Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. Due to Japan’s popularity it has been necessary to go outside our traditional sources for employing tour leaders. As a result, our passionate, professional and trained tour leaders may either be Japanese or long term foreign residents in Japan.

Transport

Train , Ferry , Public Bus , Private bus , Metro , Bullet Train

Others

Takamatsu - Ritsurin Garden & Sanuki Folkcraft Museum Takamatsu - Naoshima day trip (ferry, public bus & bicycle) Matsuyama - Matsuyama Castle Usuki - Local Sake brewery visit and tasting Usuki - Japanese home-cooking experience Beppu - ’Hells’ of Beppu (Jigoku) Beppu - local onsen Beppu - Steamed lunch (Beppu style) Mount Aso - Nakadake Crater Mount Aso - Sunasenri trail hike (or Kusasenri trail, weather and access dependent) Mount Aso - Ogi Rice terraces Mount Aso - Daikanbo Observatory Nagasaki - Glover Garden Nagasaki - Peace Park & Atomic Bomb Museum Nagasaki - tram day pass

Meals

2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

Accommodation

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances. TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS: Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own. CHECK-IN TIME: Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION: If you’ve purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights. RYOKANS : & MINSHUKUS: Japanese-style accommodation - ryokans or minshukus (traditional inn/guesthouse) involve sleeping on futons or matresses on tatami mat floors, with bedding often packed away during the day. Attached bathrooms/toilets will usually be very small and many will only have shared bathing facilities with certain hours, or times available for booking at reception. Your leader will explain etiquette involved in using the shared facilities. As this style of accommodation will often not have furniture (ie. chairs or beds) in the rooms, please consider choosing a different trip style in Japan if you have difficulty getting up from the floor or have knee, hip or back issues. Some establishments may have a curfew when travellers need to be back in the accommodation - this is usually around midnight. Please also be aware that you would normally be required to change to slippers when entering into your room in such properties. Extra fees will be charged if dirty marks are left on their beddings or towels that require professional cleaning. AVAILABILITY: The recent huge increase in tourism to Japan has put a lot of pressure on accommodation. On occasion, we may need to change accommodation from what is listed in the itinerary in order to operate your departure with minimal changes. ONSENS: We like to encourage travellers to visit traditional Japanese ’onsens’ while in the country as it is a quintessential local experience. In public onsens this means bathing naked with others of the same gender. While the experience can feel strange at first for some, most of our groups end up enjoying this activity. There is very specific etiquette for visiting onsens - your leader can give you some tips and instructions. Please be aware that travellers with tattoos may not be permitted to enter public onsens. Private onsens may also be available - talk to your leader for more information. See our guide to onsens here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/japan-onsen-guide/ Hotel (9 nights), Homestay (1 night), Japanese Inn (1 night)

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services not included

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Flights

International flights not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

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Day 1 Day 1: Osaka
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Osaka

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Your adventure begins in vibrant Osaka, the country’s unofficial culinary capital, whose motto is ’Kuidaore’ (eat until you drop). Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you’ll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. You can arrive at any time during the day, as no activities are planned until then. After the meeting, perhaps join your new travel companions for an optional dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2 Day 2: Takamatsu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Takamatsu

Depart Osaka this morning and begin the journey west. Take the train across the bridge spanning the stunning Inland Sea and onto Takamatsu. This may be the largest city on the island of Shikoku (the smallest of Japan’s four main islands), but it’s a beautifully unpretentious town full of history, top-notch food and interesting local art. Here, you’ll visit Ritsurin Garden – one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. Dating back to the Edo period, it comprises several ponds and arched bridges designed around strolling paths, tea pavilions and historic trees, with a western garden in addition to the Japanese one. The garden also houses the Sanuki Folkcraft Museum, which displays a variety of ceramics and basketwork dating from the time of the Tokugawa shoguns.
Day 3 Day 3: Naoshima Island/Takamatsu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Naoshima Island/Takamatsu

Take the ferry this morning for a daytrip to the island of Naoshima, in the Inland Sea between Takamatsu and the mainland – famous worldwide for its modern art galleries, museums, avant-garde architecture and lovely natural setting. Explore the island by public bus or bicycle to take you between the galleries and installations. Wander between artworks, hear the sound of waves lapping at quiet coves and stumble upon the wonderful outdoor sculptures. Return to Takayama after a full day on the island, where you’ll have a free night.
Day 4 Day 4: Matsuyama
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Matsuyama

This morning, take the train and head west to Matsuyama – one of Japan’s least discovered prefectures coined ‘the citrus state’ by the locals. When you arrive and have maybe picked up a mikan (mandarin) or two, visit the hill-top Matsuyama Castle with your group. This is one of Japan’s most impressive surviving castles, sitting right in the middle of the city. Unlike most castles in Japan, this one has an exciting collection of artefacts inside, so take the chance to check them out and learn a little more about Matsuyama’s feudal history while you’re there. This afternoon, you’ll have some free time to relax and unwind at the Dogo Onsen – one of the oldest bath houses in Japan – or if you’d prefer more exploration, maybe visit Ishiteji Temple – the 51st of the 88 temples that make up Shikoku’s 88 Sacred Temples circuit (Japan’s most famous pilgrimage route).
Day 5 Day 5: Usuki
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Usuki

Get ready for a bit of a travel day today. Jump on a train and then ferry for Usuki, on Kyushu Island – the third largest of Japan’s four main islands. When you arrive around midday, take a public bus to the village to visit the local sake brewery, where you’ll get to see how sake (the national drink of Japan, beloved by the locals) is made, followed by a tasting of the brewery’s finest. Then, carry on to your homestay. When you arrive, your hosts will be waiting for you to welcome you into their home. Your evening will be filled with collaborative dinner preparation, followed by a feast of delicious home-cooked dishes. Share stories with your hosts, get to know about their life here and learn a few things about Japanese cooking that you can bring home with you.
Day 6 Day 6: Beppu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Beppu

Say goodbye to your hosts after a traditional home-cooked breakfast. Then, head to Beppu, famous for its variety of hot springs and onsens in Kyushu. Have lunch at a specialty restaurant that offers a unique dining experience where you can select the food you’d like, put the dishes in a steamer and watch as they’re cooked by the steam of the hot springs! This means your food will be infused with all the healthy minerals of the baths. Then, you’ll visit Jigoku (which translates to ’hell’) – a collection of differently coloured steaming hot spring pools with different benefits. After, head to a local onsen for a relaxing soak. The evening is yours to spend your way in this relaxing city.
Day 7 Day 7: Beppu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Beppu

Today is a free day in Beppu. This is the perfect opportunity to take it easy in this onsen town, soaking your muscles and taking advantage of the benefits. Maybe explore other onsens in the city or alternatively, explore Beppu at your own pace. Maybe check out Jigoku Onsen Museum or take the Mount Tsurumi ropeway to the top for views overlooking the city. The lower station of the ropeway is a great spot for cherry blossom season! You might like to visit the Yawata Asami Shrine, Beppu Tower or take a daytrip out the nearby Yufuin town. The day is yours!
Day 8 Day 8: Mount Aso
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Mount Aso

Today is all about chasing views! Hop in your private transfer this morning and head to Mt Aso, stopping at Ogi Rice Terrace along the way. Soak up the scenic landscape of Ogi between Mt Aso and the Kuju Mountains Range. When you’ve snapped some photos, head on to the Daikanbo Observatory for some excellent views of the five central peaks of the mountain. This viewpoint is also known as the Nehan-zo, or Nirvana Buddha, referencing the image of Buddha in repose. Stop for lunch, then get ready for a hike either on the moon-like Sunesenri trail to Nakadake Crater – the largest among the five craters of the mountain or to Kusasenri trail on the grassland, depending on crater’s accessibility. After your hike, continue your journey to your accommodation for tonight – you’ll be staying in a traditional Japanese inn, right in the caldera formed from ancient volcano eruptions. Surrounded by rice fields, you’re in for a peaceful night here.
Day 9 Day 9: Nagasaki
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Nagasaki

This morning, say goodbye to your scenic guesthouse and hop back on the train to Nagasaki, arriving in the early afternoon. Nagasaki was the sole port in Japan to trade with Dutch and Portuguese back in the 16th century, so city has a fascinating mixture of traditional Japanese and western architectural influence. Follow your leader on an orientation walk, then head over to Glover Garden – an open air museum where you can see some of the old foreign merchant houses. See the Former Glover House, the oldest wooden western style building, and learn about a unique part of history in Nagasaki. You then have a free afternoon, so maybe ask your leader where to grab dinner.
Day 10 Day 10: Nagasaki
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Nagasaki

Wake up in Nagasaki this morning – the coastal city set on a natural harbour has surrounding hills with many viewpoints over the scenic hub. Visit the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum for a sobering reminder of what happened on that dreadful day – the 9th of August 1945. If you wish to reflect and explore further, there are some other interesting museums nearby worth visiting. You will have a day pass for the trams in the city, so take the time to explore Nagasaki in your free afternoon. Consider heading over to Dejima – this artificial island was once a Dutch trading post in the 17th to the 19th centuries (and the sole foreign presence in the whole country at one point). The 26 Martyrs Memorial, Oura Catholic Church, and Dutch Slopes also give you a glimpse into the life of the early Christians and European traders in Japan. The Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region are also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This evening, maybe slurp up some champon noodles (ramen, Nagasaki-style)!
Day 11 Day 11: Osaka
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Osaka

Say goodbye to Kyushu and jump on the shinkansen back to Osaka. When you arrive this afternoon, soak up some free time to relax or explore. Tonight, why not head out for dinner and drinks with your leader and fellow travellers, to celebrate an amazing trip in southern Japan.
Day 12 Day 12: Osaka
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Osaka

With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end this morning. That doesn’t mean your time in Japan has to end! There is plenty to do and explore in Osaka, so if you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

12 days tour

Southern Japan Experience

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Southern Japan Experience

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

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