Off to the south!

Duration: 13 days/12 nights
Stages: Ôsaka (KIX) – Shibushi – Cape Sata – Ibusuki – Aoshima – Kobe – Kishiwada – Ôsaka (KIX)

from €2,500

Services & Rates  Option photo album

Day 1 – Ôsaka

• You are welcomed at Ôsaka airport by your English-speaking tour guide
• Stroll through the city’s largest shopping arcade
• Evening meal at an izakaya
• Overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel

Day 2 – Ôsaka – Ferry terminal

• Visit to the Osamu Tezuka museum, the father of manga
• Spiritual excursion to Takarazuka
• Stroll through the old part of Ôsaka and sampling of local specialities
• Evening ferry departure to Shibushi (on the island of Kyushu), evening meal on-board

Day 3 – Shibushi – Cape Sata

• Journey from Shibushi to Cape Sata
• Walk around the cape
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel in Sata overlooking the ocean

Day 4 – Cape Sata – Ibusuki

• Journey from Sata to Ibusuki via Nejime
• Relaxation in the hot sand baths
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel in Ibusuki

Day 5 – Kaimondake

• Journey to the foot of Mount Kaimondake
• Ascent of this extinct volcano, called the Fuji of Kyushu due to its shape
• Picnic at the summit
• Return to Ibusuki
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 6 – Ibusuki

• Stroll in a beautiful flower park among azalea and strelitzia
• Visit to a wildlife park
• Journey to the Nagasakibana cape, with a stunning view of Mount Kaimondake
• Return to Ibusuki
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 7 – Ibusuki – Kagoshima – Kirishima

• Journey from Ibusuki to Kagoshima
• Ferry crossing to the volcanic island of Sakurajima
• Taxi ride around the island with short stops at the best panoramas
• Journey from Kagoshima to Kirishima
• Relaxation in an onsen (hot spring)
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel in Kirishima

Day 8 – Kirishima-Jingu and Mount Takachiho

• Journey to the Kirishima-Jingu site
• Visit to the temple
• Climb to the top of the sacred Mount Takachiho-no-mine
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

Day 9 – Kirishima – Miyazaki – Aoshima

• Journey to Aoshima via Miyazaki
• Stroll around Aoshima island, famous for its reefs and its lush vegetation, visit to a shrine in the middle of the jungle
• Evening meal and overnight stay at a traditional guest house/hotel

 Day 10 – Nichinan Seacoast

• Journey along the wild Nichinan coast
• Visit to the Udo-Jingu shrine (carved into a vertical cliff), short trek through the surrounding mountains
• Journey to Obi, a former fortress town
• Stroll through the old town, visit to the castle ruins
• Evening meal and overnight stay at the same location as the previous day

 Day 11 – Aoshima – Miyazaki – Ferry terminal

• Journey from Aoshima to Miyazaki
• Stroll through the city
• Evening ferry departure to Kobe, evening meal on-board

Days 12 & 13 – Kobe – Kishiwada – Ôsaka (KIX)

• Shirt sightseeing in Kobe: the European district of Kitano-Chô
• Journey to Kishiwada, former fortress city south of Ôsaka
• Visit to the castle, historical jewel of the city
• Evening meal at a traditional sushi restaurant in the middle of a zen garden
• Overnight stay at a hotel in center of Kishiwada
• Journey to the airport
• Return flight (not included in the tour)

Photo credits

Most of the photos that appear in this description are the property of Fukuchan Ryoko Olivier Baubrand. All rights reserved.
Several photos, however, has been taken from Wikipedia Commons. They are titled “Wikipedia” and subject to the licence CC BY-SA 3.0.
Owners of the rights: Sata-Misaki © Russavia, Kirishima Onsen, Kirishima-Tempel, Takachiho and Kobe Ferry Terminal © 663highland.