Been to Japan a few times but finally making it to the Kyushu region after covid. The trip will be done with rental car, starting from Fukuoka Airport. The main goal of this trip is to visit the wisteria gardens and get a brief coverage of kyushu’s places of interest. Is the itinerary feasible? Are there any ‘must-dos’ or ‘must-sees’ along the way that I have missed out?
**Day 1**
Arrive in Fukuoka around 11am, pick up the car and head to Kitakyushu. Will stop by for some shopping along the way. Overnight in Kitakyushu.
(didn’t want to have much traveling after the flight)
**Day 2**
Visit Kawachi Wisteria Garden, head to Beppu. Overnight in Beppu.
**Day 3**
Visit Kuju Flower Park, trip to Mt Aso, Overnight in Takachiho.
-Is Aso worth visiting? Read that it tends to be closed due to the fumes.
**Day 4**
Visit Takachiho Gorge, head to Kumamto and explore around the area. Overnight in Kumamoto.
-Is takachiho area doable by walking? Planning to leave the car at the ryokan and explore the area. (Will be staying at Takachiho Kamikakure, google maps says 18 mins walk to the gorge)
-Is the renovation due to damage last year completed already?
**Day 5**
Strawberry Picking, visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, return the car in Fukuoka. Overnight Fukuoka
**Day 6 & 7**
Go around Fukuoka with public transport, mainly eating and shopping.
Decided to skip Nagasaki this trip. Perhaps next time if time permits. It will be my first trip in the region, any advice would help! Thanks in advance!
3 comments
Aso area is really beautiful, do a smaller viewpoint hike. But yeah the crater itself is usually closed.
Takachiho depends where your ryokan is. Put it into google maps.
I just finished my 13 days around Kyushu and it was a pretty chill time. I personally loved nagasaki and wished I spent more than two nights there. Mt Aso was smoking, so going up the first crater was closed, Kumamoto castle was a cool experience, 90% of it is fixed.
Beppu was alright, depends if you want to visit all the hells, I only did one and left for Oita instead.
You’re missing Saga prefecture from your northern Kyushu, it’s a very quiet town. Tons of ceramics and famous wagyu if you’re into that
I’m glad you’re renting a car, my lazy ass couldn’t be bothered.
On my recent visit to Takachiho, a lot of the area was still closed off. If there’s rain or a high water level, you also won’t be able to ride the boats. There are “Yokagura” performances at Takachiho shrine every night, though (your accommodation might have more information, I know that some places further away even offer a shuttle service). On Tuesdays, many shops and restaurants are closed and Takachiho turns into a bit of a ghost town, so if you want to keep your options open, better pick a different day.
Kumamoto is definitely worth some exploration. Since you’ll quite probably visit the castle, I recommend combining it with the “castle town” Josaien. You can eat local specialities in a historical atmosphere, buy souvenirs, and (with some luck) even experience a short *bushi* reenactment show. You’ll find Kumamon stuff everywhere… you basically can’t escape it, but if you like the mascot, it’s your chance to get something more unusual. For some more unique local souvenirs, check out the “Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center” near the castle – they have a small exhibition on traditional crafts, but it’s mainly a shop selling things produced in the prefecture (mostly tableware, some toys and jewellery). Suizenji Park may not be the most spectacular one in Japan, but I like its calming atmosphere and the opportunity to sit in a teahouse with a lake view and drink matcha on tatami mats. The other places I like are rather small, niche, or somewhat out of the way (like Reigando Cave or some of the islands), but I feel like the prefecture has some of the most beautiful nature.
I’m a little sad to hear that you want to skip Nagasaki – I really enjoyed my stay there, and everyone I know who’s been there says the same. Since many main attractions are somewhat clustered together and the tram lines are very convenient, it would be possible to do everything relevant in one day (e.g. see the Atomic Bomb Museum – warning, it’s emotionally quite heavy – and Peace Park, and then head south to see e.g. Dejima, Chinatown, and some temples and churches).
If you happen to pass through Kurume, you could make a detour to the Daihonzan Naritasan temple with its unusual architecture and a 200ft. tall Kannon statue with a staircase inside. Its basement has a small exhibition and renditions of Buddhist heaven and hell, including a tiny “tunnel of horror”. There’s also Yoshinogari Historical Park with the reproduction of a village from the Yayoi period.
Eating and shopping sounds like the perfect thing to do in Fukuoka 😉 Sorry for the novel, I hope it was at least a bit helpful and you’ll enjoy your trip!