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1 Week Shikoku Itinerary

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morning-iya-valley

The smallest and least visited of Japan’s 4 main islands, Shikoku is home to spectacular scenery and gorgeous temples. We visited as part of a 1 month trip to Japan where we also visited Kyushu, Tokyo, Nikko and Kamakura. With this 1 week Shikoku itinerary, you will see a decent chunk of the eastern portion of the island, however for western Shikoku you would need at least another week. A point to bear in mind for Shikoku is that you really need to hire a car to get the most out of this beautiful island. A JR pass can get around the main cities like Tokushima, Takamatsu, Matsuyama and Kochi. However travel to more rural areas, such as the Iya valley is very tricky. We have an article on renting a car in Shikoku, as well as articles on renting a car in Kyushu and Hokkaido. We used the Japanese…

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In Japan

Renting a car in Shikoku

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sunset-yashima-takamatsu

The smallest of Japan’s four main islands, Shikoku is blessed with a stunning mountainous interior, long coastal roads and stunning temples. However, it is also the least visited meaning it’s very easy to get off the beaten track. As with Hokkaido and Kyushu, the best way to get around is by car. The JR network in Shikoku has good coverage and will get you to the island’s major cities. However, it has its limitations, especially in the Iya Valley and the coastal regions. Renting a car in Shikoku is easy and convenient with rental outlets at most airports and major cities. Getting there and away: Shikoku is not exactly a major international air destination, as a result, there’s a good chance you will be arriving here by train, plane or boat from another part of Japan. Both JAL and ANA offer excellent internal flight deals for tourists. You can find…

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2 Weeks in Kyushu – A suggested itinerary

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Sunset Yufuin

2 Weeks in Kyushu The most south-westerly of Japan’s 4 main islands, Kyushu is certainly off the beaten track and barely makes it onto the radar of many travellers and hopefully, it will stay that way. With a rugged coastline and mountainous centre, onsens galore and some of the best food in Japan, Kyushu is truly one of Japan’s highlights. Getting to Kyushu Kyushu’s main airport hub is in the northern city of Fukuoka. With good connections from across Asia, especially from China, South Korea and Taiwan, Kyushu is easily accessible for those in East Asia. Further afield and the number of direct flights drops dramatically. From further afield you will most likely fly through Seoul or Tokyo en route to Fukuoka. Getting around Kyushu The JR network here is pretty good with excellent connections between Kyushu’s major cities. However, to really explore the best bits of Kyushu is with…

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In Japan

How to rent a car in Japan – Hokkaido Edition

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Renting a car in Hokkaido Renting a car in Hokkaido is without a doubt the best way to see, travel and experience this magical landscape. Hokkaido is truly unique, and is absolutely one of the most beautiful places we have ever been. This article is focused on the practicalities and necessities for renting a car in Hokkaido. However we have an article about visiting the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks in eastern Hokkaido as well as a bunch of our favourite photos from our 2 week road trip through Japan’s most northern island. We have an additional article on renting a car and driving in Kyushu, as there are some key differences between renting here and renting in Hokkaido. However the rules and required documents are the same. We also have articles on eating in Japan and budgeting when travelling Japan to help you plan the perfect trip to the…

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In Japan

Renting a car in Kyushu – Your complete guide

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Stunning views of Sakurajima at sunset

Renting a car in Japan – Kyushu edition We are huge fans of Japan. After spending a month there in October 2017 we returned again in July 2018, renting a car in Kyushu. Back to Japan Our first trip saw us dividing our time between Hokkaido and Japan’s most famous tourist trail winding from Hiroshima up to Tokyo. This time we headed to Kyushu and Shikoku before flying back to Beijing from Tokyo. No JR passes this time as we were renting a car in both Kyushu and Shikoku and using rail passes to explore some of the areas around Tokyo, including Nikko and Kamakura. We have another post on renting a car in Japan that’s more focused on renting a car in Hokkaido, Japan’s most northerly island. Whilst there are definite similarities there are certainly some unique things to bear in mind when renting a car in Kyushu or…

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Is Japan expensive? Making your money go further

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Sake Jars at the Meiji Shrine

Is Japan really that expensive? Japan has had a reputation as being expensive for a very long time, people paying hundreds of dollars for a piece of Kobe beef or a sliver of the finest bluefin tuna. Prices of hotels can be among some of the most expensive in the world. Public travel, whilst incredibly reliable can also make your eyes water. Well, some of this is true and some of it is a little more than a rumour that we have all perpetuated. Many people are put off traveling in Japan for a long period of time because they believe it’s so expensive. This isn’t always the case. We spent two months in Japan and it is comfortably cheaper than Australia, New Zealand, Western Europe and in some cases in is even cheaper than China! It sounds crazy, but here are a few really simple tips that could save…

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Visiting Nikko from Tokyo

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Iemitsu-Mausoleum-Taiyuinbyo

Visiting the World Heritage Site of Nikko Nikko is located in Tochigi prefecture in central Japan and is an easy trip from Tokyo. A world heritage site filled with temples, stunning scenery and onsen’s, it’s an excellent example of Japans Edo past. There is a lot to do in the area however things are quite spread out. For example the temples of Nikko are located centrally, very close to Nikko Tobu train station. The vast majority of onsens are a further train ride away. Further way still are the areas around national park areas dominated by the gorgeous looking Lake Chuzenji. If you are travelling on a 2 day pass you are likely going to have to drop one of the above three options. Since we only had 2 days we decided to drop the Lake Chuzenji area and focus on the temples and onsens. Also do bear in mind…

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What to do in Tokyo

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Shibuya Crossing Tokyo

Welcome to Tokyo What can you say about Tokyo? For many Tokyo is the highlight of any visit to Japan; food, history, museums, culture and plenty of quirky things you’ll only find in the land of the rising sun. There is a lot to see and do in Tokyo, certainly plenty more to see than what’s listed below. However one of the joys of Tokyo is simply walking around and exploring. We have an article on budgeting in Japan, giving you some really helpful tips on making your money go further and explaining why Japan isn’t as expensive as many people think! Getting there and away Tokyo is served by two huge airports; Narita and Haneda. Haneda is closer to the city centre and can be reached via a combination of toei, subway and JR lines. Narita is much, much further away. You have a choice of the skyline or…

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What to do in Osaka, Nara and Himeji

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Temple at Sunset in Nara

Exploring Kansai As Japan’s second largest city Osaka is an excellent place to base yourself and explore the surrounding area. Although Kansai is dominated by Kyoto there is still plenty to see and do around Osaka most notably Nara and Himeji. The big highlight being Nara. One of Japan’s ancient the city is most famous for is gorgeous temples and hordes of friendly, but very hungry deer. Below we have guides for Osaka, Nara and Himeji, covering transport, eating and sleeping as well as few awesome things to see and do. Nara and Himeji make excellent day trips from Osaka, and in truth a day is enough for each location. You can obviously stay longer and explore some of the more hidden gems, but most people don’t have that much time. We have a detailed guide on budgeting and saving money in Japan. This includes a section on JR passes…

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What to do in Hiroshima and Miyajima

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A-Bomb Dome Hiroshima

Welcome to Hiroshima and Miyajima Hiroshima and Miyajima go together like sushi and wasabi. Most people that visit Hiroshima will combine it with a visit to the beautiful island of Miyajima. Most people will stay in Hiroshima and visit Miyajima as a day trip. There are hotels and guesthouses on Miyajima, however they are very expensive, and you it is possible to see everything in a day. Hiroshima is very well connected to the rest of Japan with direct trains from Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka. Most people are will come by train, and we have a handy section on JR passes in our article on budgeting in Japan. However if like us you flew in, we flew down from Sapporo having spent two weeks in beautiful Hokkaido, do be aware that the airport is a 40 minute bus trip from Hiroshima. Buses are very regular and they will drop you…

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Visiting the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks

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Sunset over Lake Kussharo

Two of Hokkaido’s most beautiful National Parks Hokkaido is Japans last wilderness, here you will find dramatic mountain peaks, rugged coastline and maybe the odd higuma (brown bear). Very few people make it this far north, which is a blessing for those that do. Offering some of Japan’s most spectacular scenery the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks are well worth the time and effort. Although this article is full of great photos, we have another article of photos from Hokkaido. Getting There and Getting Around Renting a car is the best way to get around Hokkaido. The JR network, whilst being extremely reliable does not cover the entire island. Also public transport in and around the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks is very limited. The size of both National Parks also contributes to the necessity of a car. We have an article on renting a car in Japan with all…

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What to do in Kyoto

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Inari Shrine, Kyoto

Welcome to Kyoto Another of Japan’s ancient capitals. Blessed with some of the countries most stunning temples, kimono wearing locals and tourists and wonderful cuisine, it is no wonder that Kyoto is a popular place for anyone visiting or living in Japan. Tourist numbers to Kyoto are growing at an ever increasing rate. As a result this can feel like the city is swamped by visitors. Sadly the large numbers of tourists are causing problems. Follow the customs and rules according to the signs that are displayed and if you’re not sure ask. Sadly when we visited we saw a lot of tourists unable or unwilling to do this. A crying shame in one of Japan’s most beautiful cities. We have a “know before you go” article on Japan, with a few additional tips on Kyoto for you to check out! Getting There and Away Kyoto is well serviced by…

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