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
Mt aso crater area is currently closed due to emission.
I’d stay in Nikko for a night. Going up to Lake Chuzenjiko takes time but is well worth it.