Hello.
I need to book the hotels for my upcoming trip in Kyushu.
This is all quite difficult to plan ahead, I’ve been to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka before, and there it was a simple decision, how many days, and best hotel location.
I am planning something around 12-13 days, but it could also be a bit more or a bit less as I will be in Japan for around 19 days and spend the remaining days maybe in Tokyo again.
It will be end-Dec to beginning of Jan.
For Kyushu everything is so far apart, so I’d love your input on:
1- which places to use as base
2- did I miss some important highlights?
I was thinking about
day1-day2 Fukuoka (city + Itoshima oyster hut + Karatsu castle)
\—> rent a car here
day3-day5 Kurokawa Onsen (Kumamoto Castle on the way the first day, then onsen day, then Mt Aso day)
day6-day7 Yufuin (Onsen day and village+Lake Kinrin day)
day8-day11 Beppu (Jigokudani hell valley tour, Hoyoland hot sand/mud bath, Takegawara Onsen)
day12-day14 Kagoshima (Usuki stone Buddhas on the way, cycle around Sakurajima, …)
Probably Kagoshima is not worth, and better focus more on the previous places?
I read about cool places where you could steam your food, I’ll definitely try them out.
Did I miss something important?
are the bases I am choosing (FUkuoka, Kurokawa Onsen, Yufuin, Beppu, Kagoshima maybe) right, and for the right amount of days?
Many thanks.
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3 comments
Should definitely be spending more time in Fukuoka city at least. Your plan is like going on a two week New York vacation and only spending two days of it in NYC. Less travel time, that’s hardly any quality time there at all.
My friend from Kagoshima told me it’s not worth it, if that helps. Probably should add Nagasaki to your trip for a few days and do a day trip to Sasaebo (spell check that). Gunkajima Island is a pretty cool half day trip from Nagasaki, although the water may be too rough that time of year for you to go on the island.
Mt Aso is cool, but that time of year the weather could be problematic. It can be very cold and windy. So I would be flexible in planning to catch a good day. Definitely worth the visit if you can.
Nagasaki and Unzen National Park are really interesting, from there you can take a ferry over to Kumamoto. I would say that Kurokawa Onsen Yufuin and Beppu is a bit too much onsen in a row. I would also recommend visiting the Kirishima area around Kagoshima and/or talking a 3-nights trip to Yakushima from Kagoshima.
As for Fukuoka: it is nice but 1-2 days are sufficient for such a trip, especially in winter. There are not so many sights, just a very nice city that’s easy to live in.