Kyushu, Japan’s southwestern island, blends ancient shrines, coastal scenery, hot springs, and a famously warm food culture. Fukuoka’s modern waterfront and yatai food stalls meet Nagasaki’s layered history and romantic hillside views, while nearby Kumamoto anchors the island with its samurai castle and the dramatic grasslands around Mt. Aso.

Historically, Kyushu was Japan’s open door to the world: Nagasaki’s Dejima welcomed Dutch traders during isolation, and Fukuoka’s Hakata port connected Japan to continental Asia. Today you’ll find rich cuisine—Hakata ramen, Nagasaki champon, and Kumamoto beef—plus craft coffee, galleries, and serene parks. It’s ideal for a relaxing pace with plenty of sensory rewards.

Practical notes: Kyushu’s JR trains are frequent and comfortable; cash and IC cards (e.g., Suica) are widely accepted. Spring and autumn are mild; summers are humid, and November brings Fukuoka’s Grand Sumo Tournament. This 9-day itinerary favors mid-range budgets and low-stress travel, with time for spas, coffee shops, and night strolls.

Fukuoka

Fukuoka is Kyushu’s gateway: a seaside city with leafy parks, a lively ramen culture, and Japan’s most famous open-air food stalls, the yatai. Neighborhoods are compact—Tenjin for shopping and coffee, Hakata for temples and noodle history, Momochi for sunsets and the dome.

• Top sights: Ohori Park and Japanese Garden, Kushida Shrine, Tochoji Temple’s giant Buddha, Dazaifu Tenmangu and the Kyushu National Museum, Fukuoka Tower and Momochi Beach.
• Unique activities: teamLab Forest at BOSS E・ZO (immersive art), Itoshima’s coast and cafés, Yanagawa canal cruise, seasonal sumo in November.
• Food highlights: Hakata tonkotsu ramen (try Shin-Shin or Hakata Issou), mentaiko, mizutaki chicken hotpot, and yatai hopping along Nakasu.
• Coffee picks: REC Coffee (award-winning espresso), Manu Coffee (local roaster), NO COFFEE (minimalist), and Honey Coffee (single-origin specialists).

Where to stay (mid-range friendly): Browse Grand Hyatt Fukuoka (Canal City convenience), Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk (ocean views), The OneFive Fukuoka Tenjin (value, central), and Fukuoka Hana Hostel (budget/social). Or search more stays on VRBO Fukuoka and Hotels.com Fukuoka.

Getting there and around: Fly into Fukuoka (FUK) via Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. For regional trains, use Trip.com Trains.

Nagasaki

Nagasaki’s hillsides and harbor hold centuries of stories—from early Christian heritage and Chinese temples to a solemn yet hopeful Peace Park. It’s compact, scenic, and perfect for reflective walks, evening views, and indulgent bites.

• Top sights: Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum, Dejima, Glover Garden, Chinatown, Dutch Slope, and Mt. Inasa night view.
• Food highlights: Nagasaki champon and sara-udon, castella sponge cake (look for Fukusaya or Bunmeido), and shippoku cuisine—a cross-cultural banquet.
• Cafés: Attic Coffee (harbor views), Tsubame Coffee (hand-drip), and vintage-leaning kissaten downtown.

Where to stay: Explore options on VRBO Nagasaki and Hotels.com Nagasaki. Look near Nagasaki Station or the tram lines for easy access.

Getting there from Fukuoka: Take the Relay Kamome Limited Express from Hakata to Takeo-Onsen and transfer to the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen (Kamome) to Nagasaki; about 1 hour 20–35 minutes, ~¥5,500–6,000 one-way. Book via Trip.com Trains.

Kumamoto

Kumamoto centers on its formidable black-walled castle and the tranquil Suizenji Jojuen garden, with Mt. Aso’s volcanic caldera and sweeping grasslands just beyond. It’s a photogenic, nature-forward day out from Fukuoka.

• Top sights: Kumamoto Castle (restored keep and ongoing preservation work), Suizenji Jojuen, and Aso’s Kusasenri grasslands and steaming crater (conditions permitting).
• Food highlights: Kumamoto ramen (garlicky tonkotsu), basashi (horse sashimi; specialty), Ikinari dango sweet dumplings.
• Coffee: And Coffee Roasters (city favorite) and a handful of third-wave spots near the castle town.

Where to stay (if extending): See VRBO Kumamoto and Hotels.com Kumamoto. Fukuoka–Kumamoto on the Kyushu Shinkansen takes ~45 minutes, ~¥4,500–4,900 each way.

Day 1: Arrive in Fukuoka (Afternoon arrival)

Afternoon: Land at FUK and check in near Tenjin or Hakata. Stretch your legs at Ohori Park—loop the lake and peek into the adjacent Japanese Garden for a calming first impression.

Evening: Ease into Kyushu flavors at yatai food stalls by the Naka River (Nakasu). Start with gyoza and oden, then try Hakata ramen at a stall or head to Shin-Shin (light, silky broth) or Hakata Issou (bold and creamy). Nightcap at a cozy kissaten or craft-beer bar around Haruyoshi Yatai-mura.

Day 2: Hakata history, shrines, and a guided city walk

Morning: Coffee at REC Coffee (espresso-forward) or Manu Coffee (local roaster), then visit Tochoji Temple’s giant wooden Buddha and Kushida Shrine, heart of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival.

Afternoon: Join a guided city immersion to cover highlights efficiently.

1-Day Hakata Walking Tour

Expect Tochoji, Kushida, canal-side promenades, and market nibbles with context from a local guide—great for first-timers.

Evening: Dinner at a mizutaki chicken hotpot spot (Shamojiro is a solid local-style pick) or sushi at Yamanaka (reservations recommended). Consider a short, serene soak at Manyo-no-Yu (Momochi) to sleep blissfully.

Day 3: Day Trip – Kumamoto Castle and Mt. Aso grasslands

Let someone else handle the logistics while you soak up scenery and history.

Fukuoka: Mount Aso Volcano, Kumamoto Castle, Grasslands Day Tour

Highlights include Kumamoto Castle’s imposing keeps and the sweeping plains of Aso’s caldera. Weather and volcanic conditions may affect crater access; your guide will adapt. Lunch stops often feature local beef or mountain vegetables—ask for recommendations.

Day 4: Dazaifu culture and waterfront sunset

Morning: Breakfast at Pain Stock (artisan bread) or a kissaten set (thick toast and eggs). Take the train to Dazaifu Tenmangu, dedicated to the scholar Sugawara no Michizane; sample umegae mochi (sweet bean rice cakes) warm from the griddle. If you love museums, the Kyushu National Museum next door showcases pan-Asian connections.

Afternoon: Return to the city for teamLab Forest at BOSS E・ZO near the Fukuoka Dome—immersive, playful, and very photogenic. Coffee pit stop at NO COFFEE for minimalist vibes and seasonal drinks.

Evening: Head to Momochi for golden-hour views from Fukuoka Tower and a casual seaside dinner—yakitori or a seafood izakaya along the waterfront. If you’d like a guided food crawl, book a fun night out:

Fukuoka Evening Tours: Yatai, Izakaya, Karaoke and more

Day 5: Travel to Nagasaki + Peace Park

Morning: Depart Hakata for Nagasaki via Relay Kamome + Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen (≈1.5 hours; ~¥5,500–6,000). Reserve seats and check times on Trip.com Trains. Drop bags near Nagasaki Station.

Afternoon: Visit the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park for a thoughtful, unhurried experience. The sculpture-dotted grounds invite quiet reflection.

Nagasaki Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum

Evening: Dinner in Chinatown: try champon (noodles in rich pork-seafood broth) or crispy sara-udon. For dessert, snag a slice of castella from a historic bakery and stroll the riverside bridges.

Day 6: Gunkanjima and harbor heritage

Morning: Cruise to Gunkanjima (Hashima/Battleship Island), an abandoned coal-mining island and UNESCO site that tells a stark story of Japan’s industrialization.

Gunkanjima Battleship Island Trip from Nagasaki

Afternoon: Explore Dejima (former Dutch trading post) and climb the lanes to Glover Garden for Meiji-era mansions and harbor views. Break with coffee at Attic Coffee near the waterfront.

Evening: Take the ropeway up Mt. Inasa—one of Japan’s “three best night views”—and dine back in town on shippoku cuisine: shared plates blending Chinese, Japanese, and Western influences.

Day 7: Temples, neighborhoods, and a local food tour

Morning: Walk the stone-arched Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge) and visit Kofukuji or Sofukuji, ornate Chinese Zen temples that reflect Nagasaki’s maritime roots.

Afternoon: Join a local-led tasting in central Nagasaki—perfect for foodies seeking neighborhood gems and stories.

Nagasaki Street Food Adventure: Private Walking Tour with a Local

Evening: Wind down at a kissaten with siphon coffee, or find a mellow sake bar in Hamanomachi. Keep it light with kakuni (braised pork) buns or tempura champon if you’re still peckish.

Day 8: Back to Fukuoka + river evening

Morning: Return to Fukuoka (≈1.5 hours; book via Trip.com Trains) and drop bags near Tenjin for easy shopping and dining.

Afternoon: Browse Tenjin Underground Shopping Street and the local boutiques above ground. Coffee-hop between Manu Coffee and Honey Coffee; pick up beans as souvenirs.

Evening: Celebrate your last night with an atmospheric river cruise and a guided hop to the best yatai and izakaya—stress-free and delicious.

Fantastic Hakata Night River Cruise Local Japanese Pub Yatai

Day 9: Slow morning + departure

Morning: Savour a kissaten breakfast set or a final bowl of tonkotsu at Ichiran (24-hour locations make breakfast ramen a fun twist). Pick up mentaiko and yuzu kosho at a department store food hall for gifts.

Afternoon: Head to Fukuoka Airport for your flight (it’s one subway stop from Hakata). Search fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.

Optional add-ons and relaxing alternatives

• Itoshima coastal day trip for beaches, oyster huts (winter), and café-hopping: From Fukuoka Kyushu Itoshima Hidden Gems Day Tour

  

• Yanagawa canal cruise + grilled-eel lunch—gentle and scenic: Yanagawa River Cruise and Grilled steamed Eel Lunch Private Tour

  

• Visiting in November? Catch the Kyushu Grand Sumo in Fukuoka: Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament Viewing Tour

  

Logistics, transit, and booking tips

• Flights: Check competitive fares to Fukuoka on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.
• Trains: Reserve Hakata–Nagasaki seats and check timetables with Trip.com Trains.
• Hotels: For best availability at mid-range prices, compare neighborhoods on Hotels.com Fukuoka, Hotels.com Nagasaki, and Hotels.com Kumamoto, plus apartments on VRBO.

Why this works for a relaxing, mid-range trip: Two home bases (Fukuoka and Nagasaki) minimize packing and add flexibility. Coffee shops, parks, and spa time are woven between headline sights. Optional guided tours lift the logistics load, while train hops are short and scenic.

Summary: Over nine days you’ll savor Kyushu’s contrasts—Fukuoka’s urban parks and food stalls, Nagasaki’s historic harbor and hilltop nights, and a green escape to Kumamoto and Mt. Aso. Expect great coffee, comforting noodles, reflective museums, and easy trains that keep the pace blissfully relaxed.