Kyushu, Japan’s southern island, has always balanced fire and water—volcanoes steaming above faultless hot springs, cliff-lined coasts and glassy rivers, castles rebuilt and reborn. Ancient trade routes once brought continental flavors to Hakata (Fukuoka), while samurai clans shaped Kagoshima’s history and gardens. Today, you can ride bullet trains between seaside towns, sink into mineral baths at twilight, and eat your way through a region famed for ramen, chicken nanban, kuro-buta pork, and shochu.

This 16‑day, mid‑budget itinerary moves at a relaxing pace: Fukuoka’s food stalls and coffee culture, Beppu’s steamy onsen, Miyazaki’s beaches and shrines, Kagoshima’s volcano views and samurai gardens, and Kumamoto’s castle and Aso’s grasslands. You’ll mix guided experiences with unhurried neighborhood strolls, day trips to natural wonders, and time for cafés, breweries, and spas.

Festival‑minded travelers will find something in most seasons: Hakata Dontaku (May) and Yamakasa (July) in Fukuoka; Beppu’s Onsen Matsuri (spring); Kagoshima’s Ohara (November); Kumamoto’s Hinokuni (summer); and Kitakyushu’s Kokura Gion Daiko (July). Trains are frequent and efficient—use JR Limited Express and the Kyushu Shinkansen—and you can search flights and trains on Trip.com (flights), Trip.com (trains), and Kiwi.com.

Fukuoka

Days 1–3: Fukuoka base + Kitakyushu day trip

Start in Fukuoka—historic Hakata and modern Tenjin stitched together by rivers, arcades, and underground shopping. Evenings are for yatai food stalls along Nakasu, where you’ll slurp Hakata ramen and chat with stall‑owners under paper lanterns. By day, caffeinate like a local and explore shrines, markets, and waterfront walks.

• Arrival and transport: Fly into Fukuoka (FUK). Compare fares on Kiwi.com or Trip.com flights. For regional trains, use Trip.com trains.
• Highlights: Kushida Shrine (birthplace of Hakata Gion Yamakasa), Canal City (theater, shops, fountains), Ohori Park lake loop, and Tenjin Chikagai’s boutiques. For a soft landing, book a guided food-and-river evening below.
• Kitakyushu day trip: Ride JR to Kokura (15–50 min; ~¥1,320–¥2,080). Visit Kokura Castle and the retro port of Mojiko for yaki‑curry (baked curry—order it gratinéed) and a pint at Mojiko Retro Beer. Stroll the Kanmon Strait promenade and watch freighters glide by.

Cafés & bites: Start at REC Coffee (award‑winning roasters, latte art) or NO COFFEE (minimalist merch and pour‑overs). Lunch on Hakata ramen at Shin Shin (light, silky tonkotsu) or Hakata Issou (rich and garlicky). Dinner ideas: yatai along Nakasu for skewers, oden, and ramen; Hakata Hanamidori for mizutaki chicken hot pot; or Yamanaka for offal‑hotpot motsunabe—a local classic.

Evening experience (foodie + river views):
Fantastic Hakata Night River Cruise + Yatai

— glide past neon canals, then hop to stalls with an interpreter-guide for local specialties.

Beachy day option (relaxing vibe):
Itoshima Hidden Gems Day Tour

— coastal cafés, farm stands, and shrines with sea views.

Where to stay (mid‑budget focus; Tenjin/Hakata are most convenient):
Grand Hyatt Fukuoka (attached to Canal City, pool/fitness), Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk (ocean views by PayPay Dome), The OneFive Fukuoka Tenjin (value in the shopping core), Fukuoka Hana Hostel (friendly budget in Nakasu). Or browse apartments on VRBO Fukuoka or hotels via Hotels.com Fukuoka.

Travel to Beppu: JR Limited Express “Sonic” from Hakata to Beppu, ~2 hr 10 min, ~¥6,000–¥6,500 reserved. Check schedules/prices on Trip.com trains.

Kitakyushu

Day 2 (easy day trip from Fukuoka)

Industrial heritage meets retro waterfront charm. Visit Kokura Castle for classic keep views and stroll Mojiko Retro—brick terminals, yaki‑curry eateries, local beer, and sea breezes over the Kanmon Strait.

• Don’t miss: Tanga Market’s mom‑and‑pop counters; Mojiko’s banana‑weizen at Mojiko Retro Beer; breezy promenades with freighters passing between Honshu and Kyushu.
• Coffee & lunch: Try a kissaten near Kokura Station for thick toast and siphon coffee; in Mojiko, order baked curry topped with an egg—crisp, comforting, and uniquely local.
• Optional overnight: If you linger, compare stays on VRBO Kitakyushu or Hotels.com Kitakyushu.

Beppu (Oita)

Days 4–6: Onsen capital, slow mornings, steamy meals

Beppu is a geothermal playground—plumes drift over bamboo groves, bathhouses hum, and locals steam lunch using volcanic vents. Balance famous “Hells” with quiet soaks and tea in restored townhouses.

• Classic sights: Umi Jigoku (cobalt pool and gardens), Myoban’s thatched yunohana huts, Takegawara Onsen (Taishō‑era façade; try the sand bath), Hyotan Onsen (varied pools and family baths).
• Day trip add‑on: Yufuin’s Kinrin Lake, boutique street Yunotsubo Kaidō, and milk puddings at Milch.

Guided options (easygoing, local-first):

• Beppu Kannawa Highlights Tour

  

  — light walking through “Hells,” optional jigoku‑mushi lunch.
• Beppu Private Tour: Onsen in Nature + Steam Snacks

  

  — soak in a bamboo grove setting, then taste vent‑steamed bites.
• Tea Ceremony in a Century‑Old Townhouse

  

  — mindful, authentic, and very Beppu.

Cafés & food: Morning coffee at a neighborhood kissaten or Beppu Coffee Roasters. For lunch, cook your own ingredients at Jigokumushi Kōbō Kannawa (steam boxes), or try Toyotsune for tempura rice bowls and local seafood. Sweets: Okamotoya in Myoban for caramel‑rich onsen pudding.

Where to stay: For views and spas, InterContinental – ANA Beppu Resort & Spa (splurge) or Suginoi Hotel (huge baths, hillside vistas). Budget‑friendly: Guest House Rojiura near Beppu Station. Also browse VRBO Beppu or Hotels.com Beppu.

Travel to Miyazaki: JR Nichirin Limited Express via Oita, ~3.5–4.5 hr, ~¥5,500–¥7,000; highway bus ~3.5–4 hr, ~¥4,500. Check trains on Trip.com trains.

Miyazaki

Days 7–9: Beaches, shrines, and citrus‑bright cuisine

Miyazaki’s Nichinan coast is all light and breeze—Aoshima’s palm‑fringed sands, Udo Shrine set in sea‑cliffs, and Obi’s samurai town. Local food is fresh and unfussy: chicken nanban, cold miso hiyajiru, and mango parfaits in summer.

• Coastal circuit: Aoshima Shrine and “Devil’s Washboard” rock shelves; Udo Shrine’s cave‑like hall and sea views; Sunmesse Nichinan (Moai statues with ocean panoramas); Obi Castle Town’s quiet lanes.
• Relax: Aoshima Beach Park’s seasonal cafés and deck chairs—perfect for an easy coffee or sunset mocktail.

Private & foodie experiences:

• 1‑Day Private Tour to Miyazaki Nichinan

  

  — cover Aoshima, Udo, and Obi at an easy pace.
• Miyazaki Local Cuisine Class: Hiyajiru & Chicken Nanban

  

  — hands‑on, tasty, and ultra local.

Coffee & dining: Grab a flat white at Aoshima Beach Park’s container cafés; in town, look for small roasters off Tachibana‑dōri. For lunch, the original Ogura serves the city’s most famous chicken nanban. On hot days, try hiyajiru at a home‑style diner—rice, cucumber, and chilled miso broth that tastes like summer.

Where to stay: Ocean‑view apartments near Aoshima on VRBO Miyazaki; city hotels around Miyazaki Station via Hotels.com Miyazaki.

Travel to Kagoshima: JR Limited Express to Kagoshima‑Chuo ~2 hr, ~¥4,000–¥5,000. Check Trip.com trains.

Kagoshima

Days 10–12: Volcano views, samurai gardens, shochu tastings

Kagoshima is the “Naples of the East,” a bayside city facing the active volcano Sakurajima. Stately Sengan‑en gardens tell of the Shimazu clan, while ferries hop to footbaths and lava fields. Local flavor leans to sweet‑potato shochu, kuro‑buta pork, and the whimsical shaved‑ice Shirokuma.

• Top stops: Sakurajima ferry (15 min); Yunohira Observatory for crater views; Sengan‑en with the Shōko Shūseikan museum; Tenmonkan arcade for snacks and shops; optional day trip to Ibusuki for natural sand baths by the sea.

Easy half‑day tours (relaxed pace):

• Sakurajima Half‑Day Tour with English Guide

  

  — viewpoints, lava trails, and island lore.
• Chiran Samurai Gardens & Peace Museum (private car)

  

  — exquisite Edo‑style gardens and poignant WWII history.

Food & drink: Order kuro‑buta shabu‑shabu at Ajimori (thin pork in umami broth). Snack on satsuma‑age (fried fish cake) in Tenmonkan. For dessert, get a towering Shirokuma at Tenmonkan Mujaki. Sample local shochu at a Tenmonkan bar—look for flights from makers like Hombo Shuzo and Satsuma Shuzo.

Cafés: Seek out a specialty roaster downtown for pourovers before your garden walk; near the bay, find bakeries doing black‑sugar loaves and drip coffee—ideal picnic fuel for Sengan‑en.

Where to stay: Central hotels around Kagoshima‑Chūō via Hotels.com Kagoshima, or bay‑view apartments on VRBO Kagoshima.

Travel to Kumamoto: Kyushu Shinkansen from Kagoshima‑Chūō to Kumamoto, ~45–60 min, ~¥8,000. Check options on Trip.com trains.

Kumamoto

Days 13–15: Castles, gardens, and Aso’s grasslands

Kumamoto is the gateway to Mt. Aso’s caldera landscapes and home to one of Japan’s great fortresses. Stroll samurai‑era streets, sip matcha in a teahouse garden, and day‑trip into volcano country for sweeping views.

• In town: Kumamoto Castle (dramatic walls, restoration exhibits), Suizenji Jōju‑en garden (miniature Tōkaidō landscape), and the Shimotori/Kamitori covered arcades.
• Food: Kumamoto ramen with fried garlic chips (try one of the classic shops), basashi (horse sashimi) at the renowned Suganoya Honten, and karashi renkon (mustard‑filled lotus root) with sake.

Guided options (nature + culture):

• Mt. Aso & Takachiho Gorge 1‑Day Highlights (from Kumamoto)

  

  — mythic shrines, basalt cliffs, and sweeping grasslands.
• Kumamoto Castle Walking Tour with a Local Guide

  

  — military ingenuity, hidden gates, and stories of resilience.

Coffee & bars: Start with a pour‑over at And Coffee Roasters or Gluck Coffee Spot. For a low‑key evening, choose an izakaya near Kamitori or a sake bar pouring Kumamoto‑yeast brews; ask for a flight to sample crisp Junmai styles.

Where to stay: Base near the castle and tram lines—compare on Hotels.com Kumamoto or find a townhouse on VRBO Kumamoto.

Travel back to Fukuoka: Kyushu Shinkansen from Kumamoto to Hakata, ~40–50 min, ~¥5,000. See Trip.com trains.

Fukuoka (Return)

Day 16: Last sips, last shops, easy send‑off

Wrap up with souvenir browsing in Tenjin Chikagai and Hakata Hankyu, tea at a quiet garden, or a final soak at a city spa before your flight. If your dates align, fall into a festival crowd—Hakata’s spring Dontaku parades or November’s Sumo tournament week can be unforgettable.

One more indulgence: Book a flexible private day to fill any gaps—shrines, ramen hops, and craft spots tailored to you:
Fukuoka Full‑Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

Departure: FUK is minutes from downtown by subway. Compare homebound fares on Kiwi.com or Trip.com flights.

Festival notes (plan ahead)

• Fukuoka: Hakata Dontaku (May 3–4), Hakata Gion Yamakasa (early–mid July), November Grand Sumo Tournament.
• Beppu: Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival (spring), autumn bamboo lantern nights in nearby towns.
• Miyazaki: Hyuga Hyottoko Summer Festival (Aug); New Year shrine visits pack Aoshima and Miyazaki Jingu.
• Kagoshima: Ohara Festival (Nov), summer fireworks over Kinko Bay.
• Kumamoto: Hinokuni Festival (Aug), castle illumination events seasonally.
• Kitakyushu: Kokura Gion Daiko (July), Mojiko Retro Spring Festival.

Budget & pacing tips

• Budget ~50/100: Mix business hotels and a few splurge nights (Suginoi or InterContinental Beppu). Eat like a local at yatai, markets, and homestyle diners; reserve one chef’s menu in Kagoshima or Fukuoka.
• Trains: Point‑to‑point tickets work well for this route; check times and seats on Trip.com trains.
• Onsens: Bring a small towel, hydrate, and go slow—Kyushu’s bliss is unhurried.