Hi everyone! My partner and I (both 30) are planning our first trip to Japan. We’ll be there for 6 weeks traveling with backpacks. We are big foodies, really hoping to find some farm-stays, and we aren’t afraid to rent a car for the more rural legs of the trip.
Here is our detailed day-by-day. We'd love your feedback, especially on the Tohoku vs Hokkaido choice for the final leg!
PART 1: Kyushu, Kensai & Japanese Alps
| Day | Date | Activity | Transport | Travel | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | 09/16 / 09/17 | Arrival Walk in Tenjin. Evening at Nakasu Island for the Yatai lanterns. | Plane | – | Kyushu – Fukuoka |
| 3 | 09/18 | Culture & Prep: Yanagibashi Market . Kushida-jinja and Ohori Park. | Walk | – | Kyushu – Fukuoka |
| 4 | 09/19 | History & Canals: Car pick-up Drive to Yanagawa. "Donko-bune". Visit Kumamoto Castle. | Car | 1h45 | Kyushu – Kumamoto |
| 5 | 09/20 | Aso Caldera: Drive to Mt. Aso. Hike on Kusasenri-ga-hama plateau. . | Car | 1h15 | Kyushu – Minami Aso (Farm-stay) |
| 6 | 09/21 | Farm Day | Car | – | Kyushu – Minami Aso (Farm-stay) |
| 7 | 09/22 | Water & Fire: Stop at Hitoyoshi. Ferry to Sakurajima volcano for sunset drive. | Car/Ferry | 2h15 | Kyushu – Kagoshima |
| 8-9 | 09/23 / 09/24 | Kirishima: Kirishima-jingu. Hike Karakuni-dake . | Car | 1h00 | Kyushu – Kirishima |
| 10 | 09/25 | Myths & Gorges: Drive to Takachiho. Gorges (boat/trail). Amano Yasukawara cave. Drive to Yufuin. | Car | 3h30 | Kyushu – Yufuin |
| 11-12 | 09/26 / 09/27 | Transition & Sea: Return car in Fukuoka. Shinkansen to Onomichi. Shimanami Kaido bike | Car/Train | 4h15 | Seto Sea – Onomichi |
| 13-15 | 09/28 / 09/29 / 09/30 | Osaka: Dotonbori, Hozenji Yokocho. Sakai Blacksmiths (forging/sharpening focus). | Shinkansen | 1h00 | Kansai – Osaka |
| 16-17 | 10/01 / 10/02 | Kyoto: Fushimi Inari secret paths. Ohara Village (pickles/fermentation). | Train/Bus | 1h00 | Kansai – Kyoto |
| 18-20 | 10/03 / 10/04 / 10/05 | Kanazawa: Higashi Chaya, Kenroku-en, Nagamachi Samurai houses. Noto Peninsula detour. | Train/Car | 2h15 | Alps – Kanazawa |
| 21-22 | 10/06 / 10/07 | Thatch Route: Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. Hike Magome to Tsumago (8km). | Car | 2h30 | Alps – Ainokura / Tsumago |
| 23-24 | 10/08 / 10/09 | Hida Terroir: Miyagawa Market. Hida-Furukawa Mountain drive back to Kanazawa. Return Car. | Car | 1h00 | Alps – Hida-Furukawa (Active Farm) / Kanazawa |
PART 2: The Northern Dilemma
We are torn between two 10-day routes (Oct 10 – Oct 20).
Option A: TOHOKU (The "Old Japan" Soul)
| Day | Date | Activity | Transport | Travel | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-26 | 10/10 / 10/11 | Sendai & Sea: Shinkansen to Sendai. Matsushima Bay (Zuigan-ji). | Shinkansen | 4h30 | Tohoku – Sendai |
| 27 | 10/12 | Gold & Water: Car Pick-up. Hiraizumi. Geibikei | Car | 1h20 | Tohoku – Ichinoseki |
| 28-29 | 10/13 / 10/14 | Tono Spirits: Rural life | Car | 1h20 | Tohoku – Tono (Farm-stay) |
| 30 | 10/15 | Samurai North: Drive to Akita. Lake Tazawako. Kakunodate samurai district at dusk. | Car | 1h45 | Tohoku – Kakunodate |
| 31 | 10/16 | The Sacred Mountains: Kakunodate Samurai houses. Drive into the heart of the mountains. | Car | 3h15 | Tohoku – Haguro-san (Temple/Shukubo) |
| 32 | 10/17 | Mystic Japan: Mt. Haguro ascent (2446 steps). Torii, 5-story pagoda, giant cedars. | Car | 1h00 | Tohoku – Yamagata |
| 33 | 10/18 | Cloud Temple: 1000 steps of Yamadera. Scenic view. Drive to Ginzan Onsen. | Car | 1h15 | Tohoku – Ginzan |
| 34-35 | 10/19 / 10/20 | Fire Canyon: Naruko Gorge (Peak Koyo colors). Kokeshi dolls. Drive back to Sendai. Return Car. | Car | 1h30 | Tohoku – Sendai |
Option B: HOKKAIDO (Wild Nature & Color)
| Day | Date | Activity | Transport | Travel | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-26 | 10/10 / 10/11 | Entry to North: Flight to Sapporo. Car Pick-up. Sounkyo Gorge. Kurodake Ropeway for first Koyo. | Flight/Car | 2h15 | Hokkaido – Sounkyo |
| 27-28 | 10/12 / 10/13 | Caldera Lands: Bihoro Pass. Sunayu. Mt Io (sulfur). Lake Mashu. | Car | 2h45 | Hokkaido – Akanko |
| 29 | 10/14 | Ainu Heritage: Ainu Kotan village. Forest of bubbling mud. Ainu food. | Car | – | Hokkaido – Akanko |
| 30-31 | 10/15 / 10/16 | Shiretoko. 5 Lakes hike. Brown Bear cruise on Okhotsk sea. | Car | 2h30 | Hokkaido – Utoro |
| 32-33 | 10/17 / 10/18 | Plains Crossing: Long drive. Tokachi dairy farm. Blue Pond & Patchwork Road in Biei/Furano. | Car | 4h30 | Hokkaido – Biei / Furano |
| 34-35 | 10/19 / 10/20 | Otaru canals. Nijo Market (giant crabs). Return Car. Flight to Tokyo. | Car/Flight | 1h00 | Tokyo |
We will finish with one week in Tokyo (Oct 21-30).
1. Feedback on the overall route
- Does this 35-day flow seem efficient geographically?
- Are there places where we are staying too long, or conversely, where we are rushing and might miss the essence of the place?
- Something in the program you would recommend or not recommend?
2. Farm-stays & Food Immersion
- We are looking for specific recommendations for farms where we can actually help with daily tasks and learn traditional recipes (for 2/3 days).
- Any other "must-do" farm immersions along this route?
3. Deep Dive into the Alps (Car required)
- We’ll have a car in the Alps. Are there other hidden spots or scenic mountain roads we should explore instead of the classic Shirakawa-go/Tsumago loop? We love craft villages and off-the-beaten-path hikes.
- Not sure we have found the best itinerary for the Alps yet
4. The Final Dilemma: Tohoku vs. Hokkaido
- We are torn between Authenticity (Tohoku) and Autumn Colors (Hokkaido).
- After 4 weeks in Kyushu, Kyoto, and the Alps, will Tohoku's "Old Japan" vibe feel redundant, or is it a completely different soul?
- Does Hokkaido's "color explosion" really happen mid-October and does it offer a better "finale" for a first trip, even if it feels more like "wild wilderness" and less "traditional Japan"?
Any additional comments/questions are more than welcome !
Thank you so much!
by Positive-Series5289