6 weeks. Countless train rides. Thousands of kilometers. One unforgettable journey across Japan. It has been hubby's bucket list to slow-travel all around Japan, and we are glad to finally make this a reality. From vibrant cities to quiet countryside, snow-covered mountains to coastal towns, ancient temples to modern skylines — we are grateful for the opportunity to experience and see so many different parts of this country. We were also fortunate to experience the cherry blossom season this time around. Arigato gozaimasu, Japan, for the wonderful experiences and memories, and for showing us again what a unique country you are, with amazing culture and people.
6-Weeks Around Japan
24 Feb - 2 Mar 2026: Tokyo
2-3 Mar 2026: Hakone
3-5 Mar 2026: Nagoya, Nakasendo Trail
5-8 Mar 2026: Kyoto, Uji
8-12 Mar 2026: Osaka
12-17 Mar 2026: Sapporo, Niseko, Hakodate
17-18 Mar 2026: Akita
18-22 Mar 2026: Sendai, Ginzan Onsen
22-25 Mar 2026: Kanazawa, Shirakawago
25- 29 Mar 2026: Hiroshima
29 Mar - 4 Apr 2026: Kokura, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki
4-6 Apr 2026: Beppu
6-7 Apr 2026: Fukuoka
4 Apr 2026 (Sat): Fukuoka - Beppu
After 5 nights in Fukuoka, we are making our way to our final city on this Japan trip...Beppu. Took the 3-hour bus from Fukuoka station to Beppu at 9am. This bus ride cost 3,250 yen/pax/way ($20). I was able to book this bus ticket one month in advance when the tickets were available. Notice the courtesy reminders on the bus.
The weather was rainy and gloomy but thankfully it didn't rain when we arrived Beppu at 12.10pm.
Walked about 8 min from the bus stop to our hotel. It was still too early to check in but we were able to drop our bags at the hotel, and also borrowed towels to bring to the Onsen.
Took the 12.50pm bus from Beppu station to Umi Jigoku, one of the "7 Hells of Beppu".
We didn't want to visit all 7 'Hells' so we chose to visit just this one. The entrance fee for Umi Jigoku costs 500 yen/pax ($3.20).
Umi Jigoku is known for its milky blue pool with strong venting steam.
Beppu is renowned as one of Japan's hot spring capitals, and this place was definitely 'steamy'. The 'steamy' photos above were all taken within few seconds...as if I'm at a concert with smoke effect...lol!
Also saw more cherry blossoms here.
Left Umi Jigoku at 2.30pm and decided to walk 25 min to the Yukemuri Observation Deck.
Panoramic views from Yukemuri Observation Deck. Beppu is a famous hot spring resort city, known for its abundant geothermal activity, with steam rising from the ground and numerous onsen (hot springs).
From here, we could see white plumes of steam drift upward from the roofs of ryokans and public bathhouses like the town is on fire. We could also see Mount Ogiyama which was just burnt 2 days before we arrived, as part of the annual Ogiyama Fire Festival. The event serves to welcome spring's arrival, and it's one of the largest fire events in all of Japan. This controlled burn, rooted in traditional agricultural and spiritual rituals, symbolizes renewal and the welcoming of spring. The flames light up the night sky, creating a mesmerizing spectacle visible from many parts of the city.
Weather was nice for all the walking we did around Beppu.
Had some time to spare before our 5pm onsen booking so we stopped by McD for late lunch before walking to Hyotan Onsen.
Hyotan Onsen is the only Michelin 3-star hot spring in Japan. It is famous for its 100% natural, free-flowing spring water.
We called a week in advance to book the Kajika private open-air family bath (onsen and steam room) at 2400 yen for 1 hour.
It was nice to have a private bath because well...for privacy iykyk.
After a relaxing Onsen experience, we took the bus back to Beppu station at 6pm. Stopped by the supermarket at Beppu station to get dinner before walking back to our hotel.
Our hotel for 2 nights in Beppu was Amanek Inn Beppu. Apart from its convenient location close to Beppu station, the best part of this hotel is that we could use the facilities (rooftop pool and Onsen) at their sister hotel next door, which was more expensive, so this hotel was a good value for money.
Booked this 2-night stay for a total of $116 using my CapitalOne Venture X hotel credit.
This hotel was pretty basic but had everything we needed for a comfortable stay, including a microwave in the 2nd floor.
5 Apr 2026 (Sun): Beppu
We intentionally timed our visit to Beppu on the first weekend of April, because I was hoping to catch the Beppu's Onsen Festival. The exact date of the festival was only announced closer to the event so we were lucky with our timing to visit during the festival.
Btw there were warning signs that translated to "During the Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival between 3pm to 4pm, pedestrians may get splashed with hot spring water as part of the Hot Spring Splashing Festival! Please be careful as the ground may also be slippery."
Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival is a massive annual celebration, designated as an Onsen Appreciation Day, to honor the blessings of its abundant hot springs. Centered around JR Beppu Station, the festival features traditional Japanese dances, kagura performances. It felt like everyone in Beppu of all ages participated in the festivities.
The festival started around 11am with Japanese traditional dance and singing on Ekimae street, which was very close to our hotel. I was impressed with the old ladies dancing on clogs. The two elderly ladies who were sitting and watching the performance caught my attention coz it looks like they used to participate in this event (knowing the dance).
The festival continued at 1pm with a parade that seemed to bring out everyone in Beppu. There were marching bands, dancers, and representatives from various organizations in the community. The marching band reminds me of our school band days, this parade felt similar to our Merdeka parade.
There were also a procession of portable shrines carrying the deity of onsen.
The highlight of Beppu's Onsen Festival was definitely the water-splashing parade (Yubukkake Matsuri). Many people know about Songkran in Thailand but I'm sure a lot of people don't know about Beppu's Onsen festival. I was semi-geared up for the occassion and had my rain jacket ready for the party, but still strategically stood away from the water trucks coz they looked too intense. I forgot to pack my flip flops so had make do with my boots and shorts...very 'fashionable'...lol!
Torrents of onsen water sprayed from hoses along the parade route, soaking participants and spectators alike.
With water guns added to the mix, it's a thrilling event where both kids and adults gleefully splash around. It was absolute chaos and fun. Fortunately I didn't get soaked, just got some water splashes from water guns. Hubby didn't want to get wet so he retreated back to hotel earlier, while I had fun watching everyone having a great time being splashed and soaked.
After the water splashing parade ended, the party continued at the stage area where everyone jammed to the music and continued getting splashed until the party finally wrapped up at 4pm. This festival was so fun I was smiling the whole time as I was editing the videos.
Finally had time to check out the hotel's rooftop pool. The pool was heated.
Amazed by the 360 view of Beppu from here. Cool to see the steam everywhere in the city.
Definitely recommend paying the price of staying at Amanek Inn Beppu and using these facilities next door at Amanek Beppu Yula-Re.
Went back to the rooftop again at 8.15pm for the night view.
Getting discounted bentos at a Japanese supermarket. 7pm at Japan supermarket... Staff (green apron) is putting 40% discount sticker on prepared meals. White shirt uncle is very serious for the discounted food. Blue tshirt uncle shooked by white shirt uncle's sneaky move. Staff laughing at that reaction. (P.S. I was just gonna take a random video and hilariously captured this)
6 Apr 2026 (Mon): Beppu - Fukuoka
After 2 nights in Beppu, it was time to return to Fukuoka as our trip is coming to an end. Checked out at 10am and had our bento lunch in the hotel before walking to the bus stop.
Took the 11am Kamenoi bus for our 3-hour journey from Beppu to Fukuoka. Bye bye steamy town!
Made it back to Fukuoka at 2pm. There was an Ichiran at the mall next to our hotel so of course we had to get one last round of Ichiran before we leave Japan. I decided to count all the Ichiran we visited on this trip, and realized we only went 7 times in 6 weeks...not as much as I felt but that's because supermarket bentos took over. Ichiran visited: Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, Kokura, Fukuoka (x2).
Stopped by ANA Crowne Plaza Fukuoka to pick up our bags and the staff already had them ready on a cart (we gave them our return date when we left). We were back at this same hotel (Comfort Hotel Hakata) where we stayed on our first night in Fukuoka. Booked this big family room for 8,000 Choice points. It was good we got this big room for our final night in Japan as we needed the space to lay out our stuffs to do our final packing.
Appreciating Japanese efficiency and discipline on our last full day in Japan. Everyone waited in line orderly at the bus stop. Supermarket cashier scanning and organizing our items into a separate basket neatly and efficiently. She also proactively asked if we wanted chopsticks when she saw we had bentos in our basket.
7 Apr 2026 (Tues): Fukuoka - Tokyo / Chengdu
Our 6-week Japan trip is finally coming to an end. Had a leisurely breakfast at 9am.
It was nice that the hotel had a scale to weigh our bags. We've been lugging 17.4kg (my backpack), 19.1kg (hubby's backpack), 12.1kg (hubby's video games) all around Japan. I'm impressed our 'Amazing Race' backpacks are still holding strong after carrying all these weights over the years.
Checked out at 11am to go to the airport via the subway.
Arrived Fukuoka airport at 11.30am after a quick 5 min subway ride from Hakata station...super convenient. Checked in for hubby at the JAL counter and glad that they were able to check his backpack all the way to US even though he had an overnight transit at Haneda airport.
After bidding goodbye to hubby at Fukuoka Airport's domestic terminal at 12pm, I took a shuttle bus to the international terminal.
Yes we are not traveling together, he was traveling back to the US via Tokyo with JAL while my journey continues with Asiana via Incheon to China.
I had about 4 hours to wait before my flight at 4.25pm so I visited both the Priority Pass lounges in Fukuoka Airport - Korean Air Lounge and Lounge Fukuoka. The Korean Air lounge was smaller but I preferred their food better, the Shin ramen and of course the Asahi beer machine.
Lounge Fukuoka was larger but I wasn't a fan of the buffet options.
Hubby's POV from his journey...1hr 45 min flight from Fukuoka to Tokyo Haneda on JAL.
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport (booked with 12,877 Chase points).
8 Apr 2026 (Wed): Tokyo - Dallas - Huntsville
Hubby's POV of his fancy flight on A350 JAL Biz from Tokyo Haneda to Dallas. He was enjoying too much and forgot to take photo of his main meal - steak. Managed to book 2 tickets for this biz class flight for 60,000 AA miles + $45.21/pax a year in advance but cancelled MIL's flight after finalizing her travel plans. I remember booking this hard-to-find award ticket in the car when we were roadtripping in Germany last year. Booked AA economy for the Dallas-Huntsville leg for 4,500 Alaska miles + $18.10.
That's a wrap for our 6-weeks trip around Japan...phew!
Oh wait...one last post with a recap of our trip and the total costs to wrap up this trip report. =)
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