Hi everyone!
Two years ago we did the Golden Route (Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka) and absolutely loved it. This August we're heading back for a second trip and this time we're going deeper, off the beaten path.
About us: We're a Turkish couple, mid-30s living in Ireland, and we love food, art & design, music, Japanese culture, nature, and antique/vintage markets. We've already done the classic Kyoto temples and Osaka street food, so this trip is about going further.
Our planned route (Aug 4–21):
- Tokyo — 3 nights
- Matsumoto + Kamikochi — 2 nights
- Osaka + Kobe day trip — 3 nights
- Tokushima — 1 night (Awa Odori Festival, Aug 12–15 — we'll be there Aug 12)
- Naoshima + Teshima — 3 nights
- Tokyo — 3 nights
A few questions for the community:
- Tokyo appears twice with 3 nights each, does this feel like too much, or is it justified given it's both arrival/departure city and we want to explore Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, antique markets, and contemporary art properly?
- We intentionally skipped Kyoto due to the August heat — good call or are we missing something unmissable in August specifically?
- Is there a stop worth squeezing in between?
- For the antique markets, we know about the Oedo Market in Tokyo (Aug 5) and Shitennoji in Osaka (Aug 21–22). Are we missing any other good ones along our route in August?
- Any Naoshima/Teshima tips for August specifically?
Thanks in advance, and we're excited to hear your thoughts! 🇯🇵
by Original-Drive-1556