Working out last min Kansai/Shikoku itinerary

So planning to go to Japan later this week for about 10 days (travel time not included. Roughly 29th Mar - 7th Apr although it depends on which flights I get).

As this isn't my first time, I'm fairly laid back about what to see but I've not been to Shikoku or to the Kii peninsula. I plan to take along a bike so would look to stay overnight in places for at least a couple days or more. Also, I don't plan to do bike touring (too much planning involved & equipment I won't have like panniers) so no one-way trips by bike aside from the Shimanami Kaido.

However, I'm having problem putting together a coherent itinerary & thought I'd ask in here for ideas. The following is completely optional and in no specific order (but in a vague order!). Flights & airports are flexible as long as it's ANA.

* Fly from UK to Osaka (KIX/ITM) via Tokyo.
* Send bike via takkyubin to Kyoto/Osaka & spend a day or two chilling & looking for a rinko bag for the trains. (My bike is big though with no quick-release so might be difficult)
* Tick off the Nara-Kyoto route which sounds rather nice - http://nara-cycling.com/map/nara-kyoto-english/pdf/map.pdf. Mt Yoshino could be perfect timing for cherry blossoms actually - http://nara-cycling.com/map/nara-kyoto-english/pdf/jyouhou.pdf. Or too early?
* Go to Himeji-jo (Last time I went was when it was being renovated so never got to see the outside in its full glory)
* 2 days Kumano Kodo walk? The Nakahechi route sounds well-travelled but the full thing is multi-days so not sure which segment I'd want to do if I only want to do two days...?
* Day trip to Kibi Plain from Shin-Osaka (which would help make the Sanyo Sanin pass pay for itself)
* Have been to Kurashiki before - pretty, so maybe stop by.
* Takkyubin bike between Kyoto/Osaka to Onomichi for Shimanami Kaido
* I would probably send my baggage onto Matsuyama(?) and stay couple days there & explore area. Or stay in Takamatsu?
* Loop back to Osaka/Kyoto and fly out from there?

I'm thinking maybe the 7 days JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass? It would pay off with the stops above however but wouldn't cover Kumano Kodo - although I could drop that for something else/shuffle things around. 7 days validity may be difficult to work with maybe...

Really vague (so little time!) so happy for any thoughts or ideas! Thanks in advance!

* Send bike via takkyubin to Kyoto/Osaka & spend a day or two chilling & looking for a rinko bag for the trains. (My bike is big though with no quick-release so might be difficult) try Y-roads. It�fs probably the biggest bike shop chain in Japan: http://ysroad.co.jp/osaka/
However if bicycle size is a problem can you not get a bike bag back in the UK? Or if you have a sewing machine you could produce a very basic one from a big and robust plastic sheet (something like the Japanese vinyl sheet for picknick)

* Tick off the Nara-Kyoto route which sounds rather nice - http://nara-cycling.com/map/nara-kyoto-english/pdf/map.pdf. Mt Yoshino could be perfect timing for cherry blossoms actually - http://nara-cycling.com/map/nara-kyoto-english/pdf/jyouhou.pdf. Or too early? if too early or not you can find out from the cherry blossom forecast on Japan guide webpage, but it should be good timing.
The cycling there is very nice. I did a similar trip about 1,5 years ago : (here the a general description from Maibara to inner Nara Prefecture. In each single day there is also the strava data: http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2017/11/part-8-day-38-day-43-fr...
If you still need accommodation i can recommend the guest house i stayed in in Yamatoyagi also the one in Nara was really nice.
http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/search/label/Accommodation+Prac...


* Day trip to Kibi Plain from Shin-Osaka (which would help make the Sanyo Sanin pass pay for itself) Kibi plain is also a nice spot of cycling: http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2017/11/day-45-kibi-plain-and-k...
You could also ride up to Bitchu Takahashi and see the mountain castle there. Probably the original castle in Japan with less tourists. And very scenic ! And/ or you can go to Inujima for a daytrip. http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2017/11/day-47-inujima-art-proj...


* I would probably send my baggage onto Matsuyama(?) and stay couple days there & explore area. Or stay in Takamatsu? I personally liked Takamatsu more but I have also been there longer. The garden is superb and the I simply loved the art projects on Naoshima and Teshima. One of my best experiences in Japan.

Enjoy your trip to Kansai and Shikoku!

BTW, you might have seen this already, but there are more recommended cycling routes in Nara Prefecture on the Japanese version of the webpage you linked. It�fs in Japanese but with the help of google you should be able to figure it out: http://nara-cycling.com/map/narakuru/

Hi BikeGuest,

Many thanks for the ideas - very useful!

Regarding the rinko bag, I do not think I will have time to DIY something here in the UK so I think I will simplify my itinerary a little and only pack up my bike using the travel case a few times (the flights to/from Kyoto/Osaka, Kyoto/Osaka to Onomichi and finally, Imabari to airport/back home) if Y's Road or similar does not have anything suitable for the trains.