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Tokyo, Japan
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Kyoto, Japan
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Osaka, Japan
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Tokyo, Japan
Arrive in Tokyo mid-day, get hire car and drive on to Matsushima - https://rail.ninja/trains/order/e1c537f7e2c48493ac3a7fbbd5509152/timetable?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Reg_JP_Lan_EN_Ta_EU&utm_content=••••••••••••&utm_term=tokyo%20osaka%20shinkansen&dp=52
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Matsushima, Japan
Drive 4hr40 to Matsushima, spend one night here, ranked as one of Japan's top three scenic places, it's half an hour outside of Sendai city. If we can get here by 3pm we can jump on the last boat cruise of the bay - if not it's just a pretty place to stay to break up the long drive.
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Aomori, Japan
Leave Matsushima around 9am and drive 4hr15 to Aomori, aim for the 14:30 ferry, costs £240 total, is 3hr30 - arrive at 6pm
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Hakodate, Japan
Arrive in Hakodate, it's 12 mins from the ferry to the city centre. Spend the night in Hakodate, Visit Mount Hakodate for a night view, and then spend the morning in the seafood market - there is also The historical warehouses have been converted into a shopping and dining area with various boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Spend the morning wandering.
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Sapporo, Japan
Drive 1hr50 to Sapporo, aim to get there for around 6pm, find our hotel and have our first night in the city. Head to Susukino District for nightlife and restaurants. In the morning Head to Nijo Market for seafood (breakfast or lunch), get the train to the Sapporo Beer Museum. Take the cable car up to Mount Moiwa for a view of Sapporo. Stay a second night with an early start.
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Lake Tōya, Japan
Drive 2hrs30 to Lake Toya, have a wander, stretch our legs.
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Hakodate, Japan
Drive 4hrs 30 to Hakodate, we can stop on route if we want to break it up, take the ferry at 16:00
Stop at The Bird Watching Cafe to see the Japanese snow fairies
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Aomori, Japan
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Niigata, Japan
This is a big drive day! 7hours to Niigata City, arrive in the evening have our first night here and relax, then next day wander the town, visit the Sake brewery, open on Sundays for tasting (not tour no reservation needed), could take the ferry over to the little island
https://www.japan-guide.com/ad/sake-in-niigata/#:~:text=Home%20to%20about%2090%20sake,typically%20sold%20outside%20of%20Niigata.
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Kanazawa, Japan
Drive 3hrs50 to Kanazawa, very historic town that is the capital of the prefecture. It's renowned for its landscaped gardens, seen as the best one of the top three! Arrive for lunch at the open air market - they have great seafood! Then a stroll around the town and visit the gardens, last entry is 6pm.
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Himeji, Japan
Drive to Himeji, 4hrs30, visit the castle wander the town stay the night
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Kurashiki, Japan
Drive 2h to Kurashiki - small town with water ways have a wonder around the town and head on to Onomichi
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Onomichi, Japan
Drive 53mins to Onomichi, stay the night here before starting our road trip through the islands
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Imabari, Japan
This is a day road trip that will take us eventually to the bottom island. Start our drive along the island bridge road, this will take us to Imabari, which is the first city on the man body of the island. We can stop on route on the islands and explore, it's a 3hr20 drive from Onomichi to Yawatahama, which is where we will take the ferry from.
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Matsuyama, Japan
Take the route via Matsuyama
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Yawatahama, Japan
Take an evening ferry to Beppu (3hrs) 17:25
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Beppu Onsen, Japan
Arrive in Beppu, have dinner somewhere if reasonable hour or head straight to hotel. This is an osen town, they offer a range of baths from hot water, to sand! Stay in a hotel with a bath, then can use it if we arrive late in the evening / the next morning.
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Takachiho, Japan
Drive 2hr20 to the Takachiho gorge, maybe we do the river trip here, and then head on to Fukuoka
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Fukuoka, Japan
Drive 2hr30 to Fukuoka is a vibrant city, spend the afternoon wandering around and get dinner at the food markets
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Itsukushima Island, Japan
Drive 3hrs40 plus ferry to Itsukushima Island, embrace the tranquility compared to Fukuoka, stay the night in Hiroshima
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Hiroshima, Japan
One night in Hiroshima, wander the peace memorial in the morning
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Matsue, Japan
Drive 2hr30 to Matsue, visit the gardens and the castles wake up fairly early to get to Kinosaki
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Kinosaki Onsen, Japan
Drive on to Kinosaki Onsen, 3hrs, this is a rural village, with hot springs and willow lined rivers, looks beautiful! - https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3525.html
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Ine, Japan
Drive to Ine, 1hr30 mins, and see the town, this is a place is boat houses on the water, we can take a tour of the bay via a boat which might be nice only 25mins. This is a rural town so isn't much touristy stuff to do so this is just a pit stop, drive to the end of the sandbank,
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Miyazu, Japan
Leave our car in Miyazaki and cycle/walk across to Amanohasidate
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Amanohashidate Onsen, Japan
Have lunch Amanohasidate, wander around the sand banks, cycle/walk back to Miyazu
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Suzuka, Japan
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Nagoya, Japan
One night in Nagoya
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Matsumoto, Japan
Start early-ish and drive 4hrs to Matsumoto to see the castle, one of the oldest castles in Japan that is still in its original form. There is parking 5 min walk away, could get lunch in the town, we can also visit Daio Wasabi Farm - they do lunch there so could eat there instead! We can stay here instead of (Fuji Five lakes and wrap the next day drive together)
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Tokyo, Japan
Drive back to Tokyo 1hr15, drop back car and get ready for our final night, flight is on the 27th Sept @ 13:05