January 3, 2025

JAPAN TRIP 2023: 10D9N in Okayama, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kashima and Yufuin

To be honest, Fukuoka is my new favourite destination. It is touristy but not too touristy; crowded as well but less crowded as compared to those huge cities like Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. And I love landing onto Fukuoka because it is a great place to connect all the kampong areas I wish to explore. And big cities enough to cover what I wish to shop later, and one best of all, the airport is about 10 minutes by taxi! I have the luxury to take taxi from hotel (near the main station) to airport (at the fee I am willing to spend on)! Everyone sure knows how expensive it is taking a ride on taxi in Japan.

Yes I had a trip with my family in autumn 2023, just right before the amazing winter trip to Tohoku area . I haven’t got the chance to pen down everything, and now here I am, pen-ing down what I did in Fukuoka and other areas that autumn.

Also, Fukuoka has a lot of great food! This time, I got to have a partial food trail with my friends Jessie and Sze. We got to meet up and tried a few restaurants and all the restaurants we went were quite a heart wowing one! Thanks to Jessie for helping me on the restaurant reservation. Anywhere she went, I just plus six (+6) tagging along. LOL.

Oh guess what?! I actually had two trips to Fukuoka within a year! Read Japan Trip 2023: 8D7N in Fukuoka, Kashima, Yufuin & Mojiko . This trip was happened in March 2023, almost spring time where I got a glimpse of early Sakura blooms.

Read below for more day trips to do when you are in Kyushu
Nagasaki
Kumamoto
Aso
Arita

JAPAN TRIP 2023: 10D9N in Okayama, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kashima and Yufuin

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
In	KL/SG SG/ Fukuoka Fukuoka/ Okayama	Okayama/ Hiroshima/ Miyajima	Okayama/ Kurashiki	Okayama/ Onomichi	Okayama/ Hakata
Breakfast/ Brunch		Hotel Breakfast	Hotel Breakfast	Hotel Breakfast	Hotel Breakfast
See Shop	Arrival at Fukuoka Airport > Hakata Station Hakata > Okayama Checked-in hotel	Okayama > Hiroshima > Miyajima Miyajima Island Itsukushima Shrine Maple Valley	Okayama > Kurashiki Kurashiki bikan historical quarter Kurashiki denim street Kurashiki ivy leaf square	Okayama > Fukuyama > Onomichi Senkoji Temple Ropeway Senkoji Park Observatory Senkoji Temple Cat Alley Onomichi Shopping Street	Okayama Castle Korakuen Garden Okayama > Hakata
Lunch	麺酒一照庵	お好み焼うずしお	Kamikura Gozen	尾道ラーメン一(はじめ) Ice Cream Karasawa	Ekiben
Tea See Shop	ワインと地酒　武田　岡山幸町店 AEON Mall Okayama	A-bomb Dome アントレマルシェ広島店 Hiroshima > Okayama	Kurashiki Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashimi > Okayama Donki Okayama AEON Mall Okayama	Onomichi > Fukuyama > Okayama Craft Brewery Doppo-kan	Checked-in hotel Ikkousha
Dinner/ Supper	Food Court AEON Mall Okayama	Packed food from Supermarket/ Konbini	Yakitori "Torikichi Shoten" Okayama Ekimae	Pork Steak Restaurant B AEON Mall	Tori Doan
Stay	Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama	Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama	Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama	Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama	Tokyu Stay Hakata

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	Day 6	Day 7	Day 8	Day 9	Day 10
In	Hakata/ Saga	Hakata/ Yufuin	Yufuin/ Hakata	Hakata	Fukuoka/ SG SG/ KL
Breakfast/ Brunch	Hotel Breakfast	Konbini	Hotel Breakfast	Hotel Breakfast	Konbini
See Shop	Hakata > Kohoku > Hizen-Kashima Yūtoku Inari Shrine Yūtoku Monzen Shopping Street	Hakata > Yufuin By Yufu 1 Snoopy Chaya	Lake Kinrin Yufuin > Hakata by Yufuin no Mori 2	Tenjin Underground Mall	Bye Bye Fukuoka :'(
Lunch	Kakuya	Yufu Mabushi Shin	Ekiben	SABATARO
Tea See Shop	Hizen Hamashuku HAMA Bar Hizen-Hama > Kohoku > Hakata	Main Shopping Street Yufuin Floral Village Kinsho Croquette Milch Purin Goma Ice Cream	Shopped around Hakata Station Press Butter Sand	Hakata Station Underground Mall DEITOS KITTE Hakata THE LOCAL COFFEE STAND Fukuoka
Dinner/ Supper	Hakata Ramen Shin Shin	Dining Towakura	Toriden Washudokoro Shuho	Funahashi Yohinten
Stay	Tokyu Stay Hakata	Yufuin Bettei ITSUKI	Tokyu Stay Hakata	Tokyu Stay Hakata

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On this trip, I activated 2 JR passes. The first one was JR Okayama-Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass that covered 5 days; priced at ¥ 15,000 (price as of Nov 2023) and I travelled to Okayama, Hiroshima, and Onomichi. The second pass was JR Northern Kyushu 3days Pass; priced at ¥ 12,000 and it brought me to Saga and Yufuin.

Below are the highlights of my trip!
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1. Savour the ramen and sake in Mensake Issyoan!

First thing first, slurp up a bowl of piping hot ramen and pair it with sake here in the sunny land of Okayama Prefecture! We love how comforting the bowls of chuka soba Mensake Issyoan serves! The broth base here is made of a blend of chicken-based soup and Japanese dashi stock, served in Shoyu, Shio, Clam and Spicy Shoyu too!

Best of all, they offer sake which is carefully selected to match with their chuka soba! Their sake is served in this elegant set of tin sake cups and pitcher!

Getting here:
About 15 minutes’ walk from Okayama Station.

Mensake Issyoan
1-7-16 Nakasange, Kita-ku, Okayama City,
Okayama 700-0821
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2. Pick up bottles from

Passed by this cute little shop for some photos and then we only realized this shop is selling local sake and liquor! Of course we had to pick up some bottles and sake cups for the nights!

ワインと地酒　武田　岡山幸町店
3−2 C.F.Bld １F, Saiwaicho, Kita Ward, Okayama, 〒700-0903 Japan
Opens from 11am to 8pm
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3. Day trip to Miyajima Island

Miyajima Island is famous giant torii gate that seems to float on the water during the high tide. It is about an hour away (travel time) from Hiroshima. Autumn in Miyajima is extremely scenic, and I would say Romantic too! Autumn colours everywhere on the island, the further we walked through the Momijidani (Maple Valley), the fuller autumn hues we saw. Sadly, the weather was not too perfect, so the ropeway to Mount Misen was not in operation.

The Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street is filled with a lot of delicious street food, so must not miss out the oyster, curry bun, craft beer and etc along the way.

And I reunited with my friends – Sze and Jessie!

Getting here:
Take local train (on San-yo Line) from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi Station (the journey takes about 30 minutes), and then take the JR Miyajima Ferry (about 10minutes ride) that brings you to Miyajima Ferry Terminal. Our JR Pass covered the ferry ride to Miyajima Island, and there is the ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax to be made before taking the ferry.
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4. Eat Hiroshima’s Okonomiyaki!

Come to Hiroshima, one must check out the Hiroshima’s Okonomiyaki. It was a late lunch and I picked up お好み焼うずしお which I have visited here 10 years back! Happily found that it is still around! This time we had Okonomiyaki and also grilled sirloin steak because saw it written おすすめ on the wall menu.

Getting here:
Located a minute walk from A-bomb Dome

お好み焼うずしお
Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima, Naka Ward, Otemachi, 1
Chome−5−15, 本通り西ビル 2F
広島県広島市中区大手町1-5-15-201
〒730-0051
Contact number: 082-245-0117
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5. Atomic Bomb Dome

A World Heritage Site; with the building structure remained standing in the area around the atomic bombing of Hiroshima at the end of World War II.

6. Stroll through Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

Kurashiki is a city that is located not too far away from Okayama City; with the beautifully preserved Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter that offers the picturesque quint landscape. One will fall in love into this zen-ish place easily. There are weeping willow trees along the sides of the canal; both side filled with storehouses that are now turned into museum, café, restaurants and shops.

I could spend hours here watching the beautiful swans swimming.

You may find there are many jeans or denims shop around here because Kurashiki is also known as the birthplace of jeans in Japan, or to be exact, Kojima in Kurashiki.

Getting here:
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is about 15 minutes’ walk from JR Kurashiki Station South Exit.
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7. Shop Shop Shop in Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki

Not a very huge outlet mall with super huge or luxury brands, but this outlet is also good enough to make you spend some yens over here.

Getting here:
Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki is about 5 minutes’ walk from JR Kurashiki Station North Exit, connected through Ario Kurashiki.
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8. Enjoy the panoramic view of Onomichi Strait

Senkoji Park Observatory is located at the top of Senkoji Temple. It is easily assessable by the ropeway (if you do not wish to climb up the slope). This 63-meter-long observation deck allows visitors slow down their path and enjoy the panoramic view of Onomichi Strait.

Getting here:
Senkoji Temple Mountain Ropeway base station is about 15 minutes’ walk from Onomichi Station. The Ropeway is about 3 minutes ride, taking you up to the summit; at the price of ¥500 one way, round trip ¥700.
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9. Temple walk in Onomichi

Onomichi is a quint hilly port town with many slopes and temples, located along Seto Inland Sea in eastern Hiroshima Prefecture. This place is famous for Temple Walk; the slopes up and down here will take you to 25 temples along the way.

Senkoji Temple, a majestic looking temple located on the mountain, at 144 meters above the sea level.

10. Find the hidden cats at Cat’s Alley

I spent on one way ticket for the ropeway because I wanted to walk down the mountain from the temple for this Cat’s Alley “Neko no hosomichi” 猫の細道. That is known to have many cats around this alley.

Tried my luck to search for cats here but I found none. However, I got all the cutesy neko around such as on the wall, on the windows, on the ground.

11. Slurp up ramen in Onomichi

Pork fats in the ramen broth is the special characteristic of Onomichi Ramen. Here in Onomichi, there are ramen house every corner. We wanted to try out the famous Onomichi Ramen Ichibankan that is claimed to be the originator of Onomichi Ramen; but the queue was extremely long, too long! We simply settled at a ramen shop with the shortest queue – Onomichi Ramen Hajime but we still queued for quite a while too because this ramen shop is very small with only 8 to 10 seats.

Onomichi Ramen Hajime uses high quality of dried sardines from Seto Inland Sea, dried flakes from fish and kombu from Hokkaido to cook the broth. Although there are pork fats in their ramen, the soup base was lighter than I thought. Light yet umami, a comforting bowl of ramen that works perfectly after a “hiking” trip and cats “hunting”.

12. Eat Ice Cream at the jetty

This ice cream treat is a must after a bowl of ramen in Onomichi. Karasawa offers homemade ice cream with nostalgic flavours; you can opt to have it in cone or monaka wafer!

Getting here:
About 8 minutes’ walk from JR Onomichi.

Karasawa
1-15-19 Tsuchido, Onomichi City, Hiroshima
Opens from 10am to 7pm (6pm between October to March)
Closed on Tuesdays
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13. Beer in Craft Brewery Doppo-kan

Miyashita Sake Brewery is located inside this Craft Brewery Doppo-kan, they produce not only sake but producing more than 15 kinds of craft beers, shochu, umeshu and whiskey! Brewery tour is available but reservation is highly required. Their brewery tour allows visitor to observe the manufacturing process.

Since I didn’t book a brewery tour, I dived straight to their restaurant, ordered their beer and snacks. Their craft beers were something I was longing to try. They brew beer with Omachi’s rice grain, and also they have peach and muscat grape infused beer! We had the Pilsner, Weizen, Omachi Rice Lager and Peach Pils. And of course I didn’t miss out the Okayama Single Malt Whiskey Triple Cask! The whiskey was seriously very good that I must carry it home!

Craft Brewery Doppo-kan
185-1 Nishigawara, Naka Ward,
Okayama, 703-8258, Japan
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14. Yakitori and Beer night in Torikichi

Randomly bumped into this izakaya specializing in yakitori and here we were, randomly walked in, sat down and ordered draft beer with yakitori!

Yakitori “Torikichi Shoten” Okayama Ekimae 焼き鳥トリキチ商店岡山駅前
Japan, 〒700-0901 Okayama, Kita Ward, Honmachi, 10−23 小竹ビル 1階10
Opens from 5.30pm to 11.30pm
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15. Visit the Okayama Castle

Okayama Castle is also known as the “Crow Castle” due to its black exterior, a place must to see if you are here in Okayama. You can also learn about the history of Okayama Castle, its features and successive castle lords here inside the castle!

Getting here:
Okayama Castle is reachable by foot from JR Okayama Station, the journey takes about 30 minutes’ walk. Alternatively, take tram on the Higashiyama Line from Okayama Station to Shiroshita stop. The tram journey is about 5 mins at ¥ 120. The castle keep is reachable in a 10 minutes’s walk.
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16. Zen in Korakuen Garden

Korakuen Garden is one of the main attractions in Okayama. It is one of the three great gardens of Japan; with very beautiful landscape garden filled with zen and elegant ambience, with ponds and teahouses.

Each season has its own beauty. It was autumn during my visit, I got a very chill zen-ish autumn scene that was filled with maple leaves in red and brown and yellow hues. Beautiful! However I had to cut short my visit due to the drizzling rain.

The view of Okayama Castle from Korakuen Garden.

Getting here:
Korakuen Garden is about 30 minutes’ walk from JR Okayama Station. You can also take tram on the Higashiyama Line from Okayama Station to Shiroshita stop. The tram journey is about 5 mins at ¥ 120. The garden’s south gate is reachable in a 10 minutes’s walk journey.
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17. Oden and Yakitori party in Tori Doan

Because I told Jessie I wanna eat ODEN!!! She granted my wish (with a plus another five! LOL). It is not easy to find oden nowadays, even inside the konbini. I happened to see this on social media and I really one to have the hot piping comforting oden during the cold season and here we were in Tori Doan! Had quite a bit of oden and yakitori in Tori Doan, also some drinks to pair! YUMZ! Detail post coming up soon!

Getting here:
About 4 minutes’ walk from Tenjin Minami Station

Tori Doan Haruyoshi Ten
福岡県福岡市中央区春吉3-22-25
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18. Visit to Yutoku Inari Shirne

Located in Kashima City, Southern Saga Prefecture, Yutoku Inari Shrine 祐徳稲荷神社 is one of the three most famous shrines dedicated to Inari. This shrine has more than 300 years of history; gorgeously stand along at the steep hillside of the valley. I was once here in Spring time, and I was back to this place again in autumn! Autumn in Yutoku Inari Shrine offers another scenic view. Beautified with warm tone, painted in red, brown, yellow hues. Very peaceful and picturesque, and yes I came here twice in a year, in two different seasons.

READ: : SAGA: Yutoku Inari Shrine @ Kashima (Spring)

Getting here:
Yutoku Inari Shrine is about 10 minutes’ taxi ride from Hizen-Kashima Station. Alternately, you can take bus that runs 1 – 2 trips every hour.
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19. Drink Drank Drunk in Hizen Hamashuku

Hizen Hamashuku is another main reason I came to Kashima City. There are 5 sake breweries in Kashima City; three of them situated in Hizen Hamashuku and they are within the walking distance, namely Fukuchiyo Shuzo, Mitsutake Shuzo, Minematsu Shuzo. Along this 600-meter stretch of Sakagura Street (Sakagura-dori), there lines these sake breweries, sake shops, restaurants and café where sake lovers could chill and take a short stroll, hoping into the shops that offer sake tasting and shopping.

READ: : SAGA: Hizen Hamashuku (Sake Brewery Street)

And of course, I got a bottle here from Hizenya!
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20. More drinking in HAMA Bar

Couldn’t find the bottle of Nabeshima in the retail shop along the Sakagura-dori, so drink more in Hama Bar! Cute little bar that built next to the small station itself, HAMA Bar is where you can taste on all the local Kashima Sake.

READ: : SAGA: HAMA Bar

HAMA BAR
933 Hamamachi, Kashima City,
Saga Prefecture 849-1322
Opening hours:
Daily from 11.30am to 4.30pm
Friday to Sunday from 6pm to 9pm

21. Slurp up Hakata Ramen Shin Shin!

Another Hakata’s local specialty food – soupy frothy pork bone broth ramen, comes with thin strand of slurrrpy noodles! ahhh I really love Shin Shin! Their noodles came in thin strand and still very springy though I took a little time on the photo (as short as I could, for about 15 to 20 seconds). I like that there were a lot of condiments on the table for us to add in. I love adding the pickled vegetables (another Hakata’s specialty) into this ramen!

22. Explore the small town of Yufuin

Take a stroll to explore this cute little town from train station, to the main shopping street and Yufuin Floral Village; and eat eat eat along the way!

23. Stay in the Most Shiawase Onsen Ryokan

Immediately fell in love with the cottage villa and hospitality during my last stay over here , so we splurged on another round again for a great night stay in Yufuin Bettei Itsuki! Came with the half board experience; an extremely amazing kaiseki dinner with all you can drink option and super heart-wowing breakfast!

Each villa cottage offers a different theme and atmosphere; this round I picked up another cottage (Sakura) for 4 pax for us ladies and a 2 pax cottage (UTSUGI) for my parents. On average, each of us paid ¥ 34,250 for a night onsen stay with half board experience. At the end of the stay, you will also be charged ¥ 150 per pax for hot spring tax.

I will share about the full details on these 2 rooms and the autumn experience soon!

Yufuin Bettei ITSUKI
2652-2, Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu-shi, Oita, Japan 〒879-5102　
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24. Catch glimpse of the mystical Lake Kinrin

I didn’t manage to catch the misty view of Lake Kinrin in March 2023, so this round I told myself I must wake up super early in the morning for it. I am not sure how early one should be here but I was around at 7.30am

This beautiful sight happens on the cold days, from autumn to winter mornings. Due to the temperature differences, it gives such a steamy view from the surface of the lake.

25. Ride on the Sightseeing Train – Yufuin no Mori

This round, I managed to get only ONE ride on the sightseeing train that was from Yufuin back to Hakata. The sightseeing train entering Yufuin from Hakata was blocked out (the timing I want), so we rode on the normal limited express Yufu that took us to Yufuin.

Yufuin no Mori runs 2 to 3 times a day, bringing passengers into Yufuin. And there is also slight differences between Yufuin no Mori 1(2), 5(6) and Yufuin no Mori 3(4). I shall cover this on a full detail post so that you will know which one to chop or which car seats to get. This train is covered by the JR Kyushu North Kyushu Pass and JR Kyushu All Pass. Reservation is a must to board on this train.

26. Must eat Mizutaki 水炊き– The Fukuoka’s Specialty

Come fukuoka, MUST EAT Mizutaki – the Japanese chicken hot pot dish and also the specialty food in Fukuoka prefecture. I had mine in Toriden Hakata Honten once again. Super love its comforting broth that is filled with chicken essence, rich and very very tummy comforting. Read my previous experience here!

27. More Sake in Washudokoro Shuho

A place where you can get to taste a variety of great and rare sake but this place made us leaving with “slimmer” wallet. LOL

Washudokoro Shuho和酒処酒峰
5-1-22 Watanabedori Yayama Bldg. 2F,
Chuo, Fukuoka 810-0004 Fukuoka Prefecture.
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28. Experience the local breakfast in SABATARO

SABATARO is specialized in saba (mackerel) dishes. Expect yourself to get full set of appetisers along with the goma saba (sesame mackerel) and shio saba (grilled salted mackerel), and a pot of freshly cooked rice!

There are only limited seats in the restaurant so reservation is highly required (reservation can be done on Table Check). They offer seatings at 7.30, 8.30, 9.30 am for breakfast session and 11.30am for lunch session (I do think they offer more session nowadays). I got the lunch session last time and it was such a great experience to have tried out the local style lunch in SABATARO!

SABATARO
アバンダント８９,1 Chome−5−11, Akasaka,
Chuo Ward, Fukuoka, Japan, 〒810-0042
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29. ME TIME in THE LOCAL COFFEE STAND Fukuoka

Had a nice ME TIME myself with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake here in THE LOCAL COFFEE STAND Fukuoka on a rainy afternoon. The latte I had was good but the weekend citron was too dry to my liking.

THE LOCAL COFFEE STAND Fukuoka
THE BASICS FUKUOKA 1F, 2 Chome−14−1, Hakataekihigashi,
Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, Japan, 〒812-0013
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30. The Finale meal in Hakata!

Wahhhhh, I must say hor… Izakaya scene in Fukuoka is playing on a next new level! This izakaya Jessie found for us seriously wow-ed us quite a bit. It isn’t any izakaya I have seen or tried out there. Their menu is extremely impressive, offering very creatives dishes infusing western style into Japanese dishes. I wish to be back here again! And I will give a full detail post soon! (I try LOL)