Land of Fire Tour

Kyushu is considered the cradle of Japanese civilization; several locations featured in our tour are connected with the Japanese creation myths. The island is is also known for its numerous active volcanoes and onsen or hot springs.

The Land of Fire walking tour shows you remote villages with ancient samurai houses in Kyushu; Mount Aso, the world’s largest volcanic caldera featuring some lovely walking and traditional yokagura dances enacting the Japanese creation myth in Takachiho.

Apart from walking, other tour activities include some gentle cycling in the countryside, making aizomeorimono (indigo-dyed fabric) and pottery at Aya, and soaking in a hot sand bath at Kaimondake.

Destinations:
Tokyo - Japan's capital and home of the Tokugawa Shogunate,
Kyoto - Imperial Japan in a city founded in 794 AD with 17 World Heritage Sites,
Kuju - Kuju range of volcanoes which include the highest peaks in Kyushu,
Mt Aso - the largest active volcano in Japan, staying in former temple lodgings,
Takachiho - Yokagura traditional dances, picnics in the countryside and, natural hot spring baths,
Aya - Aya castle, nearby winery, micro brewery and saké distillery
Obi - Try Japanese pottery, weaving, and aizomeorimono (indigo-dyed fabric) and well-preserved samurai houses,
Kirishima - Climb Takachiho-no-mine peak and stroll near the volcanic vents,
Kagoshima - Sangen-en, villa and gardens of the Shimazu-clan with free time to explore and
Kaimondake -Samurai houses and gardens of Chiran, open-air hot sand baths.

Land of Fire is a 14-day walking tour leading from Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara to Japan's southern island of Kyushu.

The price is US$4,200 per person, including all transportation between destinations, accommodations, full time tour guide, all breakfasts, and 10 evening meals.

I hope the above has peaked your interest in this tour. If you have any questions or wish to sign up for a tour please Contact Us.

Day 1 – Tokyo - (Western Style Room)
Meet at Narita International Airport and transfer by train to Tokyo. You will have a leisurely walk around central Tokyo. In the evening there will be a welcome dinner at a city restaurant.

Day 2 – Kyoto - (Japanese Style Room)
In the morning we will travel by Shinkansen (bullet train) to the ancient capital of Kyoto. This sophisticated city is home to around 1,600 Buddhist temples, as well as Shinto shrines, palaces and gardens. It was Japan’s capital from 794 until 1868. After lunch we will visit Ginkakuji (the Silver Pavilion) and then walk along the Philosopher’s path to Kiyomizu-dera temple. Dinner and overnight stay at a traditional ryokan.

Day 3 - Kyoto - (Japanese Style Room)
We will have a full day in Kyoto today. In the morning we will visit Ryoan-ji, home of the famous rock garden, raked gravel and 15 moss-covered boulders. Afterwards, we will visit the Arashiyama district on the western edge of the city. There will be a chance to visit Tenryu-ji (a Zen temple) and the bamboo groves behind it. As well as the Togetsukyo Bridge. After lunch, there will be free time. You can return to central Kyoto with your tour leader or stay on in Arashiyama area and explore. The group will meet in the evening for dinner.

Day 4 – Kuju (Mountain Lodge)
(Walking 3.5 miles: approximately 2 hours)
In the morning we will be traveling by train and then road to the Kuju range of volcanoes which include the highest peaks in Kyushu. We will hike for 2 hours to a hot spring lodge nestled in the heart of the mountains. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 5 -Mt Aso - former Shukubo (Japanese Style Room)
(Walking 4 miles: approximately 3 hours)
Leaving the mountain lodge, we will hike out by a different path, passing nearby Kujudake peak and Nakadake peak and arriving back at the car park. We will then continue by road to Kurokawa hot spring village. Following a relaxing soak, we will continue by road to the Aso area. Aso is the largest active volcano in Japan, and one of the largest in the world. The caldera, which was formed around 300,000 years ago in a cataclysmic eruption, is around 15.5 miles in diameter. The peaks of Takadake and Nakadake punctuate this massive highland area and offer excellent walks and hikes. We will check in to our lodging for the next 2 nights, a beautiful former Shokubo (temple lodging) in a quiet village where we will have dinner.

Day 6 -Hiking to Takadate - former Shukubo (Japanese Style Room)
(Walking 10 miles: approximately 6 hours)
After breakfast we travel by car part of the way up the volcano and then take the Sensuikyou cable car to the top. There will be an easy hike through fields of lava rock and along the craters edge. Passing brightly colored volcanic rocks. We will briefly stop at the summits of Takadake and Nakadake with views of the surrounding countryside and nearby mountains.

Day 7 – Takachiho - (Japanese Style Room)
We will travel by car today on the Aso Panorama highway which runs over the top of the Aso volcanoes. From the highway, a leisurely stroll will take us through the lovely country side of south Aso past small villages and rice fields. We will continue on by road and arrive at the small town of Takachiho for lunch. The town sits astride the Takachiho gorge whose strange and beautiful rock formations created by volcanic activities have become part of the local folklore and the Japan’s national creation myth. You will take a short walk along the gorge, and have a lunch of sansai (mountain vegetables), grilled fish, and grilled chicken accompanied with shochu (a spirit made from sweet potatoes) served in a heated bamboo beaker at a small teahouse. Dinner will be at the ryokan, followed by a visit to the Takachiho shrine to see the Yokagura. Sacred dances which tell the mythical story of Japan’s creation.

Day 8 – Cycling near Takachiho and Drive to Aya - (Japanese style room)
(5.5 miles walking: approximately 2 hours)
In the morning we will take a leisurely cycle along the peaceful lanes in the countryside near Takachiho, stopping at small shrines and passing through small villages. We will have a picnic lunch and then cycle back to Takachiho. We will then travel by road to Aya, once a base for the Ito-clan in their struggles against the Shimazu-clan of Kagoshima. We will take a short walk to the Teruha suspension bridge, 140 meters above the Aya River.

Day 9 Aya to Obi - (Japanese Style Room)
In the morning, we will visit the castle followed by the crafts center, where you will have the opportunity to try your hand at Japanese pottery, weaving, and aizomeorimono (indigo-dyed fabric). After lunch at a café serving locally produced organic food, we will drive to the historic town of Obi south of Miyazaki city. Along the way you will see the spectacular coastline and stop at the Udo-jingu shrine which is totally enclosed within a cave. Obi, once the site of an important castle built by the Ito-clan, is now a well-preserved town with Edo period samurai houses lining its main street and colorful carp swimming in the culverts. You will visit the former residence of the Ito-clan, and wander the back streets stopping in a small teashop to enjoy green tea and traditional Japanese sweets. Dinner and overnight stay in a ryokan.

Day 10 - Kirishima Volcano Range - (Western Style Room)
(7 miles walking: approximately 3.5 hours)
We will take a short stroll around Obi this morning, and then travel by road to the Kirishima volcanic range, on the border between Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures. Rising up from the plains to the west of Miyazaki, the active volcanic peaks are significant in Japanese mythology. The many volcanic fumaroles spewing forth steam create a dramatic landscape. We will climb to the top of Takachiho-no-mine peak for stunning views over the surrounding countryside. After descending, we will travel by road to the Ebino-kogen area and stroll near the volcanic vents. A visit to Shiratori hot spring nearby will give us a chance to enjoy an outdoor mineral bath with a panoramic view over the countryside below. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel with hot spring.

Day 11 - Kagoshima - (Western Style Room)
(3 miles walking: approximately 1.5 hours)
Leaving Kirishima, we will travel to the city of Kagoshima, dramatically situated on Kagoshima Bay opposite Sakurajima, an active volcano. Kagoshima used to be the home of the Shimazu clan, southern Kyushu’s most powerful feudal family, and we will visit Sangen-en, their lovely villa and gardens which has Sakurajima across the bay as an impressive backdrop. After lunch, we will take the ferry across to Sakurajima, and walk along the coastline through lava fields. Returning to Kagoshima, dinner will be at a sushi restaurant in the center of the city.

Day 12 - Kaimondake and Tokyo - (Western Style Room)
You will travel south this morning, stopping first at Chiran, a well preserved town with many Samurai houses and their gardens. Chiran is also home to a museum about the Kamikaze pilots of World War II, as this was the air base used by the young pilots on their doomed missions. Lunch will be home-made soba and udon noodles in a local restaurant housed inside a thatched building. Next you will travel to the sandy beaches at the very southernmost tip of Kagoshima prefecture, and the small volcano of Kaimondake. You will visit Yamakawa beach, where thermally-heated mineral water bubbles to the surface. Locals mix the sand to ensure a steady temperature, and you will be able to wear a cotton yukata robe to sit in the warm sand and be covered. We will then return by road to Kagoshima for our flight to Tokyo.

Day 13 - Tokyo - (Western Style Room)
There will be a free day today in Tokyo so you can shop for souvenirs or presents, visit a museum, or simply wander through the city. In the evening there will be a farewell dinner.

Day 14 - Tokyo and Home
On our final day we say goodbye. Your guide will help you transfer to Tokyo’s Narita airport for your flight home, or you may like to stay a few day’s longer.