Highlights of Kyushu Island: Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Nagasaki Tour (9 Days Tour)

Kumamoto – In the Shadow of the Mountain

This morning, you board a plane at Haneda International Airport heading to Kumamoto, one of the largest cities on Kyushu. You arrive in less than two hours and transfer onto a comfortable luxury motor coach. Your first stop is South Aso, a city at the base of Mt. Aso. This city is home to the largest cherry tree in Kyushu, a magnificent sight at the peak of hanami, or cherry blossom viewing season.

Your tour continues with an exploration of Mt. Aso’s many natural wonders. The central crater is an active volcanic site, so it may be closed to visitors on the day of your visit. Even so, you are bound to have an excellent experience. From walking trails to horseback riding, there are many ways to get to know this impressive mountain. After lunch at a local restaurant, you continue your tour of the vast national park at the mountain’s base. If you are visiting in early to mid spring, it is easy to get lost in the scenery’s peaceful tranquility.

In the late afternoon, you check into your Kumamoto hotel, the Hotel Greenpia Minami-aso. From your room, expect stunning views of Mt. Aso. This evening, there is a welcome dinner in your honor, which features a variety of Kyushu cuisine including beef and local vegetables. The hotel also offers outdoor onsen baths. With the sight of the sun setting behind the mountain, soaking in an onsen is a perfect way to end your day.

What’s Included: breakfast, domestic flight, transfer, accommodation.

Kagoshima – Relaxing Gardens and Solemn History

After breakfast at the hotel, you board a motor coach for a day of sightseeing in Kagoshima. Your first stop is Senganen Garden. As you walk the well-maintained paths, your view is filled with the sight of Kagoshima Bay and Mt. Sakurajima in the distance. The garden itself was once owned by a powerful clan during the Edo Period (1603-1867). In the center of the garden is the clan residence. With three tours of the residence each hour, you are bound to be enthralled by seeing how the Japanese upper class lived in the late 19th century.

From the tranquil garden, you head to a unique hands-on experience. Satsuma-age is a fried fish cake that combines many varieties of fish with various herbs and spices. In your class, you learn the recipes native to Kagoshima before making your own cakes. At the end of your lesson, you sample your creations. After building your appetite preparing food, you head to the Satsuma Beer Garden for lunch. With your bayside seats, you may think that you are in the south of France rather than Japan. During this meal, expect local comfort food paired with ice-cold beer.

This afternoon offers immersion into Japan’s past and natural beauty. Your first stop is the Chiran Peace Museum. During the Second World War, over 1,000 young kamikaze pilots took off from the airfield that existed close by. Nearly half of these young men were raised in the surrounding villages. Since 1975, the museum has commemorated their sacrifice along with promoting a resolute anti-war message. The museum has a variety of exhibits, including fully restored planes to the personal effects of the pilots who knew they were never coming home.

Lake Ikeda is one of the clearest lakes in the world. The lake’s beauty inspired the first human settlers to believe that the lake was the birthplace of all mankind. You immediately understand this belief as you stand at the lakeshore. Enjoy the view from the beach, or rent a paddleboat for a lake cruise. While on the water, you may even catch a glimpse of Issie, Lake Ikeda’s take on the Loch Ness Monster.

You return to Kagoshima in the late afternoon. Dinner this evening is on your own.

What’s Included: breakfast, transfer, tour, accommodation.

Kumamoto – The City at Your Fingertips

After breakfast at the hotel, you are free to explore Kumamoto on your own. One sight not to miss is the Hosokawa House. During the Edo Period, a powerful samurai family owned this palatial mansion. Having undergone restoration work in the 1990s and repairs after the April 2016 earthquake, the house is perfectly preserved. Every room reveals new artifacts and daily items used by the house’s generations of residents.

If you’re traveling in the spring or fall, there is no better way to spend a day than admiring nature. In either season, feel like a local by taking a picnic lunch to Kumamoto Castle or a local park. Whether cherry blossoms or colorful foliage shades you, you are bound to have a relaxing time.

What’s Included: breakfast, accommodation.

Nagasaki to Hakata – History and Remembrance

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide for the day meets you in the lobby. Your first stop is the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture. Here, learn the story of how Nagasaki was Japan’s sole opening to the world during Edo Period. Inside are thousands of artifacts relating to this time, from items traded by the Dutch to Korean and Chinese artwork. You are guaranteed to leave with a deeper appreciation for the cultures that influenced Japan during one of the most transformational periods in its history.

On August 9th, 1945, nearly half of Nagasaki was destroyed, and 35,000 people killed by the atomic bomb. Today, the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Memorial Park are a permanent reminder of the bombing and a call for worldwide nuclear disarmament. Inside, expect to see many moving displays, including clocks stopped at when the bomb detonated and items which melted from the intense heat and pressure.

Outside the museum is Nagasaki Peace Memorial Garden, where the Peace Statue points to the sky (the threat of nuclear weapons) and the left (the prospect of eternal peace). As you walk between the ruins of Urakami Cathedral and the stone marker identifying the hypocenter of the explosion, it is a peaceful setting to reflect on all you have seen.

After lunch in Nagasaki, you travel by bus to Hakata, a suburb of Fukuoka. This afternoon and evening are free for you to explore. One of the things not to miss are Fukuoka’s yatai or food stands. The small restaurants line the riverbanks; each has its own specialty from ramen noodles to yakitori, grilled chicken on a stick. No matter which one you choose, expect a delicious meal of comfort food on your last night in Japan.

When you are ready to turn in for the night, return to your luxury hotel. Your room this evening is western-style.

What’s Included: breakfast, tour, accommodation.