This is my 3rd time to Japan and my partner’s second time. My first time I just stayed in Tokyo. For our last trip we did Tokyo, Kiso Valley, hiked around Mt Fuji, and Kyoto. Here’s what I’ve got planned so far, pretty much everything is flexible except for Nozawa Onsen and Takayama.
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|1/12 – 1/15|Tokyo|Go to my favorite ramen place: Kikanbo Ramen, Arcades, Disney sea?, also want to do one omakase lunch or dinner (under $100 pp), get yakitori|
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|1/15 – 1/16|Nozawa Onsen|Fire Festival (activate 21 day JR pass in morning)|
|1/16 – 1/18|Nagano|Visit Snow Monkey Park, try horse meat sashimi, maybe day trip to Matsumoto|
|1/18 -1/20|Takayama|Stay in Ryokan, day trip to Shirakawago|
|1/20 – 1/24|Kyoto|Last time I was in Kyoto, during sakura season, I hated it because of the crowds, want to give it another chance: Kurama to Kibune hike, L’Escamoteur Bar, Day trip to Nara, maybe day trip to a fishing village |
|1/24 – 1/26|Osaka|Eat and get drunk |
|1/27 – 1/27|Kurashiki|Relax and walk around Kurashiki, staying in a spa hotel|
|1/27 – 1/29|Hiroshima|Visit memorial museum, Day trip to Matsuyama |
|1/29 – 1/31|Beppu|Onsens in Beppu, Stay in ryokan outside beppu, probably rent car and hike. My partner and I are both heavily tattooed and Beppu has the most tattoo friendly onsens. |
|1/31 – 2/2|Nagasaki|Haven’t researched much yet but everyone says it can’t be missed. |
|2/2 – 2/4|Fukouka|Eat ramen, maybe cut one day off Fukuoka and stay extra day in Nagasaki or somewhere else in the area (need to be in Fukouka on 2/4 for flight to Sapporo)|
|2/4 – 2/7|Sapporo|Snow/Winter Fest|
|2/7 – 2/10|Tokyo|Getting a tattoo in Yokohama, maybe do Mt Takao hike|
I really wanted to go to Yakushima but I think that’ll have to wait until next time because of the weather. I also really wanted to go to Ryokan Sanga near Aso but it doesn’t look like they allow tattoos in the outdoor baths.
We like hiking (I know January isn’t the best time to do that but if anyone knows any good hikes in the winter let me know), beer, cocktails, food, arcades, and anything weird.
Thoughts?
2 comments
You could hike in the kuju mountains close to beppu. You’ll need a rental car though and maybe spikes. I’m pretty sure they get snow too.
Pretty much all the “cool” hikes in the alps are off limits in winter unless you have experience with crampons and axe.
Nagano-Takayama, you should totally stop by Matsumoto and even by Hirayu onsen between the two.
While there is a ferry… Matsuyama is not really a daytrip from Hiroshima for me.
Beppu is tattoo friendly, the other big one is Kinosaki onsen, all the public onsen are ok with tattoo (need to check with individual ryokan). Personally I really preffered the vibe of Kinosaki.
Nagasaki is really nice, lot of things to see there. Let’s say that both Nagasaki and Fukuoka are good contenders for city where you can stay 3-4 days, especially if you count nearby day trip.