Japan 2023 Trip

Placeholder post

By Ippy

6 minute read

This is a placholder post, possibly to give myself some accountability.

In 2023, we visited Japan, the first time in 10 years for me and 6 years for A.

Continue reading to see an itinerary of where we went.

Itinerary:

Day 0 (Friday 12th May):

  • SQ242 18:05 Singapore Airlines flight from Sydney to Singapore

Kyushu

Day 1 (Saturday 13):

  • Transfer in Singapore. Catch flight SQ 656 01:20 Singapore Airlines to Fukuoka
  • Arrive at Fukuoka Airport at 8:20am.
  • Start 7 day Kyushu Rail pass (20,000 yen)
  • Overnight in Kagoshima

Day 2 (Sunday 14)🚗:

  • Pick up car at 7:30 from West Kagoshimachuo Toyota Rent a Car (12 hour rental)
  • Rent a car to hike in Kirishimi National park via Kareigawa Station
  • Finish day at onsen and drive back to Kagoshima
  • Overnight in Kagoshima

Day 3 (Monday 15)🚗:

  • Pick up car at 7:30 from West Kagoshimachuo Toyota Rent a Car (12 hour rental)
  • Rent a car for 12 hours. 7:30am start to visit Ibusuki area.
  • Overnight in Kagoshima

Day 4 (Tuesday 16):

  • Buffer day for Kagoshima (can even spend time in either Kurume or Kumamoto)
  • Take the 20:13 Sakura train to Shin-Tosu (arrive 21:35). Take the 22:00 Midori train to Sasebo (12,120 yen)
  • Arrive at 23:18
  • Overnight in Sasebo

Day 5 (Wednesday 17):

  • Take morning train to Huis Ten Bosch (9:11 Section Rapid Seaside Liner 280 yen; arrive 9:38)
  • Take shuttle bus to Bio Park at 9:45 → 10:30 arrival.
  • Train to Sasebo at 14:35, 15:35, every hour.
  • Go to observatory, see 99 islands
  • Overnight in Sasebo

Day 6 (Thursday 18):

  • Train to Nagasaki early in the morning (2hr, 1200-3900 yen).
  • Overnight in Nagasaki

Day 7 (Friday 19)🚗:

  • Last day of 7 day rail pass
  • Take train to Isahaya (2400 yen, 8min) and rent car.
  • Rent car for 12 hours to see Mt Unzen/Shimabara area
  • Overnight in Nagasaki

Day 8 (Saturday 20):

  • Start 3 Day Northern Kyushu Rail Pass
  • Day in Nagasaki
  • Train to Fukuoka in afternoon/evening (5500 yen, Kamome, 1.5 hr)
  • Overnight in Fukuoka

Day 9 (Sunday 21):

  • Day in Fukuoka, visit Museum and Dazaifu
  • Overnight in Fukuoka

Day 10 (Monday 22) ♨️:

  • Last day of rail pass.
  • Train to Beppu in the early morning. (6000 yen Sonic, 1hr 50min)
  • See “Hells of Beppu” (2000 yen).
  • Overnight in Beppu

Day 11 (Tuesday 23):

  • Morning and Lunch in Beppu
  • Take 14:00 ferry to Yawatahana (3 hour) (4400 yen)
  • Train to Matsuyama (2500 yen)
  • Overnight in Matsuyama

Shikoku

Day 12 (Wednesday 24):

  • Collect 5 day JR Shikoku Rail Pass
  • Ride ferris wheel for free
  • Morning or day in Matsuyama
  • Bus to Kochi (2 hour) (2000 yen)
  • See Kochi Castle / Hirome Market
  • Overnight in Kochi

Day 13 (Thursday 25):

  • Thursday market in Kochi. 2nd biggest market after the Sunday market.
  • Hire car for a little bit to go to creepy art museum and sake brewery and see the seaside
  • Umaji?
  • Overnight in Kochi

Day 14 (Friday 26):

  • Day in Kochi (See Kochi Castle / Hirome Market if not seen yet)
  • Train to Takamatsu (2.5hr) (4650 yen train)
  • Overnight in Takamatsu

Day 15 (Saturday 27):

  • Ritsurin Garden
  • Could go to Kotohira in afternoon (870-1400 / 1740-2800 return)
  • Overnight in Takamatsu

Day 16 (Sunday 28):

  • Train to Tokushima (2670 yen)
  • Ferry to Wakayama (2200 yen / 1580 with discount from jr pass)
  • Can do side trip to Kishi
  • Overnight in Wakayama

Honshu (Kansai)

Day 17 (Monday 29):

  • Day in Wakayama
  • Overnight in Wakayama

Day 18 (Tuesday 30):

  • Travel to Osaka
  • Overnight in Osaka

Day 19 (Wednesday 31):

  • Osaka baseball game (either 30th or 31st), Kyocera Dome
  • Overnight in Osaka

Day 20 (Thursday 1 June):

  • Overnight in Kyoto

Day 21 (Friday 2 June):

Day 22 (Saturday 3)🚗:

  • Pick up rental car in Kyoto Toyota Rent a Car 8am.
  • Travel to Shirahige Shrine Torii at Lake Biwa (55min-75min)
  • Stop at Old town of Kumagawa (35min-45min).
  • Travel to Amanahashidate / Miyazu for Lunch (90min - 140min)
  • Can rent bicycle to go around bay.
  • Climb small Mt Nariai (30mins)
  • Can look at Goro Sky Tower in Maizuru
  • Overnight at Maizuru

Honshu (Chubu)

Day 23 (Sunday 4)🚗:

  • Cloud sea early morning if weather permits.
  • Obama fish market and museum for early breakfast.
  • Drive around Lake Biwa/Takashima and return car in Nagoya.
  • Return car to Yanagibashi Toyota Rent a car 8pm deadline
  • Overnight in Nagoya

Day 24 (Monday 5):

  • SCMaglev Museum
  • Side trip to Toyota?
  • Overnight in Nagoya

Day 25 (Tuesday 6):

  • Nagashima Spa Land
  • Overnight in Nagoya

Day 26 (Wednesday 7):

  • Can visit Toyota museum
  • 14:00 Ghibli Park Grand Warehouse booking (closes at 5pm)
  • Overnight in Nagoya

Day 27 (Thursday 8) ♨️:

  • Free day in Nagoya
  • Travel to Gero in the afternoon (2300 yen 3hr train; 4100 yen 2hr train)
  • Overnight in Gero

Honshu (Hokuriku)

Day 28 (Friday 9):

  • Gero → Takayama
  • Day in Takayama
  • Overnight in Takayama

Day 29 (Saturday 10):

  • Take early morning bus to Kamikochi via Hirayu Onsen (5100 yen return, return ticket good for 7 days)
  • Day in Kamikochi
  • Overnight in Hirayu Onsen

Day 30 (Sunday 11):

  • Take bus to Takayama
  • Take early morning bus (9:35; 50mins) to Shirakawa-go with luggage.
  • Store luggage at the Bus terminal.
  • Visit Shirakawago
  • Take 13:50 bus to Kanazawa (75min)
  • Try and visit National Crafts Museum for Pokemon exhibition.
  • Overnight in Kanazawa

Day 31 (Monday 12):

  • Day in Kanazawa - Kanazawa Castle and Contemporary Art Museum, Ninja temple
  • Potential buffer day for Tateyama. Check weather and adjust
  • Overnight in Kanazawa

Day 32 (Tuesday 13):

  • Last day of SHORYUDO pass
  • Travel to Tateyama (Kanazawa - Toyama fare is 1280 yen, 19min)
  • Day in Toyama
  • Overnight in Toyama

Day 33 (Wednesday 14):

  • Send luggage to accom or Shinano-Omachi (2500 yen per bag)
  • Very early start. 7:08 train
  • Kurobe Alpine Route. Climb to the peak of Mt Tateyama (4 hour return) from Murudo.
  • Travel to Matsumoto from Shinano-Omachi (680 yen, 51 min).
  • Overnight in Matsumoto

Day 34 (Thursday 15):

  • Day in Matsumoto
  • Overnight in Matsumoto

Day 35 (Friday 16)🚗:

  • Morning in Matsumoto if time permits. Early lunch / brunch
  • Pick up car at 1pm, go on scenic drive. Can stop at Wasabi Farm
  • Lake Nojiri
  • Sunset for reference is at 7pm
  • Overnight in Shinano near Lake Nojiri

Day 36 (Saturday 17)🚗♨️:

  • Drive to Obuse
  • See Hokusai Museum
  • Drive to Jigukudani Yaen-Koen (Snow monkey park)
  • Drive to Kusatsu Onsen town
  • Overnight in Kusatsu Onsen

Day 37 (Sunday 18)🚗:

  • If time permits, see Karuizawa Shiraito Falls.
  • Maybe see Megane Bashi bridge (Usui Pass)
  • Drive to Karuizawa and return car.
  • Can spend bit of time in Karuizawa
  • Shinkansen from Karuizawa to Tokyo. (5400 yen, 1hr)
  • Overnight in Tokyo

Day 38 (Monday 19):

  • Overnight in Tokyo

Day 39 (Tuesday 20):

  • Overnight in Tokyo

Day 40 (Wednesday 21):

  • Overnight in Tokyo

Day 41 (Thursday 22):

  • Overnight in Tokyo

Day 42 (Friday 23):

  • Overnight in Tokyo

Day 43 (Saturday 24):

  • Day in Kamakura
  • Travel to Haneda Airport Terminal 3
  • SQ 635 22:55 Singapore Airlines flight back to Singapore

Day 44 (Sunday 25):

  • Arrive in Singapore at 04:55
  • SQ 241 07:15 Singapore Airlines flight to Sydney
  • Arrive back to Sydney at 16:55
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