Hi All,
This is a trip for 2 adults. I have done a solo trip and a similar Journey before but not in this season.
I think I would be able to catch the koyo in Nagoya, Takayama and Kyoto? Are there any particular recommend spots along the route or any specific experiences we should go for?
23/11 (Flying in, to reach Central Japan Airport at about 9am) - Nagoya (Nagoya Castle, Noritake Garden, Nagoya Port)
24/11 Nagoya (Obara Shikizakura, Korankei) [Wed]
25/11 (JR 1) [Thurs] Takayama
[Start of JR Pass]
Nagoya to Takayama: 2h 15min (leave at 8.40am, arrive at about 11am) [
https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/route/result?start=0000857...]
26/11 (JR 2) Kanazawa
Takayama to Kanzawa: 2h 23min (leave at about 11am, reach at 1.30pm)
Things to do: kenrokuen, kanazawa castle and seisonkaku villa, higashi chaya district, omicho market
27/11 (JR 3) Kyoto
Kanazawa to Kyoto: 2h [1 Train every hour], probably to leave in the late afternoon, depending on how much there is left to do at Kanazawa
Things to do: Arashiyama [we have been to Kyoto many times but not in Autumn, where would be a good spot? Kiyomizudera? Just one nice spot would suffice]
28/11 (JR 4) Okayama Day 1
Kyoto to Okayama: 1h 8min
Things to do:
Cycling along Kibi Plain
[how long will this take? Possible in November?] and then
Korakuen Autumn Illumination
[When will the illumination last until? I looked it up and its says November but does not give the dates] 29/11 (JR 5) Okayama Day 2 (Matsuyama, Ehime)
To Matsuyama: 2h44min (every hour until 9pm approx)
Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen
Travel back to Okayama
30/11 (JR 6) Okayama Day 3
Naoshima
[How long will this take? Is it possible in November?] Head to Hiroshima at night: 41 min
1/12 (JR 7) Hiroshima
Peace Park, Miyajima (?)
Head to Fukuoka in the evening: 1h
Rail Pass Ends
2 /12 Fukuoka
Airport is 5 min from Hakata station
Fly to Sapporo
3/12 [Rent a car] Head to and stay at Noboribetsu. Visit Hell Valley.
4/12 Head to and stay at Lake Toya.
5/12 Head to and stay at Sapporo.
6/12 Stay at Sapporo.
7/12 Leave from Shin Chitose Airport.
I had considered taking the train up to Hokkaido instead (I have to end up at Hokkaido due to flight tickets) but it seemed as though though would include almost double or treble travel times (average 4h instead of 2h) and less famous spots so since we were getting the all Japan Rail Pass, it seemed as though it may make more sense to go south instead. Fukuoka airport seems to have the best inter-Japan connections on the south-eastern side therefore the flight out from there. Open to other recommendations.
Are there any seasonal events we should try to seek out?
Thank you!
