I am planning a trip next year to explore the Kyushu area for about 10 days. From Fukuoka -> Nagasaki -> Kumamoto -> Kagoshima -> Miyazaki-> Beppu -> Tokyo. I realized that lots of time are wasted on travelling. For example from Kagoshima to Beppu by train, I will have to either take back to Fukuoka and then Beppu or towards Miyazaki and then Beppu. Both requires 5 to 6 hours. I originally had the intention of skipping Miyazaki completely due to tight schedule, but I will finish with Kagoshima itinerary around 6pm, so I might just stop at Miyazaki for a night and travel to Beppu the following morning.
So I was wondering if there are any night buses that operate within the Kyushu area, maybe from Kagoshima to Beppu, so that the time wasted on travelling can be used for sleeping. I tried to do some research but it seems there are none. Or perhaps I should visit the cities in a different order?
Also, are there any recommendations for night activities in Kumamoto/Kagoshima/Beppu? It seems that the only thing operating in the late evening are the shopping arcades.
5 comments
Kagoshima and Kumamoto have fairly lively (for cities their size) bar scene. Beppu is an onsen resort, don’t expect any night time activity.
That seems ambitious for only 10 days, what kinds of things do you want to do? I think you’ve only mentioned night activities and shopping arcades, but if you plan on going outside of the city the lead time to travel using transit only will probably take you longer than expected.
What time of year are you going? There might be cool festivals to link your travel up with
I am doing Kyushu as well in November, similar trip to what you are doing but my timeline is a little longer about 2 weeks in Kyushu vs 10 days. I am using Fukuoka as a home base, doing Nagasaki for 2 days, then back to Fukuoka to get a car rental for the next couple days as I do Kagoshima, Mt Aso and maybe Miyazaki/Kumamoto if time allows.
I will also be heading to Beppu after Kagoshima, and its actually faster via bullet train to go back up to Fukuoka then over to Beppu, than driving across but I want to experience driving and as you see, there aren’t a lot of options. So my suggestion is doing something similar. The train from Fukuoka to Beppu is only like 2 hrs. So I’m leaving Fukuoka in a car, going to all those places south, then drive back to Fukuoka to drop off car and take bullet train to Beppu. I haven’t found any night busses or anything of the like yet. I don’t know if this will help but just my input and opinion on my findings so far!
To be honest, Kyushu is rough to travel fast due to the vastness and low density, doubly so if you travel on JR (I think there were only two legs of Shinkansen – Fukuoka to Nagasaki, and Fukuoka to Kagoshima)
Is there anything specific in Miyazaki you want to see? Takachiho (Miyazaki prefecture)? Heiwadai Park (Miyazaki city)?
Nagasaki is out of the way, but I would suggest looking into the Shimabara ferry to Kumamoto.
So then you could go:
* Fukuoka
* Shinkansen to Nagasaki
* (JR from Nagasaki to Shimabara Port) Ferry to Kumamoto
* Shinkansen to Kagoshima (be sure to visit Sengen-en Garden, it is beautiful)
* Shinkansen back to Fukuoka
For Beppu, you can park it as a side trip from Fukuoka.
If you are looking to visit Takachiho (Miyazaki prefecture, VERY far from Miyazaki city) you should consider joining a day tour either from Kumamoto or Fukuoka – I believe someone was talking about Klook day tour packages earlier this year on this sub.