Kyushu and Shikoku Explorer

📍 Kansai International Airport (KIX) to Central Kyoto: 2 h

Upon arrival to Kansai International Airport, our guide will be waiting to assist with transportation to the hotel in Kyoto (via shared shuttle van).

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Kyoto

Inclusions:

📍 Time: Start: 09:30, 12:30, or 15:00 Duration: 2 h

Today's activity can begin at 9:30, 12:30 or 15:00. Be immersed in Japanese culture with this insightful half-day trip in Kyoto. Start with a visit to a machiya, a traditional wooden townhouse found throughout Kyoto. Take a tour of the beautifully restored house, learning about its architecture and history.

Then slip into a kimono, the iconic traditional Japanese garment. These full-length robes are worn by Japanese people when attending important events or formal occasions. Once appropriately dressed, meet with a local tea master for a traditional ceremony. Watch and learn as the master brews and services tea using slow, deliberate movements steeped in spirituality and ritual. Enjoy a cup of the bitter tea along with traditional sweet treats.

After the tea is finished, continue the cultural exploration of Kyoto. Experience an introductory course in origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. Under the guidance of a local artist, learn the secrets behind creating beautiful decorations and images with simple pieces of paper.

Wrap up the cultural activity in Kyoto with new insights and a better understanding of Japanese culture. Return to the hotel or continue to explore Kyoto’s charming streets.

Overnight  in Kyoto
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Time: Start (guided tour): 09:00 Duration: 8 h *including pick-up/drop-off and transit times

Today’s tour starts with a visit to one of Kyoto’s most iconic sites: the Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine. A lavishly decorated building houses the goddess of rice, and thousands of orange torii gates stretch up the mountainside in long tunnels. Unlike any other shrine in Japan, this is an ideal spot to understand how Shintoism is tied to respect for nature. 

Board a train to Sanjusangendo, a stunning Buddhist temple often overlooked by tourists. A mesmerising display of 1,001 life-sized golden Buddhist statues await inside the world’s longest wooden building, sure to be one of the most memorable sights of the entire trip.

Take a taxi to the entrance of Nishiki Market, a long covered street of shops and stalls often called ‘Kyoto’s kitchen’. From traditional sellers of tofu, fish and pickles to shops showcasing knives and handicrafts, there is a tantalising amount of things to see and taste here.

Don’t get too full snacking in the market, as lunch is next at a nearby restaurant. The guide will suggest locations based on the guests’ preferences (guests should notify the guide of dietary restrictions at the start of the tour).

After lunch, travel to Nijo Castle, an ornamental palace built for the shogun in the early 1600s. The beautiful building is known for its finely painted walls and ‘chirping nightingale’ floors that squeak under the feet of intruders. Walk the halls, see the audience chambers and experience what it was like to visit the military ruler of Japan in the classic era of samurai. 

Hop aboard the subway for a short ride to the eastern foothills of Kyoto. The final location of today is Nanzenji Zen Temple, a quiet retreat where monks have lived in peaceful repose since 1291. See the famous Zen rock garden, whose meaning is left up to the viewer. Is it meant to be islands in a calm ocean, or a depiction of wild animals crossing a raging river? 

After a full day of sightseeing, part ways with the guide and return to the hotel or continue to explore independently.
 

Overnight in Kyoto

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 JR Kyoto Station to JR Takamatsu Station: 2 h

Today is a self-guided day.

Today is a self-guided day.

Leaving behind Kyoto, begin the journey to Shikoku, one of the four main islands in Japan located between the Seto Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Shikoku is a popular destination for pilgrimage tours and ecotourism, for its numerous temples and shrines, as well as its valleys, gorges and mountains. 

The first stop is Takamatsu, the closest point in Shikoku to main Honshu Island. It flourished as a castle town during the feudal era and now serves as a gateway for tourists wanting to visit the neighbouring art islands such as Naoshima and Teshima.
 

Overnight in Takamatsu

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Time: Start (guided tour): 09:00 Duration: 6 h

Today’s tour will begin at 09:00 in the hotel lobby or Takamatsu Station where a local guide will be waiting.

Travel by taxi to a local bonsai farm. This is where expert gardeners care for tiny trees and turn pine saplings into miniature works of art. Learn the secrets of the trade from the staff and marvel at row after row of unique bonsai. With this visit, it’s easy to understand how Takamatsu has earned its reputation as a top producer of these charming little trees.

Take a break for a casual bento box lunch in the bonsai workshop, followed by a hands-on experience. Guided by a bonsai farmer, craft a delightful moss ball. These decorative spheres are used in gardening or as ornaments to potted bonsai.

Proceed by taxi to Ritsurin Garden, a magnificent landscape that traces its roots back to the late 16th century. This was once the private garden belonging to a line of feudal lords, but was opened to the public in 1875. Though it is not counted among the exclusive list of Japan’s three finest gardens, there is constant debate over which of the trio Ritsurin could easily replace.

Stroll the winding lanes of the massive garden; up hills to admire scenic viewpoints, over picturesque wooden bridges spanning six ponds and through groves of carefully pruned 300-year-old pine trees.

Return back to Takamatsu Station or the hotel by taxi and part ways with the guide.  

 OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: 

A Day on the Ohenro Pilgrimage Path (Private)

Begin the day in Takamatsu, meeting the guide at the hotel before heading toward one of the sacred temples of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, a circular route associated with the monk Kūkai, also known as Kōbō Daishi, and followed by pilgrims for over 1,200 years. The full pilgrimage connects 88 temples across Shikoku and stretches for roughly 1,200 kilometres, but today offers a more accessible glimpse into its spirit.  

After visiting the first temple, prepare for a walk through forested mountain scenery, following a section of the traditional pilgrim path. While walking the Ohenro, it is common to cross paths with the pilgrims in their traditional white attire. Pause along the way at one of the pilgrims’ rest spots for a simple bento lunch surrounded by nature, before continuing to the next temple, known for its quiet atmosphere and deep connection to the pilgrimage route. 

The afternoon brings a gentler change of scenery, as the walk continues through an area long associated with bonsai cultivation, offering a final look at Kagawa’s refined local craft culture before the tour concludes. (L)

Time:
Start (guided tour): 09:00
Duration: 8 h
 

Overnight in Takamatsu

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Distance and journey time (approximation): Takamatsu Station to Matsuyama Station: 3h min

Today is a self-guided day.

Today is a self-guided day. 

Take the train to Matsuyama, located in Ehime Prefecture on the northwest of Shikoku. Ehime is known for its cycling tours, pilgrimage routes and hot spring resort. 

 OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: 
Hands On with the Folk Art of Takamatsu (Private)

Meet a local guide at Takamatsu Station or a nearby hotel at 09:00. Head to Kagawa Prefectural Lacquerware Art Research Institute, where the guide will give an introduction about the area’s most popular craft and the process behind it.

Then transfer by taxi to a nearby neighbourhood and visit a local couple’s house, who are passionate about regional crafts. Learn the basics of Sanuki lacquer with a hands-on experience creating a personal set of wooden chopsticks. Once the lacquer has dried, the completed chopsticks will be mailed to guests’ Japanese hotel or international address.

Head to the Kagari Temari Preservation Association, a small crafting society with a workshop in a neighbourhood kindergarten. The head of the organisation is Eiko Araki, a celebrated temari master leading the effort to preserve this folk art.

Discover the history of these beautiful embroidered spheres with Araki and create a temari of your own using traditional techniques and materials.

Return to Takamatsu Station or the hotel and part ways with the guide.
Time:
Start (guided tour): 09:00
Duration: 3.5 h

Overnight in Matsuyama

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Time: Start (guided tour): 09:00 Duration: 8 h min

Start the morning early meeting the guide at the hotel and together reach the station for a short train ride to Uchiko, a quiet town whose preserved streets still reflect the prosperity of its merchant past.

On arrival, continue to the historical district, where white-walled townhouses, old storehouses and elegant façades line the streets. Once home to merchants who built their wealth through trade and wax production, the area offers a gentle but vivid introduction to Uchiko’s history. Along the way, visit local cultural sites that bring the town’s everyday life and commercial heritage into focus, from merchant households to displays of domestic culture.

After lunch at one of the local restaurants, the story turns to Uchiko’s renowned wax legacy. At a former merchant residence and wax museum, learn how this once-thriving industry shaped the town and the region’s identity and supported its refined architecture and craft culture. 

As the last stop of the day, visit a temple known to be home to Uchiko’s peaceful ‘sleeping Buddha’. Then, enjoy one last view of the historical district before heading back to the station, returning to Matsuyama by train and then parting ways with the guide. 

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Overnight in Matsuyama

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Time: Start (guided tour): 09:00 Duration: 8 h

Start the morning early meeting the guide at the hotel and together reach the station for a short train ride to Uchiko, a quiet town whose preserved streets still reflect the prosperity of its merchant past.

On arrival, continue to the historical district, where white-walled townhouses, old storehouses and elegant façades line the streets. Once home to merchants who built their wealth through trade and wax production, the area offers a gentle but vivid introduction to Uchiko’s history. Along the way, visit local cultural sites that bring the town’s everyday life and commercial heritage into focus, from merchant households to displays of domestic culture.

After lunch at one of the local restaurants, the story turns to Uchiko’s renowned wax legacy. At a former merchant residence and wax museum, learn how this once-thriving industry shaped the town and the region’s identity and supported its refined architecture and craft culture. 

As the last stop of the day, visit a temple known to be home to Uchiko’s peaceful ‘sleeping Buddha’. Then, enjoy one last view of the historical district before heading back to the station, returning to Matsuyama by train and then parting ways with the guide. 

Overnight in Matsuyama

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Distance and journey time (approximation): Matsuyama Station to Beppu: 4.5h

Take the train to Yawatahama, for the ferry ride from Shikoku to Kyushu, the southern of the four main islands of Japan.
After check-in at the accommodation in Beppu, enjoy the time at a leisure.

Overnight in Beppu
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Time: Start (guided tour): 10:00 Duration: 5 h

Meet the guide at Beppu Station and embark on a journey through the enchanting landscape of the city’s bubbling ponds. Travel by bus to the Jigoku Onsen Museum, stepping into the world of Jigoku-hotspring secrets. Through engaging digital content, unravel the mysteries of Beppu's onsens and their cultural significance in an exhibit that showcases the history, legends and healing properties associated with these mystical hot springs.

Lunch is in the Kannawa area, one of the oldest onsen districts in Beppu. Here is a chance to try the unique culinary experience of jigokumushi, in which local ingredients are cooked using geothermal steaming pots. After the healthy meal, follow the guide for a walk through the steamy atmosphere of Kannawa passing traditional ryokans, quaint shops and thick vapour rising from the street.

Next stop is Umi Jigoku, known as the Sea Hell. Witness the mesmerising cobalt-coloured hot spring, whose scorching 98°C waters lend it an otherworldly aura. In the same area there is also the Oonishi Bozu Hell, an actively bubbling mud pool.

Move then to Kamado Jigoku, known as the Cooking Pot Hell. This name originates from an ancient myth in which rice was cooked with the 90°C hot spring steam as an offering to the gods. There are six different types of hot springs here, offering a unique opportunity to witness multiple ‘hells’ in one spot.

Travel back to Beppu Station by public transportation and say farewell to the guide. 

Overnight in Beppu
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Time: Start (guided tour): 09:45 flexible Duration: 6 hDistance and journey time (approximation):  Beppu Station to Aso Station: 2h

Get on the train to Aso Caldera, where the guide and the private car awaits. Reach the trailhead at Kusasenri Highland and begin a trek through diverse terrain. Exploration includes visits to hidden spots such as active craters emitting smoke, ancient lava rivers and mystical caves. Discover the historic remains of lodgings once used by ascetic monks to gain insight into the area’s spiritual past. 

Arrive at the summit of Mt Aso Nakadake for a scenic break to enjoy lunch while overlooking the volcanic landscape. After the lunchbox meal, the journey continues with a trek toward Sensuikyo. This descent offers dramatic views of the smoke-spewing crater and leads into a valley renowned for its captivating natural beauty. 

Overnight in Aso
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Distance and journey time (approximation):  Aso Station to Kumamoto Station: 2h

Today is a self-guided day. 

Reach Kumamoto and enjoy the time at leisure.

Overnight in Kumamoto
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Time: Start (guided tour): 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 or 18:00 Duration: approx. 1.5 h

Begin by changing into traditional martial arts attire, with guidance to ensure ease and comfort. Enjoy matcha tea and Japanese sweets in a serene tatami room while learning about the philosophy of Iaido and the spiritual teachings of the Niten Ichiryu style.

Witness a mesmerising sword demonstration by the master before moving to the dojo for hands-on training. Practice the basics of Iaido using an imitation sword, learning precision, intention and mindfulness under the master's careful guidance. The session goes beyond techniques, emphasising the spiritual connection between the practitioner and the art.

At the end of the session, receive a certificate of completion and have the opportunity to take commemorative photos. 

Overnight in Kumamoto
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Time: Start: 16:50 Duration: 2 h

This morning, transfer from Kumamoto to Fukuoka and explore the city independently before the planned evening experience. The experience begins with a warm welcome by a Hakata maiko, the graceful apprentice practitioners of the traditional arts. The atmosphere of old Japan is evoked through a private performance of classical Japanese dance followed by traditional ozashiki asobi (parlor games), offering insight into the refined arts of hospitality cultivated over generations. 

Continue with a traditional tea ceremony, providing a moment of quiet contemplation and a deeper understanding of Japanese aesthetics and etiquette.

Following the indoor programme, the experience moves outside to the nearby docks where guests board a traditional wooden boat, still in the company of the graceful maiko. The Hakata River cruise provides a tranquil perspective of the city, passing historical landmarks and vibrant districts. By day, the gentle riverside atmosphere delights; by night, the water reflects the shimmering lights of the modern city, providing a perfect conclusion to the day’s cultural exploration.

 ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITY: 
Taste of Fukuoka Food Tour (Private)

Today’s tour starts at 16:15. Meet a foodie guide for a journey through the streets of Fukuoka to learn about the food culture in one of the best Japanese cities for cuisine. The first stop will be a kakuuchi, a casual Japanese drinking style that originated in Fukuoka where customers enjoy drinks inside a liquor store. Beverages are served simply and consumed on-site, often standing, creating a relaxed, local atmosphere.

Move on to the basement floor of a department store, known as depachika, where delicatessens, confectioners and other food counters are located, before experiencing a stand-up eating shop. Learn about this interesting way of enjoying food, popular especially among busy salarymen with no time to sit down for a meal.

The final stop will be at the famous yatai street food stalls, part of the culture of Fukuoka, where it’s easy to strike up conversations with other customers. There are nearly 100 yatai in Fukuoka and they open in the early evening, offering both traditional Japanese dishes such as tempura and oden, as well as local Fukuoka cuisine.

Part ways with the guide and continue exploring the Fukuoka nightlife independently. (D)

Note: This tour follows a curated itinerary of predetermined restaurants; however, venues and menu items are subject to change due to closures, seasonal availability, dietary accommodations or other unforeseen circumstances. The guide will strive to ensure the total number of dining venues remains consistent.

Time:
Start: 16:15
Duration: 3 h
 

Overnight in Fukuoka

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Distances and journey time: Hakata Station to Fukuoka Airport: 15 min

The rest of the day is at leisure until the transfer by train to Fukuoka Airport.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast