Kyushu 7 Days Itinerary-D

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There are many highlight sites along today’s route. And most of the shops at Yufuin are the biggest highlight of the day close around 17:00. Therefore, we strongly recommend leaving from 8:00 to 9:00.
If your departure time is late, such as leaving in the afternoon, adjust your schedule by taking the expressway or skipping some spots.

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The first destination is “Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine”, nationally famous throughout Japan as the god of learning.

The approach from the parking lot to Tenmangu Shrine is called “Tenjin-sama-dori” avenue, which is crowded with many souvenir stores and restaurants.

If you like sweets and fruits, you can also enjoy fruit picking after visiting Tenmangu Shrine. Please refer to the driving map.

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Recommended lunch is “Hita Yakisoba”, a local grilled noodle. If you have time, stop by the nearby “Hita Old Town” as it has a charming atmosphere.

After that, let’s head to Yufuin.
There are no spots between Hita and Yufuin. It is recommended to drive on the highway (E34).

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Once you arrive in Yufuin, we recommend strolling along the Yufuin Yunotsubo Kaido (Yufuin Yunotsubo Street), lined with souvenir stores and cute little sweet stores. Enjoy eating and walking to Kinrin-ko Lake at the road’s eastern end.

Another highlight of the day, the “Beppu Jigoku Hells”, will close at 17:00. If you wish to visit it, leave Yufuin by 3:30 p.m. at the latest.

Onsen town Beppu symbolizes the “Beppu Jigoku Hells”, where hot water of various colors boils over! Five of the seven hells are within walking distance.
Be aware that the tour closes at 17:00 p.m.

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Because there are so many pots to see, we recommend leaving by 8-9 am if you want to travel without rushing.
If you are staying in Beppu, go to the “Yukemuri Observatory” first, and you will see the typical Beppu scene of steam rising.

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The first destination is the Kokonoe Suspension Bridge. It is the highest suspension bridge for pedestrians in Japan and is a must-see, especially during the season of fresh green leaves and autumn foliage.

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Kurokawa Onsen is a great place for lunch. There are nice curry shops and excellent cream puffs. This spot is also very crowded on holidays. Beyond Kurokawa Onsen, there are a number of soba noodle shops called Oguni Soba Road, which is also recommended. Please refer to the driving map.

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Further south down the Yamanami Highway is the “Nishiyunouraenchi Observatory”. Although not very famous, this is Drive Japan’s best lookout point overlooking the Mt.Aso caldera.

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This is the most famous observatory in the Mt.Aso caldera. Enjoy a 1 km round trip walk on the plateau from the parking lot to the observatory.

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If you still have time, head to “Kusasenri” on Mt. Aso.
Panorama Line Road, which was ranked No. 1 in Japan in a motorcycle magazine, will greet you with the sight of vast grasslands.

If there are no restrictions on volcanic gases, you can visit the crater. You can take the Aso Park toll road (800 yen) to the parking lot next to the crater.
Please check current restrictions before your visit.

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Due to the short driving distance, it is okay to depart at a leisurely pace.

However, if you did not visit “Mt.Aso” yesterday, leave early and go there first. Driving up the Aso Panorama Line Road, which was ranked No. 1 in the national driving road rankings, you will be greeted by the sight of vast grasslands and an active volcano!

１１：１５
First, let’s move on at once to visit “Takachiho Gorge”. It is one of the most beautiful gorges in all of Japan and one of the most recommended spots on this entire road trip.
Boat rentals are very popular and sometimes crowded, but highly recommended!

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“Kunimigaoka Observatory” near Takachiho Gorge is also worth a visit. It is hard to describe from the picture, but from this 513-meter-high hill, you can see the Takachiho Basin to the east and Mount Aso to the west, and Takachiho, a town said to be the home of the gods, can be seen from all directions. It is famous for the sea of clouds, but it is also a sight to behold at other times of the year.

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10km away from Takachiho Gorge, the “Amanoiwato Shrine” is also recommended. A 10-minute walk along a riverside path called “Amanoyasukawara” will lead you to a fantastic torii gate in a cave.

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Back to Aso and if you still have time, stop by “Shirakawa Suigen”. You can draw natural water from the foot of Mt. Aso.

Let’s return to the same inn in Aso as the previous day.

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On this day you will travel from Aso to Kumamoto. It’s okay to leave late around 10:00am if you have visited Mt. Aso the day before.

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The first stop is mt.Aso. You can drive “Panorama Line” road, which was ranked No. 1 in Japan in a motorcycle magazine, will greet you with the sight of vast grasslands. We also recommend visiting the Aso Volcano Museum.

If there are no restrictions on volcanic gases, you can visit the crater. You can take the Aso Park toll road (800 yen) to the parking lot next to the crater.
Please check current restrictions before your visit.

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Then head to Kumamoto Castle. After parking your car in the parking lot of Kumamoto Castle, enjoy lunch at Sakuranobaba Johsaien Castle Town, a shopping street with the theme of the Edo period (1603-1868).

Afterward, you will walk to Kumamoto Castle. Kumamoto Castle is famous for its Uto yagura (turret) and huge Ishigaki (stone walls) that have remained since the Edo period. The 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake destroyed these huge stone walls, and Kumamoto Castle was in danger of collapsing. However, thanks to the desperate efforts of the people, restoration is now progressing, and you can visit the castle with peace of mind.

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Next, you will head to Suizenji Garden. In the garden where Aso’s subterranean water springs quietly, you can stroll through the elegantly beautiful Japanese garden while looking at the pond, Tsukiyama, pine trees, etc. From the end of March to the beginning of April, cherry blossoms bloom along the promenade, and many people come to see the cherry blossoms.

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Please spend a relaxing night in Kumamoto.

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First, we will head to Kumamoto Castle, the symbol of Kumamoto, which was damaged by the Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016, but restoration work on the castle tower was completed in March 2021.

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Suizenji Jojuen Garden is a Japanese garden with a pond garden style. It is only 4 km away from Kumamoto Castle, so it is recommended to visit there as well.
Please leave here by 12:00 p.m. to catch the ferry. Depending on the time, please consider skipping this spot.

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On this day, you will cross the Ariake Sea by car ferry from Kumamoto Port to Shimabara Port.
There are two ferry companies, Kumamoto Ferry(熊本フェリー) and Kyusho Ferry(九商フェリー). Kumamoto Ferry is slightly more expensive but takes half the time.
Drive Japan recommends the Kumamoto ferry which departs at 13:00.
Be sure to catch the 13:40 departure of the Kyushu Sho Ferry at the latest.

For passenger cars, please complete the boarding procedure 20 minutes before departure.

Once you arrive at Shimabara Port, let’s have lunch.
We recommend Shimabara’s traditional dish, Guzoni(具雑煮), a healthy hot pot with 13 different ingredients.

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After that, let’s head to Unzen Jigoku Hell. In the center of Unzen, famous for its volcanoes and hot springs, you can stroll through the fantastic sight of steam erupting.

If the weather is fine, it is also recommended to drive along the nearby Nitatoge Circular Road(仁田峠循環道路) and visit the NitaPass 2nd Observatory. You can enjoy a spectacular view overlooking Shimabara City and the Ariake Sea.
The journey from Unzen Hell to Nagasaki is about 50 km, or 1 hour and 10 minutes.

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Mt.Inasa is one of Japan’s top three nightscapes along with Mt.Hakodate in Hokkaido and Mt. Rokko in Kobe.
Please remember that general vehicles are not allowed to enter the summit park between 18:00 and 22:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and during peak season. If you wish to climb the mountain during these hours, use the ropeway.
You can refer to MAPCODE for parking for both the summit and the ropeway on the driving map.

You can visit Peace Park, Dejima, and the rest of the city tomorrow.
Also, if you stay only one night in Nagasaki, you will not have enough time to explore the city. If you want to visit Atomic Bomb Museum, Dejima, or the famous Gunkanjima (Battleship Island), we recommend you stay one more night in Nagasaki.

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If you want to take your time in Nagasaki city, it is recommended to leave early.
The opening hours of major sightseeing spots in the city are as follows.

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Glover Garden and Oura Tenshudo are very close by, so park in the public parking lot and walk.
The slope is very steep, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
From Glover Garden, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Nagasaki’s harbor.

This is a museum about the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945. There is also a Peace Park 500 meters away, but the museum is more recommended.

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After 40 minutes from Nagasaki City, you will arrive at “Roadside Station Yuhigaoka Sotome”.

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At Saikai Bridge, you can see the whirlpools if the timing is right. There are also souvenir stores and restaurants, perfect for a rest stop.

The biggest highlight of the day was the Ishidake Observatory.
Generally speaking, the other observatory “Tenkaiho observatory” is more famous, but Ishidake Observatory, which is not accessible by bus, is higher in elevation and is by far the best place to enjoy a truly 360-degree panoramic view of Kujuku Islands and the city of Sasebo with its huge shipbuilding yard.

Tenkaiho observatory is also a famous place for flowers. The rape blossoms and cosmos season are especially recommended.

In the evening, relieve your fatigue in the hot springs of Ureshino and Takeo.

Because there are so many spots to see, we recommend that you leave by 8-9 am if you want to travel without rushing.
If you are not staying in Fukuoka today and will be taking the Shinkansen or airplane, please arrange your schedule so that you can return the rental car to the rental store at least one and a half hours before your flight.

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First, stop by Mifuneyama Rakuen, located near Takeo Onsen.
This garden was created in 1845 and offers a variety of seasonal scenery including cherry blossoms, wisteria, azaleas, and autumn leaves.

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Imari and Arita are world-famous for porcelain, and here in Okawauchiyama, the official kiln of the Saga Clan was located. The scene of many kilns quietly lined up in the mountains was to prevent the leakage of advanced technology to the outside world and it truly makes this place a hidden village.

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If you have enough time for lunch, it is highly recommended to go to Yobuko town for squid. You can enjoy wonderfully fresh and delicious squid that is as good as Hakodate’s.

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The biggest highlight of the day is the Kagamiyama Observatory. It is one of the most beautiful observatories in Kyushu with a panoramic view of Niji-no-Matsubara pine forest, Karatsu Castle, and Karatsu Bay, and it is a wonder that it is not more famous.

At the foot of the observatory is a 4.5 km-long pine forest of one million pine trees called “Niji-no-Matsubara. You can also enjoy driving through the pine forest, so please refer to the driving map.

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If you still have time, stop by the “Sakurai Futamigaura Couple Rock” in Itoshima before returning to Fukuoka.
The sight of a pure white torii gate facing the husband and wife rocks offshore is very popular as a great photo spot. There are also stylish cafes and Instagram spots scattered around the area.

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This concludes your Kyushu road trip.
When you return to Fukuoka, refuel and then return the car to the car rental branch. Use the MAPCODE on the driving map for the nearest gas stations at Hakata Station and Fukuoka Airport.

Fukuoka offers a wide variety of culinary delights. For dinner, try Hakata ramen, Motsu nabe (Motsu hot pot), and other local Fukuoka foods, or even try one of the famous Yatai stalls.