Planning 17 days across Kyushu in May – Rate my itinerary!

Hi everyone!

I think I’ve read every Kyushu post by now… and every time I feel like “this is the perfect plan,” a new idea pops up and I start reshuffling everything again 😅 So I’d really appreciate your help reviewing my itinerary and giving any suggestions!
We’re not necessarily looking for specific activities in each place (unless you have some amazing hidden gems!) — it’s more about whether the overall flow of the trip makes sense.

About us:
We’re in our mid-30s, this is our 3rd trip to Japan, and we love nature, shrines/temples, amazing food, and those uniquely Japanese experiences.
Before Kyushu, we’ll spend a few days in Seoul and then fly into Kagoshima — that’s where our Kyushu road trip adventure begins!

Itinerary (17 days)

Day 1 — Seoul → Kagoshima
Early flight so we can explore Kagoshima in the afternoon (not many direct flight options anyway)
Strolling around Sengan-en and getting something nice to eat like black pork or other local food

Day 2 — Kagoshima → Yakushima
Jetfoil in the morning, pick up rental car at port, check in at our accommodation and first island explorations (e.g. Hirauchi Onsen)

Day 3–5 — Yakushima
Getting bread at Hiro Bakery!!, Hiking Yakusugi Land and Shiratani Unsuikyo, Senpiro waterfall, Inakahama beach tour for turtle watching, Seibu Forest Road, go river kayaking as our accommodation provides kayaks

Day 6 — Yakushima → Kagoshima
Morning jetfoil back + overnight in Kagoshima
Maybe doing a trip to Sakurajima or just explore Kagoshima more and getting all the good local food

Day 7 — Kagoshima → Aso
Pick up rental car and drive towards Aso to hike Mt. Aso and surroundings if possible
→ Unsure how flexible we need to be due to gas restrictions?

Day 8 — Aso → Takachiho → Kurokawa Onsen
Staying near Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine (maybe Takamori)
Then early start at Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine (want to experience it w/o all the people) -> Takachiho for Gorge with boat and Amaterasu Cave (and maybe Amaterasu Railway) -> driving to Kurokawa Onsen to check in at our Ryokan for a relaxing evening

Day 9 — Kurokawa Onsen
Just take our time and relax in the Onsen after the previous travel days, making the most out of our Ryokan stay and taking it slow

Day 10 — Kurokawa → Kunisaki Peninsula
Drive around the coastline and just enjoy the scenery, Check in at our Ryokan near Fuki-ji to join the morning meditation the next day

Day 11 — Kunisaki Peninsula
Morning meditation and afterwards making our way from Kyu-Sento-ji down to Futagoji, Tazome Observation deck, Makiodo over Kumano Magaibutsu back to our Ryokan

Day 12 — Kunisaki → Fukuoka
Check out Ryokan to travel to Fukuoka to spend the afternoon with shopping and visiting the Yatais in the evening

Day 13 — Fukuoka
Making a trip to Daizafu, shopping in Fukuoka, eating Hakata ramen in the evening

Day 14 — Fukuoka → Nagasaki
Travel to Nagasaki with stops in Arita for Tozan Shrine and Kashima for Yutoku Inari Shrine, Check in at our accommodation and getting Champon in Nagasaki

Day 15–16 — Nagasaki
Full days in Nagasaki, so planning to go to Bomb museum, Peace memorial, Sanno Shrine Torii, Mt. Inasa, Suwa Shrine and eating yakiniku at Osakaya Hamanomachi, maybe going for a trip to Unzen or Obama Onsen

Day 17 — Nagasaki → Tokyo
Check out, grab breakfast and head to Nagasaki airport to fly to Tokyo and enjoy our last eight days in Japan

– Is the overall route well thought-out, or would you reorder anything?
– We’d prefer not to drive in big cities — so should we return the rental car in Beppu after -Kunisaki and take the train to Fukuoka, or is it better to keep the car until Fukuoka?
– To visit Arita (Tozan Shrine) and Kashima (Yutoku Inari Shrine) from Fukuoka on our way to Nagasaki, is renting a car again better than taking the train?

Thanks in advance!