Hi there I plan to meet my girlfriend in Osaka on the 19th of September and have worked out a travel plan for us. It would be wonderful to get your advice on anything including. time spent in one location, places to stay and favourite eating locations and any other worldy advice that you to offer up. As I am on a working holiday visa i cannot use a JR pass which would save me alot of money. Instead I am taking the flight option with JAL for 12,000 yen a flight, plus travelling by train or bus short distances.

Day 1- Osaka

Day 2 Osaka catch train to Wakayama then onto Koya-san, overnight at Koya san

Day 3 Leave Koya san and head by train to Kyoto.

Day 4 Base ourselves in Kyoto and do day trip to Himeji, o/n in Kyoto

Day 5 Kyoto

Day 6 Kyoto leave afternoon/evening for Hiroshima

Day7 Hiroshima

Day8 Miyajima ( overnight at Miyajima)

Day 9 Hiroshima fly to Okinawa ( Naha)

Day 10 Okinawa ( Naha)

Day 11 Okinawa fly to Kagoshima catch boat to Yakushima

Day 12 Yakushima

Day 13 Leave Yakushima back to Kagoshima

Day 14 Kagoshima (climb Sakura-jima)

Day 15 Beppu

Day 16 Beppu

Day 17 Fukuoka

Day 18 Fukuoka (fly back to Osaka)

For someone that has done this sort of itinerary do you believe that it would feel too rushed?? I am looking at seeing as much as possible but also looking to relax and spend some quality time in each location....

Thanks for your feedback

Adam

Yes, I have done that sort of itinerary. I don't know if you would feel if it was rushed.

You could visit Himeji-jo enroute from Kyoto to Hiroshima or Miyajima, you don't have to return to Kyoto.

I think it is rushed for Okinawa. That is a good bit of traveling for one day.

I wouldn't fly out of Hiroshima. The airport is a bit of a trip outside of the city, a bit of a PITA. I think it would be better to fly from Osaka to Naha the fly back to Kagoshima. If Yakushima is one of those islands down by Ibusuki then I would consider dropping that. You could add Kumamoto, or maybe you could climb Mt Aso. Then visit the other places: Beppu, Fukuoka, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Himeji.

Did you study the descriptions at japan-guide of the various rail passes that you might use?

That is, you will be doing a good bit of traveling on Days 9 and 11 for one day in Okinawa.

I just LOVED the inland sea, could you fit an ferry into your schedule instead of flying?

I also adored Beppu, do try the sand bath.

Thanks mrwunrfl for your advice. I am now planning on not going to Okinawa, it's too far and there really is not much to do of interest. I will fly to Kagoshima instead, and then spend more time in Yakushima. Have you been to Yakushima? If you have what did you think? Moxie I will catch a ferry from Kagoshima to Yakushima.

In relation to Rail passes I am not eligible to purchase one as I have a Working Holiday Visa which really sucks.

My girfriend could get one, just hard to know what to do in relation to internal travel. I know there are buses but they take such along time.

Hi mrwunrfl

When you say that Hiroshima airport is a PITA how far is it from the city?? How would it save time or money to go back to Osaka?? Now that I am not going to Okinawa and flying to Kagoshima instead?

Looking forward to your reply

You could fly from Osaka to Kagoshima and then take the train back, stopping at all of the spots that interest you.

I suggested reading about rail passes at japan-guide dot com knowing that you will not be there on a tourist visa. There are some passes that you can use (but might not want to). The Sanyo Area Pass is one that you could use.