Japan: Central Honshu & Kyushu
DateMay 30, 2026
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Day 1
Day 2
Oct 8
hotel MONday Premium Ueno Okachimachi
- Arrive in Tokyo and settle into one central hotel for four nights.
- Keep the first day deliberately light.
- Easy dinner in Ginza, Marunouchi, or near your hotel.
Day 3
Oct 9
hotel MONday Premium Ueno Okachimachi
- Focus on art and modern architecture.
- Lunch around Omotesando/Aoyama.
- Keep the evening free for a relaxed dinner reservation.
Day 4
Oct 10
hotel MONday Premium Ueno Okachimachi
- Easier east-Tokyo day with less cross-city transit.
- Add Kiyosumi-Shirakawa coffee stops if you like.
- Early evening back at the hotel.
Day 5
Oct 11
hotel MONday Premium Ueno Okachimachi
- Keep this as a flex day.
- Option A: another low-key Tokyo neighborhood day.
- Option B: if the forecast is excellent, swap in a Fuji/Kawaguchiko day trip.
Day 6
Oct 12
hotel MONday Premium Ueno Okachimachi
- Travel onward from Karuizawa to Kanazawa today.
- Base yourselves in Kanazawa for three nights.
- Keep the afternoon gentle after arrival, with an easy walk in the old town if energy allows.
Day 7
Oct 13
INOVA Kanazawa Station Hotel Suite
- Main Kanazawa sightseeing day.
- Good day for kaiseki or a slightly nicer dinner.
- Keep the walking moderate and use taxis as needed.
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Day 8
Oct 14
INOVA Kanazawa Station Hotel Suite
- Slower Kanazawa day.
- Browse crafts, lacquerware, and ceramics shops.
- Leave time to rest before the next transfer.
Day 9
Oct 15
INOVA Kanazawa Station Hotel Suite
- Travel to Okayama and check into a three-night base.
- This is a lighter transition day.
- Dinner close to the station or in the central area.
Day 10
Oct 16
INOVA Kanazawa Station Hotel Suite
- Easy day trip to Kurashiki.
- Stay mostly within the historic quarter and museum area.
- Return to Okayama for the night.
Day 11
Oct 17
- Full Naoshima day.
- Reserve museum entries and avoid overloading the schedule.
- Prioritize two major sites rather than trying to see the whole island.
Day 12
Oct 18
- Make this a definite second island day on Teshima.
- Keep the pace light and focus on just one or two major art stops.
- Return to Okayama for the night rather than changing hotels.
Day 13
Oct 19
- Long but straightforward transfer day to Nagasaki.
- Settle into one central hotel here for the rest of Kyushu.
- Keep the evening easy after arrival.
Day 14
Oct 20
Hotel H2 Nagasaki
- Slow central Nagasaki day around the river, small streets, and cafés.
- Keep walking light and use the tram whenever convenient.
- Good day for Chinatown or an easy waterfront dinner.
Want to tweak this itinerary?
Day 15
Oct 21
Hotel H2 Nagasaki
- Lower-key museum and history day.
- Pair this with a relaxed lunch and one additional neighborhood wander rather than another major sight.
- Keep the afternoon open.
Day 16
Oct 22
Hotel H2 Nagasaki
- Keep this as a true flex day in Nagasaki.
- Use it for rest, weather backup, shopping, or a harbor-side wander.
- If energy is high, this is the easiest day to add one extra museum or viewpoint.
Day 17
Oct 23
Hotel H2 Nagasaki
- Use this as your scenic rail day on Futatsu-Boshi 4047 if schedules align.
- Pair the train with Arita for a very Kyushu-specific day, without forcing an onsen stop.
- Return to Nagasaki for the night so you keep the one-hotel rhythm.
Day 18
Oct 24
Hotel H2 Nagasaki
- Main historic Nagasaki day.
- Use trams and short taxi hops to reduce uphill walking.
- Aim for a sunset viewpoint if the weather is clear.
Day 19
Oct 25
Hotel H2 Nagasaki
- More reflective history day.
- Keep the afternoon light.
- Good evening for a special dinner with local seafood or shippoku cuisine.
Day 20
Oct 26
Hotel H2 Nagasaki
Day 21
Oct 27
Hotel H2 Nagasaki
- Fly from Nagasaki to Tokyo area today rather than risking a same-day long-haul connection.
- Stay near Narita or in easy airport reach.
- Quiet final evening.
Day 22
Oct 28
Hotel Nikko Narita
- Departure day from Narita.
- Keep the morning simple and unrushed.
- No sightseeing planned.
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