Ultimate Land of Fires Kyushu Walk 9D8N, Private Guided

Arrive in Osaka. Upon arrival at Kansai Airport, our local representative will greet you and escort you to your private car. Your driver will transfer you to your accommodation.

Located in the Osaka Bay Area, the Hyatt Regency Osaka neighbours popular local attractions such as the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Universal Studios Japan, and more. Additionally, the hotel offers a free shuttle into the city centre, convenient for travellers who wish to visit Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, and other spectacular destinations in Western Japan.

Dinner is at your own arrangement.

Room Style: Western Style

Bed Type: King/Twin beds

Bath: Ensuite bath

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

After breakfast, you have option to do a half day private tour (cost is not included). We can arrange different tours to suit your interests.

Sample itinerary for your half day private tour Your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on a half day tour of Osaka by private car. Start your day visiting the magnificent Osaka Castle. The castle is one of Japan's most famous and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century. It has been completely rebuilt, faithful to the original appearance, after its destruction during World War II. The inside is modern and functional and serves as a museum of Osaka history. Next stop is the Umeda Sky Building. The 173 meters tall building has an observatory on the 40th floor and offers a great view of the city. Hop on the underground for today's last stop - the hustling district of Dotonbori, a former pleasure district turned restaurant mecca. You can sample the famous Takoyaki (octopus dumpling), Osaka's most famous street food. Drop off at your hotel.

Then you make your own way to the ferry terminal (500 meters away from your hotel). Your ferry will depart at approx. 7.05 pm (Sun - Thu) and 7.55 pm (Fri-Sat). You'll cruise through the Seto Inland Sea, the body of water separating Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The waterway connects the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan. Almost 3,000 islands are located in the Seto Inland Sea.

Overnight on the ferry in a deluxe cabin with private ensuite.

Room Style: Western Style

Bed Type: Twin shared

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Total walking distance: 9.6 km, 3 - 4 hours; Moderate Grade

Upon arrival at Beppu ferry terminal, your private guide will greet you and take you to embark on a hike of Mt Kuju.

Located in Aso-kuju national park in Oita prefecture, Kyushu, the Kuju mountain range is one of Japan's "100 famous mountains" and also the highest peak on the island of Kyushu. The majestic volcanic wonderland is filled with luscious greenery, steaming gas vents, and hidden serene lakes. Mt Kuju boasts stellar views from the actual summit. From there, you can enjoy unparalleled views of one of Japan's prettiest islands with an unbroken string of mountains, including south to Mt Aso and northeast to Mt Yufu. There's no better place to feel on top of the world.

After the magnificent hike, you will be transferred to Kurokawa Onsen for an onsen and relaxation.

Kurokawa Onsen is one of Japan's prettiest hot-spring villages and has won top onsen honours year after year. Tucked away in the hills of Oguni north of Aso, a therapeutic and relaxing atmosphere can be found here. The history of the village stretches back over 300 years to when the Daimyos (feudal lords) used the place as a rest stop and the onsen to recuperate when travelling between Hita and Taketa in Oita.

Your accommodation tonight is at Yamamizuki, one of the best Ryokan and onsen in the Kurokawa Onsen. Surrounded by a beautiful natural mountain stream and lush trees, you’ll enjoy the ultimate relaxation at the famous outdoor hot springs.

Room Style: Japanese/Western Style

Bed Type: Futon/Twin beds

Bath: Indoor/outdoor onsen

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Walking distance: approx. 10-15 km, 6 hours

Mt Aso loop walk on the ridgeline: Taka-dake, Naka-dake, and Sunasenri-ga-hama.

Mt Aso is Japan's most active volcano and one of the world’s largest caldera volcanoes in the center of Kyushu. Mt Aso is a collection of five peaks cutting jagged lines across a rugged, scrubby landscape. You'll hike along the ridgeline up to the closest peak Naka-dake. This hike takes you on a track through volcanic desolation to the summit, which provides superb views of the crater and surrounding caldera floor.

Your accommodation tonight is at Sozankyo. Gazing at the view of the changing seasons of Aso-Gogaku, Uchinomaki, Sozankyo is a ryokan afloat in elegance. There are a few hot springs and a foot bath at the hotel for you to relax after today’s challenging hike. The water at Uchinomaki Onsen has the reputation of being therapeutic for athletes competing for world events, draining their fatigue and healing their bodies.

Enjoy Kaiseki dinner at the ryokan and taste the famous Kyshu wagyu beef.

Room Style: Japanese/Western Style

Bed Type: Futon/Twin beds

Bath: Indoor/outdoor onsen

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Walking distance: approx. 2 km

In the morning, your guide will take you to visit Takachiho Gorge, The magnificent Takachiho Gorge, and its famous waterfall, as well as overhanging rocks and sheer walls, were formed over 120,000 years ago by a double volcanic eruption.

Gokase-gawa flows in the middle of the basalt columns, offering the chance to row down the river and get the chance to see a close up view of the surrounding cliffs and the 17m high Minai Falls.

Enjoy a short walk on the paved pathways along the edge of the gorge and visit the 1900 year-old Takachiho-jinja Shrine. According to myths, Takachiho is the place where Amaterasu-omikami, the queen of gods, descended. Pay a visit to "Couple cedar" - two giant trees with their trunks fused together and look like a husband and wife. It is said that if you walk around the trees three times, hand in hand with your friend, family member or lover, you will be blessed with prosperity of descendants and safety in your family.

Tonight, enjoy watching 'Takachiho Kagura Dance' at Takachiho Shrine.

You will stay at Ryokan Shinsen tonight. The lovely ryokan is nestled serenely in the rolling hills on the flanks of Mt Aso. With its mix of tradition and modern world luxuries, Shinsen offers a taste of old Japan and is a hideaway imbued with the fantastic atmosphere of the sacred land of Takachiho. Each room has its own unique style and personality, presented with flair, and fitted with the highest quality furnishings and decorated with beautiful art, traditional ceramics and other crafts.

Enjoy Kaiseki dinner at the ryokan.

Room Style: Japanese/Western Style

Bed Type: Futon/Twin beds

Bath: Indoor/outdoor onsen

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

After breakfast, farewell to Takachiho and head to Gokanosho. This is a wonder land for a nature enthusiast who's looking for a secluded and scenic spot to experience Japan’s sublime autumn foliage.

Drive on the long, narrow, sinuous road snaking through the wooded mountains. The journey seems to last an eternity. Finally, you arrive at Gokanosho, a set of five tiny villages with only 300 inhabitants and nestled in the heart of the wooded mountains at an altitude of more than 1700 meters. There are traditional thatched private houses and a gorge surrounded by deep mountains.

The legend says that when "Heike", the first Samurai clan was defeated by their rival Samurai clan "Genji" in the late 12th century, some of Heike clan warriors fled to this area, where they lived secluded from the outside world. This is a mysterious region, little known, where an authentic Japan is hidden, far from the big cities teeming with technology. It was only in 1959 that the area was made accessible by road and electricity arrived only a few years later.

You'll visit Nihon-sugi Pass observatory and overlook the entire Northern Kumamoto area. Visit Heike-no-sato museum and learn about the mysterious history. Then hike to the famous 70 meters high Sendan-Todoro waterfall and twin suspension bridges of Momigi Heike-so, built to allow access across the Momigi River to Heike-no-Sato folk village. The 70 meters long "upper" bridge, called the ayatori-bashi (Cat's Cradle bridge), is about 35 meters above the river. The 59 meters long "lower" bridge, called the shakunage-bashi (Alpine Rose bridge), is about 17 meters above the river.

Overnight is at Heike-so minshuku, a traditional family-run guest house, which serves hand-cut soba and locally-grown mountain vegetables and mushrooms as well as locally-sourced meals of mountain trout, wild boar, and raw deer. If you're especially adventurous, you can try basashi (horse sashimi), Kumamoto's specialty.

Room Style: Japanese Style

Bed Type: Futon

Bath: Shared bath

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Today you have two options:

Option 1 Mountain Trek (for adventurous hikers)
Embark a mountain trek which Heike Samurai clan might have walked to get to Gokanosho to survive. There are mountain trails ranging over 160 km. Your local professional guide will work with you to find a trail suitable to your fitness and help show you to the top of the mountain.

Option 2 Behind-the-scene Knife Workshop Visit & private Japanese House Visit (no walk)
Visit Moritaka Hamono, a well known Japanese kitchen knife shop who are shipping knives to 60 countries in the world. This is a behind-the-scene exclusive visit to the workshop which normally doesn’t allow any visitors.

After visiting Moritaka Hamono, you’ll visit a private Japanese house to mingle with locals and see how Tatami mats are made.

Then you’ll be transferred to Kirishima, a national park shared between Kagoshima and Miyazaki Prefectures.

Your accommodation tonight is Wasure no Sato Gajoen, tucked away in Myoken Onsen, a quiet hot springs town in Kagoshima prefecture. It offers traditional scenery of the Japanese countryside and allows you to relax both your mind and body.

As a member of Relais & Châteaux, Wasure no Sato Gajoen offers you an authentic, delicate and subtly aromatic dinner, prepared from vegetables straight from the kitchen garden.

Room Style: Japanese Style

Bed Type: Futon

Bath: Indoor/outdoor onsen

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Its hard to say goodbye to your charming accommodation at Wasure no Sato Gajoen, but an amazing hike waits you today.

Onamiike is the highest crater lake in Japan, located in the southeast of Mt. Karakunidake. The round-shaped Onamiike lake is surrounded by the forest, and the transparent bottom of the lake can be seen because of its high acidity. You'll be rewarded with the view from the mountaintop with the grandeur.

After the hike, you will be visiting Senganen Garden, a beautiful Japanese landscape garden with a striking view over the bay and Sakurajima, that were used as a borrowed landscape for the garden. Next to the garden lies the Shuseikan Industrial Complex as well as the Ijinkan, a former residence of foreign engineers, that are both part of the "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution" World Heritage site.

Finally, you will be transferred to Ibusuki to enjoy the unique Sunamushi hot sand bathing, a Ibusuki speciality.

Your hotel tonight is Ibusuki Hakusuikan, situated in the midst of the rich greenery of pine trees and the deep blue ocean, overlooking Kagoshima Bay. The resort Hakusuikan boasts an outdoor pool and a variety of spacious indoor/outdoor hot-spring baths, including a Sunamushi sand bathing. You can look forward to relaxing in the high quality natural hot spring spa and indulging in the refined cuisine at this peaceful holiday resort.

Room Style: Japanese/western Style

Bed Type: Futon/twin shared

Bath: Indoor/outdoor onsen

Toilet: Ensuite Western style

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will be transferred to Kagoshima Airport to meet your departing flight.