JR Pass

Hi,
Your plans are more than 14 days, and you make a 21 day pass pay off and then some, so the 21 day pass is the obvious choice.

That said, there are a few irregularities. Visiting Yamaguchi from Osaka is severely backtracking and unnecessary. It would be better to see it on your way from Kyushu up to Osaka. If you want to see the Akiyoshido Cave from Yamaguchi Stn, you can also use your pass for the JR bus going there. If you want to see Iwakuni, you can take the bullet train to Shin-Iwakuni Stn.

For seeing Koyasan, you should look at getting a Koyasan World Heritage Ticket. For Beppu, Aso, and Takachiho, they are really too far apart in transport to see from a single base. What you could do is leave from Nobeoka in the morning by bus to Takachiho, see it in a day, then get to Aso for the night. The next day, see Aso, then get to Beppu for the night. If you do go to Kitakyushu (Kokura), be sure to see Sarakurayama which has one of the best night views over the city in Japan.

For Nikko, you could use your JR Pass for its first day and still end up in Osaka. For Kamakura, look into a Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass, and for the Fuji area, try one of the Odakyu passes.

Good luck.

Toraneko-san,

Firstable many thanks for your advice.

Do you think à Day is enough to see Akyoshido Cave and Iwakuni( bridge) on my way from Kyushu to Osaka?

I don't understand you said that using m'y JRPass for its first day for Nikko and still end up un Osaka? Does it mean 4 days in Osaka, the tickets for local transport are better?

Toraneko-san,

Sorry I am not finishing my texte!

Thank you un advance for your patience about my ignorance!

Best Regards,

Hoa

Hi,
As I said, the 21 day pass works best for you, although you will be in Japan for more than 21 days. The more long distance travel you can pack into the 21 days (especially by bullet train), the more savings you will get. You don't have to start your pass when you leave Tokyo for Nagoya - you have the time to start it sooner, and by using the JR Pass for going to Nikko, you can add about ¥10,000 in savings.

You can definitely see both the Akyoshido Cave and Iwakuni in a day with an early morning start. Neither takes that long - the question is how much, if any, hiking you'd like to do in the Akiyoshidai karst area. You could spend hours there hiking if you like. If it's not your thing, you can just skip the hike.

Toraneko-san,

Please forgive me, still asking you many questions! I have a hard time to finalize my last 5 days( 20-25/10) on my itinerary!!!

I look JRMap and I see the Hohi Line going directly from Kumamoto to Aso but when I use Hyperdia , it shows many stops, Kokura,Oita,Bung...,Aso???

I think to skip Beppu( it seems commercial to me?!) I am already planning to visit Unzen and Kagoshima.

After visiting Aso, on the way to Osaka, Do you think I have enough time to stop at Yamaguchi station to see Akyoshido Cave and Iwakuni?

Many thanks for your patience .

Hoa

Hi,
Well, the Hyperdia info is messed up for that line because of the earthquake last year. There are buses that will take you across the section of tracks currently under repair. As I said, you could see both the Akyoshido Cave and Iwakuni in a day, but adding Aso into it too? Quite doubtful, unless you rushed through everything and then you wouldn't really enjoy any of them. Maybe if you were traveling in June with a few more hours of daylight. But honestly, I wouldn't attempt it in October. Besides, there is still too much damage - you can't get to the Aso crater because of active gas emissions, and Aso Shrine was also significantly damaged. You can however get a look at what you'd miss at Mt. Aso.

If you are going to see Unzen and Kagoshima, you could skip Beppu - it has some good sights, but nothing overwhelmingly a must-see.

Toraneko-san,

Tha nk you very very much for your reply.

I am using Hyperdia and trying many options for my itinerary. By now Hyperdia does not show me the route from Aso to Kokura octobre 22nd????

I am thinking to skip Aso? Leaving Kagoshima by the coast, staying at Nobeoka for 1 night. Taking bus to see Takachiho, go back to Nobeoka and go to Kokura for 1 night . Is it doable or better to stay 2 Nights un Nobeoka?

Leaving Nobeoka 10/21 or 10/22 go to Osaka and make à stop to see Akyoshido Cave and Iwakuni? Leaving Japan for Québec,Canada on 10/ 25th on the afternoon.

I am sorry still to bother you with many questions. I am 65 years old and not exactly an adventurer so I am only trying to plan my trip in advance.

Best Regards,

Hoa

Hi,
I get the same error you do with hyperdia in October. I don't know why; maybe they haven't updated their database for that route yet. An alternative site is Jorudan and it doesn't give any error.
I don't see any point staying in Nobeoka 2 nights unless there's something there you really want to see. You could make it from there to Yamaguchi for Akiyoshido with an early morning start, but if you can, it would be easier for you to stay somewhere along the way - like Beppu, Fukuoka, or Shimonoseki.

Bon voyage.

Toraneko-san,

Please let me know if I take à late train in the evening since I get to the destination in the morning. Can I sleep on the train and Do I have to reserve a seat?

Many thanks,

Hoa

Hi,
There are no night trains for the route you're speaking of.

Torenako-san

Thanks for your reply.

Best Regards,

Hoa