5 Week Itinerary - after 1 suggestion

Hi All,

Over the past few months, I've been putting together my summer vacation to Japan. I've travelled around Japan more than most and as such I'll be travelling to some slight left of field places.

I'll state my general itinerary below but I'm after 1 suggestion which will be listed at the bottom of my itinerary.

Yokohama (4 nights - visiting people)
Tsuruoka (3 nights - Dewa Sanzan)
Kusatsu Onsen (2 nights)
Manza Onsen (1 night)
Iiyama (3 nights)
Itoigawa (2 nights)
Unazaki Onsen - Kurobe (1 night)
Wajima - Noto Peninsula (2 nights)
Wakura Onsen - Noto Peninsula (1 night)
Kaga Onsen (1 night)
Kinosaki Onsen (2 nights)
Tottori (2 nights)
Wakayama (2 nights)
Kii-Katsuura - Hotel Urashima (1 night)
Shingu (2 nights)
Hongu (1 night)
*** Dogoshima (2 nights)
Narita (1 night)

My main problem is that I originally wanted to visit Dogoshima on the Izu Peninsula, but it's a bit too much travel for one day from Hongu (Bus to Shingu, train to Nagoya, Shinkansen to Mishima, train to Shuzenji and another bus to Dogoshima).

Apart from 1 night in Nagoya and 1 night in Dogoshima, does anyone have any nice suggestions on where to stay for 2 nights between Hongu and Narita.

Places which can be missed as I've already visited include: Ise, Nagoya, Shizuoka, Mishima, Atami, most places in Izu apart from Dogoshima.

I know this is a bit of a limited help question - but I've kind of run out of possible places I can think of to visit....

Have you considered Gifu City? I don't know the dates you're travelling but in the summer there is ukai (cormorant fishing) and two huge fireworks festivals on the last Saturday of July and the first Saturday of August respectively.

Unfortunately this is also a place I've already been too...

The cormorant fishing was something which I quite enjoyed....

http://japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1613
http://japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1614

If you don't really need to stay 2 nights in Shingu, how about 1 night in Toba? Mikimoto Pearl Island and the Aquarium are good to see. It's only 45 mins. from Hongu and there is an express from Toba to Nagoya.

Not answering the question. Just like to appreciate the amount of onsens.

Just to point out Wakayama (as in the castle and all) is pretty far from Katsura. Added on that Hotel Urashima requires a boat to get to (it is connected to the mainland but the forested mountain prevents other forms of transport), you might not get to enjoy the full glory of all 7 onsens. Especially the cave bath that looks out to sea. There won't be anything to see in the dark. And if you think you could just do it in the morning, I would instead recommend taking a hike to the cliff at the edge of the mountain for sunset views. The cave looks Eastward but not that Eastward to get the desired sun view.

Thanks for the info Joshua. I'm planning on coming directly from Wakayama and hopefully getting to the hotel by 3PM to spend as much time there as possible.

I'm aware that I'm staying in a lot of onsen towns, but I normally go there only if there is also something to do (apart from Manza onsen which is only for the onsen).

I'm spending 2 nights at Shingu as I'll be visiting 2 of the shrines from there.

On staying at Toba - I'll consider it. Do you think there is enough to do there for 2 days?

Looking at the Jikokuhyo if you take the express from SHINGU at 0913 you change at TAKI and get to TOBA at 1212. A MIE express leaves TOBA at 1736 and gets to NAGOYA at 1930.

Just confirming that I ended up changing the last 2 nights to Toba as suggested. A bus and train ride in one day is much more comfortable than going from Hongu to Dogoshima.

I've booked what looks like a nice place with a reasonable view (slightly traditional) but any suggestions would be much appreciated.

At present, I'm looking at visiting the Pearl Island and possibly Spain Mura for it's Kitsch value....

I stayed at this rather modern ryokan very near Toba station with a great view of Toba Bay and just 5 or 6 minute walk to Pearl Island and the Aquarium.
SUZUNAMI BEKKAN (KIMPOKAN) 011-815-9925-2001

Toba Bay from my window, early A.M.
http://dickh.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v180/p178588798-4.jpg