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 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.