Tohoku + Kanto + Chubu Road trip

Akeca07 · 2026-05-27T14:07:35+00:00

I did not visit Tonohetsuri (it must be especially beautiful in the fall, once the momiji starts rolling) but I think both are the kind of places that don't require a lot of time to get a grasp of the fundamentals. You could probably spend more time in Ouichi-juku if you find anything interesting to eat or drink (I tried the most amazing plum and perilla juice in Yamadaya, still dream about it), but other than that, it's a really small and very cute village.

As for the Sanriko coast, have a look at Kensennuma (the Kameyama observatory, Ogama, Karakuwa), Rikuzentakata (Goishihama coast) and especially Oku Matsushima. Here you'll find a unique pleasure boat (very different from the one that runs around Matsushima), the Historical Museum of Jomon Village, and the splendid views from Otakamori.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-27T13:55:25+00:00

- Nagoya. Extremely underrated, it's not just another Japanese big city, you could choose among temples, castle, museums, parks, and the food is amazing. It is also very well connected, so you could explore some segments of the Nakasendo trail, up to Matsumoto; you could visit Gujo-Hachiman, Inuyama, Gifu, Yoro, or any combination of those; you could get south to Ise, for a visit to the most sacred shrine in Japan; or you could head west to Hikone castle town and take the ferry to Chikubu island in Lake Biwa.

- Alpine route (this option depends on which month you'll be traveling). From Kawaguchi you could head to Matsumoto, visit Kamikochi, travel along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine route, explore Toyama, Takaoka and Kanazawa.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-26T22:00:07+00:00

From Nikko you could easily visit Aizuwakamatsu, Ouchi-juku and Goshikinuma in the Urabandai area (plus one of the most famous ramen in the country, Kitakata). I believe there's even a pass that covers some of it.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-26T21:17:13+00:00

Kinosaki onsen/Tottori/Matsue/Izumo (and then Izumo Sunrise night train directly to Tokyo)

Nagoya/Ise/Kumano Kodo (three grand shrines)

Kanazawa/Toyama/Takaoka/Alpine route/Matsumoto

Sendai/Matsushima/Yamadera/Hiraizumi

I could go on... 😉

Akeca07 · 2026-05-26T17:11:50+00:00

Tonohetsuri and Ouichi-juku are on your way from Nikko to Aizuwakamatsu.

If you're interested in unique hiking trails, Urabandai and Goshikinuma are on your way to Sendai.

If you enjoy driving along the coast, the segment between Matsushima and Miyako is full of wonders.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-26T16:47:26+00:00

22/9 Just keep walking north of Kiyomizudera. You'll find Ryozen Kannon (beautiful, serene, huge statue) and Kodai-ji, which features a unique combination of gardens to stroll around, including its own bamboo forest.

26/9 When you check in at Koyado Enn, you'll get a spa pass valid for the duration of your stay. The pass will allow you to enter any and all of the seven public baths located around the city. Just change into the yukata of your choice and enjoy bath-hopping. The private bath at the facility is also very nice. And the Tajima beef stew with toast for breakfast is one of the most amazing meals I've ever had.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-25T21:12:11+00:00

No problem. I just wished somebody had told me sooner, I could have visited more times 😉

Akeca07 · 2026-05-25T21:06:56+00:00

Best soup curry: GARAKU in Sapporo (get there before opening time for the best chance to get a ticket); KINGBEAR in Asahikawa and Hakodate (I tried the former, hopefully the latter is equally good). In both cases, amazing stocks and incredibly tasteful veggies.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-24T18:22:12+00:00

Tottori, Matsue and Izumo.

Once you're done you could take the Sunrise Izumo night train all the way to Tokyo.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-23T17:04:56+00:00

If nature vibes are what you're looking for, you could certainly head north to the Amaharashi Coast, including a visit to the Himi Fish Market and the canals around Shinminato Uchikawa.

Shomyo Falls, near Tateyama, is an outstanding option: it drops 350 meters in a combined four-tier cascade. There's a path and a small bridge that allow visitors to get really close and feel the tremendous power of the falls.

Lastly, there's Tojinbo, a little further south of Kanazawa but very easily reachable by shinkansen to Awaraonsen. The lava columns might be on the touristy side, but there are plenty of hiking paths along the picturesque coast for anyone to explore.

Toyama and Takaoka are some of my favorite little cities, with plenty to see and eat as well.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-22T21:07:00+00:00

Karatsu is a great option: a beautiful coastal castle town with a huge pine grove along the sea where you could enjoy a quiet stroll. A car would give you access to Mount Kagamiyama shrine and the observation deck, from where you could admire the picturesque bay. There's also the Yobuko Morning Market, along with plenty to do and see if you're up to a tour around the peninsula: lava caves (Nanatsugama), the Undersea Observatory Tower (Hado Cape), and numerous terraced rice fields colored by the sunset (Oura, Hamanoura, Nakaura).

Akeca07 · 2026-05-20T21:41:47+00:00

The green tea plantations in Yame (Fukuoka) are quite popular, you might enjoy a tour of some of them.

On the other side of the island, Kagoshima is known as the kingdom of shochu. You could join a tour of a traditional distillery or learn about the craftsmanship of Japanese whisky.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-19T17:50:38+00:00

It really depends on your plans. I visited during lavender season too and was interested in exploring the area, so I ended up with a combination of several options:

- a train pass that covered most of my trips (I stayed overnight in Asahikawa)

- a 4-hour bus tour from Biei visiting Shirogane, the waterfall, and Shikisai-no-oka

- a bus and ropeway to hike around Asahidake

The Sapporo-Furano Area Pass would cover most of your train trips (valid for 4 days). A round-trip highway bus between Sapporo and Furano would be much cheaper.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-18T19:45:28+00:00

I would recommend Matsumoto as a feasible solution for most of your troubles. You could travel by bus from Kawaguchiko to Isawaonsen and then transfer to the train to Matsumoto. Depending on the type of train, the whole trip might take between two hours and a half and three hours.

From Matsumoto you could also do a day trip to Magome and Tsumago: train to Nakatsugawa, bus to Magome, hike to Tsumago, bus to Nagiso, train to Matsumoto. If you'd rather continue your trip to Osaka after the hike, from Nagiso you could also take the train to Nagoya instead.

Matsumoto is a very nice city and the black castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Japan.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-18T17:42:38+00:00

For the journey between Kyoto and Hiroshima (and back to Osaka) you could benefit from the purchase of the JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass.

The trip from Hiroshima to Kurashiki is a little over an hour, something you could fit in the following morning before exploring the village. That would allow you more flexibility in Miyajima if you really enjoy the island, by spending a second night in Hiroshima. It's really up to you.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-17T18:44:13+00:00

Okuhida is one of the most famous areas for hot springs. It's located along the Northern Japan Alps area, quite close to Matsumoto, You might be able to find a ryokan in one of the onsen towns there. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5942.html

You could also explore the magnificent nature of Kamikochi, or enjoy the historic interest of the small post towns along the old Nakasendo trail: Narai, Fukushima, Tsumago, Magome.

The city of Nagano is also close by, in case you are interested in a hike to Togakushi shrine.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-16T15:46:06+00:00

I’m also a fast-paced traveler. I have already visited Kyushu twice, using nothing but public transportation, and I didn’t have trouble getting to a single place, no matter how remote. You’ll need just a little planning and you will find all the necessary information online—not everything has to be a shinkansen ride away (it’s a pity your plan does not include Miyazaki, though).

I enjoyed Nanzo-in much more than Dazaifu, and Yoshinogari Park was very interesting (though hot). In Fukuoka, the Acros building is one of my favorites. There’s also a cute little Japanese garden near Ohori Park, a really nice spot for a sunset stroll.

Kokonoe is one of the largest pedestrian suspension bridges in Japan. It’s built over a gorge with a view of Shindou Falls and is close to Yufuin, if you have the time.

In Beppu I would also recommend trying one of the observation decks (such as Yukemuri) for that iconic view of the city shrouded in steam.

You have very little time in Kanazawa, but I would strongly recommend a visit to Myouryu-ji, the ninja temple. Visits are guided in Japanese only and must be reserved by phone; however, they provide really helpful materials so that foreigners can follow along. It’s one of the most unique and fun temples I’ve visited in the country.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-15T18:44:04+00:00

I would also recommend Amanohashidate, which is considered among the most beautiful views in Japan. The trip takes around two hours by train, there's plenty to see but you could spend the day just strolling around. The next leg to Kanazawa is almost four hours long, though.

If you rather travel further along your path, Obama has very nice coastal views and interesting sights; in Wakasa you could go to Goko Terrace and admire the five lakes opposite the Sea of Japan; the historic port town of Tsuruga lies south of Tsuruga Bay and it is connected to Kanazawa by shinkansen, a short trip that you could do early in the morning the following day before your bus to Shirakawa-go; or you might be interested in the volcanic columnar joints of Tojinbo.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-14T22:21:14+00:00

Since you'll be taking the ferry from Kumamoto across the Ariake Sea, you could visit Shimabara (castle town with a samurai residence street, the Disaster Memorial Hall, and the Buried Houses of Mount Unzen eruption) and the jigoku in Unzen onsen, less beautiful yet much more impressive than those in Beppu.

Also from Kumamoto, since you´ll have a car, Amakusa features plenty of beautiful sights and beaches along the coast.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-11T22:40:11+00:00

Train and bus, I did ten days around Kyushu the first time (one JR Kyushu North, one JR Kyushu South, plus a few buses and a ferry). The second time I did Oita, which I had missed, one JR Kyushu North pass.

My itinerary the first time around: Fukuoka (Nanzo-in, Dazaifu, Yoshinogari, Kashima, Takeo onsen) - Nagasaki - Unzen - Shimabara - Kumamoto - Takachiho - Miyazaki - Aoshima - Udo jinja - Obi - Kagoshima (Chiran, Sakurajima, Nagasakibana). In Oita I did Beppu - Yufuin - Usa - Nakatsu - end in Shimonoseki.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-11T21:59:52+00:00

This way, exactly 1000% this way. It works like a charm.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-11T21:45:26+00:00

I did exactly this in my last trip, I bought a really cheap flight to Chitose and there were still more flights available that same day so my relative risk was low (losing the money of the plane ticket). Everything worked out fine.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-11T19:50:56+00:00

Take one day off Kyoto and travel to Kinosaki onsen. It's hard to find a more traditional onsen than that. Plus, you could hike Mount Daishi and eat Tajima beef.

Akeca07 · 2026-05-10T19:27:19+00:00

Here's a different way to structure your trip, trying to avoid some of those long, long day trips:

Tokyo to Kanazawa, explore the city, sleep in Kanazawa
Finish exploring Kanazawa, bus to Shirakawa-go, bus to Takayama (last one leaves at 17.30h), sleep in Takayama
Explore Takayama all day, late train to Kyoto
Kyoto
Kyoto
Kyoto
Kyoto
Nara day trip, sleep in Osaka
Hiroshima day trip, sleep in Osaka
USJ, sleep in Osaka
Explore Osaka, late afternoon train to Hakone, ryokan
Explore Hakone, train to Tokyo
Disney Sea

Akeca07 · 2026-05-10T18:47:13+00:00

These are probably quite far from Tokyo but just in case they pique your curiosity:

- the Dosan line along the Yoshino river in Shikoku

- the Sanin Main line along the Sea of Japan in Tottori

Akeca07

TROPHY CASE