Last edit by: beckoa
Arrival info:
beckoa: HA823 SEA-NRT JL267 HND-HIJ 21:20 4.2.26
intuition: OKA-FUK 02APR 13:15 NH1206
lking: ATL-KIX 01APR 20:45 KE7783; &1 Charlene: HNL-KIX 01APR 18:45 HA 849
ChrisFlyer66: Arriving on an ANA flight from Haneda at 8:30 Friday Morning.
BigRedBears: Likely HND-IWK 02APR, but have a back up HND-HIJ 02APR
rxgeek+1: SEA-HND 19:00 1 APR NH117
cocobird: SFO-NRT Mar 24 UA7949 15:20
ClaudiSTR MUC-KIX Mar 31
NewbieRunner: HND-HIJ 30 Mar NH679
nomadic.relief: ICN-FUK OZ134 2 Apr 13:55
Hotels: (rearranged for clarity)
beckoa: Comfort Inn 2-6 April (8k pts/night)
cocobird: Comfort Inn 2-6 April
BigRedBears: Comfort Hotel Hiroshima Otemachi 02-06APR
ice_cold Comfort Inn 2-6 April
intuition: APA Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae Ohashi 02-05 APR
ChrisFlyer66: APA Hotel Hiroshima April 3-6
chopsiuy: APA Hotel Hiroshima April 3-6
ClaudiSTR - APA Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae Ohashi 01-04 APR
lking&1Charlene: Sotetsu Fresa Inn Hiroshima 02-06 APR; Matsue Onsen 06APR
NewbieRunner: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate 02-06 APR
rxgeek+1: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate 2-5 APR
Planning to join pre-do trip to Iwakuni and Kintaikyo Bridge on Thursday 2 April
NewbieRunner
BigRedBears
lking
lking +1
ClaudiSTR
Planning to join meet and greet drinks on Thursday 2 April
BigRedBears
hijiji
NewbieRunner
nomadic.relief
cocobird
ice_cold
lking
lking+1
ClaudiSTR
rxgeek
rxgeek+1
Booked on Kodama 942 (Hello Kitty excursion outbound)
cocobird and ice_cold Car 4 seat 2C and 2D
nomadic.relief Car 4 seat 9D
NewbieRunner; Car 4 seat 10A
ClaudiSTR: Car 4 seat 10D
ChrisFlyer66 Car 4 seat 11A
BigRedBears: Car 4 11B
rxgeek and rxgeek+1 Car 4 11C, 12C
lking Car 4 13B, +1 Car 4 12B
chopsiuy Car 4 seat 13A
intuition; Car 5 seat 2 C+D
beckoa Car 4 Seat 16C
Booked on Kodama 949 (Hello Kitty excursion homebound)
intuition; Car 4 seat 3 C+D
nomadic.relief Car 4 seat 5D
NewbieRunner; Car 4 seat 6A
cocobird and ice_cold Car 4 seat 6B and 6C
ChrisFlyer66 CAR. 4 SEAT. 7-C
BigRedBears: Car 4 7D
ClaudiSTR: Car 4 seat 9A
chopsiuy Car 4 seat 9D
lking Car 4 11A, +1 Car 4 11B
rxgeek and rxgeek+1 Car 4 12D, 13D
beckoa Car 4 Seat 5C
Departure Info:
beckoa: 07.04.26 JL252 HIJ-HND JL85 HND-PVG ** or 07.04.26 JL280/95 IZO-HND-GMP HA872 ICN-SEA
intution: 05APR 14:00 CX513 FUK-HKG
lking: 09APR DL7875 KIX-ICN DL7878 ICN-ATL; &1Charlene: 08APR HA 850 KIX-HNL
ChrisFlyer66 and chipsiuy taking ferry to Matsuyama on Monday.
BigRedBears: FUK-ICN-JFK 09APR
rxgeek+1: Train 5 APR Hiroshima-Osaka; 15 APR NRT-SEA HA824
cocobird and ice_cold: Apr 8 BR195 NRT-TPE 20:40
ClaudiSTR Apr 4 late afternoon via train to catch my Flight LH743 KIX-MUC on April 5
nomadic.relief Apr 8 JL280 IZO-HND
beckoa: HA823 SEA-NRT JL267 HND-HIJ 21:20 4.2.26
intuition: OKA-FUK 02APR 13:15 NH1206
lking: ATL-KIX 01APR 20:45 KE7783; &1 Charlene: HNL-KIX 01APR 18:45 HA 849
ChrisFlyer66: Arriving on an ANA flight from Haneda at 8:30 Friday Morning.
BigRedBears: Likely HND-IWK 02APR, but have a back up HND-HIJ 02APR
rxgeek+1: SEA-HND 19:00 1 APR NH117
cocobird: SFO-NRT Mar 24 UA7949 15:20
ClaudiSTR MUC-KIX Mar 31
NewbieRunner: HND-HIJ 30 Mar NH679
nomadic.relief: ICN-FUK OZ134 2 Apr 13:55
Hotels: (rearranged for clarity)
beckoa: Comfort Inn 2-6 April (8k pts/night)
cocobird: Comfort Inn 2-6 April
BigRedBears: Comfort Hotel Hiroshima Otemachi 02-06APR
ice_cold Comfort Inn 2-6 April
intuition: APA Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae Ohashi 02-05 APR
ChrisFlyer66: APA Hotel Hiroshima April 3-6
chopsiuy: APA Hotel Hiroshima April 3-6
ClaudiSTR - APA Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae Ohashi 01-04 APR
lking&1Charlene: Sotetsu Fresa Inn Hiroshima 02-06 APR; Matsue Onsen 06APR
NewbieRunner: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate 02-06 APR
rxgeek+1: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate 2-5 APR
Planning to join pre-do trip to Iwakuni and Kintaikyo Bridge on Thursday 2 April
NewbieRunner
BigRedBears
lking
lking +1
ClaudiSTR
Planning to join meet and greet drinks on Thursday 2 April
BigRedBears
hijiji
NewbieRunner
nomadic.relief
cocobird
ice_cold
lking
lking+1
ClaudiSTR
rxgeek
rxgeek+1
Booked on Kodama 942 (Hello Kitty excursion outbound)
cocobird and ice_cold Car 4 seat 2C and 2D
nomadic.relief Car 4 seat 9D
NewbieRunner; Car 4 seat 10A
ClaudiSTR: Car 4 seat 10D
ChrisFlyer66 Car 4 seat 11A
BigRedBears: Car 4 11B
rxgeek and rxgeek+1 Car 4 11C, 12C
lking Car 4 13B, +1 Car 4 12B
chopsiuy Car 4 seat 13A
intuition; Car 5 seat 2 C+D
beckoa Car 4 Seat 16C
Booked on Kodama 949 (Hello Kitty excursion homebound)
intuition; Car 4 seat 3 C+D
nomadic.relief Car 4 seat 5D
NewbieRunner; Car 4 seat 6A
cocobird and ice_cold Car 4 seat 6B and 6C
ChrisFlyer66 CAR. 4 SEAT. 7-C
BigRedBears: Car 4 7D
ClaudiSTR: Car 4 seat 9A
chopsiuy Car 4 seat 9D
lking Car 4 11A, +1 Car 4 11B
rxgeek and rxgeek+1 Car 4 12D, 13D
beckoa Car 4 Seat 5C
Departure Info:
beckoa: 07.04.26 JL252 HIJ-HND JL85 HND-PVG ** or 07.04.26 JL280/95 IZO-HND-GMP HA872 ICN-SEA
intution: 05APR 14:00 CX513 FUK-HKG
lking: 09APR DL7875 KIX-ICN DL7878 ICN-ATL; &1Charlene: 08APR HA 850 KIX-HNL
ChrisFlyer66 and chipsiuy taking ferry to Matsuyama on Monday.
BigRedBears: FUK-ICN-JFK 09APR
rxgeek+1: Train 5 APR Hiroshima-Osaka; 15 APR NRT-SEA HA824
cocobird and ice_cold: Apr 8 BR195 NRT-TPE 20:40
ClaudiSTR Apr 4 late afternoon via train to catch my Flight LH743 KIX-MUC on April 5
nomadic.relief Apr 8 JL280 IZO-HND
Japan Do 2026 : Hiroshima, 2-5 April 2026
#61
Moderator, Finnair



Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: EB Diamond, AY+ Gold, A3*G, Strawberry Lifetime Platinum, GHA Discovery Titanium, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 15,168
Are you just doing Japan DO or planning to explore other parts of Japan? There is another pass that might be interesting for you. It covers larger area, but also a bit more expensive.
Setouchi Area Pass Information | West Japan Railway Company
Setouchi Area Pass Information | West Japan Railway Company
Before the DO we're in Ishigaki and Okinawa (no JR lines there
) and as we land in and depart from Fukuoka for the DO, there is a case to be made for either a railpass or for single tickets. The Setouchi area pass does indeed cover more (both time and area) and is a better value for anyone needing the broader coverage. For me, the main decider is if seats can be reserved for the JR passes online in advance. I do not want to end up in a scenario landing in FUK just to find out that all reseved seat cars between Hakata and Hiroshima are full. (Getting seats on Hello Kitty Shinkansen before they cancel the service on may 17 is also an option and would be a bonus!)
My reading is that single fare tickets with seating can be bought in advance online 1 months prior to departure. So I am basically looking for experiences using the JR West online tool with a JR west pass. If people say they have done it, I am leaning towards a pass. If not, I will probably buy single fare tickets online on march 2.
#62




Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,390
Last X times I used Japan Rail Pass (via www.japanrailpass-reservation.net). This is for a country wide pass 7/14/21 days. It allowed unlimited reservations / changes / cancellations up to 6 minutes before the departure. This has been an incredibly flexible, albeit somewhat expensive, tool to travel on JR trains. Obviously, this would be an overkill for you.
I see that the cost of the JR West Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass is fairly cheap at 15,000 JPY (~$100 USD) for 5 days. For travel between Hakata and Hiroshima it is a no brainer. Personally, I would consider not flying FUK-HIJ as I recall that the limousine bus from HIJ was rather annoying. However, it is possible I didn't know what I was doing the last time I took that bus.
Oh man, now I'll have FOMO on Hello Kitty Shinkansen.
For anyone interested in alternative weekend side trips:
- Karato Fish Market in Shimonoseki (weekends only) - IMHO, the best fish market I've been in Japan
- Toto Museum in Kokura
Both of these would be covered by JR West Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass
I see that the cost of the JR West Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass is fairly cheap at 15,000 JPY (~$100 USD) for 5 days. For travel between Hakata and Hiroshima it is a no brainer. Personally, I would consider not flying FUK-HIJ as I recall that the limousine bus from HIJ was rather annoying. However, it is possible I didn't know what I was doing the last time I took that bus.
Oh man, now I'll have FOMO on Hello Kitty Shinkansen.
For anyone interested in alternative weekend side trips:
- Karato Fish Market in Shimonoseki (weekends only) - IMHO, the best fish market I've been in Japan
- Toto Museum in Kokura
Both of these would be covered by JR West Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass
It will be just to cover the DO.
Before the DO we're in Ishigaki and Okinawa (no JR lines there
) and as we land in and depart from Fukuoka for the DO, there is a case to be made for either a railpass or for single tickets.
The Setouchi area pass does indeed cover more (both time and area) and is a better value for anyone needing the broader coverage. For me, the main decider is if seats can be reserved for the JR passes online in advance. I do not want to end up in a scenario landing in FUK just to find out that all reseved seat cars between Hakata and Hiroshima are full. (Getting seats on Hello Kitty Shinkansen before they cancel the service on may 17 is also an option and would be a bonus!)
My reading is that single fare tickets with seating can be bought in advance online 1 months prior to departure. So I am basically looking for experiences using the JR West online tool with a JR west pass. If people say they have done it, I am leaning towards a pass. If not, I will probably buy single fare tickets online on march 2.
Before the DO we're in Ishigaki and Okinawa (no JR lines there
) and as we land in and depart from Fukuoka for the DO, there is a case to be made for either a railpass or for single tickets.The Setouchi area pass does indeed cover more (both time and area) and is a better value for anyone needing the broader coverage. For me, the main decider is if seats can be reserved for the JR passes online in advance. I do not want to end up in a scenario landing in FUK just to find out that all reseved seat cars between Hakata and Hiroshima are full. (Getting seats on Hello Kitty Shinkansen before they cancel the service on may 17 is also an option and would be a bonus!)
My reading is that single fare tickets with seating can be bought in advance online 1 months prior to departure. So I am basically looking for experiences using the JR West online tool with a JR west pass. If people say they have done it, I am leaning towards a pass. If not, I will probably buy single fare tickets online on march 2.
#64
Original Poster
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)




Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 30,407
Hello Kitty Shinkansen will cease to operate in the spring of 2026. 
https://www.jr-hellokittyshinkansen.jp/cp/finale/

https://www.jr-hellokittyshinkansen.jp/cp/finale/
#65
Moderator, Finnair



Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: EB Diamond, AY+ Gold, A3*G, Strawberry Lifetime Platinum, GHA Discovery Titanium, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 15,168
https://eki.jr-odekake.net/global/en...eceive/station
As for Hello Kitty train, I guess the unresereved car is the better option anyway.
With the current schedule, the service is a bad fit for my FUK arrival/departure flights and I can't do either way onto Hello Kitty without missing out more or less a full day of DO time. I will need to think about it some more.
Hakata →Hirosima
KODAMA 942
7:04 →8:40
Hiroshima → Hakata
KODAMA949
14:08 → 15:51
One possibility is to arrange a trip as an alternative to some of the DO activities. Easiest is then to go in the Osaka direction, but 博多弁の女の子はかわいいと思いませんか?
#66




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: STR
Programs: LH HON, UA 1K, BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, IHG Platin Ambassador
Posts: 280
I had a nice chat with NewbieRunner some weeks ago about this Do.
She explained everything so nice and was helpful with my travel plans.
I can confirm my attendance at the Do and will be in Hiroshima from April 1st early afternoon to April 4th late afternoon.
Regarding hotels I have a booking at Hilton and at ANA Crowne Plaza. Or maybe I stay at one of the Japanese hotels?
I'm looking forward to a great schedule and seeing many familiar faces.
She explained everything so nice and was helpful with my travel plans.
I can confirm my attendance at the Do and will be in Hiroshima from April 1st early afternoon to April 4th late afternoon.
Regarding hotels I have a booking at Hilton and at ANA Crowne Plaza. Or maybe I stay at one of the Japanese hotels?
I'm looking forward to a great schedule and seeing many familiar faces.
#67



Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northern California
Programs: Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Aeroplan 25K, UA Silver, AA Plat
Posts: 586
I am so forgetful. Amelia and I have had tickets for months, but am just posting now that we are coming. We are staying at the Comfort Hotel. Pre Do, running around to Tottori, Matsui and Yamaguchi. Post Do going to Yokohama (Noodle Museum anyone?) See you all soon!
#68




Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,390
Ill check rates and where people are staying, but leaning towards Dormy Inn Annex.
Will have limited time for side quests this time around, so will likely play it by ear depending on flights schedule. But was thinking some combination of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Oita, Miyazaki for post-DO.
CocoBird, what do you recommend in Tottori?
Will have limited time for side quests this time around, so will likely play it by ear depending on flights schedule. But was thinking some combination of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Oita, Miyazaki for post-DO.
CocoBird, what do you recommend in Tottori?
#69



Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northern California
Programs: Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Aeroplan 25K, UA Silver, AA Plat
Posts: 586
I’ll check rates and where people are staying, but leaning towards Dormy Inn Annex.
Will have limited time for side quests this time around, so will likely play it by ear depending on flights schedule. But was thinking some combination of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Oita, Miyazaki for post-DO.
CocoBird, what do you recommend in Tottori?
Will have limited time for side quests this time around, so will likely play it by ear depending on flights schedule. But was thinking some combination of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Oita, Miyazaki for post-DO.
CocoBird, what do you recommend in Tottori?
#71
Original Poster
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)




Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 30,407
Apologies for the long silence. Ive had some difficulty finding suitable onsen(s) since my original choice(s) did not seem suitable but I have now selected the following.
Post-Do 6-7 April (one night)
Tamatsukuri Onsen Chorakuen
https://www.choraku.co.jp/en/
Select Breakfast and Dinner Plan under Plan List. The price will be 30,250 (plus 150 onsen tax) for one person in a room, or 22,550 (plus 150 onsen tax) per person with two people in a room. They only have a few rooms left but I believe there will be a few of us on the post-do Onsen trip. I suggest anyone interested should book as soon as possible.
Tamatsukuri Onsen is one of the oldest onsens in Japan with a history dating back to at least 733 AD, where it was introduced as The Bath of The Gods in the Ancient Chronicles of Izumo. It is near the city of Matsue and is about 4 hours from Hiroshima by bus or train. More on travelling options including the use of a regional rail pass in a separate post.
Please see post #164 for travel information.
Also if anyone is interested in a second Onsen in the area please see a separate post.

Tamatsukuri Onsen

Rotenburo at Chorakuen - the largest open-air hot spring for mixed bathing in Japan!
Post-Do 6-7 April (one night)
Tamatsukuri Onsen Chorakuen
https://www.choraku.co.jp/en/
Select Breakfast and Dinner Plan under Plan List. The price will be 30,250 (plus 150 onsen tax) for one person in a room, or 22,550 (plus 150 onsen tax) per person with two people in a room. They only have a few rooms left but I believe there will be a few of us on the post-do Onsen trip. I suggest anyone interested should book as soon as possible.
Tamatsukuri Onsen is one of the oldest onsens in Japan with a history dating back to at least 733 AD, where it was introduced as The Bath of The Gods in the Ancient Chronicles of Izumo. It is near the city of Matsue and is about 4 hours from Hiroshima by bus or train. More on travelling options including the use of a regional rail pass in a separate post.
Please see post #164 for travel information.
Also if anyone is interested in a second Onsen in the area please see a separate post.

Tamatsukuri Onsen

Rotenburo at Chorakuen - the largest open-air hot spring for mixed bathing in Japan!
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Mar 19, 2026 at 3:39 am
#72
Original Poster
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)




Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 30,407
For anyone wishing to extend their post-do, a visit to Izumo Shrine which is about 1.5 hours from Tamatsukuri Onsen will be followed by an overnight stay close to the shrine.
April 7 - April 8 (one night)
Inishie no Yado Keiun
https://dormy-hotels.com/resort/hotels/keiun/
Choose Early Bird Discount 30 which should give you a 4,000 discount per person. So 30,000 for one person in a room, or 27,000 per person wth two people sharing a room.
They also have a few rooms left so I suggest anyone interested should book as soon as possible. We have discussed a possible Dormy-Inn Do in the past. Keiun is actually an upmarket ryokan run by Dormy Hotels Group. If you have not stayed at a Dormy Inn or Onyado Nono before you will have to register as a member first.
Izumo Taisha is considered the second most important Shinto shrine in Japan, next to Ise Shrine which we visited in 2024. There are no records of exactly when Izumo Taisha was built, but it is often considered the oldest shrine in Japan, being already in existence in the early 700s as revealed by the nation's oldest chronicles. The main deity enshrined at Izumo Taisha is Okuninushi no Okami. According to the creation myths, Okuninushi was the creator of the land of Japan and the ruler of Izumo. He also became known as the deity of good relationships and marriages.

Izumo Taisha (Shrine)

Entrance to Keiun
April 7 - April 8 (one night)
Inishie no Yado Keiun
https://dormy-hotels.com/resort/hotels/keiun/
Choose Early Bird Discount 30 which should give you a 4,000 discount per person. So 30,000 for one person in a room, or 27,000 per person wth two people sharing a room.
They also have a few rooms left so I suggest anyone interested should book as soon as possible. We have discussed a possible Dormy-Inn Do in the past. Keiun is actually an upmarket ryokan run by Dormy Hotels Group. If you have not stayed at a Dormy Inn or Onyado Nono before you will have to register as a member first.
Izumo Taisha is considered the second most important Shinto shrine in Japan, next to Ise Shrine which we visited in 2024. There are no records of exactly when Izumo Taisha was built, but it is often considered the oldest shrine in Japan, being already in existence in the early 700s as revealed by the nation's oldest chronicles. The main deity enshrined at Izumo Taisha is Okuninushi no Okami. According to the creation myths, Okuninushi was the creator of the land of Japan and the ruler of Izumo. He also became known as the deity of good relationships and marriages.

Izumo Taisha (Shrine)

Entrance to Keiun
#73
Original Poster
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)




Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 30,407
List of attendees
I have created a list of attendees in post #7 based on what people have posted in the thread so far. Can you please let me know if any change/update is necessary? I will be asking who is coming to the meet-and-greet drinks on Thursday, the Do dinner on Friday and Itsukushima/Miyajima visit in the next week or so.
I have created a list of attendees in post #7 based on what people have posted in the thread so far. Can you please let me know if any change/update is necessary? I will be asking who is coming to the meet-and-greet drinks on Thursday, the Do dinner on Friday and Itsukushima/Miyajima visit in the next week or so.
#74




Join Date: May 2011
Location: CMH
Programs: UA-Ag, TK & I Prefer-Elite, Marriott-Ti; IHG-Pt; Hilton-Dia
Posts: 1,391
List of attendees
I have created a list of attendees in post #7 based on what people have posted in the thread so far. Can you please let me know if any change/update is necessary? I will be asking who is coming to the meet-and-greet drinks on Thursday, the Do dinner on Friday and Itsukushima/Miyajima visit in the next week or so.
I have created a list of attendees in post #7 based on what people have posted in the thread so far. Can you please let me know if any change/update is necessary? I will be asking who is coming to the meet-and-greet drinks on Thursday, the Do dinner on Friday and Itsukushima/Miyajima visit in the next week or so.
#75




Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,390
Thu: Iwakuni, YES
Thu: meet and greet drinks, YES
Fri morning, YES
Fri: dinner, NO
Sat: Itsukushima/Miyajima, YES
Sun: TBD
Post-DO: at the moment looks like NO
Thu: meet and greet drinks, YES
Fri morning, YES
Fri: dinner, NO
Sat: Itsukushima/Miyajima, YES
Sun: TBD
Post-DO: at the moment looks like NO
List of attendees
I have created a list of attendees in post #7 based on what people have posted in the thread so far. Can you please let me know if any change/update is necessary? I will be asking who is coming to the meet-and-greet drinks on Thursday, the Do dinner on Friday and Itsukushima/Miyajima visit in the next week or so.
I have created a list of attendees in post #7 based on what people have posted in the thread so far. Can you please let me know if any change/update is necessary? I will be asking who is coming to the meet-and-greet drinks on Thursday, the Do dinner on Friday and Itsukushima/Miyajima visit in the next week or so.




