Authentic Japanese Culture in Kyushu and Shikoku
Travel Destinations: Japan
17 Day Itinerary | Ibusuki, Yakushima, Kirishima, Uwajima, Muroto, Iya Valley, Kotohira, Takamatsu, Awaji Island
Kyushu and Shikoku are two of Japan’s most fascinating islands, primarily because they contain rarely seen charms, hidden away from the guidebooks and must sees of other travelers. For anyone looking to get off the well-trodden tourist trail, this is the perfect adventure to experience unique landscapes, architectural wonders and towns rich in culture and history, all with the help of a local guide. You can even try your hand at Japanese cuisine and make your own noodles for lunch, before washing them down with a traditional cup of sake.
• Great Outdoors: Hike to the 88-meter Oko Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Yakushima, known for its two-stream cascades and emerald-colored pool at the base.
• Ancient Temples: Visit the thousand-year-old Hashikura Temple and the oldest shrine in Japan, Izanagi Shrine.
• Cooking: Make your own udon noodles at a revered school at the foot of Kotohira-gu Shrine.
Independent Travel
Independent trips are either entire trips you take privately or solo extensions to a group tour.
Classic
Embark on a timeless journey where iconic destinations, historical landmarks, and cultural treasures create a well-rounded and enduring trip.
Ultra Luxe
Embark on an unparalleled journey of extravagance and exclusivity, where every detail is meticulously crafted to provide the utmost in opulence and personalized service.
Flexible
With no pre-set departure dates, choose when you want to go and for how long.
At A Glance
Day 1 – Ibusuki
• Airport Meet & Greet
• Airport Transfer
Day 2 – Ibusuki
• Morning at leisure
• Satsuma Denshokan Museum visit
• Chiran samurai district visit
Day 3 – Yakushima Island
• Yakushima Island excursion
Day 4 – Yakushima Island
• Okto Waterfall hike
• Kashima-Kougei woodworking class
• Shakunage No Mori Park visit
Day 5 – Kirishima
• Flight to Kagoshima
• Transfer to Kirishima
Day 6 – Kirishima
• Kirishima Open Air Museum visit
• Sengri-ga-taki Waterfall hike
• Kirishima-jingu shrine visit
Day 7 – Uwajima
• Scenic train and ferry ride from Kagoshima to Uwajima
Day 8 – Uwajima
• Uwajima Castle visit
• Doi Pearl Farm visit
• Visit Warei and Taga shrines
Day 9 – Muroto
• Transfer to Muroto Peninsula
Day 10 – Muroto
• Day at Leisure
• Visit Mikurodo Cave and Hotsumisakiji Temple
Day 11 – Iya Valley
• Transfer to Iya Valley
• Udatsu visit
Day 12 – Iya Valley
• Cable car to an open air hot spring bath
• Buke Yashiki Samurai Residence
• Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge
• Hashikura Temple and sake brewery visit
Day 13 – Kotohira & Takamatsu
• Nakano Udon School workshop
Day 14 – Kotohira & Takamatsu
• Naruto Strait cruise
• Awaji Ningyo-Jouri puppet theater performance
Day 15 – Awaji Island
• Izanagi Shrine visit
Day 16 – Awaji Island
• Day at leisure
Day 17 – Awaji Island
• Depart at any time
Itinerary
Day 1 – Ibusuki
After arriving in Kagoshima, settle into your hotel and start exploring this historic city: stroll through Senganen Garden and Kagoshima Flower Park before heading to Cape Nagasakibana, where you will be rewarded with stunning views of Mt. Kaimondake, the city’s answer to Mt Fuji. Upon returning to your hotel, you will have the option of experiencing an onsen (Japanese hot spring), while gazing out over the sea.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 – Ibusuki
On your second day in Ibusuki, enjoy a walk along the beach or through one of the many parks in the area. Later, visit Satsuma Denshokan Museum, which focuses on the history of the region since the Meiji restoration, and the village of Chiran, a preserved samurai district, before settling in for dinner and a relaxing evening at your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3 – Yakushima Island
Today, you’re off to Yakushima Island, Japan’s first UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. Awarded this accolade due to its abundance of rich flora, this island is home to the impressive Jomon Sugi, a sacred cryptomeria and a popular pilgrimage destination. Spend the day exploring the scenic trails and breathtaking views of several impressive mountains, rising up to 6,500 feet, and pay a visit to the local environmental and cultural village center, where you may learn about the area’s history and ecology. Settle in for the evening and enjoy an overnight stay at your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4 – Yakushima Island
After breakfast, set out on a hike to Oko Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Yakushima and the highest in southern Kyushu. Next, learn how to make chopsticks and keyrings out of the ancient cedars at Kashima-Kougei, the oldest crafts business on the island. Later, stroll through Shakunage No Mori Park to enjoy views of the river, mountains and laurel-leaved forests as well as visit small workshops around the island, where you can witness local craftsmen at work and some small galleries displaying their goods.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5 – Kirishima
After a short flight to Kagoshima, get ready to see the mountains of Kirishima, which offer some of the most fascinating volcanic landscapes and hiking opportunities in the country. Learn about these mountains, important in the creation mythology of Japan, and later relax in your room.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6 – Kirishima
This morning, pay a visit to Kirishima Open Air Museum, a vast outdoor museum that uses landscapes and forest space in its sculpture exhibitions. Afterward, enjoy a hike to Sengri-ga-taki Waterfall or opt to visit the Kirishima-jingu shrine, a large and beautiful shrine rich in history, deemed a cultural asset to the nation.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7 – Uwajima
Today, experience a scenic train and ferry ride from Kagoshima to Uwajima, where you can explore the great coastal scenery and tasty local seafood restaurants of the waterfront. Try some local delicacies, such as Taimeshi (rice and sea bream) and Jakoten (fish cakes). Depending on the season, you may also be able to witness a one-of-a-kind bullfighting event, as these take place here five times a year.
Accommodation: Ryokan
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8 – Uwajima
Get ready for a day of cultural exploration! First up, visit Uwajima Castle, one of only 12 castles in Japan that has survived intact since the Edo period, and Doi Pearl Farm, where you will witness the entire line of pearl production and culturing. Later, explore two shrines: Warei, which is used by fishermen to pray for a good catch and safe voyage, and Taga, an ancient Shinto fertility shrine full of phalluses.
Accommodation: Ryokan
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9 – Muroto
Today, you’ll travel to the gorgeous Muroto Peninsula, full of lush sub-tropical plants, trees and hibiscus flowers – nature’s carpet that covers the ground. Learn how the area was once submerged beneath the sea and now lies at a collision point of the Earth’s crust, resulting in spectacular rock formations.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10 – Muroto
Enjoy a peaceful day in Muroto, taking a gentle walk along the 1.4-mile Ransho Promenade stretching out into the Pacific Ocean. Absorb the stunning cliffs and reefs around you and keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and sperm whales. Later, visit the Mikurodo Cave and Hotsumisakiji Temple before returning to your hotel for a relaxing evening.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 11 – Iya Valley
Pack up early today and head out on the road. First stop is Miyoshi, where you can explore the streets of Udatsu with their charming old architecture. Next, step back in time with a visit to the Iya Valley region, a scenic area known for its dramatic mountain valleys, beautiful bridges and misty gorges.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 12 – Iya Valley
This morning, enjoy a fun ride up in the cable car to an open air hot spring bath. After soothing your muscles and relaxing in this scenic setting, visit the Buke Yashiki Samurai Residence, a preserved house and garden that once sheltered a middle-ranking samurai family, and Iya Kazurabashi, one of three surviving vine bridges that span the valley. You will also get to see Hashikura Temple, a thousand-year old temple situated along the 88 Temple Pilgrimage through Shikoku, Japan’s most famous pilgrimage route. At the end of the day, treat yourself to a sake at one of Miyoshi’s sake breweries before returning to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 13 – Kotohira & Takamatsu
This morning, you’re off to the historical town of Kotohira, where you will visit a 400-year old shrine and have a go at making your own noodles at Nakano Udon School, which you can eat for lunch. Spend the rest of the day exploring: sites of interest include Ritsurin Garden, Yashima Peninsular and Marugame Castle, all of which can be reached by car, before indulging in a traditional Thai massage.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 14 – Kotohira & Takamatsu
This morning, explore your fascinating surroundings, including Kotohira shrine and Setonaikai National Park, a beautiful park that encompasses 10 prefectures and 3,000 islands throughout the Seto Inland Sea. Weather permitting, enjoy a cruise down Naruto Strait before enjoying a beverage at the Miyako Bijn Japanese Sake Brewery. In the evening, you can enjoy a performance of Awaji Ningyo-Jouri, traditional Japanese puppet theatre, at Awaji Ningyoza.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 15 – Awaji Island
Today, you’re off to Awaji Island, an island rich in history: learn how it was supposedly the first ever island to be created and see all the various different relics of Japan’s early history, such as Izanagi Shrine – Japan’s oldest shrine – which was built on the site of the divine couple’s dwelling.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 16 – Awaji Island
If you did not get a chance to visit Izanagi Shrine on your first day on the island, you will have another chance today. Accompany a local storyteller for a stroll around the grounds, before entering the worship hall and receiving a blessing from a Shinto priest, who will purify your body and soul in the traditional Shinto way. Relax and unwind with one more night at your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 17 – Awaji Island
On your final day, you will either drive from Awaji Island to Kobe or Osaka to catch connections home or onto your next exciting destination.
Meals included: Breakfast
Captivating Moments
Get captivated by a stunning collection of sample images from this trip.
Additional Information
This sample itinerary is meant to inspire your next trip. It is ready to be customized to suit your interests, tastes and budget so you can connect with local cultures and experience authentic travel on your own terms and departing whenever you choose. Itinerary details and availability are subject to change, please inquire for up-to-date information and pricing.
What’s Included
• A fully customized itinerary based on your interests and schedule
• 24/7 in-destination support from our local office
• All accommodation stays, tours and transfers for scheduled activities are covered, unless otherwise listed in the itinerary
• A private driver for tours and transfers (in some countries our local private guides also act as your driver – your Destination Expert will discuss with you if applicable)
• Local private guides or shared tours that take you through your itinerary highlights and experiences, your final itinerary will confirm the type of tour
• A greeting at the airport or at your accommodation from one of our representatives – your expert will confirm your meet and greet location with you
• One suitcase and one carry-on per person for trip transfers
What’s Not Included
• Your international airfare – please do let your expert know if you’d like to receive pricing from our Air Team
• Travel insurance, which we offer and can be purchased after you’ve booked your tour
• Visas (unless noted)
• Excess baggage charges, and where applicable, baggage not included in your fare
• Early check-in or late check-out from hotels (unless otherwise specified)
• Optional enhancements like room or flight upgrades, optional tours, or local camera or video fees
• Passport fees, immunization costs, and local departure taxes (when applicable)
Book This Trip
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