12 days of slow travel, family moments, and quiet places
Itinerary for 12 Days in Japan: Chugoku, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Kansai
Plan of the trip
| Day 1 — Arrival in Osaka & First Onsen Night Route: Kansai Airport → Fushio Kaku onsen ryokan | Day 7 — Yufuin to Mount Aso Route: Yufuin → Mount Aso → a cabin in Hisaishi, Minamiaso |
| Day 2 — Kobe & Onomichi Route: Fushio Kaku Onsen → Kobe → Engyoji Temple → Onomichi | Day 8 — Takachiho Gorge & Cape Hyuga (Kyushu) Route: Takachiho Gorge → Amaterasu Railway → Amanoyasukawara Cave → Cape Hyuga |
| Day 3 — Onomichi, Cat Alley & Miyajima Route: Onomichi → Miyajimaguchi → Itsukushima Island → Mine | Day 9 — From Kyushu to Shikoku Route: Miyazaki → Ferry to Shikoku → Ozu |
| Day 4 — Akiyoshidō Cave & Crossing to Kyushu Route: Mine → Akiyoshidō Cave → Sugao no Taki Waterfall → Asakura | Day 10 — Ozu to Takamatsu Route: Ozu → Garyu Sanso → Minetopia Besshi → Takamatsu |
| Day 5 — Asakura, Hita & Beppu Route: Asakura → Akizuki Castle Ruins → Hita → Bungo Mori | Day 11 — Awaji Island & Kobe Route: Takamatsu → Awaji Island → Kobe |
| Day 6 — Beppu’s Hells & Yufuin Route: Beppu → Yufuin | Day 12 — Nara Park Route: Kobe → Nara |
Day 1 — Arrival in Osaka & First Onsen Night
Route: Kansai Airport → Fushio Kaku onsen ryokan
We arrived in Osaka late at night after a long journey from Dubai. We took a flight via Singapore with Singapore Airlines. I still smile thinking about the small detail that felt so typically Japanese — you can’t fill out your form in any color other than blue or black. After clearing immigration, we picked up our Ninja WiFi SIM card, rented a Toyota car, and drove to a quiet mountain ryokan — Fushio Kaku Onsen.
The room had tatami floors and an outdoor onsen on the balcony, steaming in the cold night. Wrapped in yukatas, we had dinner prepared by an elderly chef downstairs in the cafe— small dishes arranged beautifully.
Day 2 — Kobe & Onomichi
Route: Fushio Kaku Onsen → Kobe → Engyoji Temple → Onomichi
After a traditional Japanese breakfast, we visited family in Kobe and shared stories before driving toward Engyoji Temple. It’s reached by a ropeway and hidden in the forest. It was a really nice walk with almost nobody around.
By evening, we arrived in Onomichi town, staying in a 100-year-old wooden house with sliding doors and creaking floors. Dinner was simple — Onomichi ramen and gyoza in a local shop. We visited a Lawson convenience store and bought different Japanese snacks and sweet for breakfast.
Day 3 — Onomichi, Cat Alley & Miyajima
Route: Onomichi → Miyajimaguchi→ Itsukushima Island → Mine
Morning in Onomichi feels like a film — soft light, old houses on hills, and cats stretching on stone paths. We climbed to Senkoji Park, walked along Cat Alley, and admired tiny temples and handwritten notes pinned on walls.
Later, we drove to Miyajimaguchi, took the ferry to Itsukushima Island, and walked along the beach at low tide to see the floating Torii Gate up close.
That night we stayed in a cozy guesthouse in Mine, sharing dinner with locals. It turned into my first long Japanese conversation.
Itsukushima Island
Day 4 — Akiyoshidō Cave & Crossing to Kyushu
Route: Mine → Akiyoshido Cave → Sugao no Taki Waterfall → Asakura
We spent the morning exploring Akiyoshidō Cave, one of Japan’s largest limestone caves. Then we stopped by the clear blue Beppu Benten Pond nearby and Sugao no Taki Waterfall after crossing the bridge to Kyushu island.
We spent the night in Asakura, in an old Japanese home in a quite neighborhood. The rain was falling outside and it was a good excuse to spend the evening at home.
Day 5 — Asakura, Hita & Beppu
Route: Asakura → Akizuki Castle Ruins → Hita → Bungo Mori Roundhouse → Beppu
We started the day at the Akizuki Castle Ruins, surrounded by early cherry blossoms. Then we drove to Hita, a charming town with canals and wooden houses that look unchanged for decades. We visited the Bungo Mori Roundhouse, a train museum featured in Suzume, which I loved.
By evening, we reached Beppu, famous for its hot springs. After dinner in a sushi cafe, we booked a private family onsen to enjoy the evening together.
Day 6 — Beppu’s Hells & Yufuin
Route: Beppu → Yufuin
Morning visits to the Hells of Beppu (Jigoku) felt surreal — steaming blue and red pools surrounded by palms and cherry trees. After lunch, we drove to Yufuin, a small mountain town full of cafés, handmade shops, and onsens.
We stayed in a ryokan with an old-fashioned charm. It had its on private stone onsen.
Day 7 — Yufuin to Mount Aso
Route: Yufuin → Mount Aso→ a cabin in Hisaishi, Minamiaso
After breakfast, we visited the Yufuin Floral Village and Retro Museum, then continued toward Mount Aso, Japan’s largest active volcano. The landscapes changed into wide open plains and smoky peaks. When a siren suddenly went off, we realized how alive this mountain still is.
Our stay that night was in a tiny cabin surrounded by mountains. A very unique experience inded.
Day 8 – Takachiho Gorge & Cape Hyuga (Kyushu)
Route: Takachiho Gorge → Amaterasu Railway → Amanoyasukawara Cave → Cape Hyuga
We woke up to 1°C and frost outside our little cottage — thankful for our warm jackets.
At Takachiho Gorge, we missed the boats (book online in advance!) but enjoyed a peaceful walk through the canyon. The Amaterasu Railway offered an open-air ride over Japan’s highest train bridge — complete with bubbles and mountain views.
Then, we visited the sacred Amanoyasukawara Cave, where thousands of stones are stacked as prayers to the sun goddess.
We ended the day at Cape Hyuga, watching the Pacific sunset before staying overnight in a cozy wooden cabin.
Day 9 – From Kyushu to Shikoku
Route: Miyazaki → Ferry to Shikoku → Ozu
A rainy morning and a small adventure with ferry tickets — always double-check your payment and bring cash! The one-hour ferry ride connected us from Kyushu to Shikoku, where cherry trees lined the roads and even the highway played music.
We stopped at a beautiful playground under blooming sakura, then reached Ozu, often called the Little Kyoto of Iyo. We visited Ozu Castle and stayed in a traditional inn — one of our favorite stays of the trip.
Day 10 – Ozu to Takamatsu
Route: Ozu → Garyu Sanso → Minetopia Besshi → Takamatsu
After a traditional Japanese breakfast, we visited Garyu Sanso, a serene riverside villa with Kyoto-style architecture. Then we explored Minetopia Besshi, an old mining town turned theme park.
By evening, we reached Takamatsu, where the cherry blossoms glowed under paper lanterns — our first real hanami celebration among locals.
Day 11 – Awaji Island & Kobe
Route: Takamatsu → Awaji Island → Kobe
We stopped at Naruto Mountain Lookout, the Uzu no Oka Onaruto Bridge Museum, and Awaji Hanasajiki flower fields — famous for their endless blooms and sweet Awaji onions.
Later, we hiked to Kaikyo Observatory, where a rainbow appeared just after the rain.
That evening, we reached Kobe, reunited with family, and enjoyed sushi at home — the calmest evening of the trip.
Day 12 – Nara Park
Route: Kobe → Nara
We spent the day with gentle deer and blooming cherry trees at Nara Park. Lunch was at a small udon café by the lake, where the girls fed deer crackers.
Our hotel overlooked the park, with tatami floors and tea served at check-in — peaceful and authentic, just like old Japan.
Day 13 – Goodbye, Japan
Route: Nara → Kansai Airport
We woke up early for one last walk in Nara before the crowds arrived.
We visited Tōdai-ji Temple, where our family squeezed through the “Buddha’s nostril” for good luck.
After that, it was time to drive to the airport for our flight to Singapore.
Japan once again felt like home — kind people, beautiful order, and quiet magic in every detail. It’s a country that truly opens your heart.
This trip reminded me of what I love most — quiet places, real connections, and the beauty of ordinary days. It wasn’t about ticking places off a list, but about noticing how light falls on a wooden table, how people bow when they say thank you, how every moment can be a story.
Happy little things 