Tony Galiani Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 I have been happily following all the recent travel threads and thinking I will start one as I work on my next trip. Hoping for travel this Spring and then, possibly, another Fall trip. As is usual for me, scheduling a decent time slot will be a challenge. Pricing seems better for April though not sure I can work that out. My plan/hope is to get to Kyushu on my next trip. Current thinking is direct to Fukuoka and then on to Nagasaki or Fukuoka on to Beppu. I think the latter would allow me to connect with a daytime ferry to Shikoku. From there some railway travel along the north coast of Shikoku or into the Shimanto River area. I had been thinking we could kayak on the river but the trips I have seen so far call for spending half the time on orientation and training and the set up requirements - are discouraging that plan. Also thinking I would like to ride the Shimabara Railway in Kyushu and the Yodo Line in Shikoku - though that may depend on finding fabric and/or cat themed stores in the area to distract my wife! As usual for us, we would end up back in Tokyo for a few days to round out the trip. And, as always, suggestions welcome! Ciao, Tony 3 Link to comment
Kingmeow Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 So excited to see you have started a "2025" trip. We will definitely be back this year but have absolutely NO idea of when or what locations at this time. We may do a 5 week trip with a 2 week side trip to Taiwan since we're "already there". The biggest thing, as you already know, is to find good priced airfares. On our last trip in Oct/Nov, half the cost was for the airfare! 😲 Link to comment
Tony Galiani Posted January 17 Author Share Posted January 17 Well - if we happen to be over there at the same time, we will need to meet up. Despite the price of cabbage! We had friends just come back from Taiwan and they really liked it. We have talked about Taiwan, as well as Singapore and Bangkok, but not sure if we can work any of that out. Not seeing any let up in airfares for the near future but who knows. United's sale for Mileage Plus members only featured places in Europe which was a big disappointment. Icelandair had a good sale but, again, in the wrong direction. Of course, if I get any more sale emails, I will let you know. Tony Link to comment
RS18U Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 How long are you going for? We did Kyushu last March and had a great time, used the train system to circumnavigate the island in about 2 weeks of a 3 week trip (the rest was Hiroshima to visit relatives and Tokyo). Link to comment
Tony Galiani Posted January 17 Author Share Posted January 17 @RS18U - Not sure as to how long as yet. Hoping for several weeks but a lot will depend on my music schedule and timing around visits to Germany and Greece to see family and friends. Whatever I work out I am pretty sure it will not be long enough. We keep talking about doing a month long trip but I am not sure that will ever happen. Cheers, Tony 1 Link to comment
Kingmeow Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Funny thing Tony, my wife brought up Taiwan/Japan during lunch. Looks like she wants Sep/Oct/Nov time frame. First Japan and then Taiwan as Taiwan is warmer so going there on the second leg of the trip makes more sense. We were thinking the Nagasaki area too so maybe dinner in Nagasaki this time instead of Tokyo! 😁 Duration is still up in the air but I'm thinking minimum 2 weeks for Taiwan and at least that many for Japan. But of course, the more the merrier. 🙂 We really don't have anything getting in the way like other trips or music, etc. 1 Link to comment
Gunzel Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 The All Shikoku Rail Pass and the JR Kyushu Rail Passes are still reasonable value, and for Kyushu you’d just need the north one. There’s also the “Travel Master Kyushu Enjoyment” ticket that works for local trains on all railways in Kyushu that can make sense for some itineraries, it works a bit like the Seishun 18 used to withs three person days of validity, so can be used by one person on three separate days, or two people together on one day and one person the other day (or three together on one day probably not so relevant for you). https://www.jrkyushu-kippu.jp/fare/ticket/396 There’s a heap of other JR Kyushu offers https://www.jrkyushu-kippu.jp/fare/ticket/ And of course depending on when you travel there’s the Seishun 18 itself. 1 1 Link to comment
Tony Galiani Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 @Gunzel - I was wondering about those passes so that info is really helpful. I sometimes find figuring out the best options to be a challenge so having this input is a relief. Cheers, Tony Link to comment
Gunzel Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 No worries. They are less of a no-brainer now than they used to be. The other thing I meant to mention is that the All Shikoku Rail Pass does not include seat reservations, but they can be purchased in blocks of four for Y1200. 1 1 Link to comment
tridentalx Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Have a look in the reports thread for my one from Kyushu. May be some info of use in there. I'll watch your planning with interest. I'll be in Japan in June and planning to finish off with a lightning trip round the west side of Shikoku. https://jnsforum.com/community/topic/14682-week-in-kyushu-in-march/ Link to comment
Tony Galiani Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 Thanks. Will read your reports. Enjoy Shikoku! Tony 1 Link to comment
Gunzel Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 (edited) Spotted in Matsuyama this morning: Hmm, bit hard to read after uploading, hopefully this detail crop helps. Edited January 23 by Gunzel Added detailed crop 1 Link to comment
chadbag Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 (edited) Taiwan is interesting. I went there once by myself as a side trip from Japan when we were in Japan once. It was like 4 or so days. I forget. No one else in the family wanted to go with me so I went by myself. I met up with a several guys from Taiwan I had met at the Apple WWDC in 2015. (My son and I also made a side trip on a different trip to Japan to Korea to meet an Australian guy who lived there and who I met at the same WWDC). Taiwan reminded me of Japan except that they were speaking Mandarin and not Japanese. I was only in Taipei but it felt like being in Osaka or Tokyo when I was walking around. Combini and lots of small stores and very much the same vibe. I'd go back... We're headed to Japan end of May and first of June, like I mentioned in my own thread. I am interested in what you guys come up with in regards to Kyushu / Shikoku. Especially things that could be done as an overnight trip from Kobe area. Our long journey will be a couple days in Tokyo and then on to Hokkaido for a few days to visit our son, and budget wise we are just staying with family in the Kobe area and doing local things but an overnight trip could be done. Last time my kids and I went to Nagasaki, stayed overnight, and then returned the next afternoon. We saw the atomic bomb museum and peace park there and Dejima island the next day and also walked around some of the old time shopping streets. Edited January 23 by chadbag 1 Link to comment
Tony Galiani Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 I am trying to get away from some of the bigger cities and tourist areas but not sure that will work after seeing this NHK curry video: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/japannavigator/ The cherry flavored curry in Yamagata (at about 0:50 in the video) appeals but the Fukuoka specialty (at about 1:00) of baked curry with cheese and egg really appeals. I had been thinking of bypassing Fukuoka in favor or Nagasaki but maybe not. Though since they are only an hour and a half apart by train, maybe I could do both. Need to see what Nagasaki offers in the curry stakes! And I was not aware of the Jimbocho section of Tokyo so need to go there. Maybe go there for curry, then on to Ochamizu for train watching and then a bit further north to the stationary shop / cafe with the best cinnamon toast I ever had (though I will say the cinnamon toast on Naoshima is pretty darn good as well). Ciao, Tony 3 Link to comment
cteno4 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Homer drool! Not into the fruit curry, but the egg and cheese and the fried rice ball with cheese and wage beef curry, wow! damn now I want curry rice for dinner! jeff 2 Link to comment
RS18U Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 (edited) When we were in Mojiko in March we stumbled upon a great east Indian place. My wife had what she called the best butter chicken she has ever had, while I had an excellent curry. I think this is it, although this Google image is from 2017 but its the right place. Edited January 23 by RS18U 2 Link to comment
Gunzel Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 The cherry one looks very interesting, will have to search that out when I get back to Yamagata. The baked curry with cheese and egg is a specialty in Mojiko (in Fukuoka Prefecture, but a bit of a way from Fukuoka city), a beautiful little town with a lovely railway station (the zero point in Kyushu), railway museum, a little tourist railway, a pedestrian tunnel to Shimonoseki under the Kanmon Straits and I’m sure lots more. We splurged a little and stayed at the Premier Hotel with a view of the straits and got a free fireworks display night because they were hosting a wedding. I had to work one day remotely but spent a lot of it looking at and photographing ships. Highly recommended. 4 Link to comment
RS18U Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 I agree with @Gunzel, Mojiko is highly recommended. We did it as a day trip from our hotel near Hakata station, and did the museum and tunnel. The tourist railway was closed when we were there though 2 Link to comment
N-Osoi Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 9 hours ago, Tony Galiani said: maybe I could do both. Need to see what Nagasaki offers in the curry stakes! Hey Tony, Me and partner are starting our trip in Kyushu in March, beginning in Fukuoka and Nagasaki. We are hiring a car for some of it. I'll post my experiences but it might be too close to your travel time if you want to nail down plans. 1 Link to comment
Tony Galiani Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 @N-Osoi - Great - looking forward to your posts. We are still negotiating our travel plans so no firm date yet. We typically have general plans - places we want to see and things to do - but tend to leave the details and timing open. Usually this works out okay for us. Ciao, Tony 2 Link to comment
Kingmeow Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 23 hours ago, chadbag said: Taiwan reminded me of Japan except that they were speaking Mandarin and not Japanese. I was only in Taipei but it felt like being in Osaka or Tokyo when I was walking around. So they have a Joshin Super Kids Land too???!!! 🤣🤣🤣 But more seriously, how is the model train scene, if any? Train stores? Prices? Chinese brands of just Japanese? Link to comment
chadbag Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 47 minutes ago, Kingmeow said: So they have a Joshin Super Kids Land too???!!! 🤣🤣🤣 But more seriously, how is the model train scene, if any? Train stores? Prices? Chinese brands of just Japanese? I didn't go looking, sorry. I was only there a few days and had other things planned including meeting my friends I had met at the Apple WWDC. Link to comment
Tony Galiani Posted January 28 Author Share Posted January 28 Working on some very disparate ideas and now looking at March or April as a date cancellation has opened up my schedule a bit. Have been watching quite a few NHK videos and wondering about taking a course or class while we are there. Or, to be precise, spending time on train activities while the Princess of Procrastination takes a class or course. I have found a few she is interested in but still a ways to go for sorting anything out. Of course, I am very supportive of this idea! A friend of hers also just did a trip to Taiwan and this is a place she has mentioned that she would like to visit. I knew that Fukuoka had flights to Taipei so checked on them this evening. Turns out it is a relatively short flight - two hours non-stop. So that is intriguing. Maybe for this trip or later this year. Need to spend more time on Google Flights to see what might be realistic. Too many places to see! Ciao, Tony 1 Link to comment
Gunzel Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Because of the new fab TSMC are building with Sony nearby there are direct flights to Taipei from Kumamoto as well now. Looks like you could even book a Kumamoto/Fukoka - Taipei - Tokyo itinerary to save you a leg. Dunno whether it’s worth trying to build that into your larger itinerary ex US or just leave some wiggle room at each end and book separately. 2 Link to comment
Kingmeow Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 (edited) Tony, if you end up doing a Japan <-> Taiwan side trip on your next visit, I'll be paying very close attention! 🙂 Our plans of doing that is getting to be more and more certain as time goes by. We're trying to carve our a 5-6 week block of time to do that. 😎 Edited January 28 by Kingmeow Link to comment
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