Kyushu 5 Days Itinerary-A

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There are many highlight sites along today’s route. And most of the shops at Yufuin are the biggest highlight of the day close around 17:00. Therefore, we strongly recommend leaving from 8:00 to 9:00.
If your departure time is late, such as leaving in the afternoon, adjust your schedule by taking the expressway or skipping some spots.

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The first destination is “Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine”, nationally famous throughout Japan as the god of learning.

The approach from the parking lot to Tenmangu Shrine is called “Tenjin-sama-dori” avenue, which is crowded with many souvenir stores and restaurants.

If you like sweets and fruits, you can also enjoy fruit picking after visiting Tenmangu Shrine. Please refer to the driving map.

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Recommended lunch is “Hita Yakisoba”, a local grilled noodle. If you have time, stop by the nearby “Hita Old Town” as it has a charming atmosphere.

After that, let’s head to Yufuin.
There are no spots between Hita and Yufuin. It is recommended to drive on the highway (E34).

１３：４５
Once you arrive in Yufuin, we recommend strolling along the Yufuin Yunotsubo Kaido (Yufuin Yunotsubo Street), lined with souvenir stores and cute little sweet stores. Enjoy eating and walking to Kinrin-ko Lake at the road’s eastern end.

Another highlight of the day, the “Beppu Jigoku Hells”, will close at 17:00. If you wish to visit it, leave Yufuin by 3:30 p.m. at the latest.

Onsen town Beppu symbolizes the “Beppu Jigoku Hells”, where hot water of various colors boils over! Five of the seven hells are within walking distance.
Be aware that the tour closes at 17:00 p.m.

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On this day, though you will leisurely explore the city of Beppu and Yufuin, we recommend that you leave around 9:00.

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We recommend the Beppu Jigoku Meguri (Beppu Hell Tour) at the beginning of the day. It is a tour where you can feel the hot spring power of Beppu Onsen. By using a car, you can efficiently visit the following seven sites.

●Umi Jigoku (Time required: 40 minutes) MAPCODE: 46 521 411
●Oniishibozu Jigoku (Time required:15 minutes) You can walk since it’sLocated between Umi Jigoku and the parking lot.
Kamado Jigoku (Time required: 15 minutes) MAPCODE: 46 522 481
●Oniyama Jigoku (Time required: 20 minutes) You can walk from Kamado Jigoku since it’s located about 100m there.
●Shiraike Jigoku (Time required: 20 minutes) MAPCODE: 46 522 396
●Chinoike Jigoku (Time required: 10 minutes) MAPCODE: 46 552 802
●Tatsumaki Jigoku (Time required: 10 minutes) You can walk from Chinoike Jigoku since it’s located about 100m there.

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We recommend ‘Seki-saba’ for lunch on this day. There are many restaurants on the east side of Beppu Station. Mackerel and horse mackerel caught in the Bungo Channel, where the tide flows quickly, are called ‘Seki-saba’ and ‘Seki-aji’. Because of its deliciousness and crunchiness, it is valued as a luxury fish.

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Next, you will head to Beppu Ropeway. It takes about 10 minutes from the foot of the mountain to the summit of Mt. Tsurumi, where you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama at an altitude of 1,375m. From there, you can see Beppu City, Beppu Bay, Lake Shidaka, Kijima Plateau, and the mountains of Shikoku. Cherry blossom season (Bgn Apr-End Apr) and autumn foliage season (End Oct-Mid Nov) are especially recommended.

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Next, you will head to Yunotsubo Kaido in Yufuin. Yunotsubo Kaido is a very popular spot with many shops where you can enjoy eating while walking and sightseeing. We also recommend walking around Lake Kinrin.

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Please spend a relaxing second night in Yufuin/Beppu with gorgeous onsen.

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Because there are so many pots to see, we recommend leaving by 8-9 am if you want to travel without rushing.
If you are staying in Beppu, go to the “Yukemuri Observatory” first, and you will see the typical Beppu scene of steam rising.

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The first destination is the Kokonoe Suspension Bridge. It is the highest suspension bridge for pedestrians in Japan and is a must-see, especially during the season of fresh green leaves and autumn foliage.

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Kurokawa Onsen is a great place for lunch. There are nice curry shops and excellent cream puffs. This spot is also very crowded on holidays. Beyond Kurokawa Onsen, there are a number of soba noodle shops called Oguni Soba Road, which is also recommended. Please refer to the driving map.

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Further south down the Yamanami Highway is the “Nishiyunouraenchi Observatory”. Although not very famous, this is Drive Japan’s best lookout point overlooking the Mt.Aso caldera.

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This is the most famous observatory in the Mt.Aso caldera. Enjoy a 1 km round trip walk on the plateau from the parking lot to the observatory.

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If you still have time, head to “Kusasenri” on Mt. Aso.
Panorama Line Road, which was ranked No. 1 in Japan in a motorcycle magazine, will greet you with the sight of vast grasslands.

If there are no restrictions on volcanic gases, you can visit the crater. You can take the Aso Park toll road (800 yen) to the parking lot next to the crater.
Please check current restrictions before your visit.

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Due to the short driving distance, it is okay to depart at a leisurely pace.

However, if you did not visit “Mt.Aso” yesterday, leave early and go there first. Driving up the Aso Panorama Line Road, which was ranked No. 1 in the national driving road rankings, you will be greeted by the sight of vast grasslands and an active volcano!

１１：１５
First, let’s move on at once to visit “Takachiho Gorge”. It is one of the most beautiful gorges in all of Japan and one of the most recommended spots on this entire road trip.
Boat rentals are very popular and sometimes crowded, but highly recommended!

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“Kunimigaoka Observatory” near Takachiho Gorge is also worth a visit. It is hard to describe from the picture, but from this 513-meter-high hill, you can see the Takachiho Basin to the east and Mount Aso to the west, and Takachiho, a town said to be the home of the gods, can be seen from all directions. It is famous for the sea of clouds, but it is also a sight to behold at other times of the year.

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10km away from Takachiho Gorge, the “Amanoiwato Shrine” is also recommended. A 10-minute walk along a riverside path called “Amanoyasukawara” will lead you to a fantastic torii gate in a cave.

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Back to Aso and if you still have time, stop by “Shirakawa Suigen”. You can draw natural water from the foot of Mt. Aso.

Let’s return to the same inn in Aso as the previous day.

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If you are not staying in Fukuoka today and will be taking the Shinkansen or airplane, please arrange your schedule so that you can return the rental car to the rental store at least one and a half hours before your flight.

If you want to go to [Mt.Aso], you should allow 1.5 hours to move around and visit, so we recommend leaving before 8:00 am.

First, we will head to Kumamoto Castle, the symbol of Kumamoto, which was damaged by the Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016, but restoration work on the castle tower was completed in March 2021.

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Yanagawa is famous for its eels. Among them, Motoyoshiya has been in business for 300 years and serves the best eels. There is also a cheap and tasty udon restaurant nearby, which is also recommended.

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Ohana Shotoen is a former domain lord’s residence with a splendid garden that has been selected as a national place of scenic beauty.

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The last highlight of the day was the Yame Chuo Tea garden. This area is the production area of “Yame-cha”, one of the finest teas in Japan. This is an observatory from which you can look out over the vast tea fields as far as the eye can see. This is a spot that cannot be reached by public transportation or even by bus tours, but only by a road trip.

From here, let’s take the expressway (E3) to Fukuoka. It is about 50 km, or 1 hour and 10 minutes.

１７：４５
This concludes your Kyushu road trip.
When you return to Fukuoka, refuel and then return the car to the car rental branch. Use the MAPCODE on the driving map for the nearest gas stations at Hakata Station and Fukuoka Airport.

Fukuoka offers a wide variety of culinary delights. For dinner, try Hakata ramen, Motsu nabe (Motsu hot pot), and other local Fukuoka foods, or even try one of the famous Yatai stalls.