SAKURA KYUSHU CIRCLE & YAKUSHIMA TOUR

you can select what you want to eat, and of course we will help and show you where to go.

Date

Place and Hotel

♨=onsen

Activity

MAR.

(Mon.)

Depart Honolulu to Fukuoka.

(Tue.)

HAKATA

GRAND HOTEL

After arriving at Fukuoka airport go to hotel.

(Wed.)

BEPPU

SUGINOI HOTEL♨

From Fukuoka, ride the “Yufuin no Mori” limited express train with modern wooden interior and go to Beppu. After arriving Beppu go to Jigoku meguri (Boiling Hell), see the Chinoike (Blood pond hell), Tatsumaki (tornado hell), and Umi jigoku (sea hell).

(Thu.)

ASO

GRANDVRIO HOTEL ♨

From Beppu go to Takasakiyama for viewing & interacting with wild japanese monkeys in natural environment. Next visit Yufuin traditional folk craft village, then go to Daikanbo - located on the northern rim of the crater and is the highest peak of the Aso mountain chain.

(Fri.)

MIYAZAKI

DAIICHI HOTEL

From Aso go to Takachiho Gorge, has a narrow chasm cut through the rock by Gokase River. The nearby sheer cliffs lining the gorge are where stones were twisted and flowed as it formed. See Amano Iwato Jinja, a shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, there is a cave, according to japanese legend, the goddess hid after battle with her brother, making the world into darkness until lured out by the spirit of merriment Ame no Uzume. Then go to Miyazaki.

(Sat.)

KAGOSHIMA

URBIC HOTEL

From Miyazaki visit a Kurozu farm (black vinegar) where they are fermented and aging in an earthenware jar outside for years in Kagoshima area. Next go to Sakurajima, an active composite volcano and a former island in Kagoshima pref. The lava flows of the 1914 eruption connected it with Osumi peninsula. Look at Kurokami village, one of the village that was covered up in one day with lava & just a little of their sacred torii showing. Next visit Sengan-en, it is a japanese garden attached to a former Shimazu clan residence with Sakurajima and Kinko Bay as part of the scenery for it's garden.

(Sun.)

KAGOSHIMA

URBIC HOTEL

From Kagoshima with the ferry go to Yakushima. Visit Shiratani Unsui Gorge, a natural beauty spot with virgin forest, moss, rocks and water. See the Senpirono Falls, one of most recognized of the many waterfalls on Yakushima. Next visit Yaku-Sugi Nature Museum, exhibits the valuable cedars, history & forestry, their habitat of Yakushima.

(Mon.)

KAGOSHIMA

URBIC HOTEL

From the hotel go to Chiran, within the town there is a preserved samurai district with houses and gardens that date back about 250 years. Then visit Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots (Tokkoutai – suicide attack squad). Next visit Ishin Furusatokan, a museum of the Meiji Restoration. Then return to same hotel.

(Tue.)

KUMAMOTO

MIELPARQUE

After check out of the hotel go to Kumamoto pref., visit Suizenji Park, a spacious japanese style landscape garden around a natural spring. Then visit Reigando of Miyamoto Musashi, the cave where Japan's greatest swordsman secluded himself where he wrote the “Book of Five Rings,” a book on strategy. Next visit Kumamoto Castle, it suffered serious damage in the earthquake of April 2016 and is still being repaired, originally was constructed in 1601 by famous regional lord, Kato Kiyomasa. Then go to hotel in Kumamoto.

(Wed.)

NAGASAKI

NEW HOTEL

After check out of the hotel with the ferry go to Unzen, visit the Mt.Unzen Disaster Museum & you can see the Buried Houses. Next visit Glover Garden where former mansions of European merchants who had settled in Nagasaki, one famous one is Thomas B. Glover – a Scottish merchant. Next visit Nagasaki Peace Park, see the Peace statue. Then go to hotel in Nagasaki.

(Thu.)

KARATSU

ROYAL HOTEL

From Nagasaki go to Nabeshima Hanyo Park( Clan Kiln Park), located on the hill adjacent to the pottery village of Okawachiyama, has facilities to preserve historical heritage & a place with a long history of ceramics & porcelains, it’s been reproduced. Also see the “Nabeshima” porcelain, it was specially made only for the emperor & feudal lords, including the Nabeshima clan who ruled the area. Then see Niji no Matsubara, 360 year old pine forest curves along the coast. Next visit Hikiyama Float Exhibition Hall (for the Karatsu Kunchi festival), festival floats and the stars of the festival are on display year round. Then go to hotel in Karatsu.

(Fri.)

HAKATA

GRAND HOTEL

From Karatsu go to Yanagawa, for lunch is Yanagawa steamed eel it's their old traditional local dish. Take a castle town small boat ride on the canal around the moat and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Next visit the Kurume Kasuri Museum, an important intangible cultural property, a indigo blue dyed cloth. Then visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, it is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane who is known as the god of learning, there are lot of visitors praying for success in exams and academic achievement. Then go to hotel in Fukuoka.

(Sat.)

Sightseeing within Fukuoka. Visit Kushida Shrine, most important Shinto shrine in the area, and is famous for it's yearly Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival. Next visit the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum, learn about old daily life & Hakata culture during the Meiji and Taisho period. Then go to airport for your departure flight to Honolulu.(whatever flight route available.