Hey! I’m planning my trip to Japan in the next coming month. I have already planned the first part of my trip(mostly in the Kyoto area) but still left with about 7 days so I’m planning to do this Osaka-Hiroshima-Fukuoka-Yufuin trip. I hope to get some feedback on it. Any suggestion is highly appreciated!
**Day 1**: Osaka – Dotonbori, Namba, and Shinsaibashisuji area.
**Day 2**: Osaka – Umeda and Osaka Catscle area.
**Day 3**: Osaka – Himeji in the afternoon. Shinkansen to Hiroshima in the evening.
**Day 4**: Hiroshima – Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Castle, and Miyajima Jinja, then head to Fukuoka in the evening.
**Day 5**: Fukuoka – Dazaifu Tenmangu, Mojiko Retro, and Karato Market.
**Day 6**: Yufuin – Explore the onsen and the city in general.
**Day 7**: Yufuin and nearby areas – Kokonoe and Beppu.
Based on my research on JapanTransitPlanner(乘换案内). It looks like this is a feasible plan, but I understand there will always be something unexpected when you travel.
1 comment
The answer to these “will this be too much” questions is always subjective and depends on your priorities.
But assuming you’re a pretty capable traveler and fine not seeing everything, I think this looks mostly good.
– Osaka feels good. Perhaps doubling up on castles? I feel like Osaka Castle or Himeji would be enough, unless you are a castle buff (and if you are, then totally cool, I’d do both).
– Himeji on the way to Hiroshima is doable, but you’ll want an early start.
– Hiroshima day is quite tight with the hiroshima sights and then still getting out to Miyajima AND then getting back in time to get to Fukuoka. The ferry timetable means you’d have to get to Miyajima, see the shrine, take a pic, then go back. I’d say you’re better off doing the night in Hiroshima, getting up in the morning, going to Miyajima. There’s some good street food, shrines, walking paths, mountains, a beach, enjoy maybe morning -> lunch, and then head back and go to Fukouka. Maybe on Day 3, get into Hiroshima by mid-day and then see Hiroshima, and then the next day, Miyajima then leave. And do Himeji as a day trip the previous day.
– I think Fukuoka and Yufuin sound good, Yufuin looks cool but I haven’t been, so not sure how the transit there will work out – is pretty quick from Fukuoka via JR? In any case I think a full day in Fukuoka is definitely merited if you’re taking the trouble to get there, and then the two days in Yufuin sound good.
I feel like this is a good plan for a medium-fast pace traveler that wakes up early and likes to get going, and knows how to prioritize and optimize 🙂