Hi all, we will visit Kyushu for our October trip to Japan. This is our second time in Japan. We will still start with Osaka and end with Tokyo cause we loved them, and for the new stuff, we are going with Kyushu (we were at Hokkaido last time). We are into hiking, nature, and food. We can visit the occasional history museum/castle, but only if it's worth it. We are also into rock climbing, so we plan to hit a few gyms along the way (we are a bit worried about outdoor bouldering because the international insurance can be tricky, but if anyone has a strong recommendation, we would love to hear it). Here is our plan, let us know what you think:
- day 0 – arrive at Nagasaki in the evening
- day 1 – Nagasaki Shimabara area:
- Drive to the Shimabara area
- Hike Mt Fugen-Dake
- Lunch at Unzen Onsen (probably)
- Drive back to Nagasaki \\ City overview from Mount Inasa
- Dinner
- day 2 – explore Nagasaki city
- Peace park (not museum)
- Kofukuji Temple Gate
- Megane Bridge
- Dejimamachi
- Nagasaki port – we want to try seeing Gunkajima, but we are not sure we will have time for that
- Chinatown
- Dutch slope
- Koshibyo Confucius Shrine
- Oura Cathedral
- Glover Garden
- day 3 – Drive to Fukuoka
- mainly drive through Saga prefecture
- Hit a climbing gym at Fukuoka
- Dinner at Yatai Food Stalls
- day 4 – explore Fukuoka city
- Umi-mo-Nakamichi (considering ending there instead of starting)
- Ohori Park & Fukuoka castle ruins
- Optional lunch at the original Ichiran (if we have the time)
- Kushida Shrine
- Sumiyoshi Jinja
- Shofukuji
- Canal City shopping (We don't need much time, not much of shoppers, more for the experience)
- evening at oyafuko-dori
- day 5 – Beppu
- drive to Beppu
- steam cooking
- onsen/city lookout from Mount Tsurumi/Hells (Jigoku) (depending on time, mood and recommendations)
- day 6 – Kurokawa Onsen
- Visit Yufuin for an hour or so
- Drive through the Kuju Mountain Range
- arrive at Kurokawa Onsen and have a relaxing afternoon at a Ryokan
- day 7 – Mt Aso, overnight at Takachiho
- Breakfast at Ryokan
- Mt Aso
- drive to Takachiho
- Evening Yakagura dance performance
- day 8 – getting to Kirishima
- Takachiho Gorge
- Nagashi Somen Lunch
- drive to Kirishima onsen (pretty long)
- Grocery shopping for the next two days of hiking
- day 9 – Kirishima onsen
- hike Kirishima National Park
- day 10 – Kirishima onsen
- hike Kirishima National Park
- drive to Kagoshima
- Shiroyama Park (if we have time)
- day 11 – Sakurajima day trip
- Take the ferry to Sakurajima
- Karasujima Observatory
- Akamizu Observatory Square
- Yunohira Observation Deck
- Kurokami Buried Shrine Gate – optional
- Arimura Lava Observation Deck – optional
- Hakamagoshi-Karasujima Lava Trail
- Sakurajima Nagisa Park Foot Bath
- Take the ferry back to Kagoshima
- Senganen Garden (close at 5 pm, so only if we make it)
- Evening climb at the gym
- day 12 – Yakushima
- Get to Yakushima (flight/ferry, not sure yet)
- (early) Lunch
- Hike Shiratani Unsuikyo (hopefully Taikoiwa Rock Round Trip Course)
- day 13 – Yakushima
- Jomonsugi Hike (full day)
- day 14 – Yakushima (island tour, relax day) (may do in reverse depending on the tide for Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen)
- Senpiro Falls
- Torokino Falls
- Janokuchi Falls
- Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen
- Ohko waterfall
- World Heritage Listed Coastal Road with Wildlife
- Inakahama Beach (looking for a better beach suggestion if you have it)
- day 15 – Yakushima, fly back to Tokyo
- Yakusugi Land
- Fly to Tokyo
Also, here are some general questions:
- We plan to rent a car for the entire Kyushu part and another one for Yakushima. Does that make sense? Will trains or buses make parts of our route easier?
- How would you recommend getting to Yakushima? Flight? Ferry? Which one?
- Does it make sense to hike Shiratani Unsuikyo on the day of arriving in Yakushima? or is it too long, and a safer bet would be Yakusugi Land (reverse the order of the days)?
- Would it make sense to fly back to Tokyo in the evening? Is it more cost-effective to fly early the following day?
- Are there any areas that are "too packed" in the itinerary?
Thanks!
by galbash