I'm trying to figure out the logistics of an ~8 day trip around Kyushu using only public transportation. Does this itinerary make sense? Should I change the order of the cities? Should I allot more time to certain cities and take away from others?
Added the general point of interests that I want to fit into each city to fulfil the rules, but really just want feedback on the viability of public transportation logistics. Planning for mid/late December if that makes any difference.
- Day 0 – Arrive in Fukuoka. Stay the night in Fukuoka.
- Fukuoka Castle Ruins
- Ohori Park
- Fukuoka Tower
- Momochi Seaside Park
- Day 1 – Activate 7-day All Kyushu Railway Pass. Take a train to Takeo-Onsen. Take Two Stars 4047 or Shinkansen to Nagasaki. Stay the night in Nagasaki
- Should I take the Two Stars 4047 train from Takeo-Onsen to Nagasaki or on the way to Kumamoto? The route is different depending on the starting station, so is one better than the other? The current schedule looks like it’s only running Fri-Mon, but not sure if it will change.
- Peace Park Nagasaki
- Urakami Cathedral
- Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
- Sanno Shrine
- Mt. Inasa
- Suwa Shrine
- Megane Bridge
- Day 2 – Explore Nagasaki. Take Two Stars 4047 or Shinkansen to Takeo-Onsen. Take the train to Shin-Tosu. Take the Shinkansen to Kumamoto. Stay the night in Kumamoto.
- Mt. Nabekammuri
- Glover Garden
- Ōura Cathedral
- Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
- Nagasaki Dejima Wharf
- Sofuku-ji Temple
- Day 3 – Explore Kumamoto. Take the Shinkansen to Kagoshima. Stay the night in Kagoshima.
- Kumamoto Castle
- Sakura-no-baba Josaien
- Kamitori Shopping Arcade
- Shimotori Shopping Arcade
- Suizenji Jojuen
- Day 4 – Explore Kagoshima. Stay the night in Kagoshima.
- Sengan-en
- Sakurajima Ferry
- Sakurajima Volcanic Shore Park and Footbath
- Tenmonkan
- Day 5 – Take the Shinkansen to Kurume Station. Take the train or Yufuin No Mori to Yufuin Station. Stay the night in Yufuin. I mainly want to come to Yufuin for an onsen ryokan experience.
- Should I take the Yufuin No Mori now or wait for the trip back to Fukuoka?
- Alternatively, there are also other D&S trains like 36+3 (Sunday Route), Aru Ressha, Kanpachi, and Ichiroku which also run similar routes between Fukuoka and Yufuin depending on the day of the week and direction of travel. Would it be worth also trying to fit one of these in or a better alternative to the Yufuin no Mori?
- Day 6 – Explore Yufuin. Take a regular or D&S train to Fukuoka. Stay the night in Fukuoka.
- Yunotsubo Street
- Yufuin Floral Village
- Kinrin Lake
- Tenso Shrine
- Day 7 – Explore Fukuoka. Stay the night in Fukuoka
- Nanzoin Temple
- Tochoji Temple
- Kushida Shrine
- Sumiyoshi Shrine
- Pokemon Center
- Canal City Hakata
- Ramen Stadium
- Tenjin Underground Mall
- Yatai Food Stalls, Nakasu Island
- Day 8 – Leave Fukuoka
Also debating if I should skip Kagoshima entirely and opt for a day trip to Mt. Aso from Kumamoto. Then head to Yufuin from Kumamoto. But then again, Kagoshima also has Sakurajima which is more easily accessible via public transport.
This will be our first time in the Kyushu region so trying to hit a large chunk of the major cities. Nature is nice, but I'll be traveling with my parents so long hikes are out. We like eating, so that's where a majority of our focus will be. Also, not super interested in museums.
by silentkaouri