Hey guys, I'm going for the first time in Japan next week, i will be doing the classic Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka during two weeks with some friends then I will be staying to weeks alone, during which I wanted to visit Kyushu and the Alps, what do you think of the itinerary I drafted for the last two weeks:
Kyushu Section (Oct 18 – Oct 26)
Day 1 – Oct 18 (Sat) | Osaka → Fukuoka
- Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka → Hakata): ~2h40, ~¥15,000
- Afternoon: Canal City, Ohori Park, Nakasu.
- Hakata ramen dinner.
- Hotel
Day 2 – Oct 19 (Sun) | Fukuoka
- Free visit day
- 🏨 Fukuoka.
Day 3 – Oct 20 (Mon) | Fukuoka → Kurokawa Onsen
- 🚌 3h (https://kyushubusbooking.com/bus/fukuokakurokawa/)
- Afternoon: stroll, outdoor baths, ryokan dinner, more baths.
- 🏨 Kurokawa ryokan.
Day 4–5 – Oct 21–22 (Tue–Wed) | Yufuin
- 🚌 Kurokawa → Yufuin: 11h15->12h48: JapanBusOnline (gmail) https://www.sankobus.jp/bus/oudan/rosen/
- Activities: Main street, Lake Kinrin, museums, cafés.
- Relax in ryokan, countryside walk, art hopping.
- Yufuin (2 nights).
Day 6 – Oct 23 (Thu) | Yufuin → Beppu
- 🚌 Local bus ~1h, ~¥1,000.
- Afternoon: Hells of Beppu (Umi-jigoku, Oniishibozu).
- Evening: Takegawara Onsen sand bath.
- Hotel
Day 7–8 – Oct 24–25 (Fri–Sat) | Beppu → Kagoshima
- 🚅 Sonic (Beppu → Hakata) 2h10 + Shinkansen (Hakata → Kagoshima-Chuo) ~1h40. Total ~4h, ~¥11,000.
- Activities (to revisit):
- Day 1: Sakurajima ferry & walk, Shiroyama Park.
- Day 2: Ibusuki day trip (sand baths, Cape Nagasakibana).
- 🏨 Kagoshima (2 nights).
Day 9 – Oct 26 (Sun) | Kagoshima → Tokyo
- ✈️ Flight: Kagoshima → Tokyo Haneda/Narita (~2h).
- Drop luggage → light Tokyo stroll (Asakusa + Senso-ji, Ueno Park, or Shibuya crossing at night). .
Day 10 – Oct 27 (Mon) | Tokyo → Kanazawa
- 🚅 Shinkansen: Tokyo → Kanazawa ~2h30 (~¥14,000).
- Arrive late morning / early noon.
- Afternoon sightseeing:
- Kenroku-en Garden (must-see, autumn colors).
- Omicho Market (lunch/seafood).
- Evening in Higashi Chaya district (teahouses, night atmosphere). 🏨 Kanazawa (1st night).
Day 11 – Oct 28 (Tue) | Kanazawa (full day)
- Morning: Nagamachi Samurai district (Nomura-ke residence).
- Midday: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (optional).
- Afternoon: wander Kanazawa Castle grounds.
- Evening: sushi/kaisendon (Kanazawa famous for crab). 🏨 Kanazawa (2nd night).
Day 12 – Oct 29 (Wed) | Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go → Takayama
- 🚌 Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go: ~1h15 bus (~¥2,000).
- Visit UNESCO thatched village + hilltop viewpoint.
- 🚌 Shirakawa-go → Takayama: ~50 min bus (~¥1,700).
- https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mg8ir9/autumn_weekend_in_takayama_gifu_prefecture/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
- Evening: Old town (Sanmachi Suji) stroll + sake tasting. 🏨 Takayama (1st night).
Day 13 – Oct 30 (Thu) | Takayama (full day)
- Morning: Miyagawa morning market & Takayama Jinya.
- Afternoon: Hida Folk Village (thatched houses, rural life).
- Relax in a local onsen or izakaya dinner. 🏨 Takayama (2nd night).
Day 14 – Oct 31 (Fri) | Takayama → Hirayu Onsen
- 🚌 Takayama → Hirayu Onsen (~1h). https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/route_bus/kamikochi-line/
- Drop luggages at ryokan
- 🚌 Hirayu Onsen → Kamikōchi (~30 min). :
- Afternoon hike: Kappa Bridge → Myojin Pond (~2–3h easy loop).
- Evening back in Hirayu (last buses: 17h or 17h30). 🏨 Hirayu (1 night)
Day 15 – Nov 1 (Sat) | Kamikōchi → Tokyo
- Ryokan breakfast
- Bus to Kamikochi : chill morning stroll + lunch
- kamikochi to Shinjuku direct at 2:30pm https://visit-nagano.alpico.co.jp/timetable/kamikochi-shinjuku
- Evening arrival in Tokyo. 🏨 Tokyo (2 nights total: Nov 1–3).
Day 16 – Nov 2 (Sun) | Tokyo (free day)
Tokyo chill day
Day 17 – Nov 3 (Mon) | Tokyo → Flight Home
- Flight from Tokyo.
by ExtraPossible8872