hello,
I really need help with my itineray.
I already have a basic plan, but I’m not really sure whats best.
It is my second time. Last time was 2014. 6 weeks through Japan (Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto+Nara+Osaka, Tanabe/Kumano Kodo+Hiroshima)
It was a solo travel. Now I plan to go with 2 other people, they are older. I want to show them the important places, while seeing new things, too.
This is my first plan. I can add up to 3 days if necessary, I guess.
The big questions are:
1. Should I add a night in Nikko? I would like to do Chuzenji and Kegon Falls. It shouldn’t be to stressfull, but I want to see as much as possible… But two hotel rooms at the same time? I don’t want to move to much luggage around.
2. Is Matsumoto worth it? I wonder wether I should chance my itinerary here. Is it possible with large luggage? Luggage Forwarding? I feel like I can do better things than Matsumoto, but the castle seems very interesting.
3. How should i handle the travel to Beppu/Yufuin? There is a nice train to Yufuin. I would like to take this train, but not shure because of car rental and the large luggage. Should I use Yufuin as my base or should I make a “road Trip” start from Beppu to Yufuin?
4. How do I travel the best way from Takachiho Gorge to Nagasaki? I thought to drive to Kumamoto, visit the castle and then go by train to Nagasaki. Or should i travel via ferry and Mt. unzen by car? What is better? Maybe add one day? Recommendation?
5. Should I add one day in Fukuoka for Yoshinogari Historical Park? Maybe add one day for the travel form Takachiho Gorge to Nagasaki to visit Unzen or recommended road trip?
6. Or should i add a day in Kyoto? I really like this city.
We will travel with large luggage cases, but any tips to maybe reduce it?
this plan is dated around the Karatsu Kunchi Festival an visiting it one evening.
Date | Place | what to do
———|———-|———-
21.10.2023 | Germany | Flight start from 8:10-9:00 o`clock, Fra 12:15 o`clock
22.10.2023| Tokyo | Arrival Haneda 8:10 o`clock, Suica, Luggage transport, SIM, Driver licence translation, Eat, Hamamatsucho, Zojo-ji, Tokyo Tower, Azabudai Hills (if open), Teamlab, if open), Mori Tower, Tsukishima Monja Street, go to Asakusa and hotel.
23.10.2023 | Tokyo | boat to Teamlabs Planets, Shinjuku Gyoen, Olympic area, Meiji shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya Sky
24.10.2023 | Tokyo | Daytrip to Nikko (Kegon waterfalls?)
25.10.2023 | Tokyo | Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa, Ueno (Museums), Ameyoko, Akihabara
26.10.2023 | Tokyo | Kamakura, Enoshima
27.10.2023 | Magome| Travel form Tokyo to Magome, exploring Magome (Kisu Valley)
28.10.2023 | Magome/Kyoto| Hiking to Tsumago and back by bus; Travel to Kyoto, Hotel in Eastern part.
29.10.2023 | Kyoto| Higashiyama: Kiyomizudera, Kodaiji, Yasaka, Gion, Nishiki Market, Pontocho
30.10.2023 | Kyoto| Burg Nijo, Kinkakuji, Arashiyama
31.10.2023 | Kyoto| Daytrip: Uji, Nara
01.11.2023 | Kyoto| not decided yet. maybe Daytrip Osaka? Yamazaki whiskey museum, if open?
02.11.2023 | Fukuoka| transfer to Fukuoka, Burg Fukuoka Fukuoka Tower Visiting Karatsu Festival
03.11.2023 | Fukuoka| Dazaifu, Teamlab Forest shopping etc.
04.11.2023 | Beppu/Yufuin| Going by train to Beppu (or better Yufuin?), rent a car, visit beppu hells, Mount Tsurumi, Yufuin, Ryokan in Yufuin
05.11.2023 | Kurokawa Onsen| Travel to Kurokawa Onsen via Kokonoe to Tadewara Wetlands- Yamanami Highway Observatory
06.11.2023 | Kurokawa Onsen| Onsen day
07.11.2023 | Mt Aso| Mt Aso via Aso Skyline Observatory, Maybe Kikuchi Gorge to Takachiho Gorge
08.11.2023 | Takachiho Gorge| Day at Takachiho Gorge and Amaterasu railway, Amanoiwato Shrine etc.
09.11.2023 | Takachiho Gorge- Kumamoto- Nagasaki | Traveling to Nagasaki. By car until Kumamoto, then by train. or should a go by car, ferry and Unzen?
10.11.2023 | Nagasaki| Mt. Inasayama Observatory, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, Urakami-Kathedrale
11.11.2023 | Nagasaki| Gunkanjima, Nagasaki Seaside Park, Glover garden, Oura Church, Dejima
12.11.2023| Nagasaki/Tokyo| Flight ngs to Tokyo by 11:15, check in Hotel at Haneda airport, Visiting Tokyo (things i missed, maybe Teamlabs Borderless, if open again or )
13.11.2023 | Tokyo| Flight back to germany 11:15
Thank you.
2 comments
> Nikko
Highly recommend an overnight if you want to see the Chuzenjiko side, otherwise it’s six hours on transport (two hours by express train + one hour bus per direction) in the same day.
> Matsumoto
Has a nice castle and art museum (especially if you like Kusama). However, if you just want to see an original castle and are not super interested in the precise history of this castle, a quick stop at Himeji on 02.11.23 will suffice and is much less out of the way.
> tips to reduce luggage
Use Takkyubin (luggage delivery service) to ship from Tokyo-Kyoto (carry a change of clothes in a backpack for Magome). Send 1-2 suitcases from Fukuoka – Nagasaki and live out of the remaining suitcase while bouncing around Kyushu to increase mobility.
While Unzen is a popular onsen destination in Nagasaki prefecture, I would not recommend it for your itinerary. The Unzen Hell, which is a famous attraction, is relatively smaller compared to those in Beppu or Hakone, and the ryokans in Kurokawa offer better quality. Additionally, the traffic in Kumamoto city makes driving to Nagasaki more time-consuming than taking the shinkansen, with added time required for boarding a ferry, even without stopping at Unzen. On the other hand, spending more time in Beppu would be more worthwhile, as it offers eight different onsen districts with various types of hot springs to explore.
I recommend spending at least two nights in Beppu, including one day to visit Yufuin either by bus or rental car, and reducing your stay in Kurokawa to one night, as Kurokawa is a smaller town if you don’t have enough time. On the way to Kurokawa, you could stop by Kokonoe Otsuribashi, which is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan. As an additional piece of information, there are many unique onsens in the Kokonoe area, such as cold temperature onsens or carbonated onsens for those who love onsens.
As for Yoshinogari Historical Park, if you’re not a big history fan, I wouldn’t recommend visiting it. Instead, it would be better to spend your time sightseeing in Kumamoto city, such as visiting Kumamoto Castle or Suizenji Jojuen Garden. Alternatively, you could consider taking a day trip from Kyoto to places such as Osaka, Kobe & Himeji Castle, Mount Hiei or even Mount Koya (which has a direct bus service).
The Yufuin no Mori express train to Yufuin/Beppu allows for larger suitcases, but I agree with the previous post that it is better to send your suitcases in advance, as it will make it easier to move around. Additionally, since it will be the autumn leaf season in Japan, I highly recommend booking hotels/ryokans as soon as possible.