11 days · Planned by Trippy Days
Around Kyushu by car
Day 1Fukuoka: shrines, parks, and yatai
10:00 AMKushida Shrine
12:00 PMLunch: Hakata tonkotsu ramen · HakataOrder it barikata, extra firm, and ask for kaedama when you're down to broth.
1:30 PMWalk around Ohori Park · Ohori Park
3:00 PMFukuoka Castle ruins · Fukuoka Castle Ruins
7:00 PMDinner at the yatai stalls along the river · NakasuEight seats or so per stall. Have a dish and a drink at one, then move on.
Day 2Dazaifu, then over the hills to Yufuin
8:30 AMPick up the rental car · Hakata StationBring an International Driving Permit, and ask for an ETC card for tolls.
9:30 AMDazaifu Tenmangu · Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
11:00 AMKyushu National Museum
12:30 PMUmegae mochi on the shrine's approach street · DazaifuEat it hot, right off the iron.
1:00 PMDrive to Yufuin (about 1½ hours)
3:00 PMLake Kinrin
4:00 PMStroll the shops on Yunotsubo Kaido · Yunotsubo Kaido, Yufuin
6:30 PMKaiseki dinner and an onsen soak at a ryokan · Yufuin
Day 3Beppu's hot springs, then south to Takachiho
9:00 AMDrive to Beppu (about 40 minutes)
10:00 AMBeppu's hells, starting at Umi Jigoku · Umi Jigoku
12:30 PMLunch steamed over hot spring vents at Jigoku Mushi Kobo · Jigokumushikobo KannawaBuy a basket of vegetables, eggs, and seafood and steam it over the vents yourself.
2:00 PMDrive to Takachiho (about 2½ hours)
8:00 PMNight kagura dance at Takachiho Shrine · Takachiho ShrineEvery night at 8, about an hour. Tickets at the door.
Day 4Takachiho Gorge, then down to Miyazaki
8:30 AMRow a boat under Manai Falls in Takachiho Gorge · Takachiho GorgeReserve a boat online; walk-in slots go fast in summer.
10:30 AMAmano Iwato Shrine · Ama-no-Iwato Shrine, West Main Shrine
11:15 AMWalk along the river to the Amano Yasukawara cave · Amanoyasukawara
12:30 PMDrive to Miyazaki (about 2½ hours)
7:00 PMDinner: chicken nanban, Miyazaki's own dish · Miyazaki
Day 5The Nichinan coast, then on to Kagoshima
9:00 AMAoshima Shrine and the Devil's Washboard rocks · Aoshima Shrine
11:15 AMUdo Shrine, in a sea cave · Udo Shrine
1:00 PMThe moai at Sun Messe Nichinan · Sun Messe Nichinan
2:30 PMObi Castle and its old samurai town · Obi Castle Ruins
4:00 PMDrive to Kagoshima (about 2½ hours)
Day 6Sakurajima and Kagoshima
9:00 AMFerry across to Sakurajima (15 minutes) · Ferry Boarding to Sakurajima
9:45 AMYunohira Observatory, up close to the volcano · Mt. Sakurajima
12:00 PMLunch: Kagoshima ramen · Kagoshima
1:30 PMSengan-en garden · Sengan-en
5:30 PMSunset over Sakurajima from Shiroyama Observatory · Shiroyama Park Observation Deck
7:00 PMDinner: kurobuta pork shabu-shabu · Tenmonkan, Kagoshima
Day 7The south: Ibusuki sand baths and Chiran
9:00 AMDrive south to Ibusuki (about 1¼ hours)
10:30 AMGet buried in hot sand at Saraku · Saraku Sand Bath HallTen minutes under the sand is plenty.
12:15 PMLake Ikeda, with Mount Kaimon behind it · Lake Ikeda
1:15 PMLunch: flowing somen noodles at Tosenkyo · Tosenkyo, Ibusuki
3:00 PMChiran's samurai residence gardens · Chiran Samurai Residence Garden
4:45 PMBack to Kagoshima (about 1 hour)
Day 8North to Kumamoto
9:00 AMDrive to Kumamoto (about 2½ hours)
12:00 PMLunch: Kumamoto ramen with burnt garlic oil · Kumamoto
1:30 PMKumamoto Castle
4:00 PMSuizenji Jojuen garden · Suizenji Jojuen Garden
7:00 PMDinner around the Shimotori arcade · Shimotori, Kumamoto
Day 9Ferry to Shimabara, over Unzen to Nagasaki
9:30 AMCar ferry from Kumamoto Port to Shimabara (about 1 hour) · Kumamotominato Ferry Terminal
11:00 AMShimabara Castle
12:00 PMLunch: guzoni, Shimabara's rice cake soup · Shimabara
2:00 PMWalk the steaming vents of Unzen Jigoku · Unzen Jigoku
3:30 PMDrive to Nagasaki (about 1½ hours)
7:30 PMNight view from Mount Inasa · Mt. Inasa OverlookRide the ropeway up from Fuchi Shrine, or drive to the summit lot.
Day 10Nagasaki
9:00 AMNagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
10:45 AMNagasaki Peace Park · Peace Park Nagasaki
12:15 PMLunch: champon in Chinatown · Nagasaki Shinchi ChinatownNagasaki's own: pork, seafood, and cabbage in a milky broth.
1:30 PMDejima, the old Dutch trading post · Dejima
3:30 PMOura Church and Glover Garden, above the harbor · Glover Garden
7:00 PMDinner in Shianbashi · Shianbashi, Nagasaki
Day 11Back to Fukuoka by way of Saga
9:30 AMDrive to Ureshino (about 1 hour)
11:00 AMLunch: hot spring tofu and green tea in Ureshino · Ureshino Onsen
1:00 PMYutoku Inari Shrine · Kashima, Saga
2:30 PMDrive back to Fukuoka (about 1½ hours)
4:15 PMReturn the rental car · Hakata Station
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