u/PoofTangerine5661

Hi everyone,
This will be our second time visiting Japan (previous trips were separately, now going together as a couple). We’ll be visiting for 15 nights / 14 days from late October into early November.
We’ve already been to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nikko, Nara, Takayama, Hiroshima, and Miyajima, so this trip is focused more on rural/scenic Japan, road trips, hiking, ryokan stays, local food, and new experiences.
We’re planning to rent a car in Kyushu and again in the Japanese Alps, ideally as one-way rentals with drop-offs in different cities.
We’re both comfortable with intense road trips and long travel days, but I wanted to get feedback on whether any parts feel unrealistic, rushed, or if there’s anything we’re missing or should watch out for.
Budget:
£2k each for transport + spending

Flights already paid for

Accommodation budget will be around £70–100pppn (separate to spending budget)

Happy with a mix of hotels, ryokan, and business hotels

We also know some areas (like Kamikochi) don’t allow private vehicles, so we’re planning to use shuttle buses where needed.

ITINERARY
25 Oct – Arrive Tokyo (Haneda)
Late arrival

Staying in Ueno

Planning to just rest

26 Oct – Tokyo
Early morning exploring around Ueno

Summerland Flea Market

Lunch/snacks from 7/11 and relaxing in Shinjuku Gyoen

Batting cages

Dinner at Torikizoku

Evening in Yanaka and hopefully a live house show

27 Oct – Kamakura day trip
Arrive around 9:30am

Explore the area and rent bikes

Return to Tokyo in the evening

28 Oct – Fly Tokyo → Fukuoka / pick up rental car
Arrive around noon

ACROS observation area

Yatai stalls

Explore Hakata area

Potentially Ohori Park or Momochi Seaside Park

29 Oct – Yufuin + Beppu
Early drive from Fukuoka to Yufuin

Kinrin Lake

Yunotsubo Street

Drive to Beppu (~45 mins)

Hells of Beppu (Umi Jigoku / Oniyama Jigoku)

Sand bath experience

Food at Jigoku Mushi Kobo

Overnight in either Beppu or Yufuin

30 Oct – Kuju area → Aso
Drive via the Yamanami Highway mainly for scenery.
Potential stops:
Tadewara Boardwalk

Kuju Flower Park

Kokonoe Suspension Bridge

Then continue on to Aso.
31 Oct – Aso → Kumamoto
Mainly focused on scenery/views:
Daikanbo viewpoint

Mt Aso crater area

Kusasenri grasslands

Then drive to Kumamoto.
1 Nov – Kumamoto
Slow morning/evening

Kumamoto Castle

Rest day after several driving days

Return car the next morning and take train to Osaka.
2 Nov – Osaka
Food tour/general exploring

Relaxed evening

3 Nov – Kiso Valley → Okuhida Onsen
Rent another car

Drive to Tsumago area

Park at Tsumago and bus to Magome

Hike Magome → Tsumago trail

Then drive to Okuhida Onsen for:
Ryokan stay

Onsen

Kaiseki dinner

4 Nov – Kamikochi day trip
Shuttle bus from Okuhida.
Planned walking route:
Kappa Bridge

Myojin Pond

Taisho Pond

Return to Okuhida for second night.
5 Nov – Okuhida → Matsumoto
Potential stop at Shin-Hotaka Ropeway.
Then:
Matsumoto Castle

Slow explore around the city

6 Nov – Matsumoto → Tokyo
Relaxed morning

Return rental car

Train back to Tokyo

Final shopping/exploring days

7 Nov – Tokyo
No real plans here yet:
Shopping

Exploring

Relaxing after the road trip portion

8 Nov – Fly home from Tokyo

Main questions:
Does any part of this feel too rushed/unrealistic?

Are there any especially scenic stops we’re missing in Kyushu or the Japanese Alps?

Could we cut anywhere/combine anywhere for time utilisation?

Any recommendations for ryokan in Okuhida or around Aso/Yufuin? We have tattoos.

Are the one-way rental car plans likely to be expensive/difficult?

Anything weather-related we should be aware of in Kamikochi/Alps in early November? Especially driving?

Thanks!

Hi, this is the second time we will be visiting Japan (separately, and now as a couple). We are going end of October/Early Nov for 15 nights and 14 days. We have already visited Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nikko, Nara, Takayama, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima.

We are looking to hire a car in Kyushu and then in the Japanese Alps, we are hoping to be able to do this one way and dropping the car off at a later destination.

We are adventurous and have done intense road trips before. I was wondering if we should make any changes, swap anything out, or if there is anything we were missing, or anything we should watch out for? We are aware that some places do not allow private cars so we will be getting shuttle buses.

Land in Handae 25th Oct: straight to hotel and rest
26th, Full Day 1: Tokyo
Ueno explore, Summerland Flea Market, Shinjinku Gyoen, Torikizoku, batting cage, Yanaka, Sushi Omakase, live house
27th, Day 2: Kamakura (arrival at 9.30am)
A day trip to explore
Return to Tokyo and Rest
28th, Day 3: fly to Fukuoka from Tokyo (arrive at 12PM) and hire car
ACROS, Yatai, Hakata St, Momochi seaside park or
Ohori park
29th, Day 4: Yuifin (8am arrival) and Beppu (1pm arrival)
Kinrin Lake,Yunotsubo Street
Hells of Beppu (Umi Jigoku, Oniyama Jigoku), sand baths, Jigoku Mishi Kobo
Stay in Beppu or Yuifin
30th, Day 5: 1.5 hour drive to Kuju (9am arrival)
via Yamami Highway
Tadewara Maesh Walk, Kuju Flower Park, Kokone suspension bridge
Drive 1.5 hour drive to Aso
31st, Day 6: Aso
Daikanbo viewpoint, Mount Aso crater l, Kusasenri grass plains
Drive 2 hours to Kumamoto
1st, Day 7: Kumamoto (arrival 7pm)
Kumamoto castle and rest
Return car and travel 3 hours to Osaka via train
2nd, Day 8: Osaka (arrival 3PM)
Rest and food tour
3rd, Day 9: Kiso Valley (arrival 10am) + Okuhida Onsen (arrival 6pm)
Rent car, drive for 3 hours, and park at Tsugmango, bus to Magone and hike back.
Travel to Okuhida Onsen in 2 hours for relaxation and ryokan stay.
4th, Day 10: Okuhida and Kamikochi
Take the shuttle bus in the morning to Kamikochi and return in the evening
Kappa bridge > myojin pond > taisho pond walk
Stay back at Okuhida
5th, Day 10: Matsumoto(arrival at 11am)
1 hour drive
Stop at Shin-Hotaka Ropeway
Explore Matsumoto and see Matsumoto castle
6th, Day 12: Matsumato
Relax and return car
Travel to Tokyo via train at any time (3 hours)
7th, Day 13: Tokyo
Relaxing, shopping, exploring
8th, Day 14: Fly Home from Tokyo