Kyushu Elements

14 Nights: £3050 (excluding international flights)

Destinations:
Tokyo | Nagasaki | Unzen | Mt. Aso | Beppu | Kagoshima | Yakushima | Tokyo

Kyushu Elements is a dramatic journey of discovery south to the Island of Kyushu, a land of Earth, Fire and Water. Here you will find a country far removed from the bright lights of the ultra-modern cities. Life here is lived at a slower pace and you'll have time to enjoy what Japan is really about.

This tour of Japan commences and concludes in Tokyo, an ultra modern megalopolis which offers visitors a glimpse of the urban future. However, the days in between will be filled with the natural elements of Kyushu island, providing a vivid and powerful contrast with the high-tech wonders of the modern capital.

Kyushu island is alive with the forces of nature; Beppu's bubbling, smoking 'hells' and Mt Aso with its huge smouldering caldera are powerful reminders of the volcanic forces lying just beneath Japan's surface; Yakushima's lush green primeval forests, the inspiration for Miyazaki's animation masterpiece Princess Momonoke, a chance to wander through a natural landscape of giant cedar trees and dramatic waterfalls unchanged for centuries. On Kyushu Island you are constantly surrounded by the raw beauty of a landscape forged in the fires of the earth; a unique chance to gain an understanding of why nature has been so revered in Japan through the ages.


Through a two night stay in Nagasaki, Kyushu Elements also offers a window on Japan's commercial past. For centuries Japan's only contact with Europe was through Dejima, a reclaimed island off Nagasaki port. The first traders were the Portuguese and then the Dutch, who introduced Japan to firearms and coffee amongst many other wonders of the outside World.

Stays in Kagoshima, a city dominated by the imposing conical form of Sakurajima, a massive active volcano sitting in the middle of the bay; Unzen, Japan's first national park, with its steaming pools helps complete your experience of Kyushu Island; a dramatic and inspiring introduction to the natural history, culture and geology of this ancient land.

 

Pricing Information

2011
Tour Price: £3050
Extra Nights  
Pre-Tour: Twin Share pp £50     Single pp £60 
Post-Tour: Twin Share pp £70    Single pp £110
2012
Tour Price: £3050
Extra Nights  
Pre-Tour: Twin Share pp £50     Single pp £60 
Post-Tour: Twin Share pp £70    Single pp £110
Start Dates 2012

2012
Thu 19 Jul - NOW BOOKING
Thu 1 Nov - NOW BOOKING

 Prices:
2012: £3050

Prices are excluding international flights.

What’s Included:
  • 14 nights accommodation
  • All transport between destinations in Japan including airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • Meet and Greet on arrival at Narita Airport
  • Breakfast everyday
  • 7 evening meals
  • Tokyo transport pass
  • Sumida River boat cruise in Tokyo
  • Selected entrance fees in Mt Aso and Beppu
  • Local Guide in Yakushima
  • Private Bus in Mt Aso and Yakushima
  • Luggage forwarding between Nagasaki & Aso and Kagoshima & Tokyo
  • Full time services of your Tour Leader
  • InsideJapan Tours' complimentary Info-Pack
What’s NOT Included:
  • International Flights
  • Local transport (buses, subways, taxis) unless otherwise specified
  • Entrance fees unless otherwise specified
  • Baggage handling - you will be expected to carry your own bags for the duration of the trip

Important Practical Information

Max Group Size: 14

Single Supplement: This tour does NOT have a single supplement. Single travellers are guaranteed a single room in western style accommodation. However, singles may still be asked to share a room in Japanese style accommodation with a group member of the same sex (Unzen, Aso, Beppu and Yakushima - 6 nights total).

Transport: Please note that all transfers are by public transport making use of Japan's first-rate transport network. All the hotels and ryokan have been chosen for their location close to the nearest station. However, you will have to carry your bags for short distances and some stations do not have escalators. We highly recommend that to make your stay more enjoyable you pack reasonably light. Large suitcases will be an inconvenience to you. A small case or bag with wheels or a rucksack are most appropriate for this tour. Laundry facilities are available in Tokyo (start and finish) and in Miyazaki.

Accommodation: The accommodation in Tokyo (start and finish), Nagasaki and Kagoshima is equipped with full en-suite facilities (attached bath, shower and toilet). The accommodation in Unzen, Aso and Beppu has shared bathing and toilet facilities (single sex) some of which are available for private use.

International Flights: This tour starts and finishes in Tokyo for arrivals and departures at Tokyo Narita Airport.

Meet and Greet: Please note that the included meet-and-greet and airport transfer to the first hotel is ONLY available up to 2 days in advance of the tour and if you are staying extra nights pre-tour it is only available if those nights are booked through InsideJapan Tours.

Check-in: Please note that rooms at the Tokyo hotel are only available from 3pm. (You can however securely leave your luggage at the front desk at any time).

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 Tokyo

Meals: Dinner

Arriving on the main island of Honshu at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, you will be met by your Tour Leader and transfer to the tour hotel by express train. With your hotel located in the historic Asakusa area of the city, you have the best of Tokyo close at hand with Sensoji Temple a short walk away. Tonight, dinner is included at a local restaurant; a chance to enjoy some great food and drink and get to know the other group members.

Day 2 Tokyo

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast you have a full day to explore this exciting city with your Tour Leader or, if you prefer, head off independently. Tokyo has so much to offer from Shibuya with its ultra-trendy fashions and huge manga stores to the relaxing quiet of the Imperial Palace east gardens; from the Bladerunner cityscapes of Shinjuku to Asakusa’s Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple complex. In the evening head out and sample some of the city’s culinary delights; from the freshest sushi to Kobe beef, the choice is endless.

Day 3 Nagasaki

Meals: Breakfast

Today our Kyushu adventures begin, travelling from Haneda Airport to Nagasaki for two nights in this historic port city. In the afternoon we will take the tram over to Urakami, ground zero for the second atomic attack on Japan at the end of WW2. We will visit the Peace Memorial Park and the haunting museum dedicated to the city’s darkest day. Our centrally located business hotel overlooks the harbour and boasts an excellent kushiage restaurant (fried things on sticks) on the ground floor - a delicious choice for dinner!

Day 4 Nagasaki

Meals: Breakfast

Nagasaki offers a wealth of sightseeing but the reconstructed Dutch factory at Dejima is unmissable and provides a fascinating insight into this little bit of Holland on the edge of Japan. The vibrant China Town is a great place to stop for some ‘Champon-men’ , Nagasaki’s famed variety of ramen noodles and frequent pleasure cruises offer the chance to head out into the bay and survey the spectacular harbour views. You can wrap up your day with an early evening cable car trip to the top of Mount Inasa for the “Million Dollar View” of this beautiful city.

Day 5 Unzen

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

Travelling by bus along the Shimabara Peninsula, we’ll head 800 metres above sea level to Unzen Onsen, a national park area of volcanic Martian landscapes with reddish coloured ground and bellowing clouds of sulphuric gas. Take a walk along side the bubbling waters of ‘Jigokudani’ (Hell Valley) or soak in one of the vast number of restorative hot spring baths for which the area is famous. Tonight we’ll be staying traditional style at a ryokan with a delicious Japanese dinner of local fresh produce included.

Day 6 Mt Aso

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

After a Japanese-style breakfast we will continue our journey by bus, ferry and train to the Aso National Park, stopping enroute in Kumamoto to visit one of Japan's finest original castles. Tonight we will be staying at another ryokan with a selection of onsen baths, the waters heated by the fire of Aso’s five active volcanoes! A delicious meal will be served at the ryokan this evening.

Day 7 Mt Aso

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

Breakfast at the ryokan will be followed by a day exploring the area by private bus. Aso is situated within the huge caldera basin providing some spectacular natural scenery. At over 120km in circumference the caldera is the largest in the world and offers plenty of walking through the grassy flatlands. There is also the opportunity to hike to the top of the active Nake-Dake volcano crater (or perhaps take the cable car if that doesn’t take your fancy!) and visit the excellent museum depicting the history of the volcano. From the top of any of the five peaks, you will be offered splendid views overlooking Aso’s impressive crater. After a day of walking and exploring by bus, you can be rest assured in the knowledge that you are able to soothe any aches and pains in the ryokan baths. Dinner is again served at the ryokan this evening.

Day 8 Beppu

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

From Aso we take the train east to a bather’s paradise - the famous hot spring resort of Beppu. As well as the hot spring baths, you have the chance to experience the curious sensation of being buried in hot sand or even submerged in bubbling mud baths. Beppu is famed for its Jigoku (hell) pools of bubbling waters, mud and geysers dotted throughout the town and many of these are within easy reach of our centrally located hotel. Of course, our Japanese-style accommodation has its own excellent hot springs available. Dinner will be served at our ryokan hotel.

Day 9 Beppu

Meals: Breakfast

Today offers more opportunity for bathing in Beppu or the chance to take an optional day trip to the rural spa town of Yufuin. Here you can enjoy the art galleries, coffee shops and restaurants of this laid back town or just relax in the onsen baths. We may also take time to visit the picturesque Lake Kinrin with hot spring water gushing from the depths of the lake or even visit the African safari style zoo on the outskirts of the city. This evening you have the opportunity to try one of the many restaurants in Beppu and maybe see a bit of the nightlife.

Day 10 Kagoshima

Meals: Breakfast

We will take a Ltd Express train direct from Beppu to Hakata station today before boarding the brand new (opens 2011!) Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train south to Kagoshima. This beautiful bayside city is often referred to as the Naples of Japan due to its similar climate and proximity to Mt. Sakurajima volcano – Kagoshima’s Vesuvius. Accommodation is at a Western-style hotel conveniently located next to the station.

Day 11 Kagoshima

Meals: Breakfast

Today we will explore Kagoshima and its environs. The city is dominated by Sakurajima which can be reached via a ten minute ferry ride from the port. We will take a bus around the city visiting the museums and castle ruins of the Shiroyama area. You may also like to take a ride on the Ferris-wheel that sits on top of the main shopping arcade offering a great view of the city and volcano.

Day 12 Yakushima

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

A leisurely start today for the Jetfoil to the World Heritage site of Yakushima Island. Covered in primeval forests containing 1900 species of flora and dating back thousands of years, Yakushima is one of Japan’s most treasured natural wonders. This afternoon we will visit a local environmental centre to learn more about the island. We’ll be staying at a pension close to the sea, where the included dinner is sure to feature the local flying fish - a delicious treat!

Day 13 Yakushima

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

Today we’ll have a full day to explore the island by private bus. The island has so much to offer whether it be the monkeys, deer or giant cedar trees and we will be joined by a local Japanese guide to make sure that we get the most from our explorations. The hot springs in the sea are also not to be missed! Dinner will again be served at the pension.

Day 14 Tokyo

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast we will board a flight from Yakushima to Kagoshima and will be treated to an aerial view of the stunning scenery and Sakurajima volcano. We will then connect with another flight as we leave the steaming south and to journey back to the bright lights of Tokyo. With our hotel based in the high-paced district of Shinjuku, you will have a last chance to do some shopping and pick up those final gifts and souvenirs. This is the final day of the tour so we hope that you might join with your Tour Leader for a farewell meal in the evening. A chance for one last taste of Japan before heading home.

Day 15 Depart

Meals: Breakfast

Sadly the tour is over and we all have to say our farewells and go our separate ways. Your Leader will be supplying you with a reserved seat train ticket to make sure you’re in good time for your flight home.

Photos

Sakurajima - a very active volcano!

Kyushu is famous for it's onsen - natural hot spring baths

A torii gate on Yakushima

Walking through some of Japan's oldest living trees in Yakushima

A Kyushu sunset