Seeking advice on Kyushu / Western Japan traveling itinerary for ~1 month
Hello all, I am planning another longform trip after my previous Tohoku adventure, this time focusing more on western Japan (Yamaguchi/Shimane etc) and Kyushu in particular for about 32 days between 21 Nov ~ 23 Dec. Also would also like to try out as many sightseeing trains as possible. Will largely rely on public transport only (though I am open to driving if the place is exceptional enough but public transportation is impractical).
Priority items are as follow:
- Nature/architectural stuff
- Esoteric/random stuff (e.g. sightseeing trains) and
- Cultural stuff
My basic outline is as follow:
| Day 0: arrive at Tokyo, either take Sunrise Izumo OR rest in Tokyo, then fly to Hagi-Iwami airport the next day |
|---|
| Day 1: Shimane - Iwami, Tsuwano |
| Day 2 :Yamaguchi - Hagi [Hagi Castle Town] ; Marumaru no Hanashi sightseeing train to Kokura |
| Day 3: Fukuoka - Kokura [Day trip to Mojiko / Shimonoseki e.g. crossing the bridge on foot etc] |
| Day 4: Fukuoka - Kokura (am) [Toto Museum, Manga Museum] / Fukuoka (pm) [Yatais, Canal City, |
| Day 5: Fukuoka - Fukuoka Central [Ohori Park, Fukuoka Art Museum]+ some outskirts [Dazaifu Tenmangū, Kyushu National Museum] |
| Day 6 : Saga - Ureshino Onsen |
| Day 7: Nagasaki - Sasebo [JMSDF Sasebo Museum Sail Tower, Sasebo City Museum Shimanose Art Center] / Hirado [TBC: might cancel this because its kinda difficult on public transportation] |
| Day 8: Nagasaki - Huis Ten Bosch. Two Stars 4047 sightseeing train en route to Nagasaki |
| Day 9 + 10: Nagasaki - Nagasaki Central [Gunkajima, Glover Garden, Chinatown, etc]. |
| Day 11: Kumamoto - Kumamoto Central [Suizenji Garden, Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto] |
| Day 12 : Kumamoto - Mount Aso [Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine, Aso Shrine, Mount Aso] / Kurokawa Onsen. Aso Boy! sightseeing train en route to Mount Aso |
| Day 13 : Kumamoto - TBC [either Kumamoto Central or an extra float day for Mount Aso/Kurokawa Onsen] |
| Day 14+15 : Kagoshima - Kagoshima Central [Sengan-en, Reimeikan, Nagashima Museum] Ibutsuki Onsen/southern Kagoshima [Steam sand bath]. Ibusuki No Tamatebako sightseeing train to Ibusuki |
| Day 16: Kagoshima - Sakurajima cycling |
| Day 17: Kagoshima - Kirishima Onsen |
| Day 18: Miyazaki: Sun Messe Nichinan, Udo Shrine, Aoshima Shrine, Gion Shrine/Obi Castle Ruins |
| Day 19: Miyazaki: Takachikawa Gorge. 36+3 sightseeing train to Beppu |
| Day 20: Oita : Beppu [Beppu Jigoku, Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center]/ Oita [TBC, probably the art museums] |
| Day 21 : Oita : Beppu / Yufurin (day-trip?) |
| Day 22: Yamaguchi : Akiyoshido / Motonosumi Inari Shrine [using one of those day trip tours offered by klook to solve the logistical issue] |
| Day 23: Hiroshima : Hiroshima Central [Mitaki Temple, round two on Mount Misen] |
| Day 24: Hiroshima : Etajima cycling (OR Shimanami Kaido cycling (did the Imabari --> Onomichi route previously in 2023)) |
| Day 25: Hiroshima: Onomichi OR Tomonoura. etSETOra sightseeing train to Onomichi |
| Day 26: Okayama: Okayama Central [Korakuen, maybe a half day trip to Kojima] . Open to dropping this to buffer Kyushu related activities. |
| Day 27: Kobe: Kobe Central [Chinatown, Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial, Kobe Tower, etc]. Open to dropping this to buffer Kyushu related activities. |
| Day 28: FREE DAY (unallocated, can be used to buffer other prefectures) |
| Day 29+30+31: FREE DAY (reserved for Osaka for last minute shopping / any special adhoc places to visit) |
| Day 32: Fly off from KIX in morning |
I have currently planned my route in a (somewhat) clockwise fashion, starting from Fukuoka then in a loop fashion to Beppu before exiting Kyushu back to Osaka, which incidentally fits into the 36+3 sightseeing train profile too.
Random questions:
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Is there a better alternative routing that I did not consider? E.g. counterclockwise fashion from Fukuoka to Oita then to Miyazaki, Kagoshima and so on, or perhaps a zig-zag fashion betwene Kumamoto to Oita/Miyazaki then Kagoshima?
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Should Takachikawa Gorge be done from Miyazaki side, or is it better to lump together with Mount Aso/Kurokawa as part of the Kumamoto leg? Assume that I am on public transportation only.
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I have one free day that is unallocated. Should that be used to develop Saga a bit more (since I have only one day planned at Ureshino Onsen). I am open to dropping Okayama and Kobe if it means that I develop Kyushu more for exploration, and if necessary, into the 3 days I have reserved for Osaka.
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Special events in Kyushu during late November ~ late December: I understand that I should be exploring Kyushu during (peak-ish) autumn season, but I cant really find any special/seasonal events occuring during this time. Would be grateful if anyone knows of any special events during this period thats worth a look at.
Lastly, while I do have some locations earmarked for each place, I am open to suggestions on where to visit too. Thank you very much for taking the time to read, and providing your valuable input in advance!
Posted Jun 9, 2026, 2:44 PM UTC