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
Day 1
Tokyo – Yokoso to Japan!
This afternoon, your flight to Japan lands at Narita International Airport near Tokyo. After clearing immigration and customs, your guide meets you. You board an airport shuttle to your luxury hotel for the evening. This hotel is adjacent to Haneda International Airport in central Tokyo.
The remainder of the day is free, so you may rest. Your hotel and the surrounding area have a variety of dining opportunities from which you to choose.
What's Included:
Day 2
Kumamoto – In the Shadow of the Mountain
Day 3
Kagoshima – Mystical Shrines and Stunning Nature
Day 4
Kagoshima – Relaxing Gardens and Solemn History
Day 5
Kumamoto – The Towering Castle
Day 6
Kumamoto – The City at Your Fingertips
Day 7
Nagasaki – Walk Through the Fields of ‘Hell’
Day 8
Hakata – History and Remembrance
Day 9
Hakata – So Much More Awaits You
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.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.84 stars based on 673 reviews.
Our trip to Japan was well planned and well thought out. Zicasso's travel designer made us feel very well taken care of. We are grateful to the travel designer for his effort in putting together this wonderful trip for us. We loved interacting with our excellent guides. Their expertise truly enhanced our experiences. All our travel assistants were extremely helpful and very thoughtful.
Reviewed By Alok G.
Yet another fantastic family trip, courtesy of a Zicasso partner! My family of six just returned from our 10-day trip to Japan, as coordinated with Zicasso's travel company, and we have nothing but wonderful stories and memories to report!
Our agent arranged every detail to perfection, from transportation to guides to activities. All four kids and both parents had a fantastic experience. The guides he selected were incredibly knowledgeable and personable, and the hotels and transportation were spot on. I have nothing to say but that it was a seamless, A+ experience.
Thank you to our agent and travel companyI!
Reviewed By Sara G.
Our travel expert was professional, accurate, timely, and patient. It was wonderful working with her. Zicasso really made creating a customized itinerary effortless.
Reviewed By Suzy A.
Zicasso's travel designer had less than three months to bring an amazing trip to life. Our goal was to experience the history, art, culture, and people of Japan. Mission accomplished!
There were so many highlights shared by our exceptional guides and drivers, who felt like friends and family by the trip's end. Some experiences surprised us with their creativity, joy, and value (slapstick sumo skits in Tokyo, the samurai sword experience, sushi class, open-air and Venetian glass museums in Hakone, and especially the Himeji Castle master carpenter tutorial). Though in our late 70s, walking five to seven miles per day and climbing 766-oot sacred Mount Inari weren't an issue.
The veracity of this review is paramount... the only experience we would forgo was spelunking (crawling) in the cold, wet lava cave, as in our ignorance, we were out of our element. We found joints we did not know we had! We are focused on collecting memories, not things. This fabulous trip achieved that goal. Thank you!
Reviewed By William H.
I was very pleased with our trip, the accommodations, and the personal touch. Zicasso's travel specialist was excellent and even when we had some hiccups during the trip, he was there to make an adjustment. I was very pleased. Some really nit-picky tips for future travelers from out of town.
The Shinkansen is a fun ride and everyone should do it. However, when you need multiple tickets at a time, remind the passenger that you put all the tickets into the ticket turnstile at one time, not individually.
We had to visit in July, but I think the best time to visit Japan would be in the three other seasons because of the heat and humidity (with the exception of Hokkaido).
There are still some places that need cash, like public baths etc. I would carry a little on you. Also, visiting the public baths was one of the truly authentic Japanese experiences we had. If a traveler is into the authentic experience, don't underestimate that experience.
You can get "shrined out." They are great and we appreciated every one. We even caught a monk actively praying at a fairly remote one, which was tremendous. I'm not sure if it's possible to know approximate times, but seeing this happen as a traveler was immensely gratifying. It was 6.30am on a Saturday. So if there is a way to figure out an approximate schedule, you will have elevated your travel game above all the rest. It would be a differentiator for you.
Letting travelers know about the bento boxes and grab-and-go foods is a plus. I was so impressed by them and that info should be shared with every traveler, especially the kiddos.
The Japanese do some things really well and a side list of them might be helpful for tours. For example, we stopped for some anime magazines, kitchen knives, street food, and a baseball game, baths, and hot springs. I'd lean into this and provide some lists for people to pick from, especially the kitchen knives.
Explain the concept of luggage forwarding and the approximate costs. It's a uniquely Japanese thing, and it's awesome and affordable, but needs some getting used to.
Google Translate and the app to read the signs (I forgot its name) is a must. Share the links early and often.
I have so many more ideas, but we will start there. I hope it helps.
Reviewed By Matthew F.
Zicasso's travel agent was absolutely fantastic! She created a trip of a lifetime! Furthermore, when our plans changed or we needed something, she was there and helped with ease. We would work with her again, and Zicasso, in a heartbeat.
Reviewed By Erica M.