Hi guys, I would be planning a solo trip to Japan in mid May for Tokyo, Chubu and Kyushu region, have been in the popular cities in previous trips so am hoping to explore more in the Chubu and Kyushu region. My pit stops in Tokyo is mainly to strike a good balance between city/nature and will be focused on food and drinks (have been to most attractions previously)
Itinerary:
**Day 1 (Tokyo)**: Arrive in Tokyo in the morning. Day trip to Nikko. Explore Shibuya at night
**Day 2 (Tokyo)**: Tsukiji Fish Market in the morning, explore Asakusa in the afternoon and Shinjuku at night
**Day 3 (Tokyo -> Hakone )**: Early morning train from Tokyo to Hakone. Hakone. Explore Hakone using hakone pass. Overnight in Gora station
**Day 4 (Hakone-> Lake Kawaguchiko)**: Early morning bus to Lake Kawaguchiko. Explore Lake Kawaguchiko and Chureito Pagoda. Stay at Lake Kawaguchiko for the night
**Day 5 (Lake Kawaguchiko-> Tokyo)**: Continue exploring Fuji five lakes in the morning. Afternoon train back to Tokyo. Explore Harujuku and Odaiba at night
**Day 6 (Tokyo)**: Exploring Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum
, Akihabara in the day. Shopping at Ginza in the night
**Day 7 (Tokyo -> Matsumoto)**: Early morning train to Matsumoto. Explore town + Day trip to Kiso valley (Not sure if nagano can be squeezed here)
**Day 8 (Matsumoto-> Kamikochi -> Matsumoto)**: Early morning day trip to Kamikochi for hiking. Back to Matsumoto in the evening
**Day 9 (Matsumoto-> Alpine Route Tateyama-Kurobe -> Kanazawa)**: Early morning bus to Alpine Route Tateyama-Kurobe. (Ogizawa route ending at Tateyama). Train from Toyama to Kanazawa for the night
**Day 10 (Kanazawa)**: Visit Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park, Higashi Chaya District. Explore Omicho Market at the night
**Day 11 (Kanazawa -> Fukuoka)**: Early train to Fukuoka. Explore Tenjin area and go for yatai stalls at night
**Day 12 (Fukuoka)**: Go on a guided day tour to kumamoto, mount aso, kurowa onsen. Explore tenjin area for restaurant and bars at night
**Day 13/14 (Fukuoka -> Nagasaki or Beppu/Oita/Yufuin)**: Still deciding whether to go to Nagasaki or Beppu/Oita/Yufuin.
**Nagasaki**: Dejima, Glover Garden, and the Atomic Bomb Museum
**Beppu/Oita/Yufuin**: Base in Beppu, daytrip to Yufuin for first day. Second day would be 7 hells and Onsen steam cooking (Jigoku Mushi)
**Day 15/16 (Tokyo)**: Back to Tokyo and flight out
**Some questions**:
Is chubu region (Hakone, Fuji, Matsumoto,Kanazawa) schedule and travel path optimised and not too tight? Should i allocate one more day to Kanazawa considering it would be late when i arrive on the first night
Is it right to either focus 2 days on either Nagasaki or Beppu/Oita/Yufuin, instead of splitting a day each? The consideration is on the long travelling time from east to west. Would love to hear your thoughts on the comparison between the two areas too!
Would you suggest adding one more day to explore Fukuoka city?
Any other feedback/comments is most welcome! Thank you 🙂
2 comments
Kawaguchiko next I would go to Matsumoto using the limited express from Otsuki.
Kanazawa to Fukuoka (not Fukouka)that is likely going to be most of the day.
Yes, Nagasaki worth 2days.
Wow, that was pretty packed!
Since the Chubu region and Kyushu are quite far apart, I think you will have a deeper experience if you focus on one or the other. If you want to visit both, instead of taking the Alpine Route to Toyama/Kanazawa, you should take the Kiso (Nakasendo) route to Nagoya, which will give you direct access to the Tokaido Shinkansen line, making it easier to reach Kyushu.
I always travel slowly, even when traveling alone, so this may not be very helpful, but please have a nice trip.