Hi Reddit! The previous post didn’t explain many details of my requirements.
**Date: Dec 12/3-12/6 four days trip**
I have a business opportunity in late Nov and after the conference, I want to take a four-day solo trip. I have several options in mind: Kyoto/Osaka, Fukuoka, and Tokyo. I have been to Kyoto/Osaka and Tokyo before back in 2018. Here are my preferences and my concerns for these options. I’m a big foodie and love visiting historical attractions like museums and gardens and wandering on the street.
**Kyoto/Osaka**: Closest to Nagoya. I’m obsessed with the historical spots and the traditional vibe. But after COVID, I hear both cities become too touristy and expensive. Not sure if I will love these two cities as much as pre covid.
**Fukuoka**: Never been here. From friend’s recommendations. Looks more chilled and cheaper, but not sure if it’s worth spending four days here.
**Tokyo**: Big city! The only concern is that it’s so hard to narrow down the itinerary in Tokyo, and it might take too much time to take train from Nagoya to Tokyo.
3 comments
I haven’t been to Fukuoka (lived in Japan 2002-2006 and 2010-2011; visited 2018), but if I make it to Japan again I’d like to visit. I think one of your considerations will be if your flight out is from Tokyo. Fukuoka City is 6-7 hours by train from Tokyo (3-4 from Nagoya), much shorter by plane (but you also have to factor in travel to and from the airports).
So, in short, I’m telling you what I’d like to do, and that would be to see something new in a place somewhat less travelled to than Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka.
Kyoto was already extremely bad in 2018 IMO. I don’t think it could have gotten any worse. I was just there on a weekend and it’s really no different.
If you’ve already been to Kyoto, I’d only go back if there was something you wanted to see though.
If you’re returning, I generally recommend having a more specific list of things that you want to see and figuring out where to go based on that.
You might want to take advantage of the Explorer Pass (JAL) to get around long distances for cheaper than a train. 1 checked bag included.[https://www.jal.co.jp/world/en/world/japan_explorer_pass/ar/reservation/](https://www.jal.co.jp/world/en/world/japan_explorer_pass/ar/reservation/)
My recommendation: Get a direct flight from Nagoya to Miyako, on the northern end of Honshu and explore at your leisure without the tourist crowds. I would recommend getting a rental car, as it would make your exploration much easier. Every region in Japan is great at promoting local tourism so make sure you check out the Iwate prefecture tourism site.
[https://visitiwate.com/](https://visitiwate.com/)
From Miyako, you could also plan a visit to Kakunodate (train/car), which is very nicely kept with a [preserved samurai district](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3601.html), and very minimal number of foreigners even during the Kakunodate Festival a month ago! There are a lot of quieter hot spring hotels north east of Kakunodate where you’ll definitely want to have a car to access.
I also strongly recommend looking around the hotel lobby for local tourism posters when you’re staying in a small town. Those posters typically pick the most picturesque shrines in the area, and the ones worth going to.
—
I went to Fukuoka last month and I thought it was a great city, with all the shopping centralized in the Tenjin, Hakata and Canal City area (all within moderate walking distance). Much more relaxing than Tokyo where you need to take the train from point to point. But if you’re looking for historical attractions, you might want to take the train out of the city and go to Saga nearby.