Hi Reddit
I’m going to Japan for the first time in June + July for approx. 5-6 weeks. For the first three weeks, I’ll be traveling with my partner and we will mainly visit Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa, parts of the Japanese alps and of course Tokyo. For this, we have all the accommodations booked and know more or less what to do. He will fly back mid-June and I’ll have another 15 or so days in Japan on my own. It will be my first time **solo traveling**.
Because I don’t want to drive a car alone (nervous driver, especially on the left side, plus would need to get my licence translated which seems really complicated), I will be using **public transportation**.
I’m generally interested in culture, food, nature/hiking. I don’t speak Japanese.
After a lot of research and looking through various very helpful posts here on reddit, I decided on visiting **Kyushu and Yakushima** and came up with the following itinerary. I have booked all the accommodations plus the flight to/from Fukuoka and the ferry to Yakushima, most of the accommodations can still be cancelled. I have not yet set my eyes on any specific restaurants since I like to go with the flow/look what I’m in the mood for.
I am a bit nervous and I would really appreciate it if you could give me some do’s or don’ts or recommendations.
Here’s what I thought about:
**Day 1 (mid-june): Tokyo –> Fukuoka**
* Flight from Toyko to Fukuoka, arrive at 14:25
* Afternoon/Evening: explore the city, visit Tenjin.
* Eat at Yatai in Tenjin (not Canal City).
* Accommodation: WeBase Hostel
**Day 2: Fukuoka 1**
* Morning: Visit Nanzoin, approx. 30′ by train form Hakata Station, 380 Yen
* Afternoon:
* Ohori-koen, Fukuoka Castle Ruins, maybe Fukuoka Tower?
* If still time: Daimyo (thrift stores, Cafes, etc)
* Bad weather option: Art Museum or Hakara Machiya Furusato-kan
* Must try food: Hakata Ramen
* Accommodation: same
**Day 3: Fukuoka 2**
* Day trip to Daizaifu+Yanagawa
* Dazaifu and Yanagawa Sightseeing Ticket, ca. 3000 Yen, buy online.
* Morrning Dazaifu: Daizafu Tenman-gu (Shinto Shrine), Tenkai Inari Shrine, maybe Kyushu National Museum
* Afternoon: Yanagawa + boat ride
* Alternative: Arita, Imari and Karatsu (pottery towns; not sure if this is doable by train)
* Alternative 2: Yufuin? Looks very touristy/far ride.
* Accommodation: same
**Day 4: Fukuoka –> Kagoshima**
* Early train ride to Kagoshima, duration 2h, ca. 10’000 Yen.
* Buy Cute transit pass for two days at tourist information, luggage to accommodation.
* Afternoon:
* Sengan-en for views + Iso-hama
* Alternative: Shiroyama Park Observation deck, looks not as interesting as Sengan-en
* Evening: spend time at Tenmonkan
* Must try food: Kurobuto (black pork), Satsuma-age (deepfried fish cakes)
* Accommodation: Hostel in Kagoshima
**Day 5: Kagoshima**
* Day trip to Sakurajima
* Ferry included in Cute transit pass
* Maybe Sakurajima Nagisa Park Foot Bath
* Take island view bus
* Possible sights: Arimura Lava Observatory, Buried Tori, Yunohira Lookout
* Alternative: Ibusuki + sand baths (weather probably way too hot for that)
* To do: look up if Yakushima ferry will leave according to plan the next day.
* Accommodation: same
**Day 6: Kagoshima –> Yakushima**
* Take ferry at 07:45 to Miyanoura, Yakushima. Arrive at 09:45.
* Buy Yakushima Kotsu Free Pass at tourist information center.
* Explore Miyanoura
* Accommodation in Miyanoura (incl. Meals) for all 4 nights
**Days 7-9: Yakushima 1-3**
I don’t have all the days planned since it all depends on the weather.
Explore Yakushima, possibilities:
* Hikes:
* Shirantani-unsuikyo-tozanguchi Hike: duration ca. 4h, 300 Yen Entrance
* Jomon-sugi Hike: Duration ca. 10h; bus ticket is separate and has to be bought a day in advance, take first bus.
* Other nice places:
* Nagata Inaka-hama
* Oko-no-taki
* Yakusuki Land
* Onsen: Yudomari Onsen
**Day 10: Yakushima –> Kumamoto**
* Take ferry at 10:40, arrive in Kagoshima at 12:30. take Shinkansen to Kumamoto, Duration 1h, ca. 7000 Yen.
* Afternoon: explore Kumamoto
* Kumamoto castle + park
* Relax and plan day trips for the next two days, get bus tickets
* Must try food: Higo-gyu (Higo-beef)
* Accommodation: Hotel in Kumamoto
**Day 11: Day trip to Mt Aso from Kumamoto**
* Check if crater is open ([www.aso-volcano.jp/eng/](https://www.aso-volcano.jp/eng/))
* Take bus (duration 2h, 1500 Yen) or train (duration 70min, 2000 Yen) to Aso station
* In Aso: get ticket at Sanko Bus Aso Office, take loop bus
* See crater if open
* Maybe Kusasenri
* Maybe Daikanbo
* Accommodation: same
**Day 12: Day trip to Takachiho Gorge from Kumamoto**
* Look up bus timetable, reserve 1 day in advance
* Take early bus to Takachiho bus center, duration 2-3h, ca. 2700 Yen
* Walk to Gorge, duration 30min
* Take boat ride, reserve boat in advance online [https://takachiho-kanko.info/en/boat\_kagura/](https://takachiho-kanko.info/en/boat_kagura/)
* Eat Flowing water noodles
* See Takachaho Shrine
* Get back to Kumamoto
* Accommodation: same
Alternatives for Day 11 or 12: Kurokawa Onsen?
**Day 13: Kumamoto –> Nagasaki**
* Get to Nagasaki:
* Option 1: train, duration 2-3h
* Option 2: take ferry to Shimabara, then train, duration ca. 5h, visit Shimabara on the way
* Spend the rest of the day exploring central Nagasaki, depending on arrival time
* Dejima
* Canals of Nagasaki, Maganebashi Bridge
* Suwa Shrine
* Accommodation: Hostel in central Nagasaki
**Day 14: Nagasaki 1**
* Morning: Norther Nagasaki
* Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
* Nagasaki Peace Park
* One-Pillar Torii Gate
* Afternoon/Evening: Mt. Inasayama Observatory for views, get there for sunset
* Accommodation: same
**Day 15: Nagasaki 2 –> Fukuoka**
* Check-out at hostel, leave luggage there
* Morning: maybe trip to Gunkanjima (not booked yet)
* Afternoon: visit sights I missed, maybe Glover Garden, Nagasaki Seaside park
* Late afternoon or whenever I’m in the mood: travel to Fukuoka, duration 1.5h, ca. 6’000 Yen
* Evening: check out city again, should be during Hakata Gion Yamakasa Matsuri
* Accommodation: Hostel in Fukuoka
**Day 16: Fukuoka –>Toyko**
* Flight back to Tokyo from Fukuoka at 09:45, arrive at 11:35
* Spend evening in Akihabara, last minute shopping
* Accommodation: Hostel in Akihabara
**Day 17: Departure**
* Flight home from Tokyo Narita at 11:35
**Specific questions:**
* Day 11 and 12: Does someone have advice on where to check train and bus timetables for those day trips? I saw some guided tours which would be very cool especially for Takachiho gorge, but the tours from “Explore Kumamoto” seem to be booked. The other ones I can find are really expensive, even though they seem to be self-guided and essentially just tickets for the public bus?
* Day 13: Is it worth it/doable to take the ferry to Shimabara and maybe explore Shimabara? Or is it just complicated and should I rather focus on getting to Nagasaki earlier?
Otherwise, do you think I’m making any big mistakes with this itinerary?
Thanks in advance!
Sarah
by haventfoundit