Hello everyone, if you are reading this, thanks for taking the time. So many in the community have been so generous with your time and advice.
I’m headed to Japan late Oct – early Nov, and wanted to find out if anyone has any advice on my itinerary. I have **bolded** some specific questions which I would be thankful for any views on!
*(For context, I have been to Japan a number of times, so have seen some of the more popular highlights.)*
**Day 1**
Fly into Narita arriving about 4.30.
I’m hoping to visit the **Reptile Cafe in Shinjuku**. Has anyone visited it?
Gym.
Anyone know a place in Asakusa that is open till late for a meal around 11/12pm?
**Day 2**
Attending a conference and meeting an old friend in the evening.
**Day 3**
Train up from Ueno to Koriyama at 7.46am.
Rent a car in Koriyama.
Stop 1: Tonohetsuri crags
Stop 2: Sazedo Pagoda
Stop 3: Goshikinuma ponds
Stop 4: Nakatsugawa Valley (has anyone been here before? Is there a specific spot to get a view of the valley?)
Stop 5: Mount Azuma-Kofuji
Stop 6: Fudosawa Bridge
Stop 7: Fukushima Station > train to Morioka for the night
**Has anyone done this route before? Anything to note? Is the driving difficult around the Bandai-Azuma Sky/Gold/Lake lines? Is it possible to get a view of the Azuma-Kofuji crater at the rest stop? Is it possible to rent a car at Koriyama and return it at Fukushima?**
**Does anyone know a place at Morioka open for late dinner (say 930pm?)**
**Day 4**
Take a walk around Morioka in the morning
Before noon, head down to Hiraizumi.
Chusonji Temple
Motsuji Temple
Geibeki Gorge; hopefully the return boat ride coincides with sun set.
Head back to Morioka.
Gym
**Day 5**
Train to Miyako
Rent a car for Sanriuku Coast
Kitayamazaki Cliffs. (Has anyone taken the boat ride?)
Unosu Cliffs – explore the caves
Jodogahama Beach
Take last train from Miyako back to Morioka.
Travel from Morioka to Sendai
**(Are there rental places at Miyako? Any tips on where to park for Kitayamazaki and Unosu cliffs? Any other stops I should make along the coast? Is it accurate that trains leaving Miyako for major cities end quite early, i.e. around 6pm?)**
**Day 6**
take a walk around Jozenji-dori
(Any cafes/restaurants to recommend in Sendai? with good coffee?)
Bus/train to Okama Crater.
**There seems to be a few ways to do this, including by train/bus from Shiroishi Zao and Yamagata. But does anyone know of a bus directly from Sendai to Okama Crater?**
Get back to Sendai – train back to Tokyo