Critique my 4 weeks itinerary around Kyushu and Honshu (December 2022)

Please review my itinerary and let me know if it is doable. Open to suggestions on sites to visit and any useful tips/advice for my trip. This will be my second time in Japan, last time was back in 2010 where I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Yokohama and Miyajima. This time I wanted to do some off the beaten path places but also revisit past favourites.

4/12-

Arrive Osaka 8:40am
Explore the city (Overnight stay at Osaka)

5/12-

Daytrip to Kyoto to see autumn leaves. Planning on going to Tokufuji Temple, Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera. Will also stay for the night time illumination to see Kodai-ji and Eikando Temple. (Overnight stay at Osaka)

6/12-

Daytrip to Nara (Overnight stay at Osaka)

7/12-

Activate my 3 weeks JR Pass
Catch train from Osaka to Kagoshima (Overnight stay at Kagoshima)

8/12-

Kagoshima (Overnight stay at Kagoshima)

9/12-

Rent car for next 4 days
Drive to Kirishima and Mt Karakuni for hiking (Overnight stay at ???)

10/12-

Takachiho Gorge
Amanoiwato Shrine
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine
Mt Aso (Overnight stay somewhere near Mt Aso)

11/12-

Mt Aso hiking
Kurokawa Onsens (Overnight stay at Kurokawa)

12/12-

Tadewara Wetlands
Kokomo Yum Otsuribashi pedestrian bridge
Yufuin
Beppu Seven Hells
Beppu Beach Sand Bath
Return rental car (Overnight stay at Beppu)

13/12-

Check out Kintai Bridge on the way to Onomichi (Overnight stay at Onomichi)

14/12-

Onomichi
Hire bicycle to ride the Shimanami Kaido route (Overnight stay at Kurashiki)

15/12-

Explore Kurashiki and Okayama. Maybe Teshima Island
(Overnight stay at Okayama)

16/12-

Cycle Kibi Plains
Toyota or Train museum
(Overnight stay at Nagoya)

17/12-

Hike Magome to Tsumago
Musum Meiji Mura
Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination (Overnight stay at Nagoya)

18/12-

Takayama (Overnight stay at Takayama)

19/12-

Daytrip to Shirakawago (Overnight stay at Kanazawa)

20/12-

Kenroku-en Garden
Togakushi Shire (Overnight stay at Nagano)

21/12-

Day trip to Yamanouchi to see the Snow Monkey
Zenkoji Temple (Overnight stay at Nagano)

22/12-

Try the onsens at Kusatsu (Overnight stay at Kusatsu)

23/12-

Outlet Shopping at Karuizawa (Overnight stay at Tokyo)

24/12-

Explore Tokyo

(Overnight stay at Tokyo)

25/12-

Day Trip to Nikko or Cycling around Lake Kawaguchiko (Overnight stay at Tokyo)

26/12-

Explore Tokyo (Overnight stay at Tokyo)

27/12-

Last Day of JR Pass
Take train to Nachi, check out Nachi Falls
(Overnight stay at Nachi)

28/12-

Sennin-buro and Yunomine then head to
Koyasan
(Overnight stay at Koyasan)

29/12-

Return back to Osaka (Overnight stay at Osaka)

30/12-

Flyout of Osaka in the morning

2 comments
  1. I’d stay in Nikko for a night. Going up to Lake Chuzenjiko takes time but is well worth it.

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