Japan - Kyushu Advice

[Mikiberry]

Hello all,

Will be heading down to Japan for 30 days, with 7-14 days being covered with JR Rail Pass (7 or 14 days depending how fast my work ends )

Anyone has any recommendation?

 

[dimitri_can]

Fukuoka's Dazaifu is not bad.
Also, try Kumamoto Castle and their Taipeien... (Mee Sua Japan style)

 

[hoshiyume]

Fukuoka's Dazaifu is not bad.
Also, try Kumamoto Castle and their Taipeien... (Mee Sua Japan style)

Any shop for the taipeien? Besides the castle still got any place to go in kumamoto?

 

[Mikiberry]

Wanted to go Nagoya, probably scrapped due to recent events.

These are some of the places I am planning to go:

Nikko - not included in my rail pass

Hiroshima and Okunoshima - 1 day
Kurokawa - 1 day or maybe 2? need advice
Koyasan - 2 days
Yakushima - 2 days - maybe 3 need advice

 

[dimitri_can]

See more info here.

Kyushu Travel Guide

 

[Mikiberry]

Where is a good place I can get the JR rail passes for Japan wide.

 

[kifo]

Wanted to go Nagoya, probably scrapped due to recent events.

These are some of the places I am planning to go:

Nikko - not included in my rail pass

Hiroshima and Okunoshima - 1 day
Kurokawa - 1 day or maybe 2? need advice
Koyasan - 2 days
Yakushima - 2 days - maybe 3 need advice

Let me share my Yakushima itinerary from 3-4 years back...

Early morning, ferry from Kagoshima.
Arrived Yakushima around 2-3pm.
Picked up rental car near the harbor.
Drove to pension.
Drove around the area near the harbor.
Drove all the way to arakawa gorge to check out the route.

Day 2 morning 5am, drove all the way to Arakawa gorge before light. The entire winding mountain road is not lit at all which is why I went for a recce drive the day before.
Started hiking to 4000yr old cedar tree at 6am. Reached before 12pm. Hiked back and reached carpark at 4pm. Drove back to hotel to rest.
Day 3, drove to shiratani. Hiked to Taikowa rock and back. Went back hotel to rest.
Day 4, drove along the perimeter road going around the entire island. Very beautiful!
Day 5, returned car and took ferry back to Kagoshima. Arrived around 7pm I think.

 

[evilerniex]

Wanted to go Nagoya, probably scrapped due to recent events.

These are some of the places I am planning to go:

Nikko - not included in my rail pass

Hiroshima and Okunoshima - 1 day
Kurokawa - 1 day or maybe 2? need advice
Koyasan - 2 days
Yakushima - 2 days - maybe 3 need advice

these places are all over japan! u are going to spend a lot of time and money just to get around, and it is likely to be touch and go. i suggest u stick to kyushu and at most 1 more region if u have time. u can easily spend a few weeks in kyushu itself

 

[Mikiberry]

Probably sticking to Kurokawa and Yakushima.

Been to Beppu and Yufuin, any more suggestions around Kyushu region?

 

[kifo]

Probably sticking to Kurokawa and Yakushima.

Been to Beppu and Yufuin, any more suggestions around Kyushu region?

Takachiho, Kagoshima, Ibusuki and Kumamoto.

 

[Mikiberry]

Hi all,

I have planned my itinerary and kinda needed some help pertaining to some bus timings between Kumamoto and Kurokawa Onsen as well as Kumamoto - Takachiho Gorge. Below is just an outline. I will be more than glad to share my full itinerary for your kind help.

P.S. Kifo - is Yakushima easy to access around without car - since I am alone and I don't drive. How safe would Kyushu be for a female?

Meanwhile I am trying to fit in DisneySEA on the 8Nov - is there any good way for me to replan my itinerary.

8-Nov Nagasaki
9-Nov Kumamoto
Takachiho Gorge
10-Nov Kurokawa Onsen
11-Nov Kurokawa Onsen
Kumamoto
Kagoshima
12-Nov Yakushima
13-Nov Yakushima
14-Nov Kagoshima
Fukuoka
Yutenji

 

[siloti]

If largely or totally confined to Kyushu, then take the Bus pass, rather than JR pass or even the JR Kyushu pass.

 

[kifo]

P.S. Kifo - is Yakushima easy to access around without car - since I am alone and I don't drive. How safe would Kyushu be for a female?

Two guides were extremely useful to me when I was planning my Yakushima trip
Yakushima: Access and Orientation
Yakushima: A Visitor's Guide

Looking at the bus guides, certain parts of the island will be rather troublesome without a car, but it should still be doable. The only areas you cannot access without a car is the stretch between Okunotaki and Nagata.

Kyushu should be as safe as any parts of Japan. As usual, please exercise caution and it should be alright.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Hi all,

I have planned my itinerary and kinda needed some help pertaining to some bus timings between Kumamoto and Kurokawa Onsen as well as Kumamoto - Takachiho Gorge. Below is just an outline. I will be more than glad to share my full itinerary for your kind help.

P.S. Kifo - is Yakushima easy to access around without car - since I am alone and I don't drive. How safe would Kyushu be for a female?

Meanwhile I am trying to fit in DisneySEA on the 8Nov - is there any good way for me to replan my itinerary.

8-Nov Nagasaki
9-Nov Kumamoto
Takachiho Gorge
10-Nov Kurokawa Onsen
11-Nov Kurokawa Onsen
Kumamoto
Kagoshima
12-Nov Yakushima
13-Nov Yakushima
14-Nov Kagoshima
Fukuoka
Yutenji

Disneysea on 8 Nov?! But on your 8 Nov, it is Nagasaki
Nagasaki and Tokyo is very very far away (Need Flight)

 

[Mikiberry]

Disneysea on 8 Nov?! But on your 8 Nov, it is Nagasaki
Nagasaki and Tokyo is very very far away (Need Flight)

mmhm I am pushing my Disneyland away for now :S

 

[Mikiberry]

Two guides were extremely useful to me when I was planning my Yakushima trip
Yakushima: Access and Orientation
Yakushima: A Visitor's Guide

Looking at the bus guides, certain parts of the island will be rather troublesome without a car, but it should still be doable. The only areas you cannot access without a car is the stretch between Okunotaki and Nagata.

Kyushu should be as safe as any parts of Japan. As usual, please exercise caution and it should be alright.

Very useful guide. I am having some problems with Kumamoto to Kurokawa and return, mind if I send my itinerary in excel for you to fine tune?>

 

[Mikiberry]

If largely or totally confined to Kyushu, then take the Bus pass, rather than JR pass or even the JR Kyushu pass.

I am having a dilemma on the bus rides, just to kurokawa onsen is already a 6 hr ride to and fro.

If I am heading to Takachiho Gorge it will add another 5 hrs to my itinerary.
Bus timings aren't that frenly. I kinda need help in this area .

 

[kifo]

Very useful guide. I am having some problems with Kumamoto to Kurokawa and return, mind if I send my itinerary in excel for you to fine tune?>

Yup no problem. Why not you PM me?

But just a disclaimer first, I rented a car for my own trip to Kumamoto, Kurokawa and Takachiho.

 

[Deathskull88]

Taking buses is really a pain in Kyushu. And the buses can be infrequent and seasonal too. Plus info are almost always in Japanese. If u frequent Chinese or Taiwanese travel forums, getting info won't be as hard.

Driving is still the best mode of transport there.

 

[siloti]

I am having a dilemma on the bus rides, just to kurokawa onsen is already a 6 hr ride to and fro.

If I am heading to Takachiho Gorge it will add another 5 hrs to my itinerary.
Bus timings aren't that frenly. I kinda need help in this area .

I did that in 2005, before ShinKanSen goes to Kyushu. IIRC, I stay over at kumamoto first (or beipu) then go using the Kyushu bus (the whole Kyushu one, not the north Kyushu bus pass).

Guess now with JR Kyushu and Shinkansen, should be easier.