Hello all! My fiance and I are currently planning our honeymoon for September/October 2024. We would value any input or suggestions to our itinerary as we are moving around a fair bit, and there may be things we have missed/better routes we could take as we will mostly be relying on public transport.
A bit of background info: we did 3 weeks in Japan last year and loved it and knew we had to come back for our Honeymoon, so we have already spent a fair amount of time in Tokyo and visited Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima etc. Because of this I would happily take days away from Tokyo at the end of the trip if Takayama, Kamikochi, or Kanazawa needed more time.
We’re particularly reliant on the Taipei to Ishigaki flight becoming available. If anyone has done this flight or knows when China Airlines releases them, it would be great to hear from you.
**Day 1 – 6: Taiwan**
* Travel to Taipei and spend 6 days in Taiwan.
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**Day 7 (02/10/2024): Taipei —> Ishigaki**
* Hopefully can get a direct flight from Taipei to Ishigaki, although they don’t seem to have been released yet. As menioned above, has anyone flown this route before? Does anyone know when China Airlines tend to release these flights?
* Rent a car – Does anyone have any recommendations for rental companies? I’ve had a look and it doesn’t look like October dates have been released yet.
* Drive to our accommodation (we are looking at somewhere away from the main city as we have a car).
**Day 8 & 9 (03/10/2024 – 04/10/2024): Ishigaki**
* Explore the island by car.
* Snorkle on Yonehara Beach/ Sukuji Beach and generally enjoy relaxing on the beach.
* Scuba diving.
* Visit Kabira Bay.
* Walk up to the Oganzaki Lighthouse.
* Hopefully find a good spot to stargaze.
**Day 10 (05/10/2024): Ishigaki —> Iriomote**
* Return rental car.
* Spend one night on Iriomote.
* Possibly scuba dive. Does anyone have scuba experience on both Ishigaki and Iromote and can recommend one over the other?
* We definitely want to do some kayaking, so possibly do the kayak and hike tour to Pinaisara Falls.
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**Day 11 (06/10/2024): Iriomote —> Ishigaki**
* Return to Ishigaki for two nights and stay near Ishigaki city to avoid renting another car.
* Visit Miyara Dunchi.
* Torinji Temple.
* Enjoy the local restaurants and bars.
**Day 12 (07/10/2024): Ishigaki (Day trip to Taketomi Island)**
* Ferry to Taketomi Island.
* Rent bicycles to get around the island.
* Visit the traditional Ryukyu village.
* Visit Kaiji Beach (star beach) and Kondoi Beach.
* Ferry back to Ishigaki.
**Day 13 & 14 (08/10/2024 – 09/10/2024): Ishigaki —> Okinawa**
* Fly early to Okinawa and stay two nights in Naha.
* Visit the Peace Park and Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters via public transport.
* Hike to Hiji Waterfall.
* We would love recommendations if there is anything else WW2 history related that we shouldn’t miss.
**Day 15 (10/10/2024): Okinawa —> Kanazawa**
* Fly to Komatsu airport and travel to Kanazawa via bus.
* Stay two nights in Kanazawa.
* Do first half of Japan Guide full day itinerary: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4213\_kanazawa\_full.html
**Day 16 (11/10/2024): Day trip to Shirakawa-go**
* Finish the Japan Guide itinerary.
* Catch a bus to Ogimachi village around midday
* Travel back to Kanazawa by bus in the evening.
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**Day 17 (12/10/2024) : Kanazawa—> Takayama**
* Travel to Takayama and stay one night.
* Follow Japan Guide full day itinerary: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5912\_takayama\_full.html
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**Day 18 (13/10/2024): Takayama—> Kamikochi**
* We will probably use Hirayu Onsen as a base for 2 nights.
* Travel to Kamikochi by bus and hike around the Myojin Ike pond.
* Return to Hirayu Onsen
**Day 19 (14/10/2024): Kamikochi**
* Catch early bus to hike up Mount Chogatake and back, and then bus back to Hirayu Onsen.
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**Day 20 (15/10/2024): Okuhida Onsen OR Kamikochi—> Tokyo**
* Travel to Tokyo
* Visit anything we couldn’t fit in during our first visit
**Day 21 (16/10/2024): Tokyo**
* Same as above.
**Day 22 (17/10/2024): Tokyo —> Hakone**
* Travel to Hakone
* Begin the round course.
* See Mt Fuji!
* Stay in a Ryokan with an onsen.
**Day 23 (18/10/2024): Hankone —> Tokyo**
* Finish the round course.
* Travel back to Tokyo in the afternoon/evening.
**Day 24 (19/10/2024): Tokyo**
* Spend the reminder of the time in Tokyo and catch flight home
Thanks for any advice!
by gizmoclunky