Miyajima Island Kayaking at Sunset

📅 Day 1 — Arrive Osaka

Arrive at Kansai International Airport, collect the campervan and ease into the trip with an evening in Osaka. Head to Dotonbori for street food — takoyaki (octopus balls), okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes) and kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) — and soak up the neon energy of Japan's kitchen capital. Stay at a nearby RV park.
🚐 Drive time: 1 h (airport to central Osaka)

📅 Day 2 — Osaka to Kyoto

Drive the short distance to Kyoto and park the campervan at a city-edge campsite. Spend the day exploring on foot and by bus: start at Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), walk through the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, and end at Fushimi Inari with its thousands of vermillion torii gates climbing the mountainside. In the evening, stroll through Gion for a chance to glimpse geisha hurrying between engagements.
🚐 Drive time: 1 h

kyoto-private-tea-ceremony-bamboo-grove

📅 Day 3 — Kyoto Temples & Gardens

A deeper day in Kyoto: visit the Zen rock garden at Ryoan-ji, the moss-covered grounds of Saihō-ji (advance booking required), or the vast Tofuku-ji complex. Walk the Philosopher's Path between Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) and Nanzen-ji through a canal-side corridor of cherry and maple trees. Book a kaiseki dinner for an unforgettable evening.
🚐 Drive time: — (park and explore on foot/bus)

📅 Day 4 — Kyoto to Nara

Drive to Nara for an easy, atmospheric day. Walk through Nara Park where hundreds of sacred deer roam freely, visit the colossal Buddha at Todai-ji, and explore the quiet Kasuga Taisha shrine with its hundreds of stone lanterns. Return to the campervan in the afternoon and drive toward Kobe.
🚐 Drive time: 1 h 30 min (total)

📅 Day 5 — Kobe & Golf Day 1

Play your first round at one of the courses near Kobe — options include courses in the Rokko Mountains with panoramic bay views. After golf, drive down to Kobe waterfront for the city's famous beef: a teppanyaki dinner where marbled Kobe wagyu is prepared in front of you.
🚐 Drive time: 1 h

📅 Day 6 — Awaji Island & Golf Day 2

Cross the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (the world's longest suspension bridge) to Awaji Island for a round at one of the island's scenic courses overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. The island has an easy-going atmosphere with onsen, coastal walks and excellent local seafood. Stay overnight at a seaside campsite.
🚐 Drive time: 1 h

📅 Day 7 — Awaji to Naoshima Art Island

Take the ferry from Takamatsu (or drive around via the Seto Ohashi Bridge) to reach Naoshima, the world-famous art island. Cycle between the Chichu Art Museum (Monet water lilies in underground galleries), Benesse House, and the Art House Project in Honmura village. Yayoi Kusama's yellow pumpkin on the pier is iconic. Return to the mainland by evening.
🚐 Drive time: 2 h 30 min (driving + ferry)

naoshima-art-island-day-pass-cycling

📅 Day 8 — Kurashiki & Onomichi

Drive to Kurashiki, a canal town with white-walled warehouses converted into galleries and cafes. Walk along the willow-lined Bikan Historical Quarter. Continue to Onomichi, a hillside port town at the start of the Shimanami Kaido cycling route, with temple walks and cat-friendly alleyways overlooking the Inland Sea.
🚐 Drive time: 2 h (total)

📅 Day 9 — Golf Day 3 & Drive to Hiroshima

Play a morning round at a course near Hiroshima or in the Inland Sea hills, then drive into the city. Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum — a profoundly moving experience — and walk across the Motoyasu River to see the Atomic Bomb Dome. In the evening, eat Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (layered, not mixed) at one of the city's specialist restaurants.
🚐 Drive time: 2 h

📅 Day 10 — Miyajima Island

Take the short ferry to Miyajima Island, home to the iconic floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine. Walk the island's forest trails, take the ropeway to Mount Misen for views across the Inland Sea, and try grilled oysters and momiji manju (maple-leaf cakes) from the waterfront stalls. Watch the torii at sunset as the tide changes.
🚐 Drive time: 30 min to ferry terminal

miyajima-island-kayaking-sunset

📅 Day 11 — Return to Osaka

Begin the drive back toward Osaka along the San'yo coast or via the inland expressway. Stop at Himeji to visit Himeji Castle, Japan's most spectacular original castle — a soaring white fortress that seems to float above the surrounding parkland. Arrive back in Osaka for a final evening of street food and neon.
🚐 Drive time: 4 h (with Himeji stop)

📅 Day 12 — Departure

Return the campervan and depart from Kansai International Airport, or extend with a few days in Osaka, a bullet train to Tokyo, or onward travel.
🚐 Drive time: 1 h (to airport)

Book Kyoto accommodation and temple visits early — popular temples have timed entry and can be very busy, especially during cherry blossom and autumn colour seasons.
Reserve tee times well in advance — Japanese golf courses often require booking weeks or months ahead, and some have guest introduction requirements.
Carry a Suica or ICOCA card for seamless public transport when parking the campervan for city exploration days.
Try kaiseki in Kyoto — multi-course traditional cuisine is an essential cultural experience and pairs beautifully with a slower travel pace.
Respect temple etiquette — remove shoes when entering buildings, speak quietly, and follow photography rules at each site.