This 11-day Japanese hiking and cultural tour is a wonderful opportunity to not just visit Japan, but to get well and truly off the beaten track. We will spend most of this tour on Kyushu (Koo-Shoo), the most southern of the four main islands of Japan. Rarely promoted to the English-speaking world. This island is new territory for the majority of Japan’s visitors.
Kyushu has so much to offer, so join us to discover it before the rest of the World does! We’ll learn much about their culture; Japan is a nation of many contrasts. Understand more about their seemingly reserved social rules, yet feel completely comfortable sitting naked in an onsen (shared hot spring bath) together. Learn the social etiquette around meals, greetings, temples, and meal time.
Let’s get back to nature, join us for some hiking and shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), as we take five separate day hikes around Kyushu with local hiking guides. A luxury which as an English-speaking visitor is most difficult to arrange as we are going far off the beaten track.
Appreciate their religion, and see how their Shinto faith and the introduction of Buddhism have not caused conflict but instead integrated into a shared faith of harmony and understanding.
We finish our time visiting Hiroshima and finally Kyoto. We will arrive in the city as the cherry blossoms are in their magnificent glory to round off what will be an amazing adventure.
Kagoshima Airport mid-day
Kansai International Airport, Kyoto
You’ve landed in Kagoshima, on the island of Kyushu, the most southern of the four main islands of Japan. Kyushu known as a land of volcanoes, natural hot springs, and ancient mythology.
We’ll start our tour at the very stylish Sengan-en gardens. If you love Japanese garden styles, then this is the place for you. Take time to soak in the serenity and imagine what it would be like if our gardens at home were this perfectly manicured.
From the gardens enjoy the views over the bay to Sakurajima Volcano. This iconic volcano is one of Japan’s most active and is often shrouded in a veil of volcanic smoke. It’s a unique sight so we’ll do our best to arrange a display. No promises though!
From here we’ll take the drive to Kirishima. According to Japanese mythology, the god Ninigi no Mikoto descended to Earth at Mt. Takachiho, Kirishima and thrust his three-pronged spear into the mountaintop, bringing peace to the land. Seems like a great place to rest for the night!
O/N Kirishima 2 nights (Active Resorts or similar)
Kirishima has a network of hiking trails that can take you to the roof of Kyushu. We won’t be taking the highest peak (1,700m) however, today is the day to channel your inner mountain goat. We’re hiking up Mount Takachiho-no-mine, it’s only about a 3-hour jaunt (2 hours up and 1 hour down) give or take – practically a walk in the (volcanic) park.
Later, we’ll visit the Kirishima Open Air Museum with its world-class collection of modern sculptures in, as the name suggests, an outdoor setting, because art and nature are like vegemite and toast (or sushi and wasabi), only artier.
O/N Kirishima 2 nights (Active Resorts or similar)
Pack your sense of adventure – we’re off to Takachiho!
We’ll be stopping along the way at Kyusendo Cave: where Mother Nature went Picasso with limestone. Stalactites hang like rock bling. It’s like Earth’s secret art studio – complete with mood lighting. Exploring here means you’re not just a tourist; you’re a caving art critic!
We’ll have time for a short stroll at Takachiho Gorge before dinner. Then we’ve got a date at a Kagura Japanese Traditional Play. It’s like Shakespeare, but with more fan twirling and face masks. Like Shakespeare you may struggle to understand what is going on, but audience watching is as much fun as the play itself.
O/N Takachiho 2 nights (Sollest Takachiho or similar)
Takachiho Walking Course: 12.3 km, 524m elevation gain loop walk, of scenic awesomeness. With a stop along the way at a shrine to give your thanks or say your prayers, but don’t worry, your guide’s got you covered, so you can concentrate on not tripping over your own enthusiasm. After a day of walking, reward yourself with a cozy hotel hangout.
O/N Takachiho 2 nights (Sollest Takachiho or similar)
Mount Sobo, here we come!
We’re hiking through the Okue Mountain range to find the Pac-Man rock – chomping down a 12 km hike for that insta worthy shot. It’s a beautiful hike through lovely forest with a local hiking guide. This is not the hike to try alone, it’s way too remote, so don’t worry we’re almost guaranteed to have the trail to ourselves, so a perfect place for Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing).
Then, it’s off to Nagayu: where relaxation rules and stress gets lost as you soak your cares away in an onsen. Hot springs bubble like a prosecco on steriods. If relaxation were a sport, Nagayu would win gold medals. Unwind here, and you’ll leave with a high degree of Zen!
O/N Nagayu 2 nights, Kur Park Nagayu (or similar)
Nagayu, meet Bungo Ono. We’re exploring the Taketa Castle town with a Kyushu Olle Okubungo course (12km, 100m elevation). We hope by now the spring flowers are beginning to show their beauty as the cherry blossom season is about to commence.
O/N Nagayu 2 nights, Kur Park Nagayu (or similar)
We’ve been on the go, non-stop from the moment we arrived, so today is our easy day. In Beppu, we’ll visit the Onsen Museum and Beppu Umi Jigoku – a cobalt blue natural hot spring. And yes, you will experience the mystical Onsen Steam.
It’s like bathing in magic potion. The afternoon is free but join us for a casual dinner.
O/N Beppu Hotels and Resorts (or similar)
The Kunisaki’s Peninsula is our destination today taking part of the Kunisaki Hantou Minemichi Long Trail. This is a 150km through hike over 10 sections, today we will do section K1 (11k, 300m elevation) and leave the rest for next time – every trip has to have a sequel!
This through hike is not unlike the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trek, but unknown (yet) by the Western world. I can almost guarantee we are going where none of your hiking friends have ever been. There’s major bragging right in this trip!
O/N Beppu Hotels and Resorts (or similar)
All aboard the Shinkansen express!
First stop: Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. If you have watched the recently released movie, Oppenheimer, this day will certainly bring the reality of the movie to life.
Lunchtime brings the savory treat of Okonomiyaki, which translates to ‘cooked as you like it’ a somewhat fancy vegetable fritter, with that Japanese je ne sais quoi. We’re really mixing up our nationalities now! Finally, we’ll catch a bullet train to Kyoto, our home for the next couple of nights.
O/N Kyoto 2 nights Daiwa Roynet Kyoto Station (or similar)
Kyoto, we’re here to see your highlights. Our guide will lead us through Kiyomizu Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Buddhist temple), Gion Street (where geishas often roam), Fushimi Inari Shrine, (the bucket-ticking tourism sight), a Sake Brewery (yes, you can sample), and Sanju Sangendo Temple with it’s 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy (we may not have time for you to count them all, you’ll just have to take our word for it!). It’s like a history and spirituality treasure hunt.
O/N Kyoto 2 nights Daiwa Roynet Kyoto Station (or similar)
It’s been a blast, but all good things must come to an end. Enjoy a leisurely morning before we whisk you off to Kansai airport (KIX).
Until we meet again, wakare (farewell) fearless adventurer!
Want to see more? Ask us about the option of Nakasendo Trail add-on option.
From her starting position as tea lady, a job she took way too seriously (trust us, tea is something of an obsession with her), she wins the gold star for giving everything a go.
As a former police officer, Suzanne joined the ICON team with not only a can-do attitude but also a bloody-well-will-do attitude too. If she’s in charge of a tour or helping to organise independent travel for you, you can be rest assured it will be like her tea, done to the highest and most meticulous standard.
That can-do attitude saw Suzanne take over ICON Adventures in 2015 and has been at the helm since then. She managed to steer the ship through the rough waters of COVID, to see the company not only survive but come out stronger than ever.