Japan Drive Route Guide

This day will head from Fukuoka to Yufuin/Beppu a nationally famous hot spring resort.
Mileage is about 160㎞. However, this day has many attractions, and in today's highlights Yufuin and Beppu, most of the shops and sightseeing spots close about 17-18 o'clock. It is recommended to start 8:00～9:00 if you don't lile huried travel.
The first destination should be "Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine(太宰府天満宮)" the most famous shrines in Kyushu. You can enjoy walking along the approach of the shrine where has many shop of local products and food. If you like sweets and fruit, it is god idea to go to fruit picking after the shrine. "Hita old town(日田の古い町並み)" is located good place to have lunch. Our daily driving map will guide you to recommended eel restaurant, ”Hita Yakisoba” the local grilled noodle erstaurant and so on. Then let's facing to Yuhuin. The main street "Yufuin Yunotsubo street(由布院湯の坪街道)" is filled with charming shops selling localproducts and food too and you can enjoy walking to small beautiful "Lake Kinrinko(金鱗湖)".
It is 25km away from Yufuin to Beppu and dakes about 40 minutes. Highlight "Beppu Jigoku Hells(別府地獄めぐり)" is highly recommended but is closed at 17:00. If you stay in Yufuin or Beppu continuously or will return back to Fukuoka tomorrow, it would be good visit Beppu on the next day. If you travel to Aso tomorrow, it might be better to skip the Hita old town to keep time to visit Beppu.
Onsen is wating for you to heal your fatigue.
In addition, we recommend you different place at cherry blossom period in spring and autumn coloured leaves period with our daily driving map.. It is really worth to see and please priority there.

This day will head from Yufuin/Beppu to Aso. Mileage is 140㎞ only. However, this day has many attractions and it is recommended to start 8:00～9:00 if you don't lile huried travel.
The first destination is "Kokonoe Suspension Bridge(九重夢大吊橋)". In particular, you can see wonderful colored leaves in the Autumn. Then you can stop by farm which provide fresh yogurt drinks and beautiful wetland which has 1 - 2.5km walking trails. "Kurokawa Onsen town(黒川温泉)" is good place to have lunch. Our daily driving map will let you know nice recommended restaurants there.
The biggest highlight on this day is driving along the Aso Sky Line from "Skyline observatory" to "Daikanbo Observatory(大観峰)". Driving on outer rim of a Aso caldera will be your lifetime unforgettable memory. If you have time, let's go to "Kusasenri(草千里)". Breathtaking panoramic grass plains are waiting for you.
Aso area where you stay this day is countryside and you had better to eat dinner at your inn. Then please control your schedule to reach your inn by 18 around o'clock.

This day will head from Aso to Miyazaki famous hot spring resorts. Because of long mileage 210km, it is recommended to start 8:00～9:00 if you don't lile huried travel.
The biggest highlight of this day is "Takachiho Gorge(高千穂峡)" one of the most beautiful gorge in Japan and it can be highlight of your Kyushu travel too. It is located inconvenient area but you can visit there by your car easily. They have rental boat and highly recommended to try boating in amazing view.
"Kunimigaoka Observatory(国見ヶ丘展望台)" near the gorge is also worth to visit. You will be amazed due to 360 degree mountain view.
There are not many restaurants there but our daily driving map will suggest you nice soba restaurant, Beef steak restaurants and so on.
Then let's move to "Umagase(馬ヶ背)" a beautiful cape where you can sea panoramil ocean view. If you still have time before heading to Miyazaki, you can stop by "Mimitsu Town(美々津)". It is not well-known small fisherman's village which is listed as preserved district of traditional buildings.
We recommend you to take highway from Takachiho gorge to Umagase and Umagase to Miyazaki due to no sightseeing spots.
In addition, There are amazing cherry blossom places spring. If you will travel in sprong, our daily driving map will guide you these spots. It is really worth to see and please priority there.

This day will head from Miyazaki to Kagoshima. Because of long mileage 210km, it is recommended to start 8:00～9:00 if you don't lile huried travel.
The first destination is "Aoshima Island(青島 鬼の洗濯板)" an island with unique terrain called demon's washboard. After coming back to Miyazaki, let's take highway to Miyakonojo(都城) city whose production of the meat is the highest in all ove Janan. Of cause beaf BBQ restaurant is recommended but our daily driving map will guide you other nice Itarian restaurant and cheap and good Udon noodle restauant too.
After lunch, why don't you enjoy 30 min walking at "Sekinoo Falls(関之尾の滝甌穴郡)" with unique terrein river?
Then, you can face to Kirishima(霧島)area. "Kirishima Shrine(霧島神宮)"which founded more than 1000 years ago is must-see. There are many other sightseeing spots like farm, highland, park which Onsen steam blowing us from the ground and so on.
There are not many sightseeing spots from Kirishima to Kagoshima and better to take highway.
In addition, there are amazing cherry blossom places on this route. If you will travel in spring, our daily driving map will guide you these spots. It is really worth to see and please priority there.

This day will head from Kagoshima to Kumamoto. Because of long mileage 2000km, it is recommended to start 8:00～9:00 if you don't lile huried travel.
If you haven't been "Shiroyama Park Observation Deck(城山公園展望台)" and "Senganen Garden-仙巌園" in Kagoshima city, you should visit there first.
Then, let's drive to first destination "Maruike Spring Water Park-丸池湧水". There is no sightseeing spots from Kagoshima city to here and better to take highway.
The biggest highlight of this day is "Sogi Falls(曽木の滝)". This is a great water fall which is called Eastern Naiagara whose width is 210m. It can be highlight of your whole trip too. Highly recommended.
Then, let's drive to Hitoyoshi city. You can visit a very unique shrine "Aoi Aso Shrine(青井阿蘇神社)" which has thatched roof.
It is recommended to have a lunch in this city too. There are nice Eel, Ramen and Gyoza resaurant in this city and our daily driving map will guide you there.
There is no sightseeing spots from Hitoyoshi city to Kumamoto too and recommended to take highway. It will be long journey and you may reach Kumamoto at night. You can visit sightseeing spots in Kumamoto city tomorrow.

This day will head from Kumamoto to Nagasaki. Mileage is about 110km only but you need to take car ferry from Kumamoto port to Shimabara port. You had better to reach Kumamoto port at reast before 13:00 to take 13:40 ferry.
The symbol of the city ”Kumamoto castle(熊本城)” is under reconstruction from the damage of the earthquake. It may be nicer to visit sonderful Japanese garden "Suizenji Jojuen Garden(水前寺成趣園)".
Recommended lunch on this day is Kumamoto Ramen.
You need to take "Kyusho Ferry(九商フェリー)" from Kumamoto port to Shimabara port. It is 1 hour voyage to Shimabara port.
Our daily driving map will let you know details about Kyusho ferry and how to take it.
From Shimabara port, let's move to "Unzen Jigoku Hell(雲仙地獄)". Unzen is famous for its volcanoes and Onsen. You can see fantastic scene with steam blowing out from the ground. If the weather is nice, it is nice to stop by "Nita Pass 2nd Lookout(仁田峠第二展望所)" to see spectacular views looking over the Shimabara town. Nagasaki is 70km away from Kumamoto port and due to no highway, it takes about 2 hours.
After dinner, it is highly recommended to take "Nagasaki Ropeway(長崎ロープウェイ)" to "Mt.Inasayama observatory(稲佐山展望台)". Japan Top 3 night veiw is waiting for you.

This day will head from Nagasaki to Takeo/Ureshino. Since mileage is long(about 170km) without highway and it is recommended to start 8:00～9:00 if you don't lile huried travel.
If you haven't visit major sightseeing spots in Nagasaki such as "Nagasaki Peace Park(長崎平和公園)", "Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum(長崎原爆資料館)" or "Dejima(出島)”, let's visit there first.
After that, let's drive to "Roadside Station YuhigaokaSotome(道の駅 夕陽が丘そとめ)". From there, you can enjoy refreshing driving through beautiful coastal road "Nagasaki Sunset Road". Then you can move to Sasebo city via "Saikaibashi Bridge(西海橋)".
Recommended lucnch on this day is either oyster or Sasebo burger. Our daily driving map will let you now nice shop and you must try.
Today's biggest highlight is "Ishidake Observatory(石岳展望台)". You can enjoy 360 degree panolamic view with Kujukushima(99 islands) and Sasebo city with huge shipyard. Another "Tenkaiho Observatory(展海峰)" is more famous but the view from hear is more great.
If you still have time, you can stop by pottery town Arita and go to your inn. At night, please take a rest with Onsen in either Takeo or Ureshino.
In addition, there are amazing cherry blossom and azelea places on this route. If you will travel in spring, our daily driving map will guide you these spots. It is really worth to see and please priority there.

This day will go back to Fukuoka from Takeo/Ureshino. Because of long mileage 190km and many sightseeing spots, it is recommended to start 8:00～9:00 if you don't lile huried travel.
If you haven't visit "Mifuneyama Rakuen garden(御船山楽園)" near Takeo, famous pottery town Arita and "Imari Okawa Uchiyama(伊万里大川内山)", it is recommended to go there first.
The biggest hightlight on this day is "Kagamiyama Observatory(鏡山西展望台)". This is a observatory where you can see very panolamic scenery with Karatsu bay and "Niji no Matsubara Pine Tree Forest(虹の松原)".It is highly recommended. After that you can drive through the forest and move to Yobuko(呼子) town to have a lunch. Their speciality is squid and you can taste amazing flesh squid you may never eaten before. Our daily driving map will guide you recommended restaurant. If you still have time, let's stop by "Sakurai Futamigaura Couple Rock(桜井二見ヶ浦の夫婦岩)" to take typical Japan-ish photo with Torii gate stainding in the sea.
If you have been Karatsu and Yobuko already, you can go back to Fukuoka with another route.
You can travel to Yanagawa town via "Yutoku Inari Shrine(祐徳稲荷神社)"."Ohana Shotoen(御花松涛園)" is an old house and amazing Japanese garden which was built about 300 years ago. You can try traditional grilled eel and cheap and good local Udon noodle for lunch.
"Yame Chuo Tea Gaden(八女中央大茶園)" is highly recommended to visit. It is the secret spot where can be reach by car only and you will be amazed due to panolamic scenery covered with green tea trees. If you would like to enjoy shopping before going back to your country, you can stop at "Tosu Premium Outlets(鳥栖プレミアムアウトレット)".
There are some traffic jam adound Fukuoka and it takes time to filling up gas and return your car too. If you don't stay Fukuoka and take flight on this day, please reach rental car shop at least 3 hours before the flight.