After publishing our article about a 7-day road trip around Kyushu, we received quite a few questions from readers. So we wrote this article to give a clear overview of the whole route.
Overview of the Kyushu Road Trip
Our full trip was actually 9 days and 9 nights. We landed in Fukuoka in the morning and picked up our rental car right at the airport on day one, then drove to Kumamoto. We chose to rent from Fukuoka Airport because it has the widest choice of rental car providers, so we could pick the best deal, and the airport is also close to the city center. Renting and returning the car at the same location is noticeably cheaper than picking up and dropping off at different places, which is why we decided to drive to Kumamoto instead of taking the train, even though the train might actually have been more convenient. When we returned the car, we came back to the same spot and took a bus into the city, which took less than 30 minutes. After that, we spent one more day sightseeing in Fukuoka before heading home.
In the map below, the blue line shows roughly the route we drove, and the blue circles mark the places we visited, though not every stop is shown. The numbers indicate the day of the trip. The letter X marks the first day, when we picked up the rental car but didn't drive it for sightseeing yet — we drove straight from Fukuoka Airport to a hotel in central Kumamoto and explored the city by tram instead, so that day doesn't really count as the start of our actual road trip.
Map of the 7-day Kyushu road trip route
Kyushu Road Trip: Day 1
Kyushu road trip review, Day 1: from Kumamoto to Mount Kirishima, then driving to Kagoshima for the night
On the first day of the trip, we left Kumamoto in the morning. After breakfast at the hotel, we took the expressway south to climb Mount Kirishima, arriving around 11am. We spent the day there until evening, then continued south to our hotel in central Kagoshima.
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 1: Climbing Mount Kirishima and Visiting the Crater Lake
Kyushu road trip route, Day 1: from Kumamoto to Mount Kirishima, then on to Kagoshima for the night
Kyushu Road Trip: Day 2
Kyushu road trip review, Day 2: Kagoshima, Sakurajima volcanic island, then staying overnight in Miyakonojo
On Day 2, we started by visiting attractions in Kagoshima city, beginning with Sengan-en Garden. We then drove onto a ferry to cross over to the volcanic island of Sakurajima, and spent the rest of the day driving around the island until evening. After that, we drove off the island and stayed overnight at a hotel in Miyakonojo.
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 2: Visiting Kagoshima and Sakurajima Volcanic Island
Kyushu road trip route, Day 2
Kyushu Road Trip: Day 3
Kyushu road trip review, Day 3: from Miyakonojo to Obi Castle Town, Udo Jingu Shrine, Moai Park, then staying overnight in Nobeoka
On Day 3, we headed east to drive along Kyushu's eastern coast. We stopped at Obi Castle Town, the seaside Udo Jingu Shrine, and the Moai coastal park, then drove a long stretch north to stay overnight in Nobeoka, so we wouldn't have as far to drive the next day.
Kyushu road trip route, Day 3
Kyushu Road Trip: Day 4
Kyushu road trip review, Day 4: Visiting Takachiho Gorge and Mount Aso
The drive on Day 4 wasn't too long. We left Nobeoka in the morning for Takachiho Gorge, where we went boating and walked around, then had lunch. After that, we drove scenic routes through the Aso mountain range and stayed overnight near Mount Aso.
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 4: Visiting Takachiho Gorge and Mount Aso
Kyushu road trip route, Day 4
Kyushu Road Trip: Day 5
Kyushu road trip review, Day 5: Autumn leaves, Mount Aso, Mount Kuju, and Kurokawa Onsen
On Day 5, we drove around the Kuju mountain range, home to the highest peak on the Kyushu mainland, to see the autumn leaves. Then we visited Kurokawa Onsen, one of Japan's most famous hot spring towns, with beautiful natural scenery and an old-fashioned Japanese atmosphere. We stayed overnight at a ryokan right in the town.
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 5: A Romantic Autumn Leaves Route and Kurokawa Onsen
Kyushu road trip route, Day 5
Kyushu Road Trip: Day 6
Kyushu road trip review: Autumn leaves, grass fields, Yume Suspension Bridge, and Yufuin
On Day 6, we didn't go far and stayed around the Mount Aso and Mount Kuju area. We left Kurokawa Onsen in the morning and enjoyed the autumn scenery, then walked around the grass fields at the foot of Mount Kuju. Next, we visited the Yume Suspension Bridge to see the autumn leaves and a waterfall, then drove to Yufuin, another charming small rural town in Kyushu, where we stayed for the night.
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 6: Autumn Leaves, Grass Fields, and Yufuin
Kyushu road trip route, Day 6
Kyushu Road Trip: Day 7
Kyushu trip review: Visiting the 8 Hells of Beppu and Dazaifu Shrine
Day 7 was the last day of the trip. We left Yufuin mid-morning to visit the eight hot spring "hells" of Beppu. We finished sightseeing around 2pm and drove back toward Fukuoka, stopping at Dazaifu Shrine, one of Kyushu's famous shrines. After that, we drove to return the car at Fukuoka Airport, then took the train into the city, bringing this Kyushu road trip to an end.
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 7: The 8 Hells of Beppu and Dazaifu Shrine
Road trip route, Day 7
We hope this summary of our Kyushu road trip route is helpful, and that it gives you a clearer picture for planning your own trip.
Day 0: Kumamoto Sightseeing Review
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 1: Climbing Mount Kirishima and Visiting the Crater Lake
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 2: Visiting Kagoshima and Sakurajima Volcanic Island
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 4: Visiting Takachiho Gorge and Mount Aso
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 5: A Romantic Autumn Leaves Route and Kurokawa Onsen
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 6: Autumn Leaves, Grass Fields, and Yufuin
Kyushu Road Trip Review, Day 7: The 8 Hells of Beppu and Dazaifu Shrine
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