Hidden Japan: Spirit of Kyushu

Ideal for curious travellers and second-time visitors to Japan, the lesser-visited island of Kyushu offers a blend of rich culture and natural beauty. Witness a soul-stirring drum performance, admire steaming volcanoes, and soak in bubbling onsen baths on this journey into Kyushu's green and wild heart.

• Tsuetate Onsen, Stay in a ryokan – a traditional Japanese inn with tatami mat floors. Relax in the hotel’s beautiful hot spring onsen – choose from indoor pools or a selection of open-air baths.
• Takachiho Gorge, Visit Takachiho Gorge, one of Kyushu’s most famous natural wonders. Here, the Gokake River runs through a 80-metre-deep chasm between basalt cliffs, formed by volcanic eruptions from 100,000 years ago.
• Mount Sakurajima, Take the ferry to Mount Sakurajima, a dramatic and one of Japan's most active volcanoes in Kagoshima Bay. 
• Aso-Kuju National Park, Experience a soul-stirring display of traditional drumming, performed on an open-air stage, known as ‘the theatre in the sky’, against the dramatic backdrop of Aso-Kuju National Park.

• Kimono Dressing Session, Take part in a kimono dressing session in the serene Sengan-en Gardens. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to try on Japan’s elegant and traditional attire before taking photos in the midst of the beautiful grounds that surround you.
• Chiran Peace Museum, Explore the Chiran Peace Museum, established on a former army base. Here, personal letters, photos, and recovered WWII aircraft tell the tale of hundreds of kamikaze pilots, who took off from here to their deaths in 1945.
• Shochu Tasting Experience, Don’t leave Kagoshima Prefecture without tasting its shochu – a distilled local liquor, often enjoyed in the southern regions like Kyushu and Okinawa but popular across Japan. Stop by a shochu distillery for a fantastic tasting experience.

• Fukuoka (2N)
• Nagasaki (2N)
• Kumamoto
• Kuju Onsen (2N)
• Mount Aso
• Kirishima Hills (2N)
• Kagoshima
• Mount Sakurajima
• Fukuoka (1N)

• Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 1 July 2025. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
• Tipping is generally not part of the culture in Japan; however, you may wish to tip your National Escort at your discretion.
• Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
• Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request
• Please note: cherry blossoms & autumn leaves are weather dependent and it is not guaranteed that they will be in bloom at the time of your arrival.