Nywoman

As some of you may remember I spent several weeks last year traveling around. This year I wanted to explore other perhaps a little less traveled parts if that exists.

The reason I am going back to Kyoto there were too many things I never got to see, the same for Osaka. This is the itinerary so far. I am flying from Matsuyama to Fukuoka on Nov 2 and have purchased that ticket. Will probably spend 5 days or so there in order to see the Karatsu festival as well as the Saga Balloon festival and other side trips.

Where do I go after Takamatsu before Matsuyama?

Thur Oct 12 JFK Eva Airway BR 29

Fri Oct 13 Taipei
Sat Oct 14
Sun Oct 15

Mon Oct 16 Hualien
Tue Oct 17

Wed Oct 18 Taipei

Thur Oct 19 Osaka Jetstar 721
Fri Oct 20

Sat Oct 21 Kyoto
Sun Oct 22
Mon Oct 23
Tues Oct 24
Wed Oct 25

Thur Oct 26 Naoshima
Fri Oct 27
Sat Oct 28 17.00-18.15 Chichu Art Museum nightshow

Sat Oct 28 Takamatsu


Also am a little confused by the e-mail I received confirming my reservation at Chichu art museum.
This is how it ended:
・Others : We recommend to reserve a taxi, as there is no public transportation after the program. Please take care on your way back if you are planning to walk or to use a bicycle. There are not many streetlights.
Naoshima Taxi 087-892-3036
※click below for ferry schedule.
HP：http://www.shikokukisen.com/
※No more ferry to Takamatsu by this time.

According to the ferry schedule there is one at 19.15 going to Takamatsu. What am I missing here?

Also need to clarify that I am now 1 year older, have just undergone spinal surgery. Do not drive nor ride a bicycle otherwise I'm fine, or will be in a few weeks.

In case you want to get a sense of how I travel here is my TR from last year.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...s-to-japan.cfm

Thanks in advance for your great help and advice.

kja

I can only speak to the Kyoto leg of this trip, and particularly because this visit will be your second, I like that you are giving it a bit of time. If you haven't already seen it, you might consider a day trip or two to Nara (actually, I'm glad I spent two nights in Nara). And you have many other day trip options from Kyoto, so you might want to think through your priorities in advance so you can adjust your plans if necessary based on how your are dealing with your recovery.

And of course, best wishes for continued success with your recovery.

thursdaysd

I spent three nights in Nara and didn't run out of things to do.

If you are going to Fukuoka, are you also going to Nagasaki?

Nywoman

I was in Nara last year. Am definitively planing on going to Nagasaki.

Mara

Concerning the ferry time, you might email them directly. There is a contact page in Japanese but you only have to put your name, email, and question which you can do in simple English....
http://www.shikokukisen.com/contact_us/
I would think you should get a reply.

As far as time between Takamatsu and Matsuyama you have four or five days depending on travel time....did you want to stay either in Takamatsu and Matsuyama as a base or travel more? I spent a week or so and covered a lot of ground by train....

internetwiz

This doesn't help with your original question, but if you have time when you're in Fukuoka, consider taking a day trip to Okawachiyama. We contacted the Goodwill Guides in Arita, where they picked us up and drove us around. It was a truly memorable day.

Here's an article that gives some more detail: http://voyapon.com/saga-imari-wind-bell-festival/

Nywoman

Mara,
That is exactly my dilemma. Have no idea where to go or what to do. Would very much appreciate your itinerary and impressions.
Thanks

Adastra2200

Getting to your central question, there are a number of things you can see in Shikoku - it is often ignored by the tourists crowds, and while there is nothing like Niagara Falls or the Egyptian pyramids, there are some pretty nice worthwhile spots.

First for Takamatsu, one of the finest places is the Ritsurin Garden - often rated as one of Japan's best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afx-Ju52FiY

Some other possibilities include Shikoku Mura, an open air museum that will give you a glimpse of Japan from centuries ago, plus Takamatsu has its castle ruins, mountaintop Yashima temple (one of the Shikoku pilgrimage) and 2 nearby islands to explore, Ogijima and Megijima.
Leaving the city, if you have the legs for a climb, in Kotohira there is the Konpirasan Shrine, and makes for an excellent half day hike with a commanding view at the top.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ley9rVIewoQ

In Marugame, there is Marugame castle - smallish but has a nice atmosphere.
http://www.marugame-castle.jp/
And just beyond is a real hidden jewel - the Unpenji Temple.
https://goo.gl/DWjUji
This is another pilgrimage site and has some wonderful views and some rare temple scenery.

And closer to Matsuyama is Imabari, with a nice castle that's one of the few seaside castles.

Mara

I spent three nights in Takamatsu, two in Matsuyama and four in Kochi.

From Takamatsu I spent one day in Naoshima - you don't have to do that again ;-) - did sightseeing in Takamatsu, a day trip to Tokushima and another day to Kompirasan Shrine and Marugame.

In Matsuyama I visited the local sights and took a day trip to Uchiko.

I don't think you will really have enough time to visit Kochi and it's a long train ride....hope that helps....

mrwunrfl

※No more ferry to Takamatsu by this time.

That is true.

>> According to the ferry schedule there is one at 19.15

That is not true. The last ferry is at 17:00.

The 19:15 boat is not a ferry. It is a High Speed Boat

mrwunrfl

I suppose it is too late to discuss <s>talk you out of</s> that flight from Matsuyama?

mrwunrfl

Takamatsu to Kochi is a bit over two hours on a l'ex.

Kochi to Matsuyama is 4 hours with one change. On the that route are Kotohira, Marugame, and Imabari, which Adastra2200 mentioned.

someotherguy

Kochi to Matsuyama is best via Uwajima. One of the nicest rural train rides in all of Japan. Uwajima has an original castle and an, ahem, interesting shrine. Ozu is good, too.

From Kochi you can visit the Iya Valley, another best in Japan sight.

From Imabari you can take a bus along the Shimanami Kaido to the Oyazumi Shrine on Omishima Island. This is a really beautiful shrine, and it has most of the original samurai armor in Japan, including that of famous women warriors.

From Matsuyama, there's a convenient and pleasant ferry to Kure and Hiroshima.

Don't forget the Naruto whirlpools. You can see them quite well from the walkway/viewing area under the bridge.

Nywoman

Thank you all for the terrific suggestions.

Am still not convinced that I should go to Kochi. It seems that there is a lot to see and do around Matsuyama. With daytrips e.g. to Uwajima and Ozu.

mrwunrful It is not too late to discuss my flight. In the scheme of things it is easily cancelled.
What is your alternative suggestion? Since I really want to make the side trips to Saga and Karatsu that weekend am trying to save travel time.

Thanks for clarifying ferry vs speedboat.

internetwiz great suggestion Okawachiyama sound just what I would like.

Adastra hate to admit it but I have never been to Niagara falls or the Egyptian pyramids, nor have I really wanted to go there. Am planing on Shikoku Mura as well as Ritsurin Garden. I went to an open air museum outside Seoul which I enjoyed immensely.

Unpenji Temple looks stupendous as well as Marugame and the islands.

Am really excited just hope that my back heals in time. Keep your fingers crossed.

mrwunrfl

>>Am still not convinced that I should go to Kochi.
Me either, though it is possible without a reasonable amount of travel. Matsuyama is where I fell in love with Japan on my first trip. I stayed at Hotel Patio Dogo with a view of Dogo Onsen. It was a nice large room, bigger and less expensive than what I had in Tokyo.

Between Takamatsu and Matsuyama you could easily visit Okayama and/or Kurashiki. The backtracking across the Seto-Ohashi is not long and well worth it, imo. It is very scenic with views of the islands in the Seto Naikai as well as of the awesome bridge system itself.

I would at least visit Kojima for the bridge/sea viewpoint and the town has some interest, I think. There is something on the Shikoku side of the bridges at Sakaide.

Kojima is the denim capital of Japan!
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/regional/o...etoohashi.html

I crossed the Seto Ohashi at sunset and it was amazing. It was dark for almost all of the Shikoku part of the trip to Matsuyama and hope I didn't miss much scenery.

mrwunrfl

I really enjoyed the hydrofoil trip from Matsuyama to Hiroshima on my way to Fukuoka. It is a national park area and quite pretty. Missing that as well as the Seto Ohashi crossing, and the boat ride from Naoshima will be in the dark, was what prompted my comment about the flight.

But, the boat ride was a bit long and then you have to take a street car to Hiroshima station. Flying would be quick and easy, so a good option now that I think about it.

The Kyushu Bassho (grand sumo tournament) might be on when you are in Fukuoka. Great fun.

Maybe of more interest to you would be Hakata dolls. There is a shop at Hakata station and a better one in Tenjin. They are also sold in the arena during the sumo tournament.

They are beautiful and inexpensive:
https://www.google.com/search?q=haka...8EEj-3R3eIKfM:

Nywoman

Thank you all for the very excellent advice and suggestions.
As usual I realized when it was too late that I made a mistake in my scheduling. Oh well, I will get to some places and not others and that's OK.

Here is my new itinerary based on much of what you told me. The only date that I cannot change is Nov.2 since I bought an airplane ticket for that day. I realize that some of the places are very short stays but it was the best I could do.
Also I said to one poster that I would not buy a JR pass this time, but have changed my mind. I think I will just abut break even on a 21 day pass but the convenience is worth it. Will initiate as I leave Osaka.
Here is my new itinerary
Thur Oct 12 JFK Eva Airway BR 29

Fri Oct 13 Taipei
Sat Oct 14
Sun Oct 15

Mon Oct 16 Hualien
Tue Oct 17

Wed Oct 18 Taipei

Thur Oct 19 Osaka Jetstar 721 12.40-16.30
Sat Oct 21 Aquarium
Castle open air museum
Sat Oct 21 Kyoto
Sun Oct 22 Parade from Palace
Mon Oct 23 Hikone
Tues Oct 24 Miho Museum
Wed Oct 25 Palace
Thur Oct 26
Thur Oct 26 Naoshima
Fri Oct 27
Sat Oct 28 17.00-18.05 Chichu Art Museum nightshow

Sat Oct 28 Takamatsu
Sun Oct 29
Mon Oct 30 Tokushima
Tue Oct 31
Wed Nov 1 Matsuyama
Thur Nov 2 Fly to Fukuoka
Thurs Nov 2 Fukuoka
Fri Nov 3 Fukuoka Karatsu Midori
Sat Nov 4 Fukuoka Saga Balloon Festival
Sun Nov 5 Fukuoka Yubuko Market
Mon Nov 6 Fukuoka Yanagawa
Tues Nov 7 Fukuoka Nanzoin Temple
Wedn Nov 8 Fukuoka
Thur Nov 9 Nagasaki Arita
Fri Nov 10 Nagasaki Huis Ten Bosch
Sat Nov 11 Nagasaki
Sun Nov 12 Nagasaki
Mond Nov 13 Fukuoka-Taiwan

Of course feel free to comment.

mrwunrfl

>>I think I will just abut break even on a 21 day pass
Why do you think that is true? I don't think it is. Anyway, your plan to use it when you leave Osaka means that it would not be valid for the trip from Nagasaki to Fukuoka.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_03.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_shikoku.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_05.html

6,300 Kansai, 4 days
9,000 Shikoku, 3 days
10,000 Kyushu, 5 days
8,600 ticket for Kyoto to Uno (for boat to Naoshima)
======
33,600

Considering that the 21-day pass costs 59,350, I would say that the extra $200+ is a high price for the convenience.

mrwunrfl

Actually, the Kansai Area Pass is overkill too. The cost of the 4-day pass is probably higher than the cost of all of your travel from the 19th thru the 26th.

The Shikoku pass does provide savings and convenience. And it includes reserved seats when available. The 3-day pass would be for the 30th to the 1st. But a 4- or 5-day pass would give you a lot of flexibility for only 900 or 1500 more.

The Northern Kyushu pass would also give good savings and convenience.

Nywoman

Mrwunrful,
You truly are wonderful I have been sitting with Hyperdia and tried to figure it out. This makes a lot of sense. Do I buy them in Japan or in NYC?