Recommendation needed for kyushu

[Beta_123]

if u don't drive it's hard to reach that vantage spot

Hi, can I check where is the location of this vantage point?

 

[rrr2015]

Hi, can I check where is the location of this vantage point?

my spot was in residential area, small carpark for 2 cars. unfortunately i can't locate the spot now. maybe will try later.

i think Yukemuri Observatory might be good spot. may not be as bright like what u see in photo, need tele & tripod (long exposure)

 

[Beta_123]

my spot was in residential area, small carpark for 2 cars. unfortunately i can't locate the spot now. maybe will try later.

i think Yukemuri Observatory might be good spot. may not be as bright like what u see in photo, need tele & tripod (long exposure)

Got it thanks! Will be going during day time! Easier for photo opportunities

 

[KyushuWoozy]

You like retro things? There’s a semi-famous onsen in yamaga should be quite near yachiyoza since you’ll be going there can check it out. Those onsens for soaking usually look boring from the outside and you can’t take photo inside anyway

Love that onsen. If you go upstairs there is tiny 'museum' basically collection of photos from that onsen olden days. It shows onsen packed like crazy with 100's of people and people eating bento in the onsen

Some of my photos here:

 

[zoossh]

Got it thanks! Will be going during day time! Easier for photo opportunities

I read the many reviews on the observatory and the photos taken there

it has very mixed reviews which I think is the timing and weather u go. Perhaps the blue hours is key to it

it seems that the smoke are concentrated in the Kannara region even when seen from the faraway taller suginoi hotel. Other parts of beppu may have only sparsed smoke

so perhaps need to find an unblocked higher viewpoint near kannara to shoot at the right hours

the bad thing about the observatory is it is very ulu and public transport is half hourly and limited hours. It is > 1km away from less ulu locations and nearest ulu accommodation is still 500m away

I’m also looking for less ulu vantage alternative

I dun even know my x3 zoom on handphone which is 80mm is of any good use for that distance

 

[zoossh]

Fellow onsen otaku spotted hehe! I went Kyushu in spring so the weather is a tad too warm for onsen. I’m going to explore onsens in other parts of Japan when the weather gets cooler

Sand beach onsen is permanently closed now. So sad

 

[rrr2015]

I read the many reviews on the observatory and the photos taken there

it has very mixed reviews which I think is the timing and weather u go. Perhaps the blue hours is key to it

it seems that the smoke are concentrated in the Kannara region even when seen from the faraway taller suginoi hotel. Other parts of beppu may have only sparsed smoke

so perhaps need to find an unblocked higher viewpoint near kannara to shoot at the right hours

the bad thing about the observatory is it is very ulu and public transport is half hourly and limited hours. It is > 1km away from less ulu locations and nearest ulu accommodation is still 500m away

I’m also looking for less ulu vantage alternative

I dun even know my x3 zoom on handphone which is 80mm is of any good use for that distance

it's very hard to get a good shot. u need longer or multiple exposure to stretch the smoke. either way u still need a tripod

 

[zoossh]

it's very hard to get a good shot. u need longer or multiple exposure to stretch the smoke. either way u still need a tripod

I still had a few months to look for something like a gorilla pod as I’m just going to go easy using a handphone

what kind of focal length needed if not using cropping ?

 

[rrr2015]

I still had a few months to look for something like a gorilla pod as I’m just going to go easy using a handphone

what kind of focal length needed if not using cropping ?

use google map street view to judge yourself. there were some useful video shots from observatory posted too.

 

[zoossh]

perhaps I should start looking at options to get an add on tele lens and ND filter

 

[KyushuWoozy]

Sand beach onsen is permanently closed now. So sad

This onsen has (indoor) sand bath. Love this place, proper old-style onsen and really hot (the bath water I mean, not the sand).

https://maps.app.goo.gl/dXygvmoEJbMeBiUZ7

 

[kenne79]

Any ideas in Mid Dec, do i need snow tires for driving around Kyushu.

And what are the areas that require snow tires. I got stay at Kurokawa Onsen.

and how do they charge snow tires? by day or one time charge?

 

[Quasar]

Any ideas in Mid Dec, do i need snow tires for driving around Kyushu.

And what are the areas that require snow tires. I got stay at Kurokawa Onsen.

and how do they charge snow tires? by day or one time charge?

Drove in Kyushu last December no need for snow tires (legally not required). The car rental company got list of places where it’s mandatory.

There was freak snow on 1 day but it melted into rain pretty fast.

I believe snow tire charges for all the companies are per day of rental, and counted from pickup to return.

 

[KyushuWoozy]

Snow tyres don't need to change on and off, you can keep on for whole trip as mentioned in previous comment, only snow chains (that I use in Kyushu for winter driving in mountain areas) need to change on and off.

 

[Beta_123]

Hi all, I’ll be driving the route below, wondering if KEP would be needed:
FUK > Yufuin>beppu>kurogawa>Aso>huis ten Bosch> itoshima> Fuk again.
Thanks!

 

[Quasar]

Hi all, I’ll be driving the route below, wondering if KEP would be needed:
FUK > Yufuin>beppu>kurogawa>Aso>huis ten Bosch> itoshima> Fuk again.
Thanks!

My rough feel is either with or without KEP will roughly be the same unless you are doing it over like 10 days. Then the KEP rental may exceed ETC costs. Always choose to rent the ETC option though, may have some discounts for weekends.

https://search.w-nexco.co.jp/en/

For planning.

 

[KyushuWoozy]

My rough feel is either with or without KEP will roughly be the same unless you are doing it over like 10 days. Then the KEP rental may exceed ETC costs.

Yes. If you buy KEP you will probably always take toll road so you feel you're getting your money's worth If you pay as you go (ETC) you can skip toll roads when Google-san tells you it doesn't save much time compared to non-toll road, which is often more pleasant driving anyway.

 

[Beta_123]

Yes. If you buy KEP you will probably always take toll road so you feel you're getting your money's worth If you pay as you go (ETC) you can skip toll roads when Google-san tells you it doesn't save much time compared to non-toll road, which is often more pleasant driving anyway.

Oh so non toll roads would have nicer scenery?

 

[KyushuWoozy]

Oh so non toll roads would have nicer scenery?

Often but not always .... and you can't stop to take photos on toll road

 

[rrr2015]

Oh so non toll roads would have nicer scenery?

sometimes u find interesting locations, landmarks etc. like i drove pass USA & 中国 in Kyushu