3 weeks in Shikoku/Oita

We have travelled 6 times to Japan and have visited the following places

Hokkaido : Sapporo, Otaru, Shakotan Peninsula, Noboribetsu, Lake Toya, Lake Shikotsu, Hakodate, Asahikawa, Lake Akan, Shiretoko Peninsula
Tohoku : Aomori city, Lake Towada, Oirase Stream, Hachinohe, Sanriku coast, Kakunodate, Nyuto Onsen, Morioka, Aizuwakamatsu, Higashiyama Onsen
Kanto : Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura
Chubu : Izu Peninsula, Nagoya, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kamikochi
Kansai : Osaka, Kyoto, Himeji, Kinosaki Onsen, Ine, Amanohashidate
Chugoku : Okayama, Kurashiki, Onomichi, Tottori, some inland sea islands such as Shodoshima
Kyushu : Fukuoka, Karatsu, Kumamoto, Unzen Onsen, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Amamioshima, Miyazaki, Kurokawa Onsen, Miyazaki, Yakushima
Okinawa : Ishigakijima and Miyakojima

This year we�fre flying to Osaka/from Fukuoka (26.10-20.11) and want to spend most of the time in Shikoku plus some time in Oita (the only prefecture in Kyushu we haven�ft visit) and end in Fukuoka to watch Sumo (did once before and loved it).
We usually like to have a mix of big and small cities, beautiful nature, mountains, onsens, coastline etc.
We�fd like to not change hotel constantly but are happy for 1 or 2 nighters when it makes sense.
We love onsens but would ideally spread Ryokan stays over the trip if possible as kaiseki meals can be too much on multiple days.

Very rough itinerary is as follows, could change day allocation no problem: (Don�ft want a crazy schedule)

Day 1 - Travel, arrive in Takamatsu
Days 2-4 - Takamatsu (Ritsurin Park/Naoshima/Teshima, Marugame, city stuff)
Days 5-7 - Iya Valley (Mannaka Sennen Monogatari Train/onsen/drive/walk/Mt. Tsurigi or Miune Hike)
Days 8-11 - Kochi (City/Shimanto River/Kiyodo/Knives/Castle/City Stuff)
Days 12-16 - Ehime (Matsuyama/Mount Ichizuki/Yusuhara/Uchiko/Ozu/Ferry to Beppu)
Days 13-17 - Oita (Beppu/Yufuin/Kunisaki Peninsula/Kiji Mountains)
Days 18-22 - Fukuoka (Food/Shopping/Parks/Food etc.)

We could spend the first 1.5 days in Osaka or Kobe before Takamatsu depending on how the rest of the itinerary fills out but I�fm more and more tempted to get the travelling done straight away.

So, I�fm quite unsure about the following:
Iya Valley
- 3 days or 4 days?
- Where to stay? I was thinking 2 nights onsen(kazurabashi), 1 night Kouya Guesthouse
Kochi
- As it�fs so wide, being based completely in Kochi city doesn�ft seem to make sense, where on the West to be a base to explore Shimanto River and other areas?
Ehime
- Matsuyama seems a good base with enough for a couple of days in the city itself plus hiking and trips to the likes of Uchiko, could sleep last night in Uzo or Yawatahama for the ferry to Kyushu next day. What would make most sense?
Oita
- Quite unsure about where to stay, Yufuin seems gimmicky and touristy, Beppu a bit run-down and only has the hells of interest. We�fd love to do some hiking in the Kuju mountains, last time in Kyushu, we thought Aso was amazing (despite crater not reachable) and Kurokawa Onsen was picture perfect.

We'd like to hire a car in places where it really makes sense such as Iya valley (have driven lots in Japan) but otherwise trains, seems that we could take a few special trains in Shikoku.

So, any advice on itinerary improvements, tips on places not to miss, hotel recommendations etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Only one street is real tourist within Yufuin.

Yufuin makes sense to stay at as it is quite centralised for where you wanna visit.

Takamatsu
�¨ Kompirasan Shrine and Kanamaru-za were also good.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5451.html
They only visited the inside of Kanamaru-za.
https://www.kotohirakankou.jp/spot/entry-55.html
(Kabuki is performed in April.)
It is similar to Uchiko-za Kabuki Theatre in Uchiko.
Ehime
�¨ Dogo Onsen Honkan was good.
There was a local beer shop nearby, and I stopped by after the hot spring.
I also went to Tobe by bus. (Home of Pottery)
Beppu
-> I liked the appearance of the Takegawara Onsen. (I also took a hot spring bath.)
https://www.city.beppu.oita.jp/sisetu/shieionsen/detail4.html
I traveled from Kochi to Matsuyama by highway bus (it took less time than by train).

Even though I've never been on one, the hobby train and Shiman Torokko (limited operating days) look interesting.
https://www.jr-shikoku.co.jp/yodo_line/tetsudohobby.html
https://www.jr-shikoku.co.jp/yodo_line/shimantorokko.html
In that case, you have to go to Uwajima from Kochi.
Transfer from Tosa-Kuroshio Railway at Kubokawa station.
https://www.tosakuro.com/
Route map of Kochi
https://www.jr-shikoku.co.jp/01_trainbus/jikoku/pdf/kubokawa.pdf
In Kubokawa, there are some interesting temples that you can visit at 88 locations.
https://at40010.jp/
Tourist information on Shimanto towns in Kubokawa station
https://shimanto-town.net/
If you only want to see Niyodo River, you might want to base yourself in Kochi station or Ino station.
https://niyodoblue.jp/feature/detail.php?id=6

If you want to go canoeing or rafting for an additional Shimanto, the Ekawasaki station in Shimanto City may be a good place to stay even though there are few hotels.
https://canoekan.com/
https://www.shimanto-kankou.com/

@ haro1210
Thanks, I'll take a look, I do like the look of the Tosa Toki no Yoake no Monogatari train.
may end up tring that as well as Mannaka Sennen Monogatari (Magame -> Oboke) and Iyonada Monogatari (Matsuyama -> Ozu)

By the way, I fell in love with Ryotaro Shiba's book "Ryoma ga Yuku" and went to Katsurahama Beach in Kochi prefecture (where there is a bronze statue of him and a memorial hall).
https://japan-forward.com/ryotaro-shibas-ryoma-translated-into-english...
If you are interested, please read the English translation on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/RYOMA-Sakamoto-Japanese-Swordsman-Visionary-ebo...
Last year, the Makino Botanical Garden was broadcast on a TV drama.
https://www.makino.or.jp/
I passed by on my way to Katsurahama Beach by bus, but I didn't have enough time to see it.
This looks good, too.
But there may still be a lot of Japanese tourists.

The information on sightseeing trains after October will be posted on this news release.
https://www.jr-shikoku.co.jp/
Tickets are sold at Midori-no-madoguchi throughout Japan from one month prior to boarding.
In the case of a plan with meals, I heard that you can only purchase through a travel agency.
(JTB, Nippon Travel Agency, etc.)
https://www.ntainbound.com/?_gl=1%2A1so7qhn%2A_ga%2AMTM0MTYwODU1NS4xNz....
JAPANiCAN is operated by JTB, so you may be able to make a reservation here.
https://www.japanican.com/?cid=1839029

Thanks for all the help, after lots of further research I've decided to give up on the sightseeing train, it's only on weekends which doesn't work, may be difficult to book so I'll just drive in our rental car on a similar route.
New itinerary is as follows.

Days 1-2 - Kobe (Ropeway/Chinatown/Port/Sake Tasting etc.)
Days 3-6 - Takamatsu (Ritsurin Park/Naoshima/Teshima, Marugame, city stuff)
Days 7-9 - Iya Valley (Onsen/drive/walk/Mt. Tsurigi or Miune Hike) * Start Hire Car*
Days 10-11 - Kochi (Beach/Ryoma Sakamoto Stuff/Castle/City/Niyodo Blue)
Day 12 - Yusuhara and travel to Shimanto(See nice architecture, nice drive)
Days 13-15 - Shimanto (Coastal drives/cycling/ river cruise etc.)
Days 16-18 - Matsuyama (City/Castle/Visit to Uchiko or Ozu/Ferry to Beppu) * End Hire Car*
Days 19-21 - Oita (Beppu or Yufuin/Kunisaki Peninsula/Kiji Mountains) * Rental car for day or 2*
Days 22-25 - Fukuoka (Food/Shopping/Parks/Food etc.)

We have booked the following hotels :
Kobe - Daiwa Roynet Sannomiya Premier (2 nights)
Takamatsu - JR Clement Inn (4 nights)
Iya Valley - Kazurabashi (1 night) / Obokekyo Mannaka (2 nights)
Kochi City - Dormy Inn (2 nights)
Yusuhara - Kumo no Ueno Hotel (1 night)
Shimanto Town - Nakamura Prince (3 nights)
Matsuyama - ??? (3 nights)
Oita - ??? (3 nights)
Fukuoka ???? ( 4 nights) (Maybe Solaria Nishitetsu as liked it last time)

Hopefully we have a not overly rushed and varied itinerary with a bit of everything.
Any suggestions on dumb ideas/things to improve, all ideas welcome .
Thanks!

Regarding Matsuyama - the city itself is not maybe the most interesting place, but is good base for Ehime. Spent there 5 nights last year. Ozu, Uchiko - by local train, then rent bike from tourist info. Maps etc are available. Took full day for both to discover everything. Dogo onsen we loved.
Stayed in Dormy Inn, what is always good choice (onsen, night ramen, location and good price).

Have been also in Yufuin and Beppu, very different places. Yufuin is kind of sophisticated, beautiful. Beppu is like Blackpool, full of life, Japanese tourists having fun. Not so bad at all.

Onsen districts in Kokonoe-machi and Takata are less touristy in Oita Prefecture when you are on road trip.

Days 7-9 - Iya Valley (Onsen/drive/walk/Mt. Tsurigi or Miune Hike) * Start Hire Car*

Mount Miune is a much nicer hike than mount Tsurugi. We took the chairlift at Mt. Tsurugi (I liked that part), but the walk after that is mostly ugly "stairs" made of stone or concrete beams. No idea what the rest of the hike is like, but I would have been very disappointed to see that after 2 hours of hiking.

Hi!

Sorry if it's not related to your question;

Next year I'll be travelling to Kyushu for the first time (3rd time in Japan). I was wondering what are your favourite places there and which popular destinations are maybe overrated?

Start a new line of questioning. Don't interrupt someone active line of questioning.

sorry want to check if the setouchi area pass covers the tokaido sanyo main like new rapid from himeji to sannomiya ? japantravel seems to say not, thansk!

@Mellye

Thanks so much, that's exactly the kind of info I'm looking for.
WIll prioritise Mount Miune.

At Mt. Tsurugi how long do the ugly stairs last? I take it you didn't continue beyond that?

@girlwithpearl
Thanks a lot, I just booked the Daiwa Roynet in Matsuyama.
TBH Cities like that in Japan don't need that much to keep me happy, I love just pottering around looking at interesting shops and devouring all the amazing food.
So you wouldn't combining Ozu and Uchiko in one day?
If you had to choose one, which would it be?

The mention of Blackpool has me scared, I went there as a kid and loved it of course but I'm mentally scarred from a stag weekend there.