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6 days / 5 nights
Group
Max 16 People
Bullet train + Limited Express + Local Train + Private Mini-Bus
from$3,930AUD
Immerse in the samurai legacy of Kyushu
While the southern island of Kyushu is mostly famous for its mild climate, picturesque nature and cultural integrations, it’s also known as a place where Samurai legacy can still be seen with historic sites from the end of the samurai era.
This tour reveals the “last samurai” legacy by taking you to a historical samurai estate, stunning Japanese style garden, and of course, the majestic castle that are in Kagoshima and Kumamoto regions. You will also visit a Dutch themed park to frolic amongst the beautiful seasonal flowers, Fukuoka’s vibrant food stalls and finally you’ll take a relaxing canal cruise in Yanagawa.
This tour is suitable for those who wish to go beyond major cities and dig a little deeper on Japan’s wonderful cultural roots of modern day Japan.
Feel the aesthetics of the samurai ethos in the architecture and culture of Kyushu loaded through this tour’s interesting itinerary!
Welcome to vibrant city of Fukuoka!
Check in to Miyako Hotel Hakata, a brand new hotel located just a few minutes walk from JR Hakata station. Your journey begins at this stylish hotel, featuring spacious and stylish rooms with room size over 30m², and access to both rooftop pool and indoor natural hot spring.
Meet your tour escort and fellow travellers at the hotel and enjoy a local gourmet dinner together.
* If you are arriving between 9am and 11am at Fukuoka airport, you can request a tour escort to meet you. The escort will provide directions and assist with making your own way to the hotel.
Hop on a limited express train to Huis Ten Bosch, Japan’s largest theme park recreating a 17th-century style Dutch Town. While the train allows you to enjoy the countryside scenery of Kyushu, it leads you to a little piece of the Netherlands with beautiful windmills, canals and splendid seasonal flowers. At Huis Ten Bosch, not only you can witness Japan’s ultrahigh precision in recreating an entire foreign town, you can also learn how Japan has adopted foreign culture throughout its history. Enjoy a full day exploring the vast park visiting attractions including museums, shops, restaurants, theatres and rides.
Take the bullet train to Kagoshima for an overnight trip. On arrival, visit Ishin Furusato Museum and Sengen-en, a garden of a samurai clan estate listed as a World Heritage site where you can step back in time to the samurai era. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the bay and the active volcano Sakurajima puffing in the background from the garden and feel like a samurai lord.
You can also take time to see another World Heritage Site, Shuseikan, Japan’s first modern factory that started Japan’s industrial revolution. Here you can appreciate coloured glass craft “Satsuma Kiriko” originated from this factory and other traditional local crafts and specialities that are only available in the region.
Stop over in Kumamoto on the way back from Kagoshima to visit Kumamoto Castle, one of the three best castles in Japan and the beautiful landscape of Suizenji Garden. Due to the damage from the recent earthquake, Kumamoto Castle is still undergoing restoration, but you can see how the castle and also Japan itself are building back with resilience. After lunch, take a walk around Suizenji Garden, a traditional Japanese garden with a natural spring pond at its heart. Visitors can enjoy traditionally-prepared Japanese tea at the teahouse within the park for an authentic experience. Finally, hop on the bullet train back to Fukuoka.
Start the day with a visit to Yanagawa “the Venice of Kyushu” by local train. In Yanagawa, a town meshed in hundreds of kilometres of canals, take a ride on a low flatboat and enjoy the beautiful view of the greens and sunlight reflecting on the water. For lunch, enjoy a meal of the iconic local delicacy of grilled and steamed unagi (eel) in sweet and spicy sauce with rice.
Moving on to Dazaifu Tenmangu, a magnificent shrine dedicated to the spirit of the learned scholar, enjoy a walk along serene gardens, and snack on locally-loved Umegae Mochi rice cake and deep-fried chicken Dazaifu Burger.
On this last night of the tour, we’ll end the day diving into Fukuoka’s food stalls for a farewell dinner!
Your tour officially concludes today.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast with a view of the city of Hakata and hotel stay until check-out.
Continue a safe and enjoyable journey all the way home.
Superior Twin or Superior Double
This brand new hotel is directly connected to JR Hakata Station. From Fukuoka Airport, it’s only 5 minutes by subway and 5 minutes’ walk away. Superior room with room size over 30m² features a comfortable space and a bathtub. The hotel also offers an outdoor spa and indoor hot spring where you can relax after a busy day of exploring.
Standard Twin
The hotel is located about 20 minutes from Kagoshima Chuo Station. The hotel overlooks Kagoshima’s spectacular Sakurajima and Kinko Bay. Enjoy the magnificent view of Sakurajima from your room or from the top floor hot spring.
For 2021 departure
(Standard Price)
(Standard Price)
(Standard Price)
For 2022 departure
Group size: Min 04 people / Max 16 people
*This tour is for travellers aged 15 years old and up.
Please read our General Booking Terms & Conditions
Kintetsu International Express (Oceania) is an ATAS accredited travel agent in Australia, a member of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents. In Australia, we specialise in arranging Corporate and Group Travel for businesses, schools, religious groups and cultural organisations. We have Travel Centres in Sydney and Melbourne serving our Australian customers and offices in Cairns, Gold Coast and Auckland handling Japanese inbound tours. We are also an authorised travel agent to sell Japan Rail Pass and Kintetsu Rail Pass in Australia
Kintetsu International belongs to the travel arm of the Kintetsu Group, a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate which operates a major Japanese rail system, bus & freight forwarding companies, department stores, restaurants & hotel chains. We have more than 150 offices in Japan and more than 40 overseas offices worldwide. Utilising our global network, we guide our customers to every location around the globe with quality and dependable services.