After staying two nights in Naoshima, is it possible to take a ferry over to Takamatsu and then the train ("Marineliner"?) over the Seto Bridges to Fukuoka in time to rent a car to Kurokawa Onsen for a two night stay? If not, can someone advise what I can do that those two nights before I must be in Fukuoka? What about staying in Okayma or Kurashiki? I'm not excited about seeing Hiroshima again.

The only one of these places that I stayed in was Kurashiki, which I found charming. I wouldn't say there is a lot to see there, but I definitely enjoyed roaming around the canal district, visiting the Ohashi house, and seeing the art and gardens of the Ohara Museum. I stopped briefly in Okayama to see Korakuen, and enjoyed that, too (but not as much as I enjoyed Kenrokuen in Kanazawa). Hope that helps!

We stayed at Okayama the night before going to Naoshima & on the day we stayed there visited Kenakuen and Kurashiki. I agree with all kja says about Kurashiki too.
Have you looked at Takamatsu - I haven't been there, but it looks interesting to explore, in fact the whole island does.
Outside of Okayama its possible to do the Kibi Plain (again I have only read about it - not done it) - there is a section in Lonely Planet on it & see
http://www.gonomad.com/transports/05..._in_japan.html I think it looks really nice & not too hard!
Hope this is helpful for ideas.

Thanks for your imput. Janev, I read the article on the "soft" bike ride in the Kibi Plain and tried to picture my accident prone husband (not to mention of course my broken foot and wrist all this year alone)and quickly decided against that activity. I've read about Takamatsu and aside from the onsen and park, I can't see anything that would make me want to stay the night. I do wish I could get some idea of approximately how long it would take to get from Naoshima to Takamatsu, over the Seto bridges by train to Fukuoka and then drive to Kurokawa.

this page gives some time travel info to and from Takamatsu...

also some things to do there

http://www.jnto.go.jp./eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-607.pdf

Aloha!

We drove from Fukuoka to Kurokowa - I think this took about 90 mins (although we did make a couple of wrong turns getting used to sat nav & used the expressway toll road). It was quicker than I had anticipated!
This thread details some of the journey around the island & Seto Bridge
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34863122
The ferry from Naoshima to Takamatsu if 50 mins & from what I have read is very near to Takamatsu station.
http://www.symboltower.com/public/ha...amatsu_map.pdf & this is backed up by the Benesse site - its a 5 min walk to the ferry
http://www.naoshima-is.co.jp/english/access/index.html
It is then possible to work out the rest on hyperdia I think.
If you don't see anything else you like around Takamatsu then an alternative would be to maybe take a look at the garden there & then go onto Beppu for a night then to Fukuoka.

Take a look at http://www.wel-shikoku.gr.jp/eng/t_osaka/top.htm - you may find other ideas here?

By piecing together several sources, I've come up with a schedule which will get me into Hakata around noon (from Naoshima via ferry and train) which should give me ample time to rent a car and get to Kurokawa Onsen in time to relax there for a couple of days. Many thanks for all you help!