Hi,
I am in my initial planning for my 10-days Japan trip on April 2019. I will be landed in Osaka and would like to go to Fukuoka for 3-4 days. The main reason is to go to Kawachi Westeria Garden and stay over for few days to visit places nearby Fukuoka city, and go back to Osaka. Can you recommend which JR pass I should get so I can cover the most places from Osaka to Fukuoka?
Thank you.
Comments
There is the 5 day JR Setouchi Area Pass you could use,
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_setouchi.html
as well as the 7 day JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_sanyo_sanin.html
And if you wanted to explore northern Kyushu a bit, there is the JR Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_sanyo_sanin_kyushu.html
I just went there this year, but spring started too early so it was not a good experience for me. You cannot simply go to the entrance and buy a ticket - there are so many people that they don't allow it. You have to go to a convenience store and get a ticket there - choosing a date and time. I strongly suggest you read the forum posts on
https://is.gd/aKNaaw
ahead of time.
Fukuoka has some good sights, though not many people know them, and so they spread misinformation that there in not much there. The Nanzoin Temple is one of Japan's finest - yet nearly unknown to all the tourist guidebook "experts". It's also free and just 20 minutes by train from Hakata Station.
http://www.thejapanfaq.com/fukpic.html
http://bit.ly/1KAm8cU
Ohori Park is quite nice, and the traditional Japanese garden that almost nobody knows about there is really beautiful and relaxing. Nokonoshima has a nice island park and good hiking, plus there are many traditional villas and gardens like Yusentei, Rakusuien, Shofu-en, etc. The ramen at a stall (yatai) in Nakasu by the river is quite an experience as well.
Many places are near a subway station, so a ¥620 subway day pass can be a good way to get around.
You can see train schedules, times, fares, connections etc at
http://www.hyperdia.com
You can see previews of some of the best places to see in Japan on:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos
There are also loads of other tips on
http://www.thejapanfaq.com/the-best-japan-travel-tips/
Best regards.