Going Northern Kyushu for 5 days (or 4 specifically, 5th day is a morning flight so gotta be back in Fukuoka by then) in mid November. Travelling with a friend, both first time travellers. I know 5/4 days is really tight but can’t be helped unfortunately.
We’re aiming to keep things as nature-y as possible and need some advice on our current itinerary regarding feasibility/recommendations. Will be purchasing the North Kyushu Rail pass so hoping to keep to the trains as much as possible unless it can’t be help.
Current rough plan is
Day 1 – Landing in Fukuoka in the morning -> train to Dazaifu -> train and sleep in Yanagawa OR Kumamoto
Day 2 – Yanagawa/Kumamoto -> morning bus to Kurokawa Onsen, hoping to try a ‎ryokan
Day 3 – Kurokawa Onsen -> bus to Yufuin -> stay here?
Day 4 – back to Fukuoka by Yufuin no Mori, Kushida shrine, maybe Open Bus Tour
Day 5 – fly
We definitely want to catch the Yufuin no Mori, but i heard that it needs to be reserved with the Rail Pass number and might not be able to get on on the day itself, else we might do this itinerary bottom up with Yufuin on Day 1. Would that be accurate? Also, is Yufuin and Kurokowa Onsen similar enough that both are worth staying a night each?
Initially considered Beppu and Huis Ten Bosch but there doesn’t seem to be enough time and Huis Ten Bosch is too out of the way, maybe in future on a trip to Nagasaki. Thank you!
1 comment
If you’re aiming for nature you could do Mt Aso or Takachiho gorge, you’d need a car or do a tour though most likely. Both beautiful spots. Kurokawa and Yufuin are both lovely but somewhat similar. Yufuin is the bigger town with more to do. Yufuin no mori needs reservation so unless you do it last it’d be difficult. You want to keep to the trains, but there’s a lot of bus journeys in your itinerary?
A suggestion:
Day 1: Fukuoka, Daizaifu, night in Kumamoto
Day 2: Kumamoto day tour to Mt aso/takachiho/kurokawa, night in Kumamoto
Day 3: Kumamoto to Yufuin by train
Day 4: Yufuin no mori back to Fukuoka, I recommend nanzoin temple if you like nature.