Road Trip in Honshu and Shikoku

We are planning a trip to Japan for the first time for our honey moon. After three nights in Tokyo and three nights in Kyoto, we are planning to rent a car and do a road trip. We plan to rent a car at Itami airport, and make our way to Matsue. We are thinking of the following road trip itinerary: Matsue (3 nights), Hagi (2 nights), Matsuyama (2 nights), Osaka (2 nights). We hope to see many little towns, sights, and shrines on the way between cities. We are going in October.

First question, what is the best route to get from Matsuyama to Osaka? Should we drive along the coast of Shikoku (4.5 hours) or should drive through Honshu and stop in Onomichi, and perhaps Kurashiki and Himeji as well.

Is this too much driving and logistics for a first time trip to Japan? We will try to learn some Japanese before we leave, but we won't have significant language skills. We don't want the trip to be too rushed and would rather simplify our itinerary than be too ambitious.

Any advice on how to optimize this itinerary are welcome!

Maybe suggest your interests so people can suggest which routes or directions for you.

It seems as though you are basically driving around Chugoku.

Some things to note - driving in Japan is slow (like 50 KM/H on main roads) and faster tollways can get expensive quickly.

If I were you - I'd skip Matsuyama (driving there!) and potentially drop off your car BEFORE you get to Osaka. It's also best to pick up and drop off your car at the same location basically due to price. When I have some free time later today I'll post a basic schedule which will take too long but will give you a taste of what's possible in the area......

Driving in Japan is easy, signs are in English, other drivers are respectful and chilled, not a lot of aggressive drivers and the countryside is lovely. Apart from motorways it's a slow pace though so do allow time.
Deciding between Shikoku and Honshu depends on the places you like the look of most on the route, going via Shikoku if Matsuyama is the only place you want to visit, makes little sense.

Since I'm now at home - here is a suggested loop of Chugoku which will take much longer than your time allows but will give you some ideas.

Starting Location: Okayama - lots to do in this area. I've included some side trips below as well

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1407
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1410
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1411
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1414
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-2516

Then Okayama to Matsue VIA Bitsu Takahashi.

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1413
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3284
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3285
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3285

Then Matsue to Hagi VIA Izumo Taisha AND Iwami Ginzan.

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3287
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3286
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3291
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3292
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3293

Then Hagi to Iwakuni via Tsuwano

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3294
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3295

Then Tsuwano to Okayama (lots of small towns + Hiroshima Here!

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1415
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1416
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1418
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3296
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3297

Thank you! We wanted to go to Matsuyama largely for the Dogo Onsen, and to see a bit of Shikoku. Perhaps it is not worth making the trip? We are very much looking forward to the onsen but also have an onsen fed bath in our ryokan in Hagi.

I really like mfedleyfs suggestion of swapping Matsuyama with Okayama. Perhaps that will be easier on us overall and there is a ton to see, and we save Shikoku for another trip?

It is good to hear the pace is slow on the roads because we are not used to driving on the left side. We also are looking forward to seeing more places on the drive, and donft mind the slow pace. Tsuwano looks amazing.

I haven't been to Shikoku yet, planning a trip now but think it has loads of great places tbh.
More of a question of preference I suspect...

We recommend a route that takes you through the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido and passes through Onomichi, Kurashiki, and Himeji on Honshu.

We recommend the spectacular views from the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido and sightseeing on the islands along the way, which offer Japanese-style scenery.


https://random.tkfmweb.com