Self Drive Tour
Discover Kyushu's landscapes, culture, and history at your own pace. Drive through the island and experience all the magic Kyushu has to offer.
- Planned around you
- Welcome briefing on arrival
- Ready to drive
- Support on the road
Explore the Beauty and Culture of Kyushu on the Road
A self-drive tour gives you the freedom to explore Kyushu at your own pace, linger where you like and make spontaneous stops along the way.
The package includes a welcome service, tailored daily itinerary, accommodation with breakfast, rental car with insurance, ferry booking assistance, and at least one kaiseki dinner.
Travel well taken care of
We handle the planning and bookings, so you can focus on the journey.
Self Drive Tour Itinerary
Tap any day for a quick look — or open the full day-by-day itinerary.
After a welcome briefing at Fukuoka Airport, pick up your rental car and then travel to Beppu’s famous ‘hells’ to see the colourful hot-spring pools. On the way, you’ll stop off at Mameda-machi town, known for its craft shops and handmade dolls. End the day by trying your first onsen (a natural hot-spring bath) at your hotel.
You’ll start the day at thatched huts where you’ll see how crystals are grown from hot-spring minerals, before an optional stop at Kokonoe Yume Otsurihashi, a suspension bridge high above the treetops. In Takachiho, you’ll follow the river to a shrine tucked inside a cave, then watch masked dancers perform Yokagura (a night-time dance for the gods) that evening.
In the morning, walk the riverside path through Takachiho Gorge to the much-photographed Manai Falls. Then it’s up into the hills to Mount Aso, which is an active volcano. We'll check the gas levels and crater access the day before and again that morning to see how close you can get. Later, climb the black main keep of Kumamoto Castle for views over the city.
The day starts with a ferry from Kumamoto Port across the Ariake Sea to the Shimabara Peninsula. Here, you can walk among houses buried and preserved by volcanic mud from Mount Unzen’s eruptions in the 1990s. After dark, take the ropeway up Mount Inasa in Nagasaki. From the top, you’ll be looking out over one of Japan’s three best night-view spots, with the city lights spread across the harbour.
Your morning will include visiting Nagasaki Peace Park. This is a moving experience but there is a strong message of hope. You’ll have time to reflect, then travel to your ryokan, where you can unwind in its onsen. Dinner will be Kaiseki, and you’ll be able to try many small courses.
Your last touring day begins with a green tea class. Next, you’ll head to Okawachiyama, a village where potters were once kept from leaving so their methods stayed secret. After a look around the pottery shops, it’s back to Fukuoka, for a free evening after you return your car.
After breakfast at your hotel, the day is yours. Tenjin is the place for shopping, or take the train to Dazaifu Tenmangu, a famous shrine with a street of snack shops along the approach.
After breakfast and checkout, transfer to Fukuoka Airport for your flight home.
FAQ
Find answers about itineraries, pricing, and booking.
Your trip starts with a meet and greet at Fukuoka Airport, and you’ll have a day-by-day itinerary with restaurant suggestions. You’ll stay seven nights with breakfast, including one night at an onsen ryokan (a traditional inn with hot-spring baths) with a Kaiseki dinner. Your rental car comes with English GPS and the rental company’s standard insurance. Extra cover is offered at the rental counter, but it’s optional. We can also help you book ferries if your route needs one. At the end, a private taxi takes you to Fukuoka Airport. Throughout the trip, you’ll have pocket Wi-Fi, a WhatsApp helpline and 24-hour phone assistance.
Your car has English GPS, and we give you navigation coordinates for every stop, so you don’t need to type in Japanese addresses. There’s a Google Maps link for each stop too, as a backup. When you arrive, our staff meet you, take you to the car and show you how everything works, including the GPS.
Fuel, parking and toll road fees aren’t included, and neither are ferry fares for your car and passengers. You’ll also pay separately for entrance fees, meals not listed in your itinerary, and local city or onsen taxes, which are usually ¥500 or less per person and paid at check-out. Flights and travel insurance aren’t included either.
Send us a message through the website or on WhatsApp with your travel dates and the number of people in your group. We’ll come back with an itinerary and a quote for you to look over. A 20% deposit secures your booking.
Yes. The itinerary on this page is an example. Tell us what you enjoy and we’ll plan the route around it.
Yes, for most visitors. You’ll need your full driving licence, your passport and an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. The IDP must come from the same country as your licence and is valid for one year from issue; permits bought online aren’t accepted. If your licence is from a country such as Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan, you’ll need an official Japanese translation of your licence instead of an IDP. Please bring the originals, as the rental company can’t release the car without them. If you’re not sure which applies to you, ask us when you book.
If the weather or road conditions affect your plans, message us on WhatsApp and we’ll help you find another route. We can also book restaurants for you and check that the places you plan to visit are open. For accidents or emergencies, there’s a 24-hour phone line.
Tour Pricing
¥270,000 Estimated price per person based on 4 travellers (twin sharing). 20% deposit to secure your booking.
A self drive tour is our most popular option, blending comfort and flexibility at an approachable price.
The above is only an estimate. We customise each tour, so please reach out for your personalised quotation.
Our Lifetime Payment Guarantee: We understand that travel plans can be affected by unforeseen circumstances. If you are unable to travel for any reason, your payments are protected as a Lifetime Credit. It will be held securely for you to use toward any of our future tours at a time that suits you.
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