18 nights in March

[N-Osoi]

Well it's close enough for us to plan our second trip to Japan, again in March.

 

We will be in and out of Tokyo (Narita), but as we did the golden route last time, and possibly a couple too many travel days, we want to see a few less tourist-ed places but also end with a solid stay in Tokyo before we leave. 

 

Loose proposal:

Fly in to Tokyo early morning then fly straight to Fukuoka. From what I can tell Fukuoka is the best base for exploring Kyushu and we don't want to check out/in every few days.

Maybe 4-5 nights in Fukuoka - day trips to Nagasaki, Mojiko, ...?

Any recommended tourist trains there? bummer that the SL recently retired 😞 

 

After Fukuoka - send luggage to Kobe with overnight stay in Onomichi ( I want to ride a bike over the Seto sea bridge)

Kobe as next base for 4-5 nights - can do day trips to Osaka and Kyoto, missed a few things when we went last time but found Osaka a bit hectic to stay, and Kobe looks super chill. 

Any cool trains around Kobe?

 

Maybe a night in Nagano

 

Then the balance of time in Tokyo for shopping and day trips. 

 

I would like to spend time in Kobe but I guess that location may be up for negotiation - its still close to Osaka but last time we felt a bit overwhelmed staying near Dotonburi... unless anyone can recommend an area to stay in Osaka that is better for making day trips and getting around?

 

Dammit, already excited and its still 5 months away 😛 

 

 

[Yugamu Tsuki]

Hello there mate,

 

Not Kobe but if you can get to the Arashiyama area of Kyoto I suggest the Sagano Romance train. I went on it once back about 20 years ago and then will be going back in November. Train ride up and if you can, raft back down. You'll need to pass through Kyoto station which is my favorite "modern style" architecture for a station so be sure to get out and walk around.

 

https://www.sagano-kanko.co.jp/en/?

Edited September 30, 2024 by Yugamu Tsuki
typos due to sausage fingers

[Tony Galiani]

Fukuoka is on my list for a future trip as well.  I think NHK Train Cruise had a show that included the city and Solo Travel Japan did a video on it as well.

The Shimabara Railway runs out of Nagasaki along the coast and has the closest station to the sea in Japan (though I think several places make that claim) and runs regular and cafe trains.  They even publish a tide chart so you can choose to visit that station at low tide or high tide.  NHK Train Cruise also has a video on that line.

 

In Osaka we are staying near the main JR station (not Shin-Osaka) and that is about a 10 minute train ride from Dotombori.  I am sure a couple of Forum members mentioned staying up there as a nice alternative.  I am planning to do my usual trip report and will post on the area when we are there later this month.

 

In Tokyo, I am planning to head down towards Enoshima to ride the Shonan Monorail which I think is a nice day trip.  You could also ride the Enoshima line if that was of interest to you.

 

Cheers,

Tony

[N-Osoi]

1 hour ago, Yugamu Tsuki said:

Sagano Romance train

Hey there, yes we rode a section of that train last time, although it was part of a package tour and was a rainy day. My love for Japanese trains wasn't fully ignited by then, so I'd definitely like to do it again. March might be a bit cool for rafting though!

 

1 hour ago, Tony Galiani said:

Shimabara Railway runs out of Nagasaki

Oooh this sounds fantastic, it's on the list! I think we can't do the cafe train though, we won't be there on the weekend. Nagasaki looks cute already, with the trams and ropeway. Might have to be more than a day-trip!

 

1 hour ago, Tony Galiani said:

Shonan Monorail

Yes we have the monorails on the list, and of course the Enoshima railway. Last time we made the effort to go to the Hiroshima Skyrail just before it closed down. There are too many things to do!

 

[kuro68000]

If the weather is good then Nara is worth visiting. The temple complex and the deer...

[Gunzel]

For Kyushu Kumamoto is also good, you’ve still got trams, there’s the Kumaden, and not so far out of town is the Minami Aso Railway. It’s on the boundary of the North and South Kyushu rail passes which are still reasonable value. You can fly direct there from Tokyo as well. 
 

The area around Sannomiya in Kobe is pretty hectic as well. We usually stay north east of Shin Osaka station near Higashi-Yodogawa, it’s a pretty normal Japanese neighbourhood and walkable to Shin Osaka if needed, AirBnB though so maybe not as suited to takkyubin. 
 

[N-Osoi]

Thanks @Gunzel that's useful info. I'll try and put Kumamoto on the list as well. Minami Aso railway looks great but I think it might not be open when we are there early March. That spot in Osaka looks convenient - for Osaka and Kyoto! 👍

 

What I think we will do is fly in to Fukuoka, settle in for day or two, then hire a car and spend nights in Nagasaki, Kumamoto, maybe an onsen, then head up by train to Honshu. I think a car will give us a bit of flexibility to get around to all the interesting Kyushu spots and still take some nice trains.

 

Then on to Honshu ... definitely still want to see Onomichi, then (Kobe/Osaka/Kyoto?), then finish with 6 nights or so in Tokyo. Not sure I'll be able to take the Sunrise Express this time. So bummed it was cancelled on us last time!

[chadbag]

On 9/30/2024 at 8:17 AM, N-Osoi said:

Oooh this sounds fantastic, it's on the list! I think we can't do the cafe train though, we won't be there on the weekend. Nagasaki looks cute already, with the trams and ropeway. Might have to be more than a day-trip!

 

Nagasaki is interesting even without trains.  Riding the trams is fun.  When we were there in Dec 22 (me and the kids) we made the obligatory stop at the atomic bomb museum, the peace park,  and walked around that area in the evening.  The next day went to Dejima. This is really interesting to look at with all the exhibits.  This was basically the island the Portuguese, and then the Dutch after the Portuguese were given the boot, were more or less confined to during the Edo period and a closed Japan.

 

My daughter wasn't so keen on this overnight trip (we went down to Nagasaki from Kobe area and stayed the night and returned the next afternoon).  But she still speaks of the fun time there and wanting to go back, and see all the other interesting things.

 

[chadbag]

Don't forget RG-Rokko in Kobe.   They have a walk-in retail store there full of model train stuff.

 

[N-Osoi]

OK I've been away from the forum for a while, this trip is now nice and close.

 

Itinerary has firmed up. We bounce straight to Fukuoka on the first day. 2 nights there, hire a car, then 2 nights in Nagasaki, then 2 nights as we work our way back to Fukuoka. This will include the Shimabara railway! Unfortunately, no chance to ride the cafe train.

 

Next, shinkansen to Kyoto as a base for the next third which will include a day trip to the railway museum, day trip to Kobe on Hankyu hopefully involving the Kyo-train Garaku, sumo in Osaka and me ducking off to ride the Shimanami Kaido.

 

Last third will be in Tokyo, plans include riding the Chiba monorail and visiting Yokohama. Oh, and hitting the shops 😄 

 

EDIT: I want to ride a steam train in here somewhere. I think the SL Express will be my best bet, but a steam train might have to wait for the next trip.

Edited January 15 by N-Osoi

[RS18U]

I was going to suggest more than 1 day in Nagasaki and I see you will have 2, good idea.  We were there last March and really enjoyed it.  Weather was pretty warm too.

[N-Osoi]

I leave this weekend, can't wait. A few minor train-related frustrations in planning - but that will only mean I have more to do next time! e.g. a few trains not yet in their running season, and a few tourist trains that do run, only operating on weekends that don't match up with our travels. I might be able to see the Aso Boy and Yufuin No Mori but can't work in a ride. And @chadbag I've got RG-Rokko on the list!

[Tony Galiani]

Have a great trip!  Looking forward to travel reports.  We head out as well on Sunday for our Monday arrival.  Haven't fully planned out our train travel yet though expecting to be on the Nanpu to Okayama and another trip across the Seto Bridge as well as the Shinkansen to Tokyo.  Have a few ideas for Kyushu but not settled yet.

Cheers,

Tony

[chadbag]

10 hours ago, Tony Galiani said:

Haven't fully planned out our train travel yet though expecting to be on the Nanpu to Okayama and another trip across the Seto Bridge as well as the Shinkansen to Tokyo.  Have a few ideas for Kyushu but not settled yet.

This is refreshing.
 

I somehow got added to a bunch of Japan travel groups on FB.  There are constantly posts of people going to Japan, usually for the first time, and they have their whole 10-20 or more days planned out to the minute, making sure they don’t miss a minute or an inch of Japan.   It’s all very exhausting to look at and I’m equally sure exhausting to try and actually follow the itinerary while there. 
 

I much prefer having a few larger items planned, kind of, and then winging the rest of it.  For example for our May trip I have some hotels in Tokyo and Sapporo booked as we want to visit our son in Hokkaido and we’ll do our obligatory Tokyo time on the way.  I have it yet schedule flights or trains or anything but got the hotels as I had some expiring points to use.  The rest of the trip we’ll figure out as we get closer or once there.  

Edited February 28 by chadbag

[RS18U]

4 hours ago, chadbag said:

have their whole 10-20 or more days planned out to the minute

 

4 hours ago, chadbag said:

much prefer having a few larger items planned, kind of, and then winging the rest of it

We sort of fit in between.  I like to know that we have rooms so will book those for the trip, and maybe any major travel between destinations but will wing the rest with weather really impacting what we end up doing.  Way more fun than having every minute planned, and a lot less stress.

[N-Osoi]

Well I’m here in Kyoto after a busy but great first week travelling around Kyushu. I now have to buy both an old style Nagasaki and Kumamoto trams! Rode the Shimabara line too, have to figure out if there’s a model version of their trains. Went to the Kyushu rail museum, was small but pretty nice. Lovely location. Up the Nagasaki ropeway I found a Gacha machine that was selling JR Kyushu gatchas.. won a little display Yufuin No Mori 🙂.  Stumbled upon the Yodobashi Camera next to Kyoto station and got stuck in the train section. Wasn’t really planning to do any model shopping yet… oh well. I will be going to the Kato shop here anyway. Kyoto rail museum tomorrow. Will write more with pics later!
Just a quick question- are B-train Shorties available new or are they just second hand at the moment?

[N-Osoi]

Spent a night in the beautiful little city of Onomichi. Woke up and descended the steep hill to find this beauty waiting at Onomichi station:

 

gonna pop into popondetta Kyoto tonight

Edited March 11 by N-Osoi

[Tony Galiani]

Tomytec has made two versions of the Shimabara DMUs.  One set in the standard yellow as well as the new Cafe Train scheme.  Kato (Roundhouse?) had a three car set in the older paint scheme which I was able to find used.  Don't have pics or details as I am still in Japan but can send pics when I get back if you need/want them.

Cheers,

Tony

[N-Osoi]

1 hour ago, Tony Galiani said:

Tomytec has made two versions of the Shimabara DMUs.  One set in the standard yellow as well as the new Cafe Train scheme.  Kato (Roundhouse?) had a three car set in the older paint scheme which I was able to find used.  Don't have pics or details as I am still in Japan but can send pics when I get back if you need/want them.

Cheers,

Tony

Thanks Tony. Popondetta Kyoto didn’t have any but I’ll be going to Tokyo soon. I’m only keen on the yellow one as that’s what we rode, and it looks so lovely! I also love the yellow colour local trains on the SanYo line, I think I’ve seen them or something very similar on display. I have to space out my purchases a bit. I’ll post my Popondetta haul in the appropriate thread. 

[N-Osoi]

Aaaargh I now discover that Popondetta Nihombashi has a used Shimabara yellow car - just after returning from a quick trip to Osaka. I’ll ask the Kyoto Popondetta if somehow they can get it to the Tokyo store so I can collect before I leave. 

[N-Osoi]

It took less than two days for Popondetta Ōsaka to send the Shimabara DMU to my hotel in Tokyo! And although ‘second hand’ it looks to be NOS. 

[N-Osoi]

I’m also absolutely thrilled that I found this in Popondetta. 

[Tony Galiani]

Meant to send this when we got home yesterday but too jet lagged to remember!  Anyway, hope this is helpful.  The box does not have a model number (like the A9584 on the MA set).  The number 543736 266570 is under the UPC code if that helps.

Cheers,

Tony

[N-Osoi]

27 minutes ago, Tony Galiani said:

Meant to send this when we got home yesterday but too jet lagged to remember!  Anyway, hope this is helpful.  The box does not have a model number (like the A9584 on the MA set).  The number 543736 266570 is under the UPC code if that helps.

Cheers,

Tony

Thanks Tony, I managed to buy one in Japan! I’m very happy. 

[N-Osoi]

On my way home after an epic second Japanese adventure. Lost count of how many trains I caught, especially when you include subways. Can’t wait to unpack all my treasures. I thought there wasn’t much else on my collection list (for now), which was handy as I’ve emptied my model train account, only to discover that there was a Gudetama train made at one stage and a TomyTec N scale version! 😅 🍳 Always something for next time!