The Charms of Japan (Reverse)

Discover the culture, national parks, countryside, gardens and “must see” places of southern Japan.

Destinations

Fukuoka / Nagasaki / Takachiho / Beppu / Kitsuki / Hiroshima / Miyajima / Takamatsu / Himeji / Kobe / Osaka

Simple itinerary

• Day 1 Arrival in Fukuoka
• Day 2 Nagasaki
• Day 3 Takachiho
• Day 4 Beppu – Kitsuki – Bullet Train Ride – Hiroshima
• Day 5 Hiroshima – Miyajima Island – Shimanami Kaido
• Day 6 Takamatsu
• Day 7 Kurashiki – Himeji – Kobe – Osaka
• Day 8 End of the trip

Trip description

This tour is a great way to discover the culture and landscape of Japan, where you will have the opportunity to visit the national parks, gardens and “must see” places of southern Japan.

Begin your journey on the rarely visited island of Kyushu. Starting in Nagasaki, visit the Nagasaki Peace Park which houses the memorial to the victims of the second bomb that hit the ground. A statue of a man pointing and holding his other arm is a symbol of Nagasaki Peace Park. Our next place is Dejima, an area with more than 400 years of history in Dutch trade. It features historic warehouses and residences, providing information about the former Dutch Trade Post and how they lived during Japan’s two centuries of isolation. Next, visit Glover Gardens, an open-air museum where we can see an excellent collection of historic mansions of former western Nagasaki residents. Continue to Oura Catholic Church, the oldest Christian church in Japan. It was also the first western building in Japan designated as a national treasure. We will also explore Takachiho, a place of myths and legends. In Beppu, marvel at the Jigoku, “hell”, of bubbling waters and geysers scattered throughout the city. Then enjoy a scenic drive up Mt. Takasaki Monkey Park where you will have the opportunity to meet some of Japan’s 1,500 wild monkeys up close. The Samurai districts of Kitsuki will also be included in this Kyushu tour.

From Kyushu, the Shinkansen bullet train takes you to Hiroshima, where you will visit the Peace Memorial Museum and the surrounding Peace Park. On Miyajima Island, you will have the chance to see the famous “floating” Torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine. Then drive through the Shimanami Kaido, a 60-kilometer toll road that connects the main island of Honshu in Japan with the island of Shikoku. It passes more than six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea, to the island of Shikoku. Take in views of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridges that are among hundreds of beautifully scattered islands in the Seto Inland Sea at the Kirosan Observatory.

On Shikoku Island, visit the Shikoku Mura Village Open Air Museum and find out why Japanese gardens are famous in Takamatsu. Cross the Seto-ohashi Bridge back to Honshu Island, where you will visit the Kurashiki photogenic channel area and the majestic Himeji Castle.

On this tour you will have the opportunity to savor the famous Wagyu beef in Kobe, watch a Yokagura dance performance and spend a night in a traditional Japanese Ryokan Onsen. You will also have the opportunity to relax in the therapeutic waters of a natural spa bath in an onsen, enjoy the exquisite flavors of a traditional Japanese dinner, and take an evening stroll dressed in your yukata. Immersing yourself in Japanese culture while surrounded by the charm and picturesque architecture of exquisite wooden buildings, shoji sliding paper doors, tatami flooring, and courtyard gardens is the essence of this tour.

This itinerary is perfect for those who want to see a little deeper into rural Japan. It is a great opportunity to see a Japan rarely seen or imagined by most visitors.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1
Fukuoka airport

Welcome to Fukuoka! An AJT representative will greet you at the arrival gate with a “All Japan Tours” sign.
Hotel Nikko Fukuoka or similar class

NOTE 1: The meet and greet is ONLY available for flights arriving after 11:00 a.m.

NOTE 2: If you want to stay more nights before the tour starts, please contact us to book hotel accommodation.

Day 2
Nagasaki (Nagasaki Peace Park / Dejima / Glover Garden / Oura Church)

The day begins with a visit to Nagasaki. Visit the Nagasaki Peace Park which houses the memorial to the victims of the second bomb that hit the ground. A statue of a man pointing and holding his other arm is a symbol of Nagasaki Peace Park. Our next place is Dejima, an area with more than 400 years of history in Dutch trade. It features historic warehouses and residences, providing information about the former Dutch Trade Post and how they lived during Japan’s two centuries of isolation. Next, visit Glover Gardens, an open-air museum where we can see an excellent collection of historic mansions of former western Nagasaki residents. Continue to Oura Catholic Church, the oldest Christian church in Japan. It was also the first western building in Japan designated as a national treasure.

Breakfast lunch
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Nagasaki Gloverhill or similar class

Day 3
Ferry from Shimabara to Kumamoto, Takachiho (Takachiho Gorge / Amano Iwato and Amano Yasukawara Shrine / Yokagura Yield)

Today we will take a 30 minute ferry from Shimabara and cross the Ariake Sea to Kumamoto. From Kumamoto, we drive east to Takachiho, a city in the north of Miyazaki Prefecture that is steeped in Japanese mythology. It is the supposed site of legend where Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, disturbed by her brother’s cruel jokes, hid in a cave, prompting the other gods and goddesses to try to attract her. Another legend suggests that this is where Amaterasu’s grandson, Niniginia-Mikoto, descended to earth to establish the imperial family of Japan. Takachiho is also known as a “place of power”, a place of deep religious importance and natural beauty, radiating spiritual energy. We will visit the Takachiho Gorge, a narrow chasm cut through the rock next to the Gokase River. The nearly transparent cliffs that line the gorge are made up of slowly forming basalt volcanic columns, resembling the scales of a dragon where the stone twisted and flowed as it formed. Halfway along the gorge is the 17-meter high Minainotaki waterfall cascading down the river below, and it is truly impressive to see the waterfall against a background of dense green foliage and the surrounding gray cliffs. Then visit Amano Iwato Shrine and Amano Yasukawara. The Amano Iwato Shrine was built near the cave where Amaterasu is said to have hidden. A short walk down the road from Amano Iwato Shrine is a path that leads down to the river. Finally, the path leads to a simple shrine within a cave known as Amano Yasukawara. This is said to be the cave where the gods and goddesses met to discuss their strategy of bringing Amaterasu out of hiding. The natural beauty of the cave and the river lined by countless piles of stones make Amano Yasukawara a place not to be missed. After dinner, we have a special treat: a Yokagura dance performance. A scandalously obscene dance that supposedly caused Amaterasu to leave the cave to see what all the fun was about, and in doing so, returned her light to the world.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Hotel Takachiho or similar class

Day 4
Beppu (Beppu Hells / Mt. Takasaki Monkey Park), Kitsuki (Kitsuki Samurai Districts – Ohara Residence), from Kitsuki, take the “Sonic” express train to Kokura, then board the Shinkansen bullet train to Hiroshima

After the Japanese breakfast at the hotel, we head to the swimmers’ paradise: the famous Beppu spa. Marvel at one of Beppu’s most famous attractions, the Jigoku Meguri, or the “Boiling Hells” hot springs. See two of Beppu’s nine hot springs or “hells”. These hot springs are ideal for viewing rather than bathing. The springs earned their name because these mysterious and vaporous attractions were said to resemble a scene from hell (“jigoku” means “hell”). Then we will enjoy a scenic walk towards Mt. Takasaki Monkey Park where we will take a monorail to the observation area. Mount Takasaki is a forested mountain outside Beppu and home to more than 1,500 wild Japanese monkeys. Within this natural habitat, the monkeys have been fed regularly in order to keep them alive in the mountains and avoid conflicts with local fruit farmers. Monkeys are quite used to human visitors, and it is possible to get up close to take their photos! From here, visit the Samurai districts of Kitsuki on the way to Kokura before taking a high-speed Shinkansen bullet train ride to Hiroshima.

Breakfast lunch
Sheraton Hiroshima Hotel or similar class

Day 5
Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park – Atomic Bomb Museum / Miyajima – Itsukushima Shrine), Shimanami Kaido (Scenic Observatory / Kirosan)

Today we will visit the Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum. After lunch, we will take a short ferry ride to Miyajima Island, considered sacred by many. At high tide, the famous vermilion torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine seems to float in the middle of the sea. The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Miyajima has been selected as one of the three most scenic places in Japan (nihon sankei). In the afternoon, we will drive through the Shimanami Kaido to Shikoku Island. The Shimanami Kaido is a 60-kilometer toll road that connects the main island of Honshu in Japan with the island of Shikoku, passing through six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. It is also known as the Nishiseto Highway. We will stop at the Kirosan Observatory, from where you can see the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridges, which are located among hundreds of beautifully scattered islands in the Seto Inland Sea. The modern observation deck was cleverly designed and built midway into the slope of the hillside so as not to spoil the natural environment.

Breakfast dinner
Imabari Kokusai Hotel or similar class

Day 6
Takamatsu (Shikoku Mura Village / Ritsurin Park), Seto Ohashi Bridge

This morning we will head to Takamatsu with a visit to Shikoku Mura Village. Shikoku Mura (Shikoku Village) is an open-air museum located at the base of Yashima. This pleasant hillside park preserves and displays traditional buildings and structures that have been moved here from all over the island of Shikoku. Then visit Ritsurin Park, a Japanese landscape masterpiece 100 years in the making. This extensive park has beautiful ponds and pavilions, with Mt. Shiun as the perfect backdrop. In the evening, we will drive across the Setoohashi Bridge back to Honshu Island. Seto-ohashi Bridge is a collective term for the six bridges that connect Japan’s main island, Shikoku, with the island of Honshu, passing through five small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. These beautiful bridges took 40 years and a great deal of money to build. They are the essence of all available bridge construction technologies. Tonight, we will stay at a spa hotel in Kurashiki Yuga Onsen, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a hot tub and enjoy a traditional Japanese Kaiseki banquet dinner.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Kurashiki Yuga Onsen Hotel Santoka or similar class

Day 7
Kurashiki (Canal Area / Ohara Art Museum), Himeji (Himeji Castle), Kobe (Wagyu meat)

Today we will visit Kurashiki. In merchandise days, this picturesque town prospered as a port for rice shipments. Several old rice barns and examples of historic architecture still remain, in addition to the stone-lined canal. We will also visit the Ohara Museum of Art, considered the first Western art museum in Japan. It is a private museum consisting of three adjacent buildings next to the canal. Then we will go to Himeji to visit Himeji Castle. It is known as “White Egret Castle” and “White Heron Castle” due to its bright white exterior, which resembles a flying bird. Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, and is one of the few original castles left in Japan. This splendid example of traditional architecture was declared one of the first UNESCO World Heritage sites in Japan. In the afternoon we will continue to Kobe, where we will savor the world famous Wagyu beef.

Breakfast dinner
Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport or similar class
Elsereine Osaka Hotel or similar class (NOTE 3 and 4)

NOTE 3: If you want to stay in downtown Osaka for the last night instead of the Nikko Kansai Airport Hotel, we can arrange for you to stay at the Elsereine Osaka Hotel (or similar class). In this case, the airport transfer is not included, but we will provide you with full instructions so that you can get to the airport in advance.

NOTE 4: If you are flying from Itami Airport (ITM) instead of Kansai International Airport (KIX), we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class) instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport. In this case, the airport transfer is not included, but we will provide you with full instructions so that you can get to the airport in advance.

Day 8
Tour ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Check out time is at 11am. M. And Osaka Kansai Airport can be reached in three minutes on foot.

Breakfast

NOTE 5: If you want to stay longer in Japan, please contact us to reserve hotel accommodation.