Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Shizuoka 静岡県 - Day 7: Atami-shi 熱海市, Shimoda-shi 下田市; Izu Okawa Onsen 伊豆大川温泉

Day 7: 12.11.2017 (Sun)
* Day 7 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Breakfast: Toyoko Inn Kakegawa-eki Shinkansen Minami-guchi 東横INN掛川駅新幹線南口

Kakegawa JR 掛川駅 (0748 hrs) > Atami JR 熱海駅 (0837 hrs)
🚅 by Kodama こだま 630, via Tokaido Shinkansen 東海道新幹線.

👣 Walked to Sun Beach.

Visited Sun Beach サンビーチ.

Sun Beach サンビーチ (0951 hrs) > Atami Castle 熱海城 (1004 hrs)
🚍 by Yu Yu bus 湯遊バス. [250 yen]
https://www.tokaibus.jp/page.jsp?id=6173

Visited Atami Castle 熱海城. Did not enter the castle. 

Atami Castle 熱海城 (1034 hrs) > Atami Ekimae 熱海駅前 (1053 hrs)
🚍 by Yu Yu bus 湯遊バス. [250 yen]

Lunch: Kichi+ キチプラス
http://www.cafe-kichi.com/kichi+/

Dessert: Cafe Kichi カフェキチ
http://www.cafe-kichi.com/cafekichi/index.html

Atami JR 熱海駅 (1231 hrs) > Izukyu Shimoda 伊豆急下田駅 (1408 hrs)
🚆 by Izu Craile 1 クレイル.

Visited Michi no eki Kaikoku Shimoda Minato 道の駅開国下田みなと.
http://www.kaikokushimodaminato.co.jp/

Visited Perry Road ペリーロード.
http://www.shimoda-city.info/tourism/perryroad.html

Dessert: Patisserie Que Sera Sera パティスリー ケセラセラ
https://www.facebook.com/p.queserasera/

Izukyu Shimoda 伊豆急下田駅 (1636 hrs) > Izu Okawa 伊豆大川駅 (1715 hrs)
🚆 by local train, via Izu Kyuko line 伊豆急行線. [1,000 yen]

🏨 Checked in: Izuokawa 美味の宿　伊豆大川
http://www.izuohokawa.co.jp/

Dinner: Izuokawa 美味の宿　伊豆大川

- End of Day 7 -

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県, Shizuoka 静岡県 - Day 6: Takahagi-shi 高萩市, Shizuoka-shi 静岡市

Day 6: 11.11.2017 (Sat)
* Day 6 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Breakfast: Unoshima Villa 日立・太田尻海岸 うのしまヴィラ　

🚙 Complimentary transfer by Unoshima Villa to Ogitsu JR Station.

Rainbow spotted at Ogitsu JR Station!

Ogitsu JR 小木津駅 (0800 hrs) > Takahagi JR 高萩駅 (0811 hrs)
🚆 by local train, via Joban line 常磐線.

Takahagi Ekimae 高萩駅前 (0830 hrs) > Hananuki Keikou 花貫渓谷 (0900 hrs)
🚍 by Hananuki Keikou Shuttle Bus 花貫渓谷シャトルバス. [500 yen]
* Note: Shuttle bus is only in operation on weekends during Hananuki Keikou Koyo Matsuri period. 

Visited Hananuki Keikou 花貫渓谷.
http://www.city.takahagi.ibaraki.jp/page/page000012.html

Hananuki Keikou 花貫渓谷 (1020 hrs) > Takahagi Ekimae 高萩駅前 (1045 hrs)
🚍 by Hananuki Keikou Shuttle Bus 花貫渓谷シャトルバス. [500 yen]

Takahagi JR 高萩駅 (1051 hrs) > Mito JR 水戸駅 (1126 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Hitachi ひたち 10.

Collected luggage from Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi.

Mito JR (1153 hrs) 水戸駅 > Tokyo JR 東京駅 (1313 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Tokiwa ときわ 72.

Tokyo JR 東京駅 (1326 hrs) > Kakegawa JR 掛川駅 (1510 hrs)
🚅 by Kodama こだま 659, via Tokaido Shinakansen 東海道新幹線.

🏨 Checked in: Toyoko Inn Kakegawa-eki Shinkansen Minami-guchi 東横INN掛川駅新幹線南口
https://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/search/detail/00222

Kakegawa JR 掛川駅 (1605 hrs) > Shizuoka JR 静岡駅 (1619 hrs)
🚅 by Kodama こだま 662, via Tokaido Shinkansen 東海道新幹線.

Visited Shizuoka City Museum of Art 静岡市美術館.
http://shizubi.jp/

Dinner: Kichi to naru Kitchen キチトナルキッチン
http://www.kichitonaru.com/

Shizuoka JR 静岡駅 (1809 hrs) > Shimizu JR 清水駅 (1821 hrs)
🚆 by local train.

Shimizu Ekimae 清水駅前 (1835 hrs) > S Pulse Dream Plaza エスパルスドリームプラザ
🚍 by S Pulse Dream Plaza free shuttle bus エスパルスドリームプラザ無料シャトルバス.

Visited Chibi Maruko Chan Land ちびまる子ちゃんランド, in S Pulse Dream Plaza エスパルスドリームプラザ. [600 yen]
http://www.chibimarukochan-land.com/

S Pulse Dream Plaza エスパルスドリームプラザ (2000 hrs) > Shimizu Ekimae 清水駅前
🚍 by S Pulse Dream Plaza free shuttle bus エスパルスドリームプラザ無料シャトルバス.

Shimizu JR 清水駅 (2014 hrs) > Shizuoka JR 静岡駅 (2027 hrs)
🚆 by local train.

Shizuoka JR 静岡駅 (2056 hrs) > Kakegawa JR 掛川駅 (2110 hrs)
🚅 by Kodama こだま 683, via Tokaido Shinkansen 東海道新幹線.

- End of Day 6 -

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県 - Day 5: Kasama-shi 笠間市, Hitachi-shi 日立市

Day 5: 10.11.2017 (Fri)
* Day 5 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Breakfast: Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi 東横イン水戸駅南口

Mito JR 水戸駅 (0734 hrs) > Kasama JR 笠間駅 (0800 hrs)
🚆 by local train.

Visited Kasama Inari Shrine 笠間稲荷神社.
👣 Approx 10 mins walk from Kasama JR.
http://www.kasama.or.jp/

Inari Shrine 稲荷神社 (1011 hrs) > Geijutsu no mori koen 芸術の森公園 (1016 hrs)
🚍 by Ibaraki Kotsu Bus 茨城交通バス. [170 yen]
Bus schedule (departing from Kasama JR): http://bus.ibako.co.jp/timetable/result/?no=962&de=52&f_from_type=1&f_from_genre=&f_from=%E7%AC%A0%E9%96%93%E9%A7%85

Visited Kasama Kougei no oka 笠間工芸の丘.
http://www.kasama-crafthills.co.jp/

Lunch: Cafe Wasugazen カフェワスガゼン

👣 Walked back to Kasama JR Station.

Dessert: Gruyeres グリュイエール
http://www.kasamagashi.com/

Kasama JR 笠間駅 (1359 hrs) > Tomobe JR 友部駅 (1408 hrs)
🚆 by local train.

Hitachi JR Station.

Tomobe JR 友部駅 (1436 hrs) > Hitachi JR 日立駅 (1511 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Tokiwa ときわ 63.

Hitachi Eki Chuo Guchi 日立駅中央口 (1555 hrs) > Iwaizaki 祝崎 (1610 hrs)
🚍 by Hitachi Bus 日立バス 75 or 77. [290 yen]
- Weekday bus schedule: http://www.hitachi-dentetsu.co.jp/bus/bus_jikokuhyou_h/20171014/g171014h_75_77.html
- Weekend/Public holiday bus schedule: http://www.hitachi-dentetsu.co.jp/bus/bus_jikokuhyou_s/20171014/g171014s_75.html

🏨 Checked in: Unoshima Villa 日立・太田尻海岸 うのしまヴィラ　
http://unoshima-villa.com/

Dinner at Unoshima Villa: Kimeji Maguro Carpaccio accompanied with fresh greens and Hishio, a traditional Japanese fermented seasoning.

Dinner: Unoshima Villa 日立・太田尻海岸 うのしまヴィラ　

- End of Day 5 -

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県 - Day 4: Tsukuba-san 筑波山, Tsukuba-shi つくば市

Day 4: 09.11.2017 (Thu)
* Day 4 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Breakfast: Toyoko Inn Tsukuba Express Moriya Ekimae 東横インつくばエクスプレス守谷駅前

Purchased Tsukuba-san Kippu 筑波山きっぷ. [3,200 yen]
* covers round trip train ride between Moriya and Tsukuba Station, Tsukuba-san Shuttle bus (between Tsukuba Center and Tsukuba-san) and both Tsukuba-san cable car and ropeway.
http://www.mir.co.jp/service/otoku/tukubasan.html

Moriya 守谷駅 > Tsukuba つくば駅
🚆 by Tsukuba Express つくばエクスプレス.

Tsukuba Center Bus Stop 1 つくばセンター (0800 hrs) > Tsukuba-san Jinja 筑波山神社 (0836 hrs)
🚍 by Tsukuba-san Shuttle bus 筑波山シャトルバス.

Visited Tsukuba-san Jinja 筑波山神社.
http://www.tsukubasanjinja.jp/

Tsukuba-san Jinja 筑波山神社駅 > Tsukuba-san cho 筑波山頂駅
🚠 by Tsukuba-san Cable Car ケーブルカー.

Visited Nantai-san cho 男体山頂.

Visited Nyotai-san cho 女体山頂.
http://www.mt-tsukuba.com/

Nyotai-san cho 女体山頂駅 > Tsutsujikaoka つつじヶ丘駅
🚠 by Tsukuba-san Ropeway ロープウェイ.

Lunch: Tsutsujikaoka Rest House つつじヶ丘レストハウス
http://www.mt-tsukuba.com/?page_id=120

Tsutsujikaoka つつじヶ丘 (1200 hrs) > Tsukuba Center つくばセンター (1250 hrs)
🚍 by Tsukuba-san Shuttle bus 筑波山シャトルバス.

Visited Tsukuba Expo Center つくばエキスポセンター.
http://www.expocenter.or.jp/

Tsukuba つくば駅 > Moriya 守谷駅
by Tsukuba Express つくばエクスプレス.

Break: Coffee Factory, Moriya Station コーヒーファクトリー守谷駅店
http://coffeefactory-moriya.jp/

Moriya 守谷駅 > Toride 取手駅 [420 yen]
🚆 by Kanto Railway 関東鉄道, Joso line 常総線.

Toride JR 取手駅 (1752 hrs) > Sanuki JR 佐貫駅 (1759 hrs)
🚆 by local train.

Sanuki JR 佐貫駅 (1803 hrs) > Mito JR 水戸駅 (1847 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Tokiwa ときわ 71.

Dinner: Yoshinoya, Mito JR Station

🏨 Checked in: Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi 東横イン水戸駅南口
https://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/search/detail/00085

- End of Day 4 -

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県 - Day 3: Tsuchiura-shi 土浦市, Tsukuba-shi つくば市

Day 3: 08.11.2017 (Wed)

* Day 3 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Breakfast: Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi 東横イン水戸駅南口

Mito JR 水戸市 (0726 hrs) > Tsuchiura JR 土浦駅 (0757 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Hitachi ひたち 2.

Visited Kijo Koen 亀城公園.
👣 Approx 10 mins walk from Tsuchiura JR.
http://www.tsuchiura-kankou.jp/miru/miru.html#event_miru_008

Visited Tsuchiura Machikadokura - Daitoku 土浦まちかど蔵 - 大徳.
http://www.tsuchiura-kankou.jp/machikado_kura/

Visited Tsuchiura Machikadokura - Nomura 土浦まちかど蔵 - 野村.
http://www.tsuchiura-kankou.jp/machikado_kura/

Tsuchiura JR 土浦駅(1014 hrs) > Hitachino Ushiku JR うたち野うしく駅 (1021 hrs)
🚆 by local train.

Hitachino Ushiku Ekimae Bus Stop 1 うたち野うしく駅前 (1105 hrs) > Ninomiya Chuo 二ノ宮中央 (1127 hrs)
🚍 by JR Bus.

Lunch: Agato あがと
http://www.cafe-agato.com/

Visited Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center 筑波宇宙センター.
http://fanfun.jaxa.jp/visit/tsukuba/

Visited Geological Museum 地質標本館.
https://www.gsj.jp/Muse/

Visited Science Square Tsukuba サイエンス・スクエア つくば.
http://www.aist.go.jp/sst/en/

Dinner: West House ウエストハウス
http://westhouse.jp/

Ninomiya Chuo 二ノ宮中央 (1752 hrs) > Tsukuba Center つくばセンター (1807 hrs)
🚍 by JR Bus.

Tsukuba つくば駅 > Moriya 守谷駅
🚆 by Tsukuba Express つくばエクスプレス. [520 yen]

🏨 Checked in: Toyoko Inn Tsukuba Express Moriya Ekimae 東横インつくばエクスプレス守谷駅前
https://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/search/detail/00189

- End of Day 3 -

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県 - Day 2: Daigo-cho 大子町, Tsukimachi no taki 月待の滝, Fukuroda no taki 袋田の滝

Day 2: 07.11.2017 (Tue)
* Day 2 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Breakfast: Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi 東横イン水戸駅南口

Mito JR 水戸駅 (0728 hrs) > Shimonomiya JR 下野宮駅 (0911 hrs)
🚆 by local train, via Suigun line 水郡線.

Visited Tsukimachi no taki 月待の滝.
👣 Approx 30 minutes walk from Shimonomiya JR.
http://www.daigo-kanko.jp/?page_id=2861

Shimonomiya JR 下野宮駅 (1111 hrs) > Fukuroda JR 袋田駅 (1127 hrs)
🚆 by local train, via Suigun line 水郡線.

Visited Fukuroda no taki 袋田の滝. [300 yen]
👣 Approx 20 minutes walk from Fukuroda JR.
http://www.daigo-kanko.jp/?page_id=2813

Lunch: Futaba Soba 双葉そば

Fukuroda 袋田 (1410 hrs) > Fukuroda JR 袋田駅 (1420 hrs)
🚍 by Ibaraki Kotsu bus 茨城交通バス. [210 yen]
http://www.ibako.co.jp/regular/terminal/fukuroda-station.html

♨ Day onsen: Hotel Kajikaen ホテル河鹿園 [500 yen]
👣 Approx 3 minutes walk from Fukuroda JR.
http://kajikaen.com/

Fukuroda JR 袋田駅 (1551 hrs) > Mito JR 水戸駅 (1714 hrs)
🚆 by local train, via Suigun line 水郡線.

Dinner: Matsugorou Stamin Ramen 松五郎スタミナラーメン
🚍 Access: Take from bus Mito JR West Exit Platform 7 and alight at Kami Mito Iriguchi 上水戸入口.

- End of Day 2 -

Japan Autumn Nov 2017 一人で日本の旅 Ibaraki 茨城県 - Day 1: Mito-shi 水戸市

Introduction:
On my most recent stay in Japan, I managed to cover three main prefectures: Ibaraki, Shizuoka and Tottori, with short transitions made in Shimane and Okayama. It took me slightly more than two weeks to accomplish this and I would say the pace was considered moderate in comparison to my previous solo expedition in Tohoku region more than a year ago. Utilised 14 Days Japan Rail Pass to cover majority of my transportation expenditure. This is also the first time I planned my itinerary while travelling; something I have not done before. Has its pros and cons; my schedule was more flexible and it could accommodate changing weather conditions; however at the back of my mind, I knew there were more places I could have visited if I had been more well prepared. Regardless of the hits and misses, I am still amazed by how much this country has to offer despite multiple visits!

======

Day 1: 06.11.2017 (Mon)
* Day 1 of 14 Days Japan Rail Pass

Ueno JR 上野駅 (0830 hrs) > Mito JR 水戸駅 (0949 hrs)
🚆 by Limited Express Tokiwa 53 ときわ.

🏨 Checked in: Toyoko Inn Mito Eki Minami Guchi 東横イン水戸駅南口

https://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/search/detail/00085

🚲 Rented bicycle from South Exit Rental Bicycle Station. [500 yen]

Visited Lake Senba (Senba-ko) 千波湖.
http://www.city.mito.lg.jp/001373/senbako/

Visited Kairakuen 偕楽園 and Kobuntei 好文亭. [200 yen]
http://www.koen.pref.ibaraki.jp/park/kairakuen01.html

Lunch: Nakaya Soba な嘉屋そば, located on 1F of Keisei Department Store 京成百貨店
http://nakaya.cc/shop/sakesoba.html

Visited Koudoukan 弘道館. [200 yen]
http://www.koen.pref.ibaraki.jp/park/kodokan01.html

Dinner: Soup Stock Tokyo スープストック東京, at Mito JR Station.
http://www.soup-stock-tokyo.com/store/08/3008/

- End of Day 1 -