Day 1 – Arrival in Japan

After being welcomed by your private guide, you will travel to your accommodation in Fukuoka by private vehicle. Settle in, adjust to your new environment and get ready for your upcoming adventures.

Night in Fukuoka
Inclusions: Accommodation, Breakfast, Private Guide, Transportation and Fees.

Day 2 – Fukuoka Sightseeing

Enjoy a full day visiting Fukuoka’s highlights: Start with the Nazoin Temple and visit the world’s largest reclining Buddha statue. On your way back to central Fukuoka, stop at the cute frog temple, Nyoirin-ji. Finally, head to Ohori Park and visit its famous Japanese Garden before heading to Tenjin district  and enjoy the evening eating at one of the numerous “Yattai” shops (famous street food stalls in Fukuoka).

Night in Fukuoka
Inclusions: Accommodation, Breakfast, Private Guide, Transportation and Fees.

Day 3 – Transfer from Fukuoka to Nagasaki

Check-out and head to the train station where you will take the express train bound for Nagasaki. After check-in at your Nagasaki accommodation, head to a tour of Gunkanjima, a small island located about 20 km. from Nagasaki Port. Until 1974, the island served as a coal mine with more than 5,000 residents calling the 480-meter-long, 150-meter-wide island home. At the time, it had the highest recorded population density anywhere in the world.

Night in Nagasaki
Inclusions: Accommodation, Breakfast, Private Guide, Transportation and Fees.

Day 4 – Nagasaki sightseeing

Today, enjoy a free day at your leisure and visit Nagasaki’s main sights. And learn more about its past and history.

Start with the solemn Nagasaki Peace Park and learn about the city’s tragic past. Then head to the oldest Christian church in Japan, Oura Church. Finish the day at the Nagasaki Confucius Shrine and the 400-year old Megane bridge and Chinatown.

Night in Nagasaki
Inclusions: Accommodation and Breakfast.

Day 5 – Transfer from Nagasaki to Kagoshima

Check out from your accommodation and head to Nagasaki station where you will take an express train bound for Kagoshima.

Kagoshima is the southernmost city in Kyushu and home of one of the world’s foremost active volcanoes “Sakurajima”. The volcano smokes constantly, and minor eruptions often take place multiple times per day.

Night in Kagoshima
Inclusions: Accommodation, Breakfast, Private Guide, Transportation and Fees.

Day 6 – Day trip to Yakushima (from Kagoshima)

Today, enjoy a full day trip on Yakushima Island. After a high-speed boat ride, you will arrive on the subtropical island off the southern coast of Kyushu and part of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan’s oldest living trees. The lavish greenery of the island-inspired the Ghibli movie “Mononoke Hime”.

Night in Kagoshima
Inclusions: Accommodation, Breakfast, Private Guide, Transportation and Fees.

Day 7 – Transfer from Kagoshima to Kirishima

Today, leave Kagoshima and head to Kirishima onsen (Hot-springs).

Kirishima is an active volcanic mountain range that lies on the border between Miyazaki and Kagoshima Prefectures. It is made up of mountains, highlands, volcanic lakes and hot springs and offers good hiking trails through beautiful mountainous surroundings.

Night at Kirishima onsen
Inclusions: Accommodation, Breakfast, Private Guide, Transportation and Fees.

Day 8 – Transfer from Kirishima to Kumamoto

Check-out of your accommodation and take the express train bound for Kumamoto.

Arrive at your accommodation in central Kumamoto and the rest of the day is free time. The city is compact and easy to get around. 

Kumamoto Castle is one of the most impressive castles in Japan. With large castle grounds and a variety of buildings, the Castle offers its visitors one of the most complete castle experiences in Japan. It suffered serious damage in the earthquakes of April 2016. Many roof tiles fell, foundations were damaged, walls crumbled and entire structures collapsed but a  walkway to the main keep opened to the public on October 5, 2019 and allows for close up views of the keep.

The Former Hosokawa Residence is the former residence of a branch family of the Hosokawa Clan, the powerful clan that ruled over Kumamoto during the Edo Period. The building is a great example of a high-class samurai mansion.

Sakura no Baba Jousaien is located at the foot of Kumamoto castle.  This tourist attraction is designed as an old castle town and conveys to visitors the food, history and cultural traditions of the region.  It is t

Suizenji Garden is a spacious, Japanese style landscape garden in Kumamoto, best enjoyed by strolling along a circular path. It was built by the Hosokawa family in the 17th century. The garden reproduces the 53 post stations of the Tokaido, the important road, which connected Edo with Kyoto during the Edo Period, in miniature form, including a small Mt. Fuji.

Night in Kumamoto
Inclusions: Accommodation, Breakfast, Transportation and Fees.

Day 9 – Day trip to Takachiho Gorge.

Takachiho Gorge is a narrow chasm cut through the rock by the Gokase River. Partway along the gorge is the 17-meter high Minainotaki waterfall cascading down to the river below. It is truly impressive to see the waterfall against a backdrop of dense green foliage and the surrounding grey cliffs. You will also have the opportunity to row a small private boat in the gorge before returning to Kumamoto.

Night in Kumamoto
Inclusions: Accommodation, Breakfast, Private Guide, Transportation and Fees.

Day 10 – Transfer from Kumamoto to Beppu and day trip Mt. Aso

Today, you will head to Mt. Aso for the day. It is an active volcano in the centre of Kyushu, which most recently erupted in 2016, but has since deactivated. Aso’s ancient caldera ranks among the world’s largest, with a diameter of up to 25-kilometers and a circumference of over 100-kilometers. In the centre of the caldera stand the mountain’s active volcanic peaks, including Mount Nakadake, whose spectacular crater is accessible to tourists. After visiting Mt. Aso area, we will head to Beppu for the night.

Night in Beppu
Inclusions: Accommodation, Breakfast, Private Guide, Transportation and Fees.

Day 11 – Beppu

Spend the day exploring Beppu. The “hells” (Jigoku) are seven spectacular hot springs but these are for viewing rather than bathing. Five of the ‘hells’ are located in the Kannawa district, such as Umi Jigoku or ‘Sea Hell’ featuring boiling blue water and Oniishibozu Jigoku, bubbling mud pools which resemble monks’ heads.

Night in Beppu
Inclusions: Accommodation and Breakfast.

Day 12 – Transfer from Beppu to Fukuoka via Yufuin.

Today, a private car will take you back to Fukuoka, but you will make a short detour and visit Yufuin, a popular hot spring resort. The small town has a wealth of art museums, cafes and boutiques, and many travelers come to the city just to stroll about town for the day. Yufuin is located on a flat river basin surrounded by mountains. The most prominent feature of the town’s skyline is the twin-peaked Mount Yufu, which hovers over the town and serves as the backdrop for many scenic views. The area is rural and shortly after leaving the main walking route, visitors will come across the rice paddies and farm houses that make up a considerable part of the town.

After Yufuin, you will head back to Fukuoka for the last night of your trip.

Inclusions: Accommodation, Breakfast, Private Guide, Transportation and Fees.

Day 13 – Departure

You will check out and transfer to Fukuoka airport by private car with your private guide.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Private Guide, Transportation and Fees.