Hi all, I’m going to Japan for the second time hopefully next Jan and have come up with a rough itinerary for Kyushu and Shikoku. I know that it seems very quick and fast paced but that is how I like to travel. I would rather skim through a city and see the major sites and if I enjoy it, return later for a more in-depth look. I’ll also have another 3ish weeks after this for Northern Japan but I wanted to make a rough itinerary for Kyushu first.
15th Jan Day 1: Arrive at Osaka
· Fly to Fukuoka
· Stay the night
16th Jan Day 2: Explore Fukuoka
· Walk through downtown
· Rest
· Daizafu?
17th Jan Day 3: Take the train to Kumamoto (Rail pass)
· Kumamoto castle
· Temples
18th Jan Day 4: Day trip to Mt. Aso
· Visit Mt. Aso by train
· Rest
19th Jan Day 5: Train to Kagoshima
· Shiroyama park
· Kamikaze Museum
20th Jan Day 6: Ferry to Sakurajima
· Take the bus tour around Sakurajima
· Explore/rest when I get back to Kagoshima
21st Jan Day 7: Take the train back to Fukuoka then to Beppu
· Rest
· Onsen
22nd Jan Day 8: Ferry from Beppu to Yawatahama
· Take the train to Matsuyama
· Rest
23rd Jan Day 9: Explore Matsuyama
· Dogo Onsen
· Matsuyama Castle
24th Jan Day 10: Explore/Rest
25th Jan Day 11: Take the bus to Takamsatu
· Ritsurin Garden
· Try Udon
26th Jan Day 12: Explore Takamatsu/ Late bus to Osaka
· Rent a bike
2 comments
I’m also kind of fast paced, like no problem doing one city a day, but sometimes, one day is not enough.
Fukuoka is easily 2 full day without daytrip outside of Fukuoka (like Dazaifu).
Kagoshima-Beppu is a bit longer that I would typically want to do in a single day, have you considered starting flying in Kagoshima, it’s not as if there was that many international destination from Fukuoka anyway.
For sure there is a lot of places between these different locations, just to give you an idea, my Kyushu itinerary is around 3 weeks and I’ve already been to different places in Kyushu and would not have to return.
IMO, Daizaifu is just not an international destination. It’s a temple, a museum, a bit of tourist street. Not worth it if you’re coming from abroad.