Japan 16 Nights - Fukuoka to Tokyo via Setouchi, Kinosaki & Kanazawa - May 2027

Kushida Shrine

Fukuoka's most famous shrine, home of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival floats.

Canal City Hakata

Waterfront shopping and entertainment complex with a fountain show.

Nakasu Yatai (Food Stalls)

Riverside open-air food stalls (yatai), best at night for ramen, oden and beer.

Pokemon Center Fukuoka

Pokemon Center near Hakata Station.

Nanzoin Temple

Home to one of the world's largest reclining bronze Buddha statues. Treat as a half-day side trip.

Hakata Station

Main station and transport hub. Coin lockers for luggage drop.

Kumamoto Station

Pick up the rental car here for the Aso day trip.

Daikanbo Viewpoint

Panoramic viewpoint over the Aso caldera and the sleeping-Buddha ridgeline.

Kusasenri

Grassy volcanic plain with grazing horses below Mt Aso.

Mt. Aso Nakadake Crater

Active steaming crater of Mt Aso. Access can close on gas or weather days, treat as a bonus.

Kishima-dake (Mt. Kishima)

Short volcanic cone hike near Kusasenri. Optional if timing and conditions are good.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Moving museum on the 1945 atomic bombing. Allow a couple of hours.

Atomic Bomb Dome

Skeletal ruin preserved as a UNESCO peace symbol, in the Peace Memorial Park.

Okonomimura

Multi-floor building of stalls serving Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.

Itsukushima Shrine

Iconic shrine with the floating torii gate over the water at high tide.

Daishoin Temple

Atmospheric mountainside temple with spinning sutra wheels, quieter than the main shrine.

Mount Misen

Miyajima's sacred summit. Ropeway plus a real hike, bring snacks as there is no food at the top.

Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street

Lively street for momiji-manju and grilled oysters.

Senkoji Temple & Park

Hillside temple walk with the best views over Onomichi and the Setouchi sea. Ropeway up, walk down.

Cat Alley (Neko no Hosomichi)

Tiny lane dotted with cat art and small cafes.

Onomichi U2 (Cycle Hub)

Stylish waterfront cycle hub with Giant e-bike rental, the start of the Shimanami ride.

Innoshima Bridge

First big suspension bridge on the route, with a dedicated cycle path.

Kousanji Temple

Flamboyant temple complex plus the Hill of Hope, a white marble sculpture garden on Ikuchijima.

Setoda Port

Catch the ferry back to Onomichi from here.

Dolce Ice Cream (Setoda)

Famous gelato stop, try the Setoda lemon flavor.

Mt. Shirataki (Shirataki-san)

Hilltop dotted with hundreds of stone Buddha statues and sea views. A detour on Innoshima if energy allows.

Tomonoura

Historic port town that inspired Ponyo. Slow harbor strolls and old streets, a few hours is enough.

Okayama Castle

Black 'Crow Castle' beside Korakuen. Add only if timing still feels sane.

Korakuen Garden

One of Japan's three great gardens, broad lawns with the castle as borrowed scenery.

Uno Port

Ferry terminal to Naoshima, with its own quirky port art.

Chichu Art Museum

Tadao Ando museum built into the hillside, Monet and James Turrell. Book timed tickets ahead.

Benesse House Museum

Museum-hotel with art indoors and scattered along the coast.

Art House Project (Honmura)

Old village houses turned into art installations, a walkable cluster in Honmura.

Yellow Pumpkin

Yayoi Kusama's iconic pumpkin on the pier, the island's photo classic.

Kinosaki Onsen (Town)

Onsen town for the public bath crawl in yukata, the trip's reset point.

Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway

Ropeway up Daishiyama for town and coast views, plus Onsenji temple.

Tsuzumi-mon Gate

Striking wooden drum-gate at Kanazawa Station, a great arrival photo.

Kenroku-en Garden

One of Japan's three great landscape gardens, lovely in fresh spring green.

Kanazawa Castle Park

Reconstructed castle and grounds right next to Kenrokuen.

Higashi Chaya District

Preserved geisha teahouse district with gold-leaf shops and tea rooms.

Geisha House Shima

Edo-era teahouse you can tour in Higashi Chaya.

Nagamachi Samurai District

Earthen-walled lanes of the old samurai quarter.

Nomura-ke Samurai Residence

Restored samurai house with a jewel-box garden.

D.T. Suzuki Museum

Minimalist museum with a contemplative water-mirror court.

Myoryuji (Ninja Temple)

Trap doors, hidden stairs and secret rooms. Reservation required.

Omicho Market

Lively covered market for fresh seafood bowls and snacks.

Pokemon Center Kanazawa

Pokemon Center near Kanazawa Station.

Toki no Kane (Kawagoe)

Wooden bell tower over the Edo-era Kurazukuri warehouse street.

Senso-ji (Asakusa)

Tokyo's oldest temple with the Nakamise shopping street, a likely Tokyo base area.

Tokyo DisneySea

Beautifully themed Disney park, unique to Tokyo.

Haneda Airport

Departure on the final evening.

Sasaguri Forest

篠栗九大の森

Setoda Sunset Beach

Takehara Old Town

Laputa Road

Nabegataki

鍋ケ滝

Kurashiki

倉敷市

Nokonoshima

Beginning of October, for the cosmos.

Abuto Kannon

阿伏兎観音

Rabbit Island

Coordinates: 34.3087365, 132.99777547166667

Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine

The highly spiritual atmosphere surrounding this Shinto shrine is one of the reasons why it is a well-known power spot. The large rock found in Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine, called Hogeto Iwa, is known for granting good luck to whoever touches it. In addition, the Tree of Nagi, the shrine's sacred tree, is said to grants good luck for good relationships because leaves of Nagi are hard to "tear off" (Source: Odigo).

Gotoku-ji Temple

Lots of manekineko.

Inujima Seirensho Art Museum

Amanohashidate

21st Century Museum

#architecture

Takeda Castle

竹田城跡

Hanibe Caves

Coordinates: 36.4018,136.5264

Kanazawa Mishokugai

金沢中央味食街

Ine no Funaya

Tucked away 15 kilometres north of Amanohashidate is Ine, a small, picturesque, coastal town built around the Ine bay.

Shinkoro Clock Tower

辰鼓楼 — Izushi, Toyooka, Hyogo

Bitchu Matsuyama Castle

備中松山城 — Takahashi, Okayama

Harmonica Yokocho

Reversible Destiny Lofts