JAPAN
アドベンチャー
Warsaw → Tokyo → Kamakura → Mt Fuji → Kumamoto → Mt Aso → Takachiho → Amakusa → Osaka → Onomichi → Imabari → Matsuyama → Naoshima → Tokyo → Warsaw
Day 01 — Thu, May 7
Departure from Poland
Warsaw at midnight. Ten and a half hours over the Pole. Wake up in Japan.
Tokyo is 7h ahead and you land mid-afternoon. Hydrate, walk the aisle every couple of hours, sleep when you can.
WAW · LO79 calling
Ten hours over the Pole
Snacks for the flight
Day 02 — Fri, May 8
Tokyo Arrival — the lost day
Land at Narita. N'EX to Shibuya. First konbini run. Sleep before midnight.
Withdraw yen at 7-Eleven ATMs — best rates, English menus. Buy a Suica IC card at the airport kiosk on arrival.
First Tokyo skylineFirst konbini onigiri
Shibuya at midnight
Day 03 — Sat, May 9
TeamLab Borderless · Shibuya
Step inside the digital world at 9am. Walk it off through Shibuya till the neon kicks in.
Wear dark clothing at teamLab — projections look best on black. Saido books up fast on weekends — reserve.
TeamLab BorderlessScramble after darkShibuya Sky, golden hour
Day 04 — Sun, May 10
Kamakura Day Trip
13th-century capital. The Great Buddha at noon, hydrangeas, then a slow walk along Yuigahama.
Mid-May = early hydrangeas at Hase-dera. Avoid Sunday afternoon crowds at the Buddha — walk straight from the train.
Daibutsu, cast 1252
Yuigahama at low tideBack to Shibuya by dusk
Day 05 — Mon, May 11
Mt Fuji Loop
Pick up the rental at 7:30. Lake reflections at Oishi, Iyashi village, then home before the cloud rolls in.
Clouds roll in by midday almost daily. Hit Oishi Park first while Fuji is still clean. Backup: Cisco Coffee.
Fuji-san. Finally.Iyashi thatched roofs
Day 06 — Tue, May 12
Tokyo → Kumamoto · JAL629
South to Kyushu by lunch. Pick up the kei car at the airport, drop bags, and walk the castle.
Kei car on Aso roads will be tight — ask Nippon about an upgrade at the counter if it feels underpowered.
JAL629, Haneda
Kumamoto Castle keepKyushu from the wing
Day 07 — Wed, May 13
Aso E-bikes & Kurokawa Onsen
World's largest caldera by morning, a hidden onsen village by afternoon. Three baths on the tegata pass.
Tegata pass (¥1,500) lets you bath-hop 3 onsen in Kurokawa. Bring a small towel and tie up long hair.
Naka-dake crater steam
Kusasenri grasslands
Kurokawa lanterns
Day 08 — Thu, May 14
Takachiho Gorge — Boats
Manai-no-Taki up close — row under the waterfall, walk the Gokase path, end at the cave shrine.
Boat reservation confirmed for 10:00 — arrive 15 min early to check in. Slot is 30 min on the water.
Manai-no-taki rowboatsVolcanic highlands drive
Day 09 — Fri, May 15
Amakusa Islands — Beach Day
Five Bridges out to the islands, white sand at Tomioka, optional dolphins, and one last onsen back home.
Last full day with the kei car. Tomorrow morning is car return + Sakura 752 to Osaka — pack tonight.
Amakusa Five Bridges
Tomioka, no touristsSunset off the islands
Day 10 — Sat, May 16
Kumamoto → Osaka · Sakura 752
Return the car at 10:00. Sakura 752 boards at 11:42. Three hours later you're under the Glico sign.
Reservation already includes seats. Pack a snack for the train — most ekiben are fish-based.
Sakura 752 platform
First Osaka takoyaki
Dotonbori, lit up
Day 11 — Sun, May 17
Classic Osaka — Dotonbori & Namba
The motto is kuidaore — eat till you drop. Vintage in Ame-Mura, neons at sundown, Hozenji lanterns at night.
Pack only the daypack you'll need on tomorrow's bike ride. Yamato AM pickup ships your overnight bag to Katsuragi by evening.
Glico Running ManTakoyaki from the stall
Hozenji lantern alley
Day 12 — Mon, May 18
Shimanami 70km · Matsuyama · Dogo Onsen
Six islands by e-bike, then a train across to Shikoku, then 8pm in the Honkan baths. Epic.
Daypack only — overnight bag is in Matsuyama already. Padded shorts, gloves, sunglasses. Helmet usually included with rental.
Shimanami bridge stretch
Setoda lemon stop
Dogo Onsen Honkan, 20:00Day 13 — Tue, May 19
Naoshima Art Island · Chichu 14:30
Limited Express across to Takamatsu, ferry to Naoshima, Chichu locked in at 14:30. Yellow Pumpkin at golden hour.
Chichu at 14:30 leaves ~3.5h for 3 more sites. Skip Honmura if running late — Pumpkin + Lee Ufan + Benesse are priority. Verify last ferry Miyanoura→Uno.
Yayoi's Yellow Pumpkin
Chichu · Tadao Ando
Benesse House viewDay 14 — Wed, May 20
Osaka → Tokyo · Cocktail Evening
Slow morning in Osaka. Nozomi north. Last cocktail in Ginza.
Reserve the cocktail bar in advance. Bar High Five doesn't have a sign — it's on the 4th floor of the No.26 building.
Nozomi north
Sequence · Miyashita ParkLast cocktail in Ginza
Day 15 — Thu, May 21
Tokyo Chill Day · Souvenirs
Slow morning, packed bags, last shopping. Save energy for tomorrow.
Tax-free kicks in at ¥5,000+ at participating stores — keep your passport handy and don't open sealed items before leaving Japan.
Don Quijote neon haulOne last konbini runShibuya, one more timeDay 16 — Fri, May 22
Departure · LO80 night flight
Drop the bags at NRT in the morning. Spontaneous Tokyo wandering. Then home.
Alternative: Sagawa / Yamato hotel-to-airport service (~¥2,000–3,000/bag). Saves the morning haul.
N'EX to NaritaLO80 wing, sayonaraLast view of Tokyo
The journey
いい旅を！
Have a great trip, Jacek.