Category: 旅のしおり / COLO’s Traveler Guide

Day 1

Tokyo Haneda 0630 (Japan Airlines JAL623) >> Kumamoto 0825
Kumamoto Airport 1010 (Sanko Bus) >> Takachiho Bus Center

– Aratate Shrine
– Kushifuru Shrine
– Takamagahara
– Takachiho Shrine
– Takachiho Gorge

Dinner: Hidariuma

Overnight stay: Solest Takachiho Hotel

Tips for Day 1
– I needed to spend 1.5 hours at Kumamoto Airport. Majorities of stores were located in the restricted area for departures. There was only one café for arrival while most of restaurants were not opened until around 11:00.

Day 2

– Takachiho Gorge
– Boat Ride at Takachiho Gorge

Takachiho Gorge (taxi) >> Amanoyasukawara

– Amanoyasukawara
– Amanoiwato Shrine

Iwato 1256 (bus) >> Takachiho Bus Center 1311

– Takachiho Amaterasu Railway

Dinner: Takachiho-beef Restaurant Wa

Tips for Day 2
– Reservation is needed for the boat ride at Takachiho Gorge.
– The Takachiho Amaterasu Railway was surprisingly crowded, but they offered extra train service. The shadows of the high bridge were reflected over the valley.
– Dinner was at a restaurant owned by local agricultural association. They are famous for its wagyu beef.

Day 3

Hotel (taxi) >> Amanoyasukawara

– Amanoyasukawara

Iwato 0840 (bus) >> Takachiho Bus Center 0855
Takachiho Bus Center 0930 (bus) >> Nobeoka Station 1050

Lunch: Yappa Shokudo

Nobeoka 1141 (Nichirin 8) >> Usuki 1310

– Usuki Town Walk
– Kotegawa Distillery

Overnight stay: Kawaguchiya Hisaraku

Day 3
– The inn for this day was far from Usuki City center, but the food was excellent. Moreover, it has ocean views. I took a taxi on the way, the inn was kind to offer a ride on the way back.

Day 4

Kawaguchiya Hisaraku >> Usuki City Tourism Exchange Plaza
Tsuji 0925 (bus) >> Usuki Stone Buddha 0940

– Usuki Stone Buddha

Usuki Stone Buddha 1208 (bus) >> Usuki Station 1224

Usuki 1441 (local train) >> Oita 1524
Oita 1544 (Sonic 42) >> Hakata 1749

Dinner: Daiichi Tamaya Sushi

Fukuoka 2100 (JAL332) >> Tokyo Haneda 2235

Tips for Day 4
– Drunk at a sushi restaurant at Fukuoka Airport. Sushi made with local fish was good.

Times listed are the timetable at the time of visit.

Day 1

Tokyo Haneda 1035 (All Nippon Airways ANA 571) >> Wakkanai 1225
Wakkanai Airport 1235 (Soya Bus) >> Wakkanai Ferry Terminal 1310
Wakkanai Port 1445 (Heartland Ferry) >> Kafuka Port, Rebun Island 1640

Overnight stay: Hana-Rebun

Tips for Day 1
– Rebun Island is a very expensive place to stay during the peak season. Normal business times are limited only about half of the year or less, and the flower season is even shorter. All prices seem to be high on the Island, but such pricing is probably unavoidable owing its location. Since it was not fun to pay high rate to ordinary hotels, I booked the best lodging I could find. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, and above all, the food is delicious.

Day 2

– Tour around Rebun Island by rental car

Tips for Day 2
– I could not find a rental car on the web at all, rental cars in Rebun seemed to be not connected to main reservation system. I called the local office to make a reservation. At first, a car was available only for the second day, but when I called again at the last minute, I was able to rent a car until the noon of the third day. If I could not make car arrangements on the Island, I might be able to rent a car in Wakkanai and bring it to the Island on the ferry (?)
– I am not a fan of driving, so I was wondering whether I should rent a car or not. However, Rebun Island is not a small island and there are many ups and downs. For a short stay mainly for photography, a car would be very convenient. It would be possible to get around the island by regular sightseeing buses or by local buses plus walking, but it would be extremely difficult to match the timing of the bus schedule with the blue sky.

Day 3

– Tour around Rebun Island by rental car

Kafuka Port, Rebun Island 1325 (Heartland Ferry) >> Wakkanai Ferry Terminal 1615
Wakkanai 1744 (JR Express Soya) >> Sapporo 2257

Tips for Day 3
– It takes about 5 hours from Wakkanai to Sapporo by express train. The right side of the Soya Main Line from Wakkanai had a better view.

Day 4

Sapporo 0550 (Rapid Airport 50) >> Shin-Chitose Airport 0628
Sapporo Shin-Chitose 0730 (ANA 050) >> Tokyo Haneda 0905

Tips for Day 4
– About my mysterious stay in Sapporo: If the ferry was on the summer schedule, I was able to use Hokkaido Air Commuter, a Japan Airlines affiliate, from Rishiri Airport to Sapporo Okadama Airport then move to New Chitose Airport to catch direct flight to Tokyo Haneda. Alternatively, ANA had Wakkanai / New Chitose flight which connects to Tokyo Haneda flight. This time, the ferry was on the spring schedule due to COVID-19, so I could not connect to the bus to the airport on Rishiri Island (I could not book a taxi either) nor connection seemed tight from the Ferry Terminal to the Airport in Wakkanai.

Times shown are based on the timetables at the time of the visit.

Day 1

Tokyo Haneda 0710 (Japan Airlines JAL 277) >> Izumo 0835
Izumo Airport 0850 (Airport Bus) >> Izumo-Taisha Shrine 0930

– Izumo-Taisha Shrine

Izumo-Taisha Bus Terminal 1037 (Bus) >> Hinomisaki 1057

– Hinomisaki Shrine

Hinomisaki Lighthouse 1206 >> Izumo-shi Station 1313

Izumo-shi 1504 (Limited Express Super Oki 5) >> Yunotsu 1542

Overnight stay: Onsen Ryokan Masuya

– Night Kagura

Tips for Day 1
– While waiting train at Izumo-shi Station, went to Izumo soba restaurant nearby. The grilled eel and local sake “Kinunomine” were delicious.
– The night Kagura performances are held regularly in Yunotsu Onsen. Since the performances are held at a local shrine, it was more elegant than those held at theaters.

Day 2

Yunotsu 1054 (JR) >> Masuda 1242-1311 (JR) >> Nagato City 1502-1520 (JR) >> Igami 1542

Overnight Stay: Yuya Bay Onsen Hotel Yokikan

Day 3

Igami 0924 (JR) >> Nagato-shi 0946-55 (JR) >> Mine 1031
Mine Station 1110 (Bus) >> Shuhodo 1136

– Shuhodo
– Akiyoshidai

Shuhodo 1658 (Bus) >> Shin-yamaguchi Station 1735

Dinner: Nyudou

Shin-yamaguchi Station 1835 (Airport Bus) >> Yamaguchi Ube Airport 1905
Yamaguchi Ube 2010 (ANA 3186 operated by Star Flyer) >> Tokyo Haneda 2145

Day 3 Tips
– While waiting for the airport bus at Shin-yamaguchi Station, I went to an izakaya restaurant called “Nyudo” in front of the Station. The grilled mackerel sushi was superb. Thanks to the wonderful lady at the restaurant, I made it just in time to catch the airport bus. I wish to revisit this place.