mrwunrfl

It's only 4 hours from Tokyo via Toyama to Takayama and 3.5 from there to Kyoto via Nagoya. Or it is 3.75 hours from Takayama to Kyoto with no change of trains. That compares with 2.5 hours from Tokyo to Kyoto.

That extra 5-ish hours would be a bit much if your stay in Takayama was just one night. It is worth the time with a 3-night stay.

And it would be a nice trip on a limited express train. The northern part, from Toyama to Takayama is supposed to be quite scenic (i haven't done that). A good bit of the southern part, heading to Kyoto, winds along a river in a narrow mountain valley and is definitely enjoyable.

Of course, 3 or 4 nights in northern Kyushu could be well spent. With that much time, you sh/would want to get out beyond Fukuoka. That will take some travel time. You can end up saving 5 hours of train time by skipping Takayama and end up spending that time in Kyushu.

plambers

and if i eliminated takayama and used the time in kyushu, i could use the sanin sanyo n kyushu pass. so i could have 4 nights to spend in kyushu. where would you recommend? Yufuin looks nice and similiar to Takayama and chance for an osnen visit but it looks like it will take a long time to get there...thanks again.

mrwunrfl

>> and if i eliminated takayama and used the time in kyushu, i could use the sanin sanyo n kyushu pass.
yeah, so what? (i don't mean that in a harsh way)

Hiroshima to Yufuin 08:50 → 12:27 would be pretty easy. shinkansen to Hakata and then a nice L'Ex
Yufuin is an hour west of Oita where you can change trains and head to Beppu. Or head to Aso and Kumamoto. That is pretty country.

find Oita on the map here
JR Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass (japan-guide.com)

You could take this train from Beppu or Oita:
ASO BOY!｜JR KYUSHU RAILWAY COMPANY

mrwunrfl

>> >> and if i eliminated takayama and used the time in kyushu, i could use the sanin sanyo n kyushu pass.
My first thought on this was that it is not a great idea to plan a trip to a region that you don't know much about (Kyushu) based on the availability of a rail pass, especially if you are not sure the pass will offer any savings. Given the fact that you are not sure where you would go means that you haven't worked out the fares or travel times, my question was along the lines of "so what good will the pass do for you".

You already had a good plan for Takayama. It was a good time to go and three nights was a good length of stay. It costs a bit more time to get there, but at the benefit of being in a town in a different region (Hida, Japan Alps) that is quite different from the rest of your trip.

Tokyo and Kyoto are in different regions of Japan. Kyoto is more tourist-oriented, but they are both big cities. Its almost like there is just one big urban area from Tokyo all the way to Osaka, Kobe.

Hiroshima and Fukuoka are cities, not towns, but neither is part of any megalopolis.

Kyushu, beyond Fukuoka, is also a different region that is well worth exploring. The fact that there are so many scenic trains there is a clue.

I have my doubts that Yufuin has as much to offer as Takayama for a three-night stay. I will find out at the end of October. Right now, my plan is to stay less than 24 hours.

(having written the following, it occurs to me that maybe I should have suggested Nagasaki first)

Takeo Onsen is a 62 minute ride on a limited express train from Hakata (Fukuoka). It is in Saga prefecture where there are towns/village that are famous for pottery. I don't have a particular interest in pottery, but it is beautiful to see and it is pretty cool to visit a place that is all about an art/craft and is very much part of the way of life in the town. This is a low-key, easy experience, and not like visiting World Heritage site. Which means that Saga prefecture is off the well-beaten foreign tourist path. Am planning a two-night stay in Ureshino Onsen which 6 min by shinkansen from Takeo Onsen.

(take a look at the map in the first link below to see where everything is in western Kyushu)
Takeo Onsen Travel Guide - What to do around the Takeo hot springs (japan-guide.com)
Arita and Imari Travel Guide - What to do around Arita (japan-guide.com)
Okawachiyama Village - Arita and Imari Travel (japan-guide.com)

There are two scenic trains that use Takeo Onsen station. I think you can take both on a daytrip or take one and use the shinkansen (e.g. Takeo to Isahaya on the scenic train and then shinkansen back to Takeo).
TWO STARS 4047｜JR KYUSHU RAILWAY COMPANY

Nagasaki is an attractive city with a few points of interest. It has an interesting history as it was open to foreign trade before the rest of Japan. Two nights there would be good. Or three nights or one. It is just under two hours from Hakata by L'ex to Takeo Onsen and then shinkansen. I definitely would stop at Takeo Onsen for a few hours on the way to have lunch and go for a soak.
Nagasaki Travel Guide - What to do in Nagasaki City (japan-guide.com)'

The limited express train from Hakata to Takeo Onsen is called Midori (I have not been on that train). If the Kamome Limited Express still runs that route (used to go all the way to Nagasaki) then I would want to ride it again, very comfy leather-ish seats and wood floors (maybe Midori uses the same train cars, faik)

plambers

Thanks for this but we will stick with Takayama and initial plan. I am really looking forward to the onsen experience and the Satoyama Hida bike experience.

hewholovestravel

That sounds like a fantastic choice. Takayama offers a unique and enriching cultural experience, and the combination of onsen relaxation and outdoor exploration will surely create wonderful memories.

plambers

oh thanks for this. Japan seems like such a fantastic place and there are so many difficult choices to make!

shelemm

If and when you go to Korea, please try to get out of cities for at least a little while. There are mountains and coastline right in Busan, and there are mountains near Seoul accessible via metro, though even that takes some time. Those are long metro rides.

hewholovestravel

I agree. Lots of hidden gems to explore in South Korea other than the city's attractions.

plambers

We will have 3 nights Busan and 5 in Seoul with a day trip to DMZ. Would love suggestions for hidden gems. Thanks

TravelSam

I would recommend skipping the DMZ and experiencing more of Seoul, such as hiking in Bukhansan National Park.

plambers

I have looked at that. We won't have a car-would you still recommend?

shelemm

The reason to go to Bukhansan is to hike, that's the most important thing to know.

We took metro to the dobongsan station, and from there it is easy enough to walk into the park. At the entrance, there is an information center, just as at all the entrances.

In Korea, where the cities end, the mountains begin. But that does not mean it is a short metro ride. So you just have to realize that it is an excursion that will take most of the day.

Buk = North. So this is the BIG mountain just north of Seoul, but there is also a big mountain just south, and that's where Namhansanseoeng is. Nam = South. San = mountain, Sa = Temple, BTW. There is a 'palace' on top of the mountainn, but the only thing that remains are some gates and a meandering wall that is a stand-in for the Great Wall of China. Just as at Bukhansan there are also temples galore.

How worth it is to you, you'll have to be the judge. Link:

https://english.knps.or.kr/Knp/Bukha...=1&Submenu=Npp

shelemm

To add: I had no interest in visiting the DMZ, and I didn't. I can already imagine what it's like without going there, but everyone is different.

If I were to suggest a hike, it would probably be in Busan, the hike to Seokbulsa.

Are you planning on bringing any kind of hiking footwear with you?

plambers

We'd have sneakers. Not hiking boots.

shelemm

I don't go hiking in sneakers, though I do see some people do that.

With sneakers, you could check out Inwangsan Peak, which is right in Seoul. Would be fairly easy to got to and is like climbing a very tall staircase.

Start of climb in Google Maps:

https://tinyurl.com/w4hp32ym