Originally Posted by
schriste
Note that the last remaining overnight sleeper train runs between Tokyo and both Matsue and Takamatsu (the train splits at Okayama). Booking can be a challenge, but i did it back in February and enjoyed it. Cost is likely more than the plane, so only consider if the option itself sounds like fun.
I've looked at the Sunrise Izumo/Seto before but had totally forgotten about it until your reminder. I am considering it but it is a little difficult for a day in which I only have four days on the ground in Japan. Which room type did you go with or did you just do the Nobi Nobi seat?
Originally Posted by
kaka
did you go to the japan do last year?
Nope. I've only done one DO, which was a Mini-DO to visit the Boeing factories up in the Seattle area.
Originally Posted by
kaka
anyways, after i asked about kushiro national park vs shiretoko, i've decided to go to both. lol! I shall see. Would go to kushiro to make 3 other people do waht i wanted to do first, then will go with the flow for shiretoko. maybe will do a cycle trip or just spend some time walking in the park
That sounds like a great trip and I briefly peeked at Kushiro after your posts but at this point, I'm just glad I have it narrowed down to one of two places. If I had more time, I'd probably just stick with a longer Shikoku trip as a whole or do a Matsue/Izumo trip combined with Hiroshima/Okayama.
Originally Posted by
beep88
I've been to both, several times. For the city I like Matsue more, a water city with canals. Takamatsu itself has very few attractions other than the garden. It is more quiet than Matsue. I ran into quite a lot of business travellers (factory technical personnel type) at Matsue at different time of the year.
Very interesting and thanks for the insight,
beep88. Takamatsu is twice as big as Matsue and walking around the city via Google Streetview, it feels bigger and more lively than Matsue. I never would've guessed.
Originally Posted by
beep88
At my budget hotel there was a large group of UK tourists. Walking along the bridge, I heard mandarin over the loudspeaker from a passing cruise boat 500m away.
I'm okay with people being around as it is inevitable that there will be other tourists and I'm not better or worse than them. I just figured that Takamatsu is much more popular with tourists, both domestic and international, than Matsue is.
Originally Posted by
freecia
If you wind up in Takamatsu, Busshozan onsen is reachable from downtown via public transit
Wow, that looks fantastic. I had read that there were onsen in Kotohira and I had planned to drop in on one after visiting Konpira Shrine.
Originally Posted by
freecia
Dogo Onsen sounds more glamorous than it is. It is a traditional older building done in a hodge-podge add on style as you'd expect from "Spirited Away". I doubt I'd go to the main building 2nd floor one again as it felt somewhat cramped and there are a lot nicer/more varied onsen to visit. A new Dogo annex building just opened up. An indoor sento fan might feel differently as might those with tattoos (Dogo onsen allows people with tattoos in their communal areas which is still rare). I did enjoy the sunset view from Matsuyama Castle over the city & water.
I feel like I'd have to go to Dogo Onsen, even if it isn't that nice in there although I would be inclined to find somewhere nicer for subsequent onsen visits on the trip. At this point though, Matsuyama seems like a distant third option for this trip and sadly, I don't think I have the time to really tack it on as a day trip from Takamatsu.