TL;DR – It is time to take a bus, ferry, train, and plane home.

Disclosure – I paid for my flights, accommodation, entry, and everything you see purchased in this article.

Exploring Japan –

I had always planned to go back to Japan one day, and had started making plans to go back in 2020. Then, well, 2020 happened. But late last year, I finally had the chance to put those plans back in motion as I flew out of Melbourne for Osaka, and thus my time in Japan began.

Alas, while I wish my time in Japan would last, one needed to return home for work, for one needs money for goods and services. But there was time left for one last look at the majestic Sakurajima.

After a breakfast of champions, it was time to get everything packed up for the last time as I made my way back to the central Kagoshima station to take the first leg of my journey home.

The bus was taking everyone from Kagoshima to Miyazaki, where we would be boarding the ferry later in the day, which meant taking the long way around the bay, where we got to say goodbye to Sakurajima.

It was a perfect day to explore the heart of Kyushu, the forests, the fields, and the towns.

I was taking the Sunflower Kurenai [Insert Theme Music Here – I know it just popped into your head] ferry overnight from Miyazaki to Osaka

I didn’t know what to expect with the ferry, only that it was the cheaper option than taking the shinkansen back to Osaka and paying for another night’s accommodation. However, it was a delightfully comfortable trip back through the Inland Sea.

The sea was beautifully calm, and because of where we were travelling, there was always something to see on the horizon.

Back in Osaka, I dodged the peak-hour traffic on the subway system with some breakfast and then made my way through the city’s subway system, then took the train back to the airport.

Thus, my two weeks in Japan came to an end via Singapore Airlines. The flights back to Australia were a surreal time. I was both missing Japan and also longing for my own bed. Indeed, even now, part of me is thinking about those Japanese sandwiches, because there are many places down here that report to be able to pull them off … spoiler alert: it’s not the same. I am glad that I took the time to explore places I, and anyone I knew, had not visited yet, away from some of the bigger tourist spots. If you can take a trip to Japan, I would absolutely recommend it. Find the food, find the culture, find the people, and find yourself.  

Japan Trip 2025: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6 Part 1, Day 6 Part 2, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12 & Day 13-14

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Bluesky at @Tldrmovrev, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

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Credits – All images and content have been created by the author unless stated otherwise