Will it be too ambitious to cover the above attractions in 1 day, esp in early-Mar weather?
* Is it worth the detour to go up Kankakei Gorge when it’s not Autumn?
* Ferry to Takamatsu
* Dinner at Tsurumaru (Curry udon)
* **6 Takamatsu > Naoshima**
* Brek at Udon Baka Ichidai (Butter udon)
* Can I fit in Ritsurin Garden here in the morning or should I forgo for more time in Naoshima?
* Ferry to Naoshima
* Chichu Art Museum
* Benesse House Museum
* Is it too ambitious to do both museums? If yes, which should I cut?
* Yellow Pumpkin
* Art House Projects
* If there’s time: Ando Museum
* Ferry to Takamatsu
* Anything nice to do/see here in the evening that is not drinking/nightlife?
* **7 Osaka**
* Train to Osaka
* Lunch at Kuromon Ichiba Market
* Dotonburi
* Shopping at Shinsaibashi
* Shinsekai
* Am on the fence re. visiting the Aquarium

Other specific qns

* Any accessible patisserie/confectionery chains like Beard Papa/Hattendo to recommend? Specifically, I wanna eat choux au craquelin
* Same if there are any common places to get a matcha fix
* If I could afford one more day, where should I extend my stay? If not at one of the locations listed above, I’m considering Onomichi or Matsuyama as well.

Thank you in advance!