Would appreciate a quick itinerary check or any recommendations/feedback anyone has for this week-long trip, which I’m planning in the time I have off for お正月. I live in Nagoya but have never traveled anywhere west of Osaka, or off of Honshu… any feedback whatsoever or further suggestions (broad or specific) would be amazing!
The main purpose of this trip is to go to Matsuyama and visit the Itami Juzo Memorial Museum (about the life and work of my favorite film director) and I tried to flesh it out from there, including some time for just exploring, riding trains or collecting IC Cards and eki-stamps, etc…
And one general question: Obviously I have to reserve my (Nozomi) shinkansen tickets ahead of time, but I should be fine just catching JR Shikoku’s Yosan Limited Express line whenever, right, no advance reservations required? (Do I have to buy a separate paper ticket/seat assignment besides just tapping my IC Card?)
**Sat December 30**
– Shinkansen from Nagoya → Okayama
**Sun December 31**
– Naoshima day trip (from Uno Port)
– Art House Projects – Minamidera (James Turrell), Kadoya, Goou Jinja
– _Should I go to Kinza too? (extra fee + reservation required)_
– Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin”
**Mon January 1**
– AM: (11:00) Early Spring Festival @ Korakuen, cranes released, koto music at Enyo-tei
– PM: (13:35 or 14:35) Take JR Yosan Line (Shiokaze) → Matsuyama
**Tue January 2**
– AM: Itami Juzo Museum!
– PM: Matsuyama Castle / Ninomaru Garden + ropeway (if time)
**Wed January 3**
– AM: Nakajima day trip (from Takahama Port)
– Eat some tai meshi & mikan
– Hatsumode to some temple
– PM: Botchan Ressha (if time), Dogo Onsen at night
**Thu January 4**
– AM: Take JR Yosan Line (Ishizuchi) → Takamatsu
– PM: Ritsurin Garden, Takamatsu Castle Park
**Fri January 5**
– Shodoshima day trip, fast ferry to Tonosho Port
– Angel Road sandbar if low tide
– Meiro no Machi (Maze Town) + Saiko-ji
– 4 Yokai Art Museum buildings
– Olive Bus to Olive Park (Olive Memorial Hall, soft serve, windmill)
– If time or the bus schedules work out: Nakayama Terraced Rice Fields, Marukin Soy Sauce Museum
**Sat January 6**
– Head home via Marine Liner + shinkansen
Thanks!
