Number 3: A LONG TRIP AROUND KYUSHU STARTING IN KAGOSHIMA
There are several ways to get to Kagoshima where we started the trip. From Tokyo there are regular flights from Haneda Airport either by ANA or JAL (All Nippon Airways – Japan Airlines):
Transportation: Bus, Trains, Flights
In Kagoshima we stayed at the Shiroyama Hotel. Very special, fantastic view, restaurants certainly one for your pleasure. We enjoyed it, reasonable priced (think about the cheap yen).
You will have a direct view on the Sakurajima (Cherry Blossoms Island). You might be afraid from regular outbreaks of this active volcano. No need, there are people living on the peninsula for generations.
What to do in Kagoshima: Take the ferry and visit the volcano island, plan half a day. You will not regret it.
There are various spots to visit: Kagoshima Sightseeing
After you are through, consider a trip to the South to Ibusuki. From Kagoshima on it is better to rent a car. Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Make sure you have a valid Driving Licence. Driving is easy, for directions use your smartphone. I found it difficult to drive on the left side of the street. Not because of the street, but of the car. I regularly reached for the turn signal and had the windshield wipers on, and the seat belt was not there where I wanted to take it. Wrong side.
Next wie went to Ibusuki:
There is a train down there to Ibusuki station, after that it is either walk oder take a taxi. I advise to rent a car, considering further traveling.
Ibusuki see here: Ibusuki Sand Bath
Afterwards we will go to Lake Ikeda, a beautiful crater lake with the mountain Kaimon (Kaimondake), with many possibilities to explore. Check the internet.
You might plan half a day here!
Next on the way to: Chiran Peace Museum. If you rather don’t want to know about the Kamikaze (divine wind) suicide warriors, you might skip that. Whatever you might think about, it is very interesting.
Furthermore, we took the route 270 to Minamisatsuma up to Ichiki-Kushihikino. Then the route3 north till Akune, after that the route 389 North-West towards the ferry on Nagashima Island Ushibuko Port – Kuranomoto Port. There is a normal car ferry. If you have time you might want to have a trip on the Nagashima Sightseeing Glass Boat. The ferry brings you to Tomikawa. Take route 266 and drive all the way up through Amakusa (in japanese the u is hardly pronounced, there it will sound like Amaksa). There are various points to stop and see, all up to your discretion. Enjoy the beautiful scenery.
This is really the countryside. If you plan to stay overnite someplace, better check with a booking platform before. It might be difficult to find a hotel otherwise. Avoid just driving through the Amakusa Islands. There are many things to see: Amakusa Islands
Afterwards we drove up north to Oniike Port, took the ferry Kuchinotsu-Oniike Port to Kuchinotsu, where we headed up route 251 to Shimabara with Mount Unzen:
Don’t miss a visit to the Mount Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall in Shimabara. Then we drove up the mountain to Unzen. There we stayed overnight at a local hotel and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Interesting was a walk through the Unzen Jigoku (hell).
The next morning we left Unzen all the way down to the sea, and follow route 251 on the way to Nagasaki. There are temples and old castles on the way. You might want to visit them. We were heading to Nagasaki. We stayed overnight, choose a good hotel. The town is very hilly, so choose one with a good view of the scenery of the harbour. After visits to the peace park and Glover Garden, we continued our journey towards Isahaya and on route 251 direction Shimabara. But only up to Tahira Port, where we took the ferry to cross the sea again to reach Nagasu on the way to Kumamoto:
Suizenji Garden and Kumamoto Castle
We stayed a night over in Kumamoto, there is a lot to see.
The next day on to Aso, route 57, straight to Aso City, explore the “Fire Country” with the active volcano Mount Aso:
We continued via Route 57 to Takeda, then Route 442 to Oita City. A trip up to Beppu is a must, visit the seven Hells and explore the city. You might consider a drive to Yufuin. Reserve enough time especially for Beppu.
We went to both places, after that began the drive down to Miyazaki. When you take the highway you drive through at least fifty tunnels, some of them poorly lit. This is stressful and no fun. Better go by route 10, all the way through Nobeoka and Hyuga, finally reaching Miyazaki. Consider sightseeing in the city then move on to Aoshima, about 15 km in the south of the town. After that further on to Horikiri Pass, and on the way MOAI – Sun Messe, about 5 km before Udo Jingu. Visit both of them, very interesting, Sun Messe entrance fee is rather expensive, last time we went there, it was 700 Yen a person, Udo Jingu is free of course. Don’t miss the street sign for Sun Messe.
What is MOAI at the Sun Messe, have a look here.
After the visit to Udo Jingu we went on to Toi Misaki, a peninsula south of Nichinan. Famous for wild horses. Interesting and beautiful scenery.
We finished the trip back to Kagoshima through Shibushi, Kanoya and the Sakurajima from behind, and took the ferry for a last time to Kagoshima.
*****
My Kyushu 