Meet in Fukuoka, the largest city in Kyushu Island.

We meet at our hotel at 5:00pm for the Tour Briefing. You will need to make your own way there. On arrival at the hotel, you will be met by your tour leader in the lobby.

After the tour briefing, we transfer to Hakata Port and board the overnight ferry bound for Fukue Island in the Goto Islands. After spending the night on the boat, we will arrive at Fukue Island the next morning.

SCHEDULE	Meet at Hotel » Take the ferry
STAY	The ferry to Fukue island
MEAL	Breakfast [ NA ]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ ✔ ]

A complimentary Short Hike tour in Fukuoka.

If you are planning to arrive in Fukuoka a day before the tour departure date, you will have a bit more time to recover from jet lag. To make the most of your stay in Fukuoka, your tour leader will be able to offer you a complimentary short hike tour before the tour briefing at 5:00pm on Day One.

 

Hike a cinder-cone volcano and exploring the history of Hidden Christians of Fukue Island. (Hiking day)

We will be picked up by a private vehicle upon arrival at Fukue port. We take a short hike to one of the most iconic mountains in Fukue Island. At an altitude of 315m, the entire mountain is covered with beautiful grass, and at the view point you can look down on the city and ocean.

After having lunch at a local restaurant that we recommend, we will visit the visitor center to learn about flora and fauna of Fukue Island, which was formed by the influence of volcanic activities. Enjoy this beautiful location overlooking the unique coastline.

We will visit the remaining catholic church on Fukue Island. From the 17th to the 19th century, this island has a history of believers known as `Hidden Christians' who quietly continued their faith despite fearing severe oppression when Christianity was banned during this period. You get to learn Hidden Christianity’s history in Japan.

TRAIL DATA

Distance: 3.5 km

Elevation gain: + 160 m / - 160 m

Time: 2 hrs

SCHEDULE	Ferry » Hiking » Local restaurant » Vistor centre » Church » Goto city
STAY	Hotel in Goto City
MEAL	Breakfast [ ✔ ]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ ✔ ]

Ocean view hiking and taste Shochu, a Japanese distilled beverage. (Hiking day)

After breakfast at the hotel, we set out for a hiking trip in a private vehicle. Our first destination is Osezaki Lighthouse, located at the westernmost tip of Fukue Island. A white lighthouse stands on top of a cliff that juts out into the sea, and the contrast with the blue sea is a must see spot of the island. It is a short hike of about 1 hour round trip from the parking lot to Osezaki Lighthouse.

After the first hike, we move onto a nearby location and climb a mountain overlooking the island and the sea. This is also a short hike that takes about an hour round trip, but the view from the top of the mountain is spectacular 360 degrees.

We will visit a local distiller where we will join a tour and sample shochu made from produce grown on the island, mainly Imo, Japanese sweet potato.

TRAIL DATA #1

Distance: 2 km

Elevation gain: + 200 m / - 200 m

Time: 1 hr

TRAIL DATA #2

Distance: 2.5 km

Elevation gain: + 100 m / - 100 m

Time: 1 hr

SCHEDULE	Goto City » Osezaki Lighthouse » Short hiking » The local distiller » Goto city
STAY	Hotel in Goto city
MEAL	Breakfast [ ✔ ]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ NA ]

Explore Nagasaki, the unique fusion of Japanese and foreign culture remain.

In the morning, we board a high-speed boat from the port of Fukue Island and head straight to Nagasaki. Nagasaki is a port city in Japan where foreigners have been coming for a long time, and it has a unique atmosphere where Japanese culture and European culture are constantly exchanged.

We will visit the Glover Garden. It was a place where foreign merchants who dreamed of living in Japan gathered and lived. Japan isolated its country from the rest of the world under the national isolation policy for almost 270 years. Japan only opened up to the world in the 1870s.

This hilly residence overlooking Nagasaki Port is lined with Western-style buildings covered with Japanese-style roof tiles, and you get the sense of the history and culture where Japan and the world met.

After leaving Nagasaki, we will board the Shinkansen that only recently opened in 2022. We will travel to Kumamoto.

SCHEDULE	Goto city » Nagasaki » The Glover Garden » Kumamoto
STAY	Hotel in Kumamoto city
MEAL	Breakfast [ ✔ ]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ NA ]

Experience the incredible force of Volcano in Mt.Aso area. (Hiking day)

Depart your hotel by private vehicle and we head to Mt. Aso, located in Aso-Kuju National Park. Mt. Aso is an active volcano that continues to erupt. There is a vast caldera terrain.

We will hike one of the most popular mountains in the area. Grassland stretches as far as you can see from the hike and you can see the mountains beyond the grassland with volcanic smoke.

After hiking, we will visit Mt. Nakadake crater. A road leads right up to the crater, making it easy to see the emerald green lake at the bottom of the crater. You can definitely feel the powerful breath of nature as the volcanic smoke is violently spewing out and see the unique landscape that is created by lava.

Then we will visit one of the most iconic viewing spots. From here you can see Mt. Aso in the distance, where we hiked in the morning.

Tonight, we stay at a ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen, renowned for its hot springs surrounded by lush green mountains.

TRAIL DATA

Distance: 3.5 km

Elevation gain: + 200 m / - 200 m

Time: 2 hrs

SCHEDULE	Kumamoto city » Hiking » Iconic viewing spot » Kurokawa Onsen
STAY	Ryokan, Kurokawa Onsen
MEAL	Breakfast [ ✔ ]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ ✔ ]

Climb the hidden gem mountain in Kuju Mountain Range. (Hiking day)

Today, we hike in the Kuju Mountain Range. Once you come out of the forest and get onto the ridge, the view opens up all at once, and it's a scenic hike overlooking the Kuju Mountain Range, the highest mountain range in Kyushu. The summit offers a great 360 degree view.

We will stay at the same ryokan tonight. At Kurokawa Onsen, you are able to experience the open-air baths of surrounding ryokans too if you wish. Each ryokan has a different type of hot spring experience to offer.

TRAIL DATA

Distance: 6.0 km

Elevation gain: + 380 m / - 380 m

Time: 4 - 5 hrs

SCHEDULE	Kurokawa Onsen » Kuju Mountain Range » Kurokawa Onsen
STAY	Ryokan, Kurokawa Onsen
MEAL	Breakfast [ ✔ ]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ ✔ ]

Travel through the original settings of Japanese creation myth. (Short walk)

After relaxing at Kurokawa Onsen, we head to Takachiho Town. Takachiho Town is an ancient town site that is believed to be the original setting for the story of '`the descent to earth of the grandson of the sun goddess’, the beginning of Japan's founding myth.
Ninigi no Mikoto descended from the land of the gods to Takachiho Town, leading to the founding of Japan.

In addition, myths related to Japan's nation-building have been passed down in Takachiho Town, and shrines dedicated to these gods still remain in the town. We will walk and explore beautiful valleys and historic shrines.

In the evening, enjoy Kagura at the Shrine in Takachiho. Kagura is a Shinto ritual ceremonial dance that refers to songs and dances performed by shrine maidens when worshiping the gods.

Visit historical sites in Miyazaki.

Today, we will travel to Miyazaki by private vehicle. We will make stops at Mimitsu and Saitobaru Tumulus Group. Mimitsu, facing the sea, is the place where the legendary Emperor Jimmu departed from here by boat to the east to govern the nation.

The Saitobaru Tumulus Cluster is one of the largest in Japan, with more than 300 tumuli scattered throughout the area, where ancient influential figures from the 3rd to 7th centuries were buried.

At night, head out to Nishitachi street, Miyazaki's largest entertainment district. Nishitachi street is lined with nearly 1,000 restaurants, serving delicious local food and drinks.

SCHEDULE	Takachiho town » Mimitsu » The Saitobaru Tumulus Cluster » Miyazaki city
STAY	Hotel in Miyazaki city
MEAL	Breakfast [ ✔ ]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ NA ]

Visit the most photogenic shrines located in an ocean cave. (Short Walk)

Today, we will explore the beautiful coastline landscapes of Miyazaki. The first shrine we visit is located on a peninsula, built on an island that sticks out into the Pacific Ocean.

The second Shrine is a unique shrine located inside a cave on a cape that sticks out into the sea.The cape is surrounded by a series of strangely shaped rocks and the rough waves of the Pacific Ocean, making it a beautiful scenic spot. The contrast between the deep blue ocean, the vermilion of the shrine, and the green of the trees attract many visitors.

Afterwards, we drive to our final destination, Kirishima Onsen by private vehicle.

Summit Mt.Takachiho. (Hiking Day)

We will go on a hike which will be the highlight of our trip. The mountain we hike is in Kirishima Kinkowan national park and is also formed by volcanic activities and after passing through a native forest, you will climb up a rough ridge with almost no vegetation.

Along the way, you can see the former crater, and from the top of the mountain, you can see the entire Kirishima area.

On the final night, we will stay at the same Hotel. Cheers to the end of this journey with great food and drinks.

TRAIL DATA

Distance: 5.0 km

Elevation gain: + 580 m / - 580 m

Time: 4 - 5 hrs

SCHEDULE	Kirishima Onsen » Hiking » Kirishima Onsen
STAY	Hotel in Kirishima Onsen
MEAL	Breakfast [ ✔ ]      Lunch [ NA ]      Dinner [ ✔ ]