Active volcano Kyushu in Japan

Highlights of Kyushu Island: Kumamoto, Kagoshima & Nagasaki Tour

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Japan

Places Visited

Tokyo, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Nagasaki...

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Suggested Duration

9 Days

On this 9-day Japan tour, you will discover Japan’s most southern main island and get to know a rarely seen side of the country. You will experience the luxuries of adventure, whether it is a cooking class or a visit to an active volcano. Kyushu embodies inspiration and heritage resulting in priceless memories and a desire to experience more of Japan’s cultural, culinary, and natural treasures.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Indulge in a private Japanese cooking class, learning about the secrets of Japanese cuisine and honing your culinary skills
  • Visit some of the most sacred religious sites in Japan, including Takachiho Shrine, home to the legends of the Shinto Religion
  • Spend several nights in lavish ryokans, traditional Japanese inns with onsens, thermal hot springs
  • Learn about World War II from the other perspective, and pay respect at the Chiran Peace Museum
  • Explore Mt. Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan, exploring via horseback, ropeway, or walking trails
  • Visit the Tsujun Bridge, a stone arch from 1854 that still carries water to surrounding rice fields and farms
  • Witness the geologic forces of Unzen Jigoku as you walk through the park punctuated by rising sulfuric steam

Detailed Description

Kyushu is a land steeped in history and natural beauty. After spending one night in Tokyo, you fly to Kumamoto, one of the largest cities in Kyushu. Kumamoto is your base of operations as you explore the surrounding countryside, visiting some of the holiest spots in Japan. These temples and shrines allow you to grasp how the natural world influences Japanese religious beliefs. Also included is a tour of Mt. Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan, just east of the city.

Kagoshima is far to the south, a bay city with stunning views of Mt. Sakurajima. Here you tour Edo Period gardens. Afterward, take a cooking class where you learn how to make Satsuma-age, a fried fish dish. In the afternoon, learn about the kamikaze pilots as you tour a museum built on the airstrip where they once took off. Finally, finish your day with a paddleboat ride on one of the clearest lakes in the world.

You return to Kumamoto, to see the city and all it has to offer. Kumamoto Castle, for example, is one of the few remaining medieval castles in Japan. As you tour the inside and castle grounds, it is easy to believe that you are stepping back in time. Kumamoto is then free for you to explore for a full day. Whether you choose to picnic under the cherry blossoms or walk in the footsteps of samurai, you are sure to make many memories.

On your way to Nagasaki, you stop at Mt. Unzen. Here, you see the raw power of Japan’s volcanic forces as you step through a steaming rock field heated by the molten lava below. You will, of course, be perfectly safe. If the volcano is dormant when you visit, you may catch a glimpse of its crater. While there, learn all about how the local residents prepare for Mt. Unzen’s next eruption.

From the top of Mt. Inasa, Nagasaki is a bustling bay city. It is an international city as well, with everything from architecture to cuisine influenced by hundreds of years of interaction with Europe, China, and Korea. In the morning, you visit the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. There you learn not only a story of destruction but one of rebirth. Nagasaki has dedicated itself to the goal of worldwide nuclear disarmament.

From Nagasaki, you travel to Hakata for one final evening in Japan. As you wander the city’s many food stalls and attractions, you reflect on your time in Kyushu, and how much more of Japan you still have to explore.

This tour is perfect for couples of all ages, friends, and families. It is best taken in mid-spring or late fall when Kyushu’s weather is ideal for outdoor touring. English-speaking guides are provided in each city. These guides can assist you with any questions that may arise during your time in Japan.

Starting Price

$5,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

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