Two more weeks

After my visit to Kyoto and hopefully the cherry blossoms in Yoshino I will stay two days on Naoshima. On a previous trip I did visit the south up to Kagoshima so now I would like to travel north. I will have a Japan rail,pass. Is it wise to visit Takayama and stay there two days and from there to Kakunodate, Hirosaki,Hakodate up to Abashiri ? Perhaps somebody will have some better ideas or suggestions ?

Takayama is kind of out of your way if you actually want to visit Tohoku and Hokkaido.

Plus you can get the small city vibe in cities in Tohoku as well.

Regarding JR pass just make sure it pays off. It might, but there are also some Northern Japan only passes. I personally probably would fly up from Kyoto to Hokkaido and then work my way down by train to Tokyo (assuming that’s the place you’ll leave from. )

Well, normally the Japan rail Pass will not pay off for most travellers. But if you are a train lover, you may challenge all the Shinkansen rides.

Naoshima-Nagasaki
Nagasaki-Kanazawa
Kanazawa-Niigata
Niigata-Shinjo
Shinjo-Sendai
Sendai-Kakunodate-Akita
Akita-Hirosaki (Maybe via Gono-line)
Hirosaki-Shin Aomori-Shin Hakodate Hokuto-Hakodate
Hakodate-Tokyo.

I don't recommend to go to Abashiri, since Abashiri in April is too cold (probably no cherry blossoms).

Yes I do like the Japanese trains. Clean and always on time. After Kyoto and Naoshima I do have plenty of time and will end up in Tokyo where I hope to find a air B&B forma few days. So if you have some more tips you are more than welcome. Once again what a perfect site is this.

Things you may want to consider:

Two new Shinlkansen lines opened.

Takeo-Onsen to Nagasaki (Nagasaki shinkansen)

Kanazawa to Tsuruga (Hokuriku Shinkansen)

It will be Sakura season in Tohoku area. Expected days for full bloom are:

Hirosaki castle: 4/21
https://www.hirosakipark.jp/sakura/2024/03/14898/
There are other type of late blooming Sakuras in the castle park.

It is hard to reserve room in Hirosaki in the Sakura season so you might have to get room in somewhat remote places. Even Aomori city there are not so many, and the room rate is high. One option is Asamushi onsen.

Kakunodate (Shidarezakura) 4/19
https://weathernews.jp/sakura/spot/3202/

Senshu Koen, Akita city 4/16
https://weathernews.jp/sakura/spot/25/

There are of course many other places of Sakura viewing.

In Kyoto it will be too late for Someiyoshino but other late blooming Sakura will be still in bloom.

Omuro-zakura in Ninna-ji: 4/11
https://weathernews.jp/sakura/spot/299/

Haradani-en
http://www.haradanien.com/
There are many types of late blooming Sakuras and other flower trees.
Take taxi from Kitaoji metro station.

Shinkansen travel is comfortable, but most of the route is not scenic. Several conventional (non-Shinkansen) lines have scenic places.

Kosei line Otsukyo-Makino (Thunderbird express): Lake Biwa. Take D seat.

Uetu line Murakami to Amarume (Inaho express): Sasagawanagare seashore. Take A seat.

Gono line from Akita to Goshogawara (Resort Shirakami): Seashore. Take A seat.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/joyful/shirakami.html
https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/joyful/shirakami.html#route

Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama to Takasaki: Northern Alps mountains, Asamayama. Take E seat.

At present Rikuu-Saisen line is closed due to road reconstruction which is very rare in Japan, so there are “substitute buses” which may be interesting experience.

If you use the JR pass extensively, you may better consider the Green pass, which is 30000 yen more expensive than the 80000 yen normal pass. Normally I use normal seat, but whenI went from Niigata to Akita with Inaho express, I took a green seat which is one of the spaciest seat in Japan.

Konichiwa Frog

It’s really great that you are sending me all this helpful information. Yes I will buy a green car card for three weeks and will start it after my five day visit in Kyoto. I will start today with making my plans and book places where to stay. I am looking forward to my trip.

Hello again. You were wright. Most hotels are fully booked. Also in Hirosaki where I did want to stay from April 19 for four days.
Do you think it’s possible to visit all the beautiful villages out of Aomori. There are rooms available and I do have the green card.

I searched on the web and found this hotel in Oodate.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/route-inn-odate-eki-minami.html?aid=9...

40 min train ride (Limited Express).

You may better reserve one night by one night. In so doing you can easily change your itinerary.

Or you may consider Morioka. 1 hour Shinkansen plus 30 min Limited express to Hirosaki.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/daiwa-roynet-morioka.en-us.html?aid=9...

Note that Odate and Morioka has it's own Sakura viewing spots, and can be hub for other places such as Aomori and Kakunodate.

Asamushi onsen Kaisenkaku

https://jp.hotels.com/en/ho634677888/kaisenkaku-aomori-japan/?chkin=20...

Japanese style inn with half board. Good review. Non-JR train (you must pay 460 yen one way) to Aomori and ゼンLimited express to Hirosaki.