​🚄 Day 5: The Grand Shinkansen Pivot

​Day 5 was our most strategic travel day. We moved across the country using the "Hands-Free" method to ensure we could start our One Piece treasure hunt the moment we touched down in Kyushu.

​📦 The Luggage Leapfrog

​Before leaving Hotel Tavinos Kyoto, we took our suitcases to the 7-Eleven located directly beneath the hotel.

• ​The Strategy: We used the Ta-Q-Bin service to send our bags to our Miyajima hotel (for arrival on the evening of Day 7).

• ​The J+2 Hack: We scheduled the delivery for 48 hours later (cheaper). This allowed us to travel for two days with just our backpacks, containing only the essentials: clothes, medicine, and gear.

• ​Pro-Tip: Always email your destination hotel ahead of time to confirm they can accept your luggage. We never had a refusal, but it's essential for peace of mind!

​🚆 The Long Haul to Kumamoto

​We boarded the Shinkansen in the evening, arriving in Kumamoto after 10:00 PM.

• ​Survival Tip: Eat before you board or buy an Ekiben (train bento) at the station! Options are very limited when arriving late in a new city.

• ​Base Camp: We checked into the GR Hotel Suidocho, perfectly positioned for our early start the next morning.