Kyushu: The Southern Route
- Duration : 20 days
- Locations : Tokyo, Kyoto, Miyajima, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Takachiho, Yufuin, Beppu, Osaka
This Japan tour takes you from Tokyo to the island of Kyushu.
After the modern-day capital, Kyoto and Hiroshima - Miyajima, visit Kyushu: historic Nagasaki, medieval Kumamoto, or the thermal baths at Beppu! Round off with an overnight stay on a ferry to Osaka.
Japan's third largest island has an astonishingly beautiful natural landscape of sea and mountains.
20-day itinerary
- Departure city/Airport : Tokyo (Narita : NRT or Haneda : HND)
- Tokyo (3 nights)
- Kyoto (3 nights, including one day-trip in Nara)
- Miyajima and Hiroshima (1 night)
- Fukuoka (2 nights)
- Nagasaki (2 nights)
- Kumamoto (2 nights)
- Kumamoto area (Mount Aso or Kagoshima, 2 nights)
- Hita (1 night)
- Yufuin (2 nights)
- Beppu (1 night)
- Osaka (2 nights)
- Return city/Airport : Osaka (Kansai International Airport : KIX)
Please find below the itinerary details.
Tour length : 19 nights / 20 days (+ 1 day at the beginning if you leave from Europe)
PLEASE NOTE: The departure and end dates shown on this page only apply to your stay in Japan. You must therefore leave Europe the day before the first day of your tour. The date of your return flight and that of your return to Europe are identical due to the time difference.
Example :
- Departure from Europe : January 1st
- Arrival in Tokyo (= the date to be selected in the calendar when booking) : January 2nd
- Return flight from Kansai International Airport KIX / Return to Europe : January 21st
Please note that flights are not included in the price of your tour.
This tour information was last updated on November 29, 2024 to ensure a smoother itinerary.
Like this tour but would prefer to visit the mystical island of Yakushima, in the south of Kyushu, famous for its lush nature ? Our Hiking in Japan tour takes you there!
Why this trip to Japan ?
- Welcomed at the airport by our team, you will be taken to your hotel in Tokyo by shuttle bus
- Travel by Shinkansen to Kyoto : a guided tour of the traditional geisha quarter awaits you
- In Kyoto, a travel angel will welcome you to a traditional Japan Experience house
- Reach Hiroshima and the sacred island of Miyajima where you will spend a night in a ryokan
- Fukuoka, the capital of Kyushu Island, will be your first stop on this large volcanic island
- Visit Nagasaki, Kumamoto, the Aso or Sakurajima volcanoes, the Takachiho gorges and Yufuin
- After a final stop at Beppu for a spa treatment, you will embark on an overnight cruise to Osaka
- Enjoy unlimited internet access thanks to your pocket Wi-Fi
- If needed, contact our bilingual Japanese/English-speaking assistance team available 7/7
- A number of guided days or other optional activities are available
- Benefit from the expertise of Japan Experience, European leading travel agency in Japan.
Your trip in detail
Itinerary
Day 1 : Wake up in Tokyo 東京
Arrival at Tokyo airport (Narita NRT or Haneda HND).
Welcome to Japan! 日本へようこそ!Welcome through customs by our airport assistant, who will give you all your travel documents and your Pocket WiFi. Unaccompanied transfer from the airport to Tokyo (see details).
The transfer is done in a shared shuttle or bus, with other guests departing for the same hotel or a hotel close to yours. These transfers depart between 1.5 and 3 hours after your scheduled flight arrival, and stops may be made before your hotel.
If you would like a private, non-stop transfer directly after the arrival of your flight, feel free to take the "Private Taxi from the Airport" option.
Check in at Hotel OMO3 Tokyo Akasaka by Hoshino Resorts or similar category 3* hotel (rooms available from 3pm).
Day 2 : First steps in the capital
What to do in Tokyo on your first day ?
We recommend that you start your visit to Tokyo slowly by visiting the following districts:
- Harajuku, the avant-garde district
- Meiji Jingû, the imperial sanctuary
- Takeshita-Dôri, a must-see street in the capital
- Omotesandô, Tokyo's Champs-Élysées
- Shibuya and its impressive crossroadsOne of our many experienced English-speaking guides can also accompany you to visit the classic sights of Tokyo (optional, from 9am to 5pm).
Day 3 : The big loop
For this second day of sightseeing in Tokyo, we recommend the following "loop".
Start at Tokyo Central Station, with its original architecture, then head off to visit :
- Ginza, Tokyo's chic district ;
- Tsukiji, the small outdoor food market ;
- Hama-rikyû, the Japanese garden between Tokyo's buildings ;
- Asakusa, a traditional district and place of pilgrimage, accessible by cruise on the Sumida river ;
- Sensô-ji, the oldest Buddhist temple in the Japanese capital ;
- Tokyo Sky Tree, 643 metres high, with its panoramic view of Tokyo at sunset.Between Hama-rikyû Garden and Asakusa, why not enjoy a cruise on the Sumida River ?
Day 4 : The former capital
In the morning, reach Kyoto via shinkansen (included in your package).
From noon onwards, you can settle into your traditional Japan Experience house. A Travel Angel will welcome you, show you some unique details and help you to have an unforgettable stay in Kyoto. You will be able to "live the Japanese way" for a few days, with a space much bigger than a hotel room and a kitchen to prepare good Japanese food!
You have 3 days to visit Kyoto.
Start in the afternoon in the historic Gion district, close to your accommodation :
- Kiyomizu-Dera, the impressive water temple ;
- The historic lanes of Sannen-zaka & Ninnen-zaka ;
- Kôdai-ji, Kyoto's temple of maple trees and bamboo.
Finish your day with a stroll through the Gion district and enjoy the sunset.
Meet your guide at 7 p.m. to start your evening walk around Gion, Kyoto's historic district.
More details on the exact day and meeting point can be found in your travel guide.At the end of this 1h30 walk, your guide will be able to recommend the best places to eat dinner!
Please note that it is strictly forbidden to take pictures in the historic district of Gion.Day 5 : Gold and Silver Treasures
We recommend the following itinerary for this second day's visit to Kyoto:
- The Zen garden of Ryôan-ji
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
- The enchanting Philosopher's Path
- Nanzen-ji templeOne of our many experienced English-speaking guides can accompany you on a tour of these iconic sites (available as an option, from 9am to 5pm).
Day 6 : Between temples and deer
For the last day in Kyoto and its surroundings, we recommend taking the 50 minute journey to Nara (Suica accessible).
Visit Nara, Japan's first fixed capital in the 8th century. Discover:
- The Kasuga-taisha Shinto shrine and its thousands of lanterns
- Tôdai-ji, with its great bronze Buddha and the imposing Nan-Daimon gate
- Kôfuku-ji temple and its delightful pagodaReturn to Kyoto and stop to see the sunset at the Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kyoto's immense shrine of 10,000 torii.
If you wish to be accompanied on this day, one of our English-speaking guides will reveal all the secrets of Japan's first capital (optional).
Day 7 : The Sacred Island
In the morning, we advise that you have your luggage sent to the hotel in Fukuoka (details in your travel diary, check with the hotel reception) and that you travel light for your night in Miyajima.
Take the shinkansen to Miyajima (about 2h20, 1 change) then then boat (20 minutes, with Suica), both included in your package.
Reach your ryokan near the island's ferry terminal. The time to explore the island has come ! Its Itsukushima-jinja shrine and the great Ôtorii gate built into the sea are definitely a must-see.
Take the cable car up to Mount Misen and then descend on foot. A breathtaking view of Hiroshima Bay awaits you!
At the ryôkan, you will be treated to a tasty traditional Japanese dinner before retiring to your tatami room.
Day 8 : Make way for history
Traditional Japanese breakfast at the ryokan.
In the morning, make a brief stop in Hiroshima (30 minutes by train from Miyajimaguchi Ferry Station, with Suica) and visit the Peace Park and its memorial.
From Hiroshima, head to the island of Kyushu and its capital, Fukuoka, just 1 hour away by shinkansen (included in your package).
Arrive in the centre of the vibrant city of Fukuoka and check into your hotel located near the central station.
With its 2000 years of history, the capital of Kyushu has always been the gateway to Asia (Korea and China) and Western culture (Portugal and its Jesuits, Holland). Another Japan, further away from Tokyo, awaits you.
Capital of a booming region, Fukuoka is now one of the most dynamic cities in Japan with its many high-tech companies and the hosting of a global event : the Rugby World Cup in October 2019.
Visit the lively Nakasu and Tenjin districts and their hundreds of delicious and welcoming open-air restaurants at low prices "yatai". A great way to spend one final evening!
Day 9 : The capital of Kyushu
In the morning, meet your English-speaking guide and explore Fukuoka's many iconic sites:
- Momochi district : Fukuoka Tower and other futuristic buildings - Japan in the 22nd century
- Canal City Hakata, a huge shopping center seamlessly integrates with a city park and charming canals
- Asian Art Museum, the world's first museum for modern Asian art
- Shôfoku-ji Temple, the oldest Zen temple in all of Japan
- Hakata Machiya, a captivating district lined with traditional merchants' housesIn the afternoon you can continue your tour of Fukuoka, embark on a nearby adventure, or delve deeper into the city's offerings:
- The beaches around Fukuoka, such as Itoshima or Kusatsu, a quick 45-minute trip from Fukuoka
- Dazaifu, the most famous temple complex on the whole island of Kyushu, south of FukuokaIn the evening, second night in your hotel in Fukuoka.
Day 10 : A rich past open to the world
2 hour trip to Nagasaki (direct, included in your package) and accommodation in your 3* hotel or same category hotel.
In addition to its sad history during the Second World War, the city offers visitors evidence of its rich past. A trading port to Asia, and for a long time Japan's only gateway to the outside world, it was also a place of refuge for Japanese Christians persecuted during the Edo era.
We advise you the following spots :
- Glover's garden (former foreign concession) and Oura basilica
- Dejima museum-polder (former Dutch concession)
- The memorial and museum of 26 martyrs
- The Sôfukuji Chinese temple
- The Atomic Bomb MuseumDay 11 : Between the sea and the Japanese countryside
Breakfast at the hotel.
There is no shortage of day trips from Nagasaki:
- Gunkanjima ghost island (boat tickets optional)
- The Shimabara coast, with the slopes of the Unzen volcano, one of the most active in the world, whose 1991 eruption cost the lives of volcanologists Katia and Maurice KrafftAnd some slightly more cheerful sites:
- The floating torii on the sea, with superb views from the coast
- The village of Amari, famous for its Japanese ceramics
- A theme park recreating a Dutch region, symbolising the common past of the two countries
These places are accessible with your Japan Rail Pass, in 1 to 2 hours from Nagasaki, direct or with a change. The Shimabara side is only accessible with a private line train, which can be used with your offer's pre-payment card.Day 12 : The feudal heart of Kyushu
Breakfast at the hotel.
Leave for Kumamoto (2 hour train and Shinkansen, 1 change, all included). Arrival in the feudal city of Kumamoto. We recommend a visit to its castle and park, as well as the magnificent Suizen-ji garden, accessible by tram from the centre.
Check-in at your 3* hotel in the heart of Kumamoto.Day 13 : On the Japanese volcano road
Breakfast at the hotel.
Go for a day trip to discover a still active volcano: Mount Aso, east of Kumamoto, or Sakurajima, in the south:
- Mount Aso, accessible in 1h45 (JR train and bus), is one of the largest calderas in the world, where 50.000 people live while the volcano that created it is still active. A volcano museum, a cable car with a view of one of the craters and a short hike are on the agenda for this extraordinary day.- Sakurajima borders the city of Kagoshima, the capital of southern Kyushu. It is nicknamed "the Naples of Japan" for its proximity to this active volcano reminiscent of Vesuvius. The city of Kagoshima can be reached in 1h by shinkansen, direct and included in your package. In addition to the view of one of Japan's most famous volcanoes, Kagoshima has a fabulous garden worth visiting: the Senga-en.
From Kagoshima, it's possible to approach the volcano.Day 14 : Myths and legends
Breakfast at the hotel.
Embark on a 3-hour direct journey to the city of Hita, often called the 'Kyoto of Kyushu' due to its historic streets modeled after the ancient capital, and check into your hotel.
The Mameda neighbourhood, just north of Hita Station, is the main area modeled after Kyoto, with a grid of straight streets lined with historic buildings. Stroll the atmospheric streets and visit sites like the Kuncho Shuzo Sake Brewery with its museum on sake and shochu production, the Nihon Marukan Traditional Medicine Museum in an impressive Edo-era building, and the Hita Shoyu Hina Goten displaying thousands of beautiful hina dolls.
A short walk south of Hita Station, the old Kuma neighbourhood grew from a traditional fishing village along the Mikuma River. Today it's Hita's onsen hot spring district, with numerous ryokan inns and modern hotels offering baths with the area's geothermal waters. The major attractions in Kuma are the yakatabune pleasure boats that cruise the river, offering dinners and the chance to watch cormorant fishing for ayu sweetfish (from May to October).
Day 15 : Kyushu's famous gorges
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, continue your exploration of Hita, then leave at noon for Yufuin (included in your package). The train travels through fabulous Japanese mountain, countryside and coastal scenery, far from the usual tourist trails.
At the end of the afternoon, you will arrive in Yufuin, where you can settle in a ryokan where a traditional dinner will be served.
Day 16 : Picturesque spa village
Traditional Japanese breakfast at the ryokan.
Located at the foot of the majestic, verdant Mount Yufu, you will enjoy this spa, one of Japan's favourites. Not to mention the tranquility of the warm waters of Lake Kirin-ko in the centre of town, or the ever-present surrounding nature. A peaceful break on this trip!
Don't forget to send your luggage to your hotel in Osaka so that you can travel light the following day (check with the reception of your ryokan, details in your travel diary).
In the evening, second dinner and night in your ryokan.
Day 17 : The city of steaming onsens
Traditional Japanese breakfast at the ryokan.
Leave by train to Beppu (1h10, 1 change, included in your package).
This large city, on the coast is home to nearly 3000 hot springs! With the feel of an industrial town, Beppu offers baths for all tastes, both for sightseeing and for soaking! Unfortunately, this city has been taken over by mass tourism, mainly Japanese and Asian.However, the walking tour of the 8 Beppu hells (including the Blood Lake) is unique: it winds its way through various open pools of volcanic water. Many spa experiences await you in Beppu, including the famous black sand baths. Travel around the city by local bus from the central station.
In the early evening, head to the waterfront and its marine terminal to board a cruise ship. There is a possibility to have dinner on board (to be paid directly on the boat), before a night lulled by the waves. Travel overnight along Japan's calm inland sea and arrive early the next morning in Osaka.
Day 18 : First steps in the capital of Kansai
From the Osaka ferry terminal, reach your 3* Osaka Intergate Umeda hotel or same category hotel by metro (20 minutes, 1 change) or taxi.
What is there to do in Osaka in 2 days ? We recommend that you start your visit to Osaka slowly, in the northern and eastern districts:
- Osaka's medieval castle, with its park full of plum and cherry trees
- The city centre and Nakanoshima Island, with its rose park surrounded by buildings
- Utsubo Park, a cool oasis in the business district
- Visit Umeda, the temple of Japanese shopping
- Finish off with the Umeda Sky building at dusk for a 360° view of Kansai (including Kyoto on a clear day!)One of our many experienced English-speaking guides can also accompany you to visit the classic sights of Osaka (optional, from 9am to 5pm).
Day 19 : Day 14 : Gastronomic introduction
This is the last day of your Japan tour. For your second day in Osaka, we recommend the following itinerary:
- Osaka Kaiyûkan Aquarium, the world's largest aquarium in terms of volume
- The Tennôji district and its Shitennô-ji Buddhist temple, one of the oldest in Japan
- Spa World, Japan's largest thermal baths (onsen)
- Shinseikai, with its retro charm
- DenDen machi, the technologeek village
- Finish off with Dôtonbori, the liveliest district in JapanDay 20 : Sayonara, and see you next time!
Take a direct transfer to Kansai International Airport (included but not accompanied).
This transfer is by shuttle or shared bus, with other customers departing from the same hotel or a hotel close to yours. These transfers arrive between 3 hours and 1.5 hours before the actual departure of your flight, and stops can be made before you arrive at the airport.
If you prefer a private transfer at a time of your choice, direct to the airport and with no intermediate stops, select the "Private Taxi to Airport" option.
Return flight to Europe, North America, Australia.
Don't hesitate to extend your trip by a few days, in the Kansai area or elsewhere...Get in touch and we would be happy to advise you!
Accommodation
- 3 nights in a 3* hotel in the heart of Tokyo, close to public transportation
- 3 nights in a traditional Kyoto house
- 1 night in a 3* ryokan in Miyajima (on or opposite the island), traditional half-board
- 2 nights in a 3* hotel in Fukuoka
- 2 nights in a 3* hotel in Nagasaki
- 2 nights in a 3* hotel in Kumamoto
- 1 night in a 3* hotel in Hita
- 2 nights in a 3* ryokan in Yufuin, traditional half-board
- 1 night on the Beppu - Osaka ferry
- 2 nights in a 3* hotel in Osaka
The basic rate includes a twin room for two people.
Transport
- Airport transfer to Tokyo HND or NRT
- Return airport transfer Osaka > Kansai International Airport KIX
- Prepaid public transport card
- Shinkansen tickets for Tokyo > Kyoto, seats reserved in standard class
- Shinkansen tickets for Kyoto > Hiroshima, seats reserved in standard class
- Shinkansen tickets for Hiroshima > Fukuoka, seats reserved in standard class
- North Kyushu Pass 5 days
- Train tickets for Hita > Yufuin
Experiences and meals
- Airport meet and greet
- Welcome to Kyoto by a Travel Angel
- Traditional dinner and breakfast included in the 4 traditional lodgings of the tour
- The breakfasts in Nagasaki and Kumamoto
- Night guided tour of Gion, Kyoto
- Half-day guided tour of Fukuoka
Included in your self-guided tour
Additional services
- Unlimited internet access with Pocket WiFi
- Complete digital travel guide sent before your departure
- Luggage transfer between your hotels in Kumamoto > Yufuin and Yufuin > Osaka
- Bilingual English and Japanese telephone support is available 7 days a week, from 9AM to 6PM. The number will be provided in your travel itinerary. This number can be used for both phone calls and WhatsApp messages.
Not included in the price of your trip
- Flights Europe <> Japan
- Optional insurance
- Personal expenses, including meals (breakfasts can sometimes be added as an option at your hotel reception, see details). For other meals, you will find addresses selected by us in your travel pack.
- Public transport once your transport cards have run out (see details)
- Everything not mentioned in the section "Included in your tour".
What kind of insurance coverage is available for your Japan trip ?
When you book with Japan Experience, you have the option of purchasing two types of coverage:
- Japan Experience Flex : This insurance covers expenses related to trip cancellations for specific reasons (disease, accident, passing...)
- Japan Experience Protect : This insurance provides overall coverage for various aspect of the trip. For instance: cancellation, flight delay or missing flight, lost luggage, travel incident and repatriation, assistance, etc...
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