Hi everyone!
I’ll be in Japan Nov 6th–12th and I am debating renting a car to drive from Takayama up to Sendai. I’m mainly trying to optimize for autumn leaves while keeping the pacing enjoyable.
I’ve come up with 2 possible itineraries
Option 1: With Kusatsu , Karuizawa
- Nov 6: Osaka → Takayama (explore town, overnight stay in a nice Ryokan have a chilll night and Onsen)
- Nov 7: Pick up rental car → drive to Kusatsu Onsen (4.5 hrs) I am wondering if this drive will be pretty and we can just stop along the ay and enjoy the mountains or stop for a snack somewhere. Could stay here for 2 nighs and do the next bit as a day trip)
- Nov 8: Kusatsu → Karuizawa (1 hr)
- Nov 9: Karuizawa → Nikko (2.5 hrs)
- Nov 10: Nikko → Sendai, return rental car (3.5–4 hrs)
- Nov 11: Day trip to Yamadera from Sendai
- Nov 12: Fly out from Sendai
Option 2: Skip Kusatsu/Karuizawa, add Aizu instead
- Nov 6: Osaka → Takayama (explore, overnight stay)
- Nov 7: Pick up rental car in Takayama → drive to Nikko (5–6 hrs stopping along the way at waterfalls or snacks or scenic points)
- Nov 8: Morning / afternoon in Nikko (temples) → drive to Aizu-Wakamatsu (2.5–3 hrs) (Could possibly stay and extra day in Nikko here and then drive the next morning and do Aizu in the afternoon)
- Nov 9: Full day in Aizu (Goshikinuma Ponds)
- Nov 10: Aizu → Sendai, return rental car (3 hrs)
- Nov 11: Day trip to Yamadera from Sendai (1 hr each way by car/train)
- Nov 12: Fly out from Sendai
A few details:
- I’m trying to optimize for autumn foliage viewing during this week.
- In Nikko, I’d prefer to just see the town and temples (like Toshogu Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge) — not Kegon Falls, since I heard the drive up can take 2–3 hours.
- I chose Kusatsu/Karuizawa to break up the long Takayama → Nikko drive, but I’m wondering if it’s better to stay 2 nights in one place instead of splitting them.
- How scenic are these drives overall? Are there particular routes or detours that are especially beautiful in November?
Would love any tips on whether this route makes sense, or if there are better or amazing stops/adjustments to maximize autumn leaves and avoid exhausting travel days.
Thanks in advance!
by Hot-Bookkeeper-6130
2 comments
I would rather do a slightly longer trip in one day, and have more time in the next two days.
Both rides can be scenic, I would give the edge to Aizu – but do expect lots of tunnels along the way.
Regarding the places visit, I prefer Aizu over Karuizawa. Kusatsu is very nice if you are staying for onsen, but if you are not doing that, I would rather focus on the Aizu region. I highly recommend a stop at Ouchijuku there.
Note that there are a number of onsen places near Aizu/Nikko, such as Kinugawa, which you can use.
It sounds like you are planning to take the expressway? That sort of defeats the whole point of a car if you are only going to where you can get to by train anyway and not making any stops. It will take longer, but it will make every minute much more worth it.
**> Nov 7:** Pick up rental car → drive to **Kusatsu Onsen** (4.5 hrs)
It will be more than 4.5 hours if you stop anywhere, and you probably will want to rather than just skip by all the good parts. Maybe double that to 8 hours.
Same for Karuizawa to Nikko.
Nikko to Sendai should be more like 7 hours.
Going from Takayama to Nikko in one go is just driving, and does not make much sense since public transport would be about the same and easier if you are not planning to stop anyware to take advanage of the car.
You should break it up into non-toll road expressway drives that are 4~5 hours or so on the map, then expect it to take 8~9 or so in real life.
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