Summary
One of Japan’s greatest attractions is its blend of the modern and the traditional. On this 12-day trip, you’ll veer off the main island of Honshu and travel to the less-touristed southwest. Discover revived art on the island of Naoshima, wander the castle in Matsuyama and spend a night in a tranquil homestay in the village of Usuki. Steam away your worries in the onsens in Beppu and be treated to a night in the volcanic Mt Aso, staying right in the middle of a caldera in a traditional Japanese inn surrounded by rice terraces. Remind yourself of the sobering history of Nagasaki and end it all back where it began – in thriving Osaka. This adventure is the ultimate combination of modern art, bullet trains, countryside villages, traditional inns, delicious feasts and onsens, surrounded by impressive views of rice terraces, volcano craters and grasslands. If you’re looking for a new side of Japan – head to the south!
Short Itinerary / Route
- Day 1
- Osaka
- Day 2
- Takamatsu
- Day 3
- Naoshima Island/Takamatsu
- Day 4
- Matsuyama
- Day 5
- Usuki
- Day 6
- Beppu
- Day 7
- Beppu
- Day 8
- Mount Aso
- Day 9
- Nagasaki
- Day 10
- Nagasaki
- Day 11
- Osaka
- Day 12
- Osaka
Travel Cities (7): Beppu, Matsuyama, Mount Aso, Nagasaki, Osaka, Takamatsu, Takayama