West Japan Explorer - Tour Itinerary Details

Day 1 – Fly From Osaka to Kagoshima - Western Style Hotel
Travelers coming from abroad should fly to Kansai International Airport. We will travel by plane to Kagoshima from the other Osaka airport, Itami Airport. Those already in Japan will join in Osaka or at Itami Airport.

Day 2 – Kagoshima and Yakushima - Minshuku Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
In the morning, we will visit Isoteien, a beautiful, 300-year old bay side garden, as well as the villa of the Shimazu clan in Kagoshima. In the afternoon, we will take the high-speed ferry to the pristine, forested island of Yakushima.

Day 3 – Hiking on Yakushima - Minshuku Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
Today, we will take some time to relax after the long trip. We will visit a famous shochu (distilled liquor) brewery and go on a short walk to explore the island. Yakushima is part of Kirishima National Park and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Since since 1993. The island is covered in ancient cedar forest and is populated largely by deer and monkeys.

Day 4 - Yakushima- Mountain Lodge
Our Japanese guide will will lead us into the mountainous interior of the island today, toward the peak of Miyanouradake - the highest point in southern Japan at 1,935 meters (6,348 feet). On the way, you will see some cedar trees that are estimated to be thousands of years old.

Day 5 – Yakushima- Mountain Lodging
Today, we continue along the trail on Kagoshima where, weather permitting, we should get some great views. We will pass the largest cedar (the Jomon Sugi) in Japan and the massive Wilson stump during our descent from the peaks. In the afternoon, we will visit an open air hot spring bath.

Day 6 – Mount Aso- Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
This morning we will take an early flight back to Kagoshima and drive from there to Mount Aso, in central Kyushu. After lunch we will take an afternoon walk in the company of a local ex-pat and then stay the night at a ryokan with delicious food and wonderful hot spring baths.

Day 7 – Mount Aso and Usuki- Minshuku Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
In the morning you can try making some macha, the kind of powdered green tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony. Next, we will climb to the rim of Mt. Aso from the north (it takes about 5 hours), where there should be some good views of the crater. We will then drive to Usuki, stopping to see some 700-year old Buddhist carvings along the way.

Day 8 – Usuki and Beppu- Minshuku Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
In the morning we will have a guided tour of a local soy sauce factory. Then we will go to Beppu for a hot sand bath on the beach and food at a restaurant founded by a well-known sumo wrestler. There will be free time to explore the old part of town in Usuki before dinner.

Day 9 – Miyajima- Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
We will take local trains and the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Hiroshima in the morning. Once we have arrived, we will visit Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima. This shrine, with its famous ‘floating’ torii gate, is known as one of the three most famous sights in the country.

Day 10 - Hiroshima and Bus Trip to Matsue- Western Style Hotel
In the morning we will visit Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park. The Peace Memorial Museum and famous Genbaku Dome (also known as the A-bomb Dome) is located in this park. This park reminds us of the of the nuclear tragedy that took place here on August 6th, 1945. After lunch we will go by bus to Matsue.

Day 11 - Izumo Taisha and Matsue- Western Style Hotel
In the morning, we will take a local train from Matsue to see Izumo Taisha shrine in Izumi, which will be followed by a noodle lunch. Afterwards, there will be a guided tour of Matsue, including writer and scholar Lafcadio Hearn's (Japanese name Yakumo Koizumi) former residence and a well-preserved, feudal period castle (one of the few remaining originals in Japan).

Day 12 - Mt. Daisen- Western Style Hotel
We will drive to Mt. Daisen, which is about an hour away from Matsue, and climb to the top. It is the highest mountain in the region has a number of beautiful hiking trails and small shrines. If the weather prevents us from walking to the top, we will take a shorter walk on the mountain followed by a visit to the Adachi Museum of Art, which has an interesting collection of contemporary Japanese paintings.

Day 13 - Kinosaki - Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
Today we will take a pleasant train ride along the Sea of Japan coast to Kinosaki, a famous hot spring town. In the afternoon you will receive a short lesson on pottery making and then have a chance to make a souvenir to take home - something that reminds you of your time in Japan is recommended. In the evening we will relax in Kinosaki's public hot spring bath.

Day 14 - Kyoto - Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
In the morning we will take the train to Kyoto, where activities will be arranged based on the interests of group members. Your tour guide will provide you with ample information on places to see and visit, allowing you to get to best out of your visit to Kyoto.

Day 15 - Kyoto- Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
After breakfast, there will be time to shop, hike, or see the famous sites of Kyoto. Again, your guide can easily arrange activities for part or all of the day. There will be a guided tour of the geisha quarters in the Gion district of the city, which is still a lively night spot. Afterwards, there will be farewell drinks and dinner.

Day 16 - Kyoto- Farewell
This tour ends today. You can go to the airport to catch your homeward flight or continue on to other adventures you may have planned.

Tour schedules are subject to change. If any changes should be made it will be done in the best interest of the travelers. Japan Roads will at all times aim to offer you the most interesting tour possible.

If you have any questions about the tour, please feel free to Contact Us.

Tour itinerary is subject to change.