Okay, I figured out what I’m doing next.
After Osaka it’s Nagano, then Sendai, then Tokyo. I just made the reservations for Nagano and Sendai a little while ago. I’ll deal with Tokyo later.
Nagano is smack in the middle of the Japan Alps, which should be beautiful this time of year, and Sendai has Matsushima, one of the three most beautiful sights of Japan. Miyajima was on that list as well, so I have high expectations for Matsushima.
I know I’ve been going on and on about Beppu, but if I went to Beppu, then I would have had to go all the way back to Kyushu from Osaka, and I don’t like to double-back like that. And it would make the next day’s trip hellishly long. I’m trying to keep train rides under 4 hours, 5 tops. Fukuoka to Osaka is going to be just under 3 hours, which is perfect. It’s enough time to read up on Osaka, but not so long as to be uncomfortable.
Osaka to Nagano is going to be longer, because I have to make a quick stop in Kyoto, but Kyoto is on the way there. And the train from Kyoto to Nagano is a scenic view train, so it should be enjoyable.
I really wanted to go to Hokkaido, but I’ll have to save that for another time. The travel times are just too long there for this trip.
By the way, hyperdia.com rocks. It gives you the entire Japan Rail timetable at your fingertips. Click the English button if you can’t speak 日本語, and it will make sense of a sort.
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