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

Times listed are the timetables at the time of the visit.

Day 1

Tokyo Haneda 0725 (Japan Airlines JAL213) >> Nanki-Shirahama 0840

Nanki-Shirahama Airport 0928 (bus) >> Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine 1150
Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine 1200 (bus) >> Hashinmon-oji 1215

– Kumano Kodo Trail 7.5km
– Kumano Hongu Taisha Shraine

Kumano Hongu Shrine 1505 (bus) >> Yunomine Onsen 1529

Overnight stay: Ryokan Adumaya

Tips for Day 1
– The bus from the Airport to Shingu via Kumano Hongu Shrine can be partially used as a local bus on its way. It seems to provide efficient transportation service even with a small number of passengers.

Day 2

Yunomine Onsen 0831 (bus) >> Shingu Station 0937
Shingu 0942 (JR train) >> Nachi 0959
Nachi Station 1033 (bus) >> Daimonzaka 1044

– Kumano Kodo Trail 2.7km
– Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine

Mt. Nachi-san or Daimonzaka 1342 (bus) >> Kii-Katsuura Station 1408

Overnight stay: Kumano-bettei Nakanoshima

Dinner: bodai

Tips for Day 2
– Since my Day 2 sector of Kumano Kodo is relatively short, it may be good to walk as round-trip if time allows. Going up Kumano Kodo from Daimonzaka to Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine & Nachi-no-otaki (waterfall) and going down Kumano Kodo to Daimonzaka.
– I stayed at “Kumano-bettei Nakanoshima” in Kii-Katsuura. The hotel was located on an island near Kii-Katsuura station and reached by boat. This place was wonderful. I booked no-meal plan, but it was no problem since Kii-Katsuura, a fishing town, seemed to have many restaurants and bars.

Day 3

Kii-Katsuura 0855 (Nanki 4) >> Nagoya 1241-1406 (Nozomi 364) >> Shin-Yokohama 1526

Tips for Day 3
– I could stop at Ise Jingu Shrine on my way back. It was too late to notice it when I waited Shinkansen at Nagoya Station.

Times and services listed are the timetables at the time of the visit.

Day 1

Tokyo Haneda 0745 (Japan Airlines JAL551) >> Asahikawa 0925

– Farm Tomita in Furano

– Biei
– Seven Star Tree　
– Ken and Mary Tree
– Blue Pond
– Shirohige Waterfall

Overnight stay: Morino Ryotei Biei

Tips for Day 1
– I was not familiar with this area at all. I had imagined a wilderness-like landscape in Biei, but I was surprised to find that it was a quite sightseeing area. This is not something strange considering nearby Asahikawa is the second largest city in Hokkaido and about three hours drive from Sapporo. Indeed, Bien was a rather artificial landscapes since there were many farms in the area. They had a long history of tough cultivation. It was a good opportunity to think how these wastelands have been developed for farming.

Day 2

– Asahiyama Zoo

Overnight stay: Spa & Hotel Resort Furano La Terre

Day 3

– Mt. Asahidake Ropeway

– Hagoromo Falls

– Mt. Tokachidake Observation Park

– Shin-ei Hill Observation Park

Asahikawa 2015 (Japan Airlines JAL558) >> Tokyo Haneda 2200

Tips for Day 3
– Beautiful sunset view at Shin-ei Hill Observation Park. If you stay in a typical onsen inns, it might be hard to visit sunset view as dinner time is somewhat fixed.

Times listed are the timetable at the time of visit.

Day 1

Tokyo Narita 0730 (JetStar GK323) >> Shimoji Island 1040
Shimoji Island Airport 1100 (bus) >> Hirara Port on Miyako Island 1122

– Public market on Miyako Island

Miyako Airport 1335 (Ryukyu Air Commuter RAC833) >> Ishigaki 1405
Ishigaki Airport 1420 (bus) >> Ishigaki Remote Island Ferry Terminal 1450
Ishigaki Remote Island Ferry Terminal 1600 (ferry) >> Taketomi Island 1615

Overnight stay: Hotel Peace Island Taketomi Island

Tips for Day 1
– Ferry service between Ishigaki Island and Taketomi Island are served by two companies with similar schedules. The prices are also similar. I somehow chose Anei Kanko, and it was less crowded.

Day 3

Taketomi Island 1150 (ferry) >> Ishigaki Remote Island Ferry Terminal 1205
Ishigaki Remote Island Terminal 1230 (bus) >> Ishigaki Airport 1300
Ishigaki 1405 (Japan Transocean JTA614) >> Naha 1510

– Snoopy Surf Shop
– Rakuen Department Store

Naha 1950 (Japan Airlines JAL920) >> Tokyo Haneda 2210