Japan - Sanyo/Sanin coasts or Kanazawa/Kiso/Matsumoto?

Hi,

I was looking for advice for an upcoming trip to Japan this October. I will be spending a week in Kansai (Kyoto, Nara, Osaka) playing tour guide to my parents, for better or worse. I will then have a week on my own, and am torn between heading back down the Sanyo coast, perhaps stopping by Tomonoura and Onomichi, then up to Matsue and Izumo, or visiting some combination of Kanazawa, the Kiso Valley, and Matsumoto. I have visited Hiroshima and Miyajima already in the past.

I enjoy mountain scenery, but also like traveling in areas that are not too overrun by tourists. I also like anything of cultural or historical value. Local food/color is also appreciated. I will probably have a JR pass for this trip, and will be leaving from Narita for my return flight home.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. If it helps any, on my previous visits I really enjoyed two side trips to Hikone, and Hasedera in Nara.

Sounds like a fun trip. To get from Onomichi to Izumo, I'd recommend continuing to follow the coast around the toe of Honshu to Hagi. Stop also at Iwami. Then onto Izumo. Most of the time, you'll find these places to be very uncrowded. Definitely off the beaten path for non-Japanese tourists. You may find that you're at the mercy of infrequent buses to get from the stations to some of the sites.

Some tips on the region in this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan/607962-family-6-japan.html

I live on the Sanin coast so I am biased, but I always heartily recommend Kinosaki Onsen: http://www.kinosaki-hotsprings.com/

Very friendly walking town (at least in the center) with tons of onsen and ryokan to choose from, as well as other interesting places of note. More foreigners visiting recently but still an off the beaten path feel. Truly looks and feels like old Japan. Your rail pass will get you there quickly (and directly in many cases) with an express train from either Kyoto or Osaka/Kobe.

There are also tons of interesting sites nearby... Takeno Beach, Izushi (kind of a little Kyoto, the soba is famous), Genbudo (very close to Kinosaki), and of course just about anywhere you should be able to find Tajima Beef.

Trains are not too bad in the area though to get to Izushi you will need to do a bus. Kinosaki just started an English tourist information center. There is a link to their Facebook page on that site and you can ask them any questions you might have.

Enjoy your trip!

I was looking for advice for an upcoming trip to Japan this October. I will be spending a week in Kansai (Kyoto, Nara, Osaka) playing tour guide to my parents, for better or worse. I will then have a week on my own, and am torn between heading back down the Sanyo coast, perhaps stopping by Tomonoura and Onomichi, then up to Matsue and Izumo, or visiting some combination of Kanazawa, the Kiso Valley, and Matsumoto. I have visited Hiroshima and Miyajima already in the past.

If you've never been to Kanazawa, then I would definitely choose it above Matsue/Izumo. In late October the leaves should be beginning to turn and the atmosphere will be great. You could also hop up to one of the many onsen villages on the Noto Peninsula (such as Wakura Onsen) for a relaxing stay at a ryokan.

Thanks to all for your insight. I will look into all of the suggestions. I wish I had more time to travel, but I suppose this is an excuse to return to Japan for future trips.

FWIW - If you want to spend time in the mountains, you're better off heading towards armagebedar's recommendation. The Japan Alps are within striking distance of Kanazawa (to the south - whereas the Noto peninsula is to the north of the city). However, in that case, I would advise going straight there without trying to fit in any tourism around Sanyo or San'in.