Hi everyone,
I’ll be traveling to Japan for the first time from 19 Oct to 9 Nov, and I’d really appreciate some feedback and advice on my itinerary and hiking/outdoor options.
Rough Itinerary
- Day 0 (19 Oct) – Arrive in Osaka
- Days 1–3 – Osaka
- Day 4 – Travel to Fukuoka + explore Fukuoka
- Day 5 – Fukuoka
- Day 6 – Fukuoka → Nagasaki
- Day 7 – Nagasaki
- Day 8 – Travel to Hiroshima, start of Shimanami Kaido
- Day 9 – Second day of Shimanami Kaido
- Day 10 – Back to Osaka/Kyoto
- Days 11–12 – Kyoto
- Day 13 – Nara (?)
- Days 14–15 – Open for hiking (suggestions welcome)
- Days 16–19 – Tokyo (visiting a friend)
- Day 20 – Back to Osaka
- Day 21 (9 Nov) – Flight home from Osaka
A bit about what I’m looking for
It’s my first time in Japan, and I’d like to do things a bit differently than the standard “checklist” itineraries.
I’m not too interested in onsen or crowded tourist spots. I’d rather spend time outdoors, doing some hiking or active stuff, seeing smaller towns, cycling, etc.
I initially wanted to do part of the Kumano Kodo, but everything’s booked out for those dates, so I decided to do the Shimanami Kaido instead.
Questions
- Weather: What should I expect in late October–early November? Should I bring mostly summer clothes or start packing for autumn?
- Hiking: Any good 1–2 day hikes near the areas I’m visiting (Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, etc.)?
- Pacing: Am I trying to fit too much in for 3 weeks?
- Fukuoka/Nagasaki: Are they worth including, or am I just spending too much time on trains? Would I be better off focusing on Kansai + Hiroshima (for Shimanami Kaido) + Tokyo?
- Is Nara worth? I fear it will be extremely overcrowded
- Do you think it will be convenient the Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Area Pass?
Any input would be super helpful — I’m mainly trying to strike a good balance between seeing a bit of everything and actually enjoying the trip without rushing around all the time.
Thanks a lot in advance!
by Beingstem