Most exposed stop on the route. Cape Shionomisaki is literally used as a reference point when tracking typhoon positions relative to Japan. If a storm is tracking in during your window, this is the day to compress or skip first.
03
Sunday · Sep 14
Kushimoto → Taiji → Katsuura → Nachi
Nachi Falls · Nachikatsuura
Drive~30km totalshorthops24 min + 10–15 min legs
To see
Taiji↗ — historic whaling port, now a base for whale & dolphin-watching boats
Deliberately the slow day of the trip — the road follows the river and gets genuinely narrow near Yunomine, with many blind corners. Budget the full hour, don't stack much else on top.
05
Tuesday · Sep 16
Hongu → Totsukawa → Dorokyo Gorge
Dorokyo Gorge · Kitayama
Drive~32km40–50minRoute 169 mountain road
To see
Dorokyo Gorge↗ — jet boat or hovercraft tour through cobalt water and giant rock formations
Log rafting↗ — runs daily except Thursdays through Sep 30, departs right from the michi-no-eki
Rain risk, not wind risk. This mountain road's real hazard in bad weather is landslide/rockfall, not the storm itself. If heavy rain is forecast, this is the day to swap out — not push through.
06
Wednesday · Sep 17
Okutoro → Osaka
Drive~150km~3hVia Gojo · Nara Route 168
Return the campervan at the Osaka branch. Build slack into this day for refuelling and any rental cleaning requirements — nothing tight scheduled after this. Also the natural release valve for the whole trip if weather pushed anything back earlier in the week.
