Kyushu Rail Grand Loop (No Car)

A car-free loop around Kyushu: Nagasaki on the west, Aso in the center, Beppu and Miyazaki on the east, ending in Kagoshima

Connect sightseeing trains, buses, and ferries into a seamless one-way loop: cross to Kumamoto by the Ariake Sea ferry, take the Kyushu Odan Bus through Aso to Yufuin, and head south along the east coast without backtracking. The two-week pace is relaxed, with transfer times carefully calculated for each leg. Takachiho is excluded due to inconvenient public transport. Perfect for second-time visitors to Kyushu or travelers who prefer not to drive.

Schedules and sightseeing train operating days are subject to change, and some sections may run slower post-earthquake; verify before departure.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive in Hakata's Historic District

Fukuoka（Kushida Shrine、Canal City Hakata、Nakasu Yatai Stalls）

Take the subway two stops from the airport to Hakata, drop off your luggage, explore on foot, and head to Nakasu in the evening

Stay: Around Hakata Station

Day 2 · Dazaifu and Yanagawa Canal Town

Fukuoka（Dazaifu Tenmangu、Kyushu National Museum、Yanagawa）

Take the Nishitetsu railway to Dazaifu (approx. 40 minutes), transfer to Nishitetsu to Yanagawa for a canal boat ride, and return to Hakata in the evening

Stay: Around Hakata Station

Day 3 · Transfer via Takeo to Nagasaki Night View

Takeo & Ureshino Onsen（Takeo Onsen Romon Gate、Takeo City Library） → Nagasaki（Mount Inasa Night View）

Take the Relay Kamome train to Takeo-Onsen for sightseeing, then take the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen to Nagasaki (approx. 30 minutes)

Stay: Around Nagasaki Station

Day 4 · Peace Park to Minamiyamate

Nagasaki（Nagasaki Peace Park、Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum、Dejima、Glover Garden、Oura Church）

Spend the day riding the streetcars, heading south from the Peace Park area to Dejima and Minamiyamate

Stay: Around Nagasaki Station

Day 5 · Bus to Unzen Jigoku

Shimabara Peninsula（Unzen Jigoku & Unzen Onsen）

Take a bus from Nagasaki Station to Unzen Onsen (approx. 1 hour 40 minutes), and explore the hot spring town on foot

Stay: Unzen Onsen

Day 6 · Shimabara Castle Town and Ferry to Kumamoto

Shimabara Peninsula（Shimabara Castle、Shimabara Samurai Residences、Shimabara Carp Streets & Shimeiso Garden）

Take a bus down the mountain to Shimabara (approx. 40 minutes), take the Kyusho Ferry to Kumamoto Port (approx. 1 hour), and transfer to the city center

Walk-on passengers on high-speed ferries were previously restricted post-earthquake; foot travelers should confirm ferry arrangements first.

Stay: Shimotori & Sakuramachi

Day 7 · Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji

Kumamoto & Aso（Kumamoto Castle、Sakuranobaba Josaien、Suizenji Jojuen Garden）

Walk to Kumamoto Castle from the city center, then take a streetcar to Suizenji Jojuen Garden

Stay: Shimotori & Sakuramachi

Day 8 · Hohi Line to the Aso Grasslands

Kumamoto & Aso（Kusasenri、Aso Volcano Museum、Uchinomaki Onsen）

Take the Hohi Line from Kumamoto to Aso Station (approx. 1 hour 30 minutes), transfer to a bus up to Kusasenri, and stay in Uchimaki in the evening

The Aso Boy! train does not run daily; if the crater is closed, visit the Volcano Museum instead.

Stay: Aso, Uchinomaki Onsen

Day 9 · Kyushu Odan Bus to Yufuin

Kumamoto & Aso（Aso Shrine） → Yufuin（Yufuin Yunotsubo Street）

Visit Miyaji Shrine in the morning, and take the Kyushu Odan Bus via Kurokawa to Yufuin in the afternoon (approx. 2 hours 30 minutes)

Reservations are required for the Kyushu Odan Bus; check the official website for the current season's timetable.

Stay: Around Yufuin Station

Day 10 · Lake Kinrin to Beppu Hells

Beppu（Kinrin Lake、Hells of Beppu (Jigoku Meguri)、Takegawara Onsen）

Walk to Lake Kinrin in the morning, take a bus or train to Beppu (approx. 1 hour), and transfer to a local bus

Stay: Around Beppu Station

Day 11 · South Along the East Coast to Miyazaki

Miyazaki（Aoshima Island & Aoshima Shrine、Devil's Washboard）

Take the Limited Express Nichirin to Miyazaki (approx. 3 hours 15 minutes), and transfer to the Nichinan Line to Aoshima (approx. 30 minutes)

Direct trains from Beppu are limited and mostly run in the morning; check schedules in advance.

Stay: Around Miyazaki Station

Day 12 · Limited Express Kirishima to Kagoshima

Kagoshima（Shiroyama Observatory、Tsurumaru Castle Ruins & Reimeikan、Tenmonkan）

Take the Limited Express Kirishima from Miyazaki to Kagoshima-Chuo Station (approx. 2 hours 10 minutes), and use local streetcars and buses

Stay: Tenmonkan

Day 13 · Sakurajima and Sengan-en

Kagoshima（Sakurajima、Sengan-en）

Take the Sakurajima Ferry (approx. 15 minutes) and ride the island's sightseeing bus; return to the city in the afternoon and take a bus to Sengan-en

If Sakurajima is at Alert Level 3, mountain climbing is prohibited, but observation decks and ferries remain unaffected.