10-Day Self-Drive Kyushu Tour

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Today, you'll drive yourself to explore the cities of Okawachiyama and Karatsu on your way to your next destination, Saga. First, you will start in the ceramic village of Okawachiyama. Located in the heart of the mountains, it offers landscapes and an atmosphere typical of the countryside of the island of Kyushu. Next, you will explore Karatsu Castle in Karatsu where you can enjoy a spectacular 360 ° view of the city, Karatsu Bay and the Ariake Sea. You'll then continue to your hotel in Saga.

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Today you will drive yourself from Saga to Fukuoka. First, you can visit the Saga Castle History Museum located inside the main dungeon. If you're keen for a nice view before leaving Saga, you can head up to the city observation platform for a 360-degree view of the illuminated city. Upon arrival in Fukuoka, one hour away, you can explore Hakata Bay, stroll through Ohori-koen Park and discover Canal City Hakata to try the local specialty: Hakata Ramen.

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Today, you'll set off on another journey in your rental car, this time to Yufuin, a hot spring town at the foot of Mount Yufu. To begin the day, you'll travel to Beppu to discover the famous thermal springs of Beppu. These sources are not intended for swimming but only for observation, the spectacle they offer is impressive, both for the colors and the vapors that emanate from them. On the way to Yufuin, you can stop at Mount Yufu for a hike to the summit to make the most of the views.

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This morning, you'll set off to Aso. The distance is short but you can stop at many interesting places on the way including Lake Kirin. This stunning place will present you with superb landscapes and allow you to appreciate the calm and the charm of the city during a pleasant walk. You can also stroll through Yu no Tsubo Street to admire the Edo-style buildings and try local dishes. On the way to Aso, you can visit the famed Kikuchi Valley with its spectacular gorges carved by the river

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Before heading to explore the Aso volcanoes, it is recommended that you visit the Aso Volcano Museum in order to educate yourself and learn a little more about the volcanoes in the region. Afterwards, you can set off towards Mount Nakadake for a trek on the highest volcanic cone of Mount Aso at 1592 metres! Long closed to the public due to too much volcanic activity, it has now been reopened. Make sure you are well equipped for this trek as it can be challenging and dangerous at times.

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Today, you'll drive from Aso to your next destination, Kumamoto. You'll then have the day free to enjoy the sights. Firstly, you can visit the Suizen-Ji Joju-En Garden, a traditional Japanese garden set around a natural spring pond where colorful carp swim. The Kokin-Denju-no-Ma Teahouse located inside the park was brought in from Kyoto in 1912 and is now a place where visitors can enjoy traditionally brewed Japanese tea. Afterwards, you can visit the Kumamoto Castle.

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Today, you'll drive three hours from Kumamoto to Kagashima. You'll then have the rest of the day free to explore the Sengan En Garden. This superb park which spreads over more than 50,000 metres-squared is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Offering an idyllic setting expressing typical and traditional Japanese refinement, there's a superb view on the volcano of the island of Sakurajima. You can spend the majority of your day here before heading to your hotel.

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Today, you'll head to Sakurajima to spend a day exploring this volcanic island. To reach it, you just need to take a ferry from Kagoshima Port and then hop in a taxi, bus or on a bicycle to explore the island and its volcanos from many different viewpoints. A symbol of Kagoshima, Sakurajima is one of the most active volcanoes in Japan. Constantly smoking and occasionally erupting several times a day, Sakurajima is the most prominent feature of the area - it's over 1000 metres high.