JAPAN: Honshu and Shikoku in 10 Days

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Japan with a close friend who wanted to share her hometown of Osaka, Japan. Japan had always intrigued me as a destination to explore, but I wanted an old cultural experience and not the modern Japan of typical tours. And due to the language barrier, I was a little daunted since some areas were quite rural. As Japanese is also my friend’s native language, she curated the following 10-Day journey using Osaka as her starting point, employing Google searches and Japanese travel magazines from ideas I gleaned from some Pinterest searches:

NOTE: We left Los Angeles LAX at 1:45PM and arrived in Osaka KIX at 6:15PM the following night.

Day 1 – Osaka : Sugawara Shrine; JR Kami Station train to Osaka Dotonbori District – Owl Cafe tea with live owls, Kamigata Okiyoe Museum with block printing lesson, Osaka Castle; Eel restaurant; board Orange Ferry for overnight boat to the island of Shikoku (private rooms). https://www.orange-ferry.co.jp/ Approximately $75 U.S. per person for fare with a room. Note that rooms have sinks, but the bathroom and shower facilities are down the hall.

Day 2 – Boat docks at Toyo, Shikoku, Japan. Take coastal train at Nyaugawa Train station in Saijo to Matsuyama. Matsuyama Castle via chairlift https://www.matsuyamajo.jp/ ; hike a single leg of the Shikoku Henro pilgrimage to Ishteji Temple. ; bath at historical Dogo Onsen (over 1000 years old) https://dogo.jp/ ; Stay at Matsuyama Tokyu REI Hotel for 2 nights.

Day 3 – Day trip to cultural craftsman town of Uchiko, 1 hour by train. (Uchiko provides a free Japanese translator if requested early!) http://www.we-love-uchiko.jp/ Make traditional Japanese washi paper; Make wrought iron candlestick holders Jizaikōbō blacksmith ; tour old kabuki Uchiko-za theater; visit cultural museum of merchant’s home; observe process of handrolled wax candles. For a list of workshops, visit: https://qrtranslator.com/0000001457/000587 Return to Matsuyama hotel.

Day 4 – Train to Imabari. Rent bicycles at train station to ride across bridges to Onomichi, Honshu on the Shimanami Kaido across Seto Inland Sea- a bus will pick you up when you’re tired http://www.cyclonoie.com/shimanami-tobishima-e/renatal.php ; Pirate Museum on Oshima; take bus from Onomichi to bullet train station at Fukuyama station then return to Osaka. Spend night in Osaka.

Day 5 – Train from Osaka to Kyoto. 2-night stay in traditional Machiya cultural home. Subway into downtown for shopping. Evening walk and dinner along river.

Day 6 – Kyoto: cable car to Arashiyama District. Rent bicycles. Ride through Bamboo Forrest, to Tenruji Temple, Soba noodle restaurant, hike up to Monkey Park at Mt. Iwatayama.

Day 7 – Kyoto: private lesson with Japanese baker making traditional Japanese Wagashi sweets; Kyoto outdoor Antique market; Kiyomizu Temple; Kennin-ji Temple; Higashiyama District.

Day 8 – Train from Kyoto to Akame – stay in rural mountain village rice terrace villa: Sasayuri-ann; Hike through lush forrest at Akame Falls; private traditional dinner cooked over fire at Sasayuri-ann by private chef. All locally grown food. https://www.visitnara.jp/venues/H00820/

Day 9 – Breakfast cooked to order at Sasayuri – train to Nara (store luggage in lockers at station). Walk through Nara Deer Park; Gangoji Temple; Todai-ji Temple with great bronze Buddah. Evening train back to Osaka.

Day 10 – Shopping in Osaka. Evening flight from Osaka KIX to Los Angeles.