Nknows

Hello!

We are spending 4 nights in Kyoto, one night on Miyajima, have one open day, then move on to Takayama for 2 nights. (September)

Does anyone have recommendations on where to stay in between Miyajima and Takayama for one night? Or better to add an extra day to either one? Staying in a place with natural beauty/onsen preferable - but we are open.

I have been Hiroshima before, so do not plan on spending much time exploring the city.

Thank you!

kja

Hmmm... it all depends on what YOU want to see and experience, but I thought 6 days barely enough to see just a few highlights of Kyoto and Nara, and I regretted giving Takayama only about 1.5 days.

No bad choices ... just some very difficult ones.

mrwunrfl

It takes 6 to 7 hours to get from Miyajima to Takayama using a JR Pass. I've done it, didn't like it, don't recommend it, but you would have 3 night stay there if you did the trip in one day.

Gero Onsen is on the way but it is only 45 min from Takayama, so it would be 5.5 to 6 hour trip from Miyajima.

Arima Onsen is off the route, near Kobe, and you'd have 3.5 hrs of travel the first day and 4.5 hr the next day.

Himeji and Okayama are on the way. Hikone is not far off the route.

I might stop in Osaka and go to Spa World.

I haven't seen it but an attraction in Gifu is the traditional (1300 years) cormorant fishing. One thing about it that is good for you is that it is performed in the evening.

It sounds like fun: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5922.html

You could stay the night in Nagoya or Gifu.

Gifu castle is worth a visit. You take a ropeway and then a short uphill hike to the castle. Would have nice views if the weather is good. I don't recommend it for anyone who has difficulty walking.
https://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/spot/castles/gifu.html

mrwunrfl

>>One thing about it that is good for you is that it is performed in the evening.

Meaning that you could easily make the ~4-hour trip from Miyajima to Gifu to attend the Ukai in time. That link mentions a dinner cruise at 5:30 PM. It can be arranged as part of a ryokan stay.

kja

I thought the cormorant fishing -- ukai -- in Gifu a lot of fun to watch! And you don't need to join a dinner cruise -- there is as seating area on the shore.

Nknows

Wow! Amazing suggestions- thank you all. I'm very interested in Gifu and the night fishing- that seems like a very special experience!

Adastra2200

For your extra day, you could spend a few hours of it seeing Iwakuni, just a bit past Miyajima. It has to me the loveliest old bridge in Japan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COOZXi66mM

You could also see Himeji Castle, the grandest original castle in the country. You also didn't mention seeing Nara - which is *very* worthwhile. If you like some walking or hiking, there is some at the very back of Nara Park.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...TIKwkioxuAKwt5

Hikone was also mentioned for it's nice castle also - plus the Genkyuen Garden next to it is also a relaxing stroll.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbftZ0Xj8gU

For onsen, mrwunrfl named some good ones - Arima and Gero; one more idea is Ogoto onsen in Otsu, Shiga.

kja

If you decide to attend ukai in Gifu and opt to sit on the banks, you might want to bring a small pair of binoculars with you -- that would give you the chance to see more of the event.

mrwunrfl

I think I would go with one of the sightseeing boats in Gifu, the ones without dinner. The fact that the boats are covered might be important in Sept.

If you don't take a boat then the japan-guide link mentions that the better views are from along the northern riverbank.