Why Kyushu?
The tour is based in Kyushu, located in the southwestern part of Japan. Kyushu means nine countries in Japanese. As the name suggests, the name comes from the fact that there were once nine countries in this area.
Kyushu has a long history, and is believed to be the place where the original nation of Japan was formed according to Japanese oldest myths.
It is also an area of Japan where exchanges with foreign countries have been active since ancient times. It continued trades and exchanges even during the period of isolation in the Edo era, making it a fascinating land where foreign cultures are mixed into Japanese culture.
For its land, 65% of Kyushu's area is covered by forests and mountains, making it a place rich in nature. One of the most distinctive features of Kyusyu is the volcanoes. There are 17 volcanoes in Kyushu that are currently active, and you can feel the breath of the earth when you hike a mountain.
Kyushu is also filled with all of Japan's charms. Islands with beautiful coastlines, soothing hot springs, traditional local cuisine, and warm hospitality. No matter where you go, Kyushu will not disappoint you.
With close to 30 million foreign travelers visiting Japan every year, tourists visiting traditional hotspots such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka during peak seasons will find themselves battling overwhelming crowds. Kyushu region remains surprisingly quiet in comparison, making it a fantastic destination any time of year.
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Japan, the oldest nation in the world
Japan is one of the oldest existing countries in the world, with its unbroken bloodline of the imperial family. Including a mythical era, its history is believed to date back more than 2,600 years.
As far as we can confirm in history records available, it is a fact that the current imperial family has been in existence for about 1,400 years, making it the oldest existing country in the world.
The Kyushu region we visit on this tour is believed to be the original setting for the myth of Japan's creation. There are shrines and ruins that tell the world of myths all over the place.
One of the highlights of the trip is Kirishima region, which is the place where Ninigi no Mikoto, the god who created Japan, descended.
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Hiking in National Parks
Kyushu is home to many mountains that offer a variety of hiking opportunities, making it the perfect place for people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of popular tourist destinations.The tour will take you on a route that allows you to fully enjoy Kyushu's nature, such as walking on a ridge while looking at the beautiful ocean and hiking on volcanic mountains.
All of these mountains are within national parks, and we will visit three parks: Saikai National Park, Aso-Kuju National Park, and Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park.
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Dynamic mountains, the blessings of a Volcanic activities
Japan ranks as one of the world's most volcanically active countries. There are many volcanoes found in Kyushu, and when you hike a mountain, you can experience the activities of the earth up close, such as the smoke rising from the craters. The volcano has created its own unique mountain landscapes of Kyushu.
Mt. Aso, a popular mountain is also known for having one of the world's largest calderas, and 50,000 people still live close to the volcano. The volcano has brought many blessings to people.The best example of that is the hot springs that bubble up from the ground everywhere in Kyushu. At the end of the day, soaking in the hot springs will soothe your tired legs from hiking in the mountains.
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Ocean landscapes
Japan is surrounded by beautiful oceans and also is an island nation. One of the highlights of the Kyushu Tour is not only hiking, but also visiting spots where you can experience the ocean.
On Fukue Island in the Goto Islands, we visit a lighthouse perched on a cliff overlooking the East China Sea. There is a shrine dedicated to the gods in a cave at the tip of a cape that sticks out into the Pacific Ocean, and you can experience the local cultures that remain in various parts of the islands.
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Japan's unique Hidden Christianity that thrived in remote islands
The Goto Islands have a unique Christian history of Japan. During the Age of Exploration in the 16th century, Christianity was introduced to Japan and gradually spread, but Christianity was banned and persecuted by those in power at the time, fearing the unity of believers.
During the period of christianity prohibited, those who quietly keep their belief in Christianity are called ‘Kakure Kirishitan ‘Hidden Christians’, who quitely pray in the Goto Islands and form their own unique faith. After the ban on Christianity was lifted in 1873, churches were built one after another in various parts of the Goto Islands, and many historic sites still remain.
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