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Japan Adventure: Kyushu & Shikoku

Name: Japan Adventure: Kyushu & Shikoku
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 5 (9 reviews)

9 reviews

Overview

Island hop by bike, hike an active volcano, sink into steaming onsen – discover Japan’s adventurous side

Say sayōnara to the list-ticking tourists and head southwest for an active adventure showcasing the lesser-visited islands of Kyushu and Shikoku. Starting in Osaka, we cycle the famed Shimanami Kaido; hike up the active volcano, Mount Aso; explore by public transport, including the iconic bullet train; and enjoy deep cultural immersion – who wouldn’t want to master ‘hell steam’ cuisine? If you want to discover Japan’s adventurous side, this is the trip for you.

Cherry blossom season: Experience the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossom season in Japan, when the sakura trees bloom with delicate pink blossoms. See the Dates & Prices tab for our special departures.

Key Information

Activity: Culture
Activity Level: Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Comfort Level: Classic
Trip Code: AOO
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Japan
Carbon Footprint: 51.3kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 12 Classic nights (hotels)
All breakfasts, one lunch and three dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport (train, bike, bus, ferry, metro and private minivan) and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Suitcase cover to help protect your luggage

Positive Impact

We donate to our Foundation and rewild 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller. Find out more about how our adventures support nature and people to thrive.

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. On this trip, arrival and departure transfers are not available.

Highlights

Mix deep culture and active adventures to experience Japan like never before

Use the excellent public transport to move around, including the iconic bullet train

Explore the lesser-visited islands of Kyushu and Shikoku and historic Nagasaki

Ride the glorious Shimanami Kaido, among the world’s great cycle routes

Summit two peaks on Mount Aso, Japan’s most active volcano

Master ‘hell steam’ cuisine – Beppu’s centuries-old cooking style

Itinerary

First Destination: Osaka
Next Destination: Fukuoka

Accommodation:Karaksa Hotel Grande Shin Osaka Tower (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:U2 Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Yabune (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Vista Matsuyama (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Vista Matsuyama (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Fujiya Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Fujiya Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Kamenoi Aso Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Kamenoi Aso Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Monterey Nagasaki (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Monterey Nagasaki (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Monterey Fukuoka (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Osaka
Next Destination: Fukuoka

Begin your adventure in Osaka, an electric port city on Honshu, the largest of Japan’s four main islands.

Around 6pm, say konnichiwa to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Japanese welcome by arranging dinner.

Want more time in Osaka? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation:Karaksa Hotel Grande Shin Osaka Tower (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

We’re off to Onomichi today, a quaint town on the Seto Inland Sea. Leaving our main luggage at reception (we’re reunited with it in Matsuyama on Day 4), we board the iconic bullet train.

After 30-45 minutes, we stop in Himeji city to visit the 600-year-old Himeji Castle, one of the few remaining castles from Japan’s feudal period.

In the afternoon, we complete our bullet train journey (2hr 10min) and arrive in Onomichi, and check into our accommodation.

Important: As there is no storage for large suitcases on the train, you will need to pack a small overnight bag for the next two nights.

Accommodation:U2 Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Linking several islands in the Seto Inland Sea, the Shimanami Kaido has been called ‘one of the world’s most incredible bike journeys’.

Experience it for yourself today, riding 22mi (35km) to our next accommodation on Ikuchi Island. Helmets and bikes are provided, and we’ll be led by our tour leader and an expert local cycling guide, allowing you to fully focus on enjoying the coastal views and sea breezes. Those who do not wish to cycle can take the ferry, which must be booked at least one month before departure.

Our destination, Ikuchi Island, is known for its lemon groves and coastal views, while the ornate Kosanji Temple complex offers a spot of culture.

Accommodation:Yabune (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Take an early transfer by bus to Imabari Station to catch our train and continue our journey (around two hours total) to the castle city of Matsuyama on Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four main islands.

The city itself is the birthplace of modern haiku, while also offering plenty of cultural attractions, which we see today. After lunch and a walk around the historic district, we pay a visit to Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan’s last remaining original castles. On Mount Katsuyama, it’s also a great spot to enjoy views over the city and the Seto Inland Sea.

We also visit Ishiteji Temple and stop nearby to view the 3,000-year-old Dogo Onsen, a hot spring bath that’s said to be the oldest in Japan. Entrance to the onsen is not included, but our tour leader can advise on how to visit in your free time if you’d like.

Accommodation:Hotel Vista Matsuyama (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Leaving our main luggage at reception (we’re reunited with it in Beppu tomorrow), we take the train (one hour) to the Edo-era town of Uchiko.

Here, we join our tour leader for a walk around the Old Town, allowing us to admire well-preserved Edo architecture. Our explorations include a visit to the Kamihaga Residence, a beautifully preserved former merchant house, as well as a local candle shop run by the family’s seventh generation, where we learn about the town’s long-standing candle-making heritage.

After free time for lunch, we visit a traditional washi paper factory to learn about the production process of handmade Japanese paper. Here, we also enjoy a Japanese gilding class, or haku-oshi, taking it in turns to create a postcard made on washi (traditional Japanese paper). Gilding is a traditional craft that applies delicate metallic foils – gold, silver or coloured – onto handmade paper using special techniques.

Return to Matsuyama by train in the afternoon, with free time to explore the city.

Important: As there is no storage for large suitcases on the train, you will need to pack a small overnight bag for tonight.

Accommodation:Hotel Vista Matsuyama (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Depart our accommodation before 8am and head south by train (around 45 minutes) and then bus (10 mins) to Yawatahama Port. From here, where we take a ferry (around three hours) to Kyushu, the third largest of Japan’s four main islands.

This lesser-visited island of Japan is a haven for nature and adventure lovers, with towering mountains, volcanic ranges and the hot spring region of Beppu, where we stay.

Upon arrival, we can explore the area around Beppu Station to enjoy karaoke or a nearby onsen.

Accommodation:Fujiya Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Pick up some bento boxes or an easy lunch and hop on a local bus for our 40-minute journey to the mountains outside Beppu.

Here, we immerse ourselves in nature with a hike on Mount Yufu. The exact route is decided by your tour leader, based on the group’s overall fitness, but generally follows a loop starting and ending at Yufu tozanguchi.

The 4mi (9.5km) hike should take around 4hr 30min (2hr 30min up, two hours down) depending on the group’s pace, and we take well-marked, packed-dirt trails with some steep climbs and an overall ascent of 1,640ft (500m).

After taking the bus back to Beppu, you may feel like a restorative visit to an onsen – the perfect ending to an unforgettable day.

Accommodation:Fujiya Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Before we head to our next destination, deep in the Kyushu mountains, we enjoy a unique cooking class, mastering ‘hell steam’ cuisine!

This centuries-old cooking style makes use of the natural hot steam rising from the grounds of Beppu, while the mineral-rich steam is said to ‘bring out the true flavours of the food’.

After enjoying our delicious self-made meal, we head to Mount Aso by train (around 3hr 10m). We spend the next two nights in the shadow of this active volcano; it’s very remote, but naturally beautiful, and offers excellent walking opportunities – as we find out tomorrow.

Important: As there is no storage for large suitcases on the train, you will need to pack a small overnight bag for the next two nights.

Accommodation:Kamenoi Aso Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Join your tour leader for a hiking adventure in Aso-Kuju National Park, where the star attraction, the five-peaked volcano Mount Aso, offers hiking trails to accommodate different abilities.

While the tour leader decides the exact route, we typically combine two trails today. The beginner-friendly Mt. Kishima dake (1.85mi/3km round-trip) is a gentle climb to the summit and should take around one hour to 1hr30min. After, we continue to Mt. Eboshi dake (2.5mi/4km round-trip), which takes approximately two hours. Both trails are less affected by the gasses emanating from the volcano and, if there is no rain (and therefore mist), we can climb them year-round.

Of course, this is an active volcano, so things can change quickly! If the park is closed at any time due to volcanic activity, gasses or bad weather, our tour leader has optional activities available, including a hike from Taketa to Asaji (or vice versa), visiting Kurokawa Onsen or Kumamoto city and its castle (public transport and entrance fees not included).

Accommodation:Kamenoi Aso Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Bid farewell to Mount Aso and hop in a private air-conditioned minivan for our four-hour journey to Nagasaki, where we spend the next two nights.

After three hours, we arrive in Arita, the birthplace of Japanese porcelain. This fascinating stop allows us to explore traditional Japanese artistry by wandering through narrow alleys and dipping into ceramic stores. We also enjoy lunch here before completing the journey to Nagasaki.

On arrival, before heading to our accommodation, we visit the Atomic Bomb Museum & Peace Park, a sobering yet vital look at the devastation of the ‘Fat Man’ atomic bomb dropped on the city on 9 August 1945.

Accommodation:Hotel Monterey Nagasaki (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Magical Nagasaki may be best known for the dropping of the second atomic bomb, but there’s far more to this city than Second World War history – as you’ll discover today.

Join our tour leader for a comprehensive city tour by foot and tram. It starts in Glover Garden, an open-air museum-park exhibiting the mansions of former foreign residents, before we move onto Dejima, where historic structures and reconstructions tell the story of the area.

Afterwards, you may want to head into Chinatown (the oldest in Japan) to enjoy dinner in the one of the many restaurants.

Important: To make tomorrow’s journey to Fukuoka by public transport easier, we send our main luggage ahead of us today. You need to pack a small overnight bag for tonight and are reunited with your main luggage on arrival to Fukuoka tomorrow.

Accommodation:Hotel Monterey Nagasaki (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Bid a fond farewell to Nagasaki, as we transfer (around 2hr 25min) by highway bus to Fukuoka. The amalgamation of two towns in 1889 (the castle town of Fukuoka and the merchant town of Hakata), Fukuoka is the largest city in Kyushu, but still well off the typical tourist trail.

However, it’s garnering a reputation as a hotspot for foodies, partly because it’s the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen.

Upon arrival, we drop our luggage at the hotel and the tour leader can advise you on how best to spend your afternoon.

Cultural options include Ohori Park, where you can enjoy a peaceful walk around the central pond, or Tochoji Temple, the oldest temple of the Shingon sect in Japan and home to the largest seated wooden statue of Buddha in Japan.

Accommodation:Hotel Monterey Fukuoka (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Today is departure day. Your tour leader will be at breakfast to say goodbye and provide assistance in should you need help getting to the airport.

Want more time in Fukuoka? Secure post-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us and fly with confidence

Call us: 020 3733 5948

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View Details

Accommodation

Hotels

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. If you would like to add to your existing booking, we strongly recommend you request well before 30 days before departure. Booking requests within 30 days before departure, and especially during peak season (March-April/October-November), may not be possible due to limited availability during peak travel periods.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we pair solo passengers together in a room. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement (subject to availability). The single supplement is valid for all nights. In Japan, often single supplements are accommodated in either a single or a twin-bedded room. Double for sole use rooms are limited in availability and cannot be guaranteed. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Onsen (Japanese hot springs)
For many visitors to Japan, the onsen is unfamiliar territory. An onsen is a Japanese hot spring and the bathing facilities and inns frequently situated around them. The combination of a strict bathing etiquette, that nudity is compulsory, and that the water temperature is often hotter than most whirlpool baths can cause some reluctance for first timers. However, once the courage is mustered, you may discover that an onsen is one of the highlights of your visit to Japan. Please be aware, you may be refused entry if you have large and visible tattoos. Some accommodations may have private baths available for reservation.

Worth knowing

Room sizes and beds in Western-style hotels in Japan are generally smaller. Twin rooms will be provided as standard for two passengers sharing a room, as these offer more space and comfort than double rooms.
Some accommodations may provide slippers and yukata (a Japanese-style dressing gown).

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Travelling with us in Japan: We rely on the country’s world-renowned public transportation network, making our Japan trips unique compared with our tours in other destinations, in which we generally use private transportation. Public transport here is accessible, clean and punctual. It’s also intrinsically woven into the local way of life, which is why we encourage travellers to embrace this way of travelling in Japan.

On this trip, we mainly travel by train (both bullet and regional services) plus local buses, trams and ferry. All are extremely efficient, so it is essential everyone is punctual to ensure we do not miss any of the services. Some of the distances covered are long, and we may need to change trains and buses on some journeys, but they are very comfortable, while also allowing us to meet the Japanese people and admire the landscapes.

As Japanese trains have very limited storage for large bags, there are four occasions when we cannot travel with our main luggage and instead need to pack a small overnight bag. This is noted on the daily itinerary. See the Essential Equipment section for more information about how to pack.
It’s essential you pack light, as you need to carry your luggage through train stations and busy areas.
Luggage transfer services include one main bag per person.

Activity/walking profile: This is a cultural trip with active elements, including cycling and hikes. The amount of walking each day is considerable and fast-paced, plus we ascend and descend many stairs (bring comfortable walking shoes). Therefore, a good level of fitness is essential. This trip is also not suitable for persons of reduced mobility.

Day 3: If you do not wish to cycle on Day 3, you must inform us at least one month before departure, so our local team can arrange ferry transport. If you choose not to cycle, your tour leader will take you to the ferry and provide instructions but will not join you on the boat to Ikuchi Island. You can request an e-bike (subject to availability) at an additional cost at least one month before departure.

Personal audio headsets: At the start of the tour, personal audio headsets (known as whisper devices) are provided to help you hear your tour leader clearly, particularly in busy areas. In Japan, where speaking loudly in public spaces and on transport is generally discouraged, these allow your tour leader to share commentary in a more considerate and unobtrusive way. They also give you greater flexibility to move around without missing information. Each device is sanitised between departures, and each participant is provided with their own single-use earpiece at the start of the tour. Use of the headsets is optional, but we recommend using them for the best experience.

Suitcase cover: At the start of the tour, your tour leader provides a protective cover for your main suitcase. These are routinely used by trusted luggage transfer providers throughout Japan and help protect baggage in transit. Please retain your cover and use it whenever your luggage is being forwarded between hotels. The use of the cover is a requirement of the luggage transfer provider should a damage claim need to be considered.

Itinerary flexibility: The order of activities may change depending on the weather and other factors. Your tour leader provides full details of the schedule during the welcome briefing.

Internet: Consider an eSim or Japanese sim card to stay connected while on the move. These can be very useful when you’re in conversation with the friendly local people but need the aid of a translation app.

Hotel check-in: It is standard policy in Japanese hotels that rooms are only available from 3pm, though you can store luggage beforehand.

Before you go: We recommend downloading the Uber or GO Taxi apps before you arrive, as both are widely used in Japan. The Google Translate app will also be useful.

Key information

Start hotel: Karaska Hotel Grande Shin Osaka Tower, 3 Chome-3-24 Miyahara, Yodogawa Ward, Osaka, 532-0003, Japan
Phone: +81 6-6391-6602
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today, by late afternoon is recommended. Check in time at the start hotel in Osaka is 3pm. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm at the hotel followed by an included welcome dinner with your leader and group.
Airport: Kansai Airport (KIX)

Arriving Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX)

The easiest and fastest option when travelling between Osaka’s Kansai International Airport and the start hotel independently is the train or airport limousine bus. More details can be found at the Karaska Hotel Grande Shin Osaka Tower’s website on how best to access the start hotel in Osaka from KIX Airport.

Arrival at Itami Airport (ITM)

If you’re arriving in Osaka’s Itami Airport (ITM), you can reach the start hotel independently by taking the airport limousine bus. More details can be found at the Karaska Hotel Grande Shin Osaka Tower’s website on how best to access the start hotel in Osaka from ITM Airport.

Further information will be provided in the final joining instructions which will be sent to you two to three weeks before departure.

Private transfers are not available on this trip.

Please note: Japan’s public transport system is excellent, efficient and is the expected mode of transport for both local people and visitors. The public transport systems have become increasingly easier to use, and everywhere you will find English signage.

Japan

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Japan. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/japan
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/japan
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/japan/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Japan.html

The cuisine is usually a highlight of any Japan trip. It is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes usually prepared with seasonal ingredients. Seafood is common and usually comes grilled or deep fried. Sushi and sashimi aside, other staple dishes include soba or udon noodles, sukiyaki (meat, fish and vegetables cooked in broth) and yakiniku (grilled meat).

When food is not included, your tour leader can always recommend the best local eateries and arrange group meals for a full immersion in the varied and excellent local cuisine.

Worth knowing

Food for certain diets (including gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan) is minimal or non-existent in many areas of Japan. The group meals arranged by the tour leader are in traditional eateries where the choices of vegan dishes may be limited to simple salads or boiled rice. However, there are several vegan restaurants in Osaka and Fukuoka. Please let us know before travel of your dietary requirements.
Most stocks, which are common in Japanese cuisine, contain animal products and even vegetable tempura is mostly fried in the same oil as meat or fish. While some substitutions may be possible, strict vegetarian or vegan meals cannot be guaranteed. Those who can consume dashi stocks typically have fewer issues, but for those concerned, we recommend bringing supplementary food items.

Japan has four distinct seasons. We avoid the cold winters and the humid summers in Kyushu and Shikoku and settle for the more pleasant climes either side.

Kyushu and Shikoku are great year-round destinations, but the best times to visit are typically in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is mild, and the natural scenery is particularly beautiful; therefore, we only have departures scheduled from March to May and September to November.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

You’ll also find Thriving Nature, Thriving People moments across our trips. These experiences are often a highlight of your adventure, while also benefiting the natural world or local communities.

On this trip, we:

Meet Uchiko’s traditional artisans, including a washi paper producer, supporting local livelihoods while learning how specialist heritage crafts are maintained and passed on.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a level 3 trip, so it's busy and the cycling and hiking days can be tough, depending on your fitness level. You mostly pack up a little bag and send your larger bag on to the next hotel so pack light, and be prepared to unpack a big bag and re-pack the bags. Sending the big bags along takes some time so even though you might be at a hotel for two nights, you could only have your big bag for one of those nights before you have to send it to the next hotel - Be prepared, I took so many clothes I didn't need so less if definitely more on this trip.

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