Day 1 Kagoshima ★ Meeting Day
All day
Today is a full-day gathering day. Everyone will take their own flights to Kagoshima, a prefecture on the southern tip of Kyushu Island, Japan. A dedicated person will be waiting to meet you at Kagoshima Airport, and then you'll begin your tour of Kagoshima City. (We recommend booking a flight arriving at Kagoshima Airport before 1:00 PM.)
Itinerary Presentation ※ First Encounter & Welcome Dinner丨Welcome to the Land of Volcanoes, the Wild Beauty of Japan
丨Gathering Day
Kagoshima Prefecture, located at the southern tip of mainland Japan, is known as the "Naples of the East" for its bay and pleasant climate. The region is geologically active, home to the large volcanoes Mount Kirishima and Mount Sakurajima. Sakurajima, an active volcano overlooking Kagoshima City, offers a close-up view of this symbol of nature's power via a short ferry ride. Cycling tours are available around the volcano, and local museums offer insights into the active volcano.
丨Xianyan Garden
Located in northern Kagoshima City, Sengan-en Garden is a representative Kagoshima attraction, founded in 1658 by Mitsuhisa, the 19th ancestor of the Shimazu family. Within the gardens, which overlook Sakurajima, are the Shoko Shushokan, a collection of cultural relics and artifacts related to the Shimazu family of Satsuma, and the Imperial Palace. Recognized as a landmark that spearheaded Japan's modernization, this area was designated a World Heritage Site in 2015.
Welcome Dinner
Kagoshima's famous delicacies are undoubtedly its nationally renowned Kuroge pork and Kuroge Wagyu beef. Today, China-TravelNote has specially arranged a welcome dinner for you to enjoy a barbecue feast that is very characteristic of Kagoshima, a place in southern Kyushu. Let your mouth and stomach be immersed in the atmosphere of Kagoshima first.
丨Explore the world and step on the line:
What are the differences between visiting the line and normal travel?
Traveling is different from ordinary travel. There will be many unexpected factors that affect the experience, but there are also gains and losses:
1. Fully experience the folk customs of many places, and stepping on the lines requires more detailed and in-depth understanding;
2. Will visit many unknown places or tourist spots that are not on the regular route;
3. Adventurousness: the itinerary may be changed at any time if unexpected attractions appear along the way;
4. It may involve interviewing special people, visiting, or attending special events.
5. You will get a video of the line-stepping record edited by us.
Our product manager will communicate with you one-on-one. For more details, please click [Notice] → [Safety Tips]
Day 2 Kagoshima → Yakushima → Western Forest Road → Nagatahama
·morning
Itinerary Presentation ※ First Look丨The Wizard of Oz in Southern Kyushu
This morning we will take a high-speed boat to Yakushima.
Yakushima, a World Heritage Island
Yakushima is a legendary place in Japan. This small island, Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts numerous natural wonders and served as the inspiration for Studio Ghibli's film, "Princess Mononoke." Approximately 90% of the island is mountainous and forested, with the highest point being Mount Miyanoura, which, at 1,936 meters, is also the summit of Kyushu. From low-lying beaches to the island's peaks, Yakushima boasts a diverse microclimate, ranging from subtropical to subarctic, fostering a diverse biodiversity. With abundant year-round rainfall, Yakushima is teeming with lush, verdant forests, including numerous ancient Yakusugi trees, some over 1,000 years old.
·afternoon
After lunch, we will drive along the Ring Road to see the three major natural wonders of Yakushima.
丨Qianxun Falls & Okawa Falls
Although called Senhiro Falls, it has nothing to do with the film "Spirited Away." The name comes from the traditional Japanese unit of length, "hiro" (1 hiro = 0.45 meters), and the gorge's total length is nearly a thousand hiro. During the rainy season, the water surges like a curtain of water, while during the dry winter months, moss-covered terraces are revealed. The falls drop approximately 60 meters, cascading down a 450-meter-long rock crevice. At high levels, the sound of the water can be heard like thunder.
Okawa Falls is Yakushima's largest waterfall, boasting a drop of 88 meters and abundant water. It's been selected as one of Japan's 100 Most Beautiful Waterfalls and is considered Kyushu's finest. The waterfall flows in two streams, converging into a deep, emerald green pool. The downstream stream, "Okawa Springs," is listed as one of Japan's 100 Most Famous Waters and is said to promote longevity. The afternoon sunlight often creates rainbows, creating a striking visual impact against the backdrop of the pristine forest.
Western Forest Road
Yakushima is one of the few World Heritage areas accessible by car. The 12-kilometer-long route connects the Setakiri Bridge to Cape Nagata, passing through pristine evergreen broad-leaved forest. It is renowned for its ecological authenticity: there are no signal towers or streetlights, traffic is controlled from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and development is prohibited to protect vegetation.
You can often see Yaku monkeys and Yaku deer roaming freely, and traffic jams often occur due to animals crossing the road. Along the way, you can see Tategami Rock, the cobalt blue coastline, and Nagata Lighthouse. The end point is near Nagata Beach, Japan's largest sea turtle nesting ground.
丨Nagatahama
Located on the northwest coast of Yakushima, Japan, this beach is one of the island's most ecologically valuable and naturally charming, and is also home to Japan's largest sea turtle nesting ground. The beach stretches for one kilometer, with fine, pale golden sand and crystal-clear waters, allowing for direct viewing of underwater life and coral reefs on clear days. Facing west, it offers one of Yakushima's best sunset viewing spots, with the silhouette of the active volcanic crater of Nagata Island visible in the distance. Backed by pristine forest, it connects to Cape Nagata on the east side, with a white lighthouse perched at the cape's end, creating a magnificent scene of mountain and sea merging.
We will return to Miyanoura Port Hotel for the night, and the next day we will go deep into the pristine jungle of Yakushima.
3. Amemugura → Shiratani Unsuikyo → Sea Turtle Museum → Yakusugi Handicraft
·morning
Itinerary Presentation ※ In-depth丨Searching for Princess Mononoke and Discovering the Secrets of Yakushima
丨Light hike in Baigu Yunshui Gorge
This tranquil forest is blanketed in rich green groundcover, including precious ferns and mosses. The intergrowth of Yakusugi and safflower creates a mysterious and enchanting dreamworld. Kazuo Oga, lead artist for the anime "Princess Mononoke," drew inspiration from the park's ancient trees and moss-covered rocks.
Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki visited Yakushima several times seeking inspiration for his creations, and he faithfully captured the island's mossy forests in his animated films. The vast forest that the protagonist saves in the film is the Shiratani Unsuikyo Forest. To authentically recreate the Shiratani Unsuikyo scenery, the film employed over 200 color palettes simply to depict the theme of "green."
·afternoon
Yakushima Sea Turtle Museum + Yakusugi Handmade Experience
After the Shiratani Unsuikyo light hike, we'll head to the Yakushima Turtle Museum, a non-profit sea turtle conservation organization that routinely conducts ecological surveys, environmental protection, and science education activities. The museum displays sea turtle specimens, egg-laying ecology data, and conservation achievements. This place is not only a symbol of ecological protection, but also conveys the concept of symbiosis between man and nature through immersive observation activities.
Afterwards, return to Miyanoura Port to experience Yakusugi woodworking. Yakusugi, an ancient cedar tree over a thousand years old, grows exclusively on Yakushima Island at altitudes above 500 meters. Its slow growth in poor soil results in dense, resin-rich wood that is highly resistant to decay. Since its designation as a World Heritage Site in 1993, logging is prohibited, and the only source material is naturally fallen trees or lightning-struck trees, making them extremely scarce.
We will try to make a special souvenir for yourself using Yakusugi wood. (The specific production type will change according to the reservation situation)
Dinner will be enjoyed at the hotel in the evening
Day 4 Yakushima → Kagoshima → Sakurajima
All day
Itinerary Presents ※Volcano丨The symbol of Kagoshima, experience the power of the active volcano up close
Today we will take the ferry from Yakushima back to Kagoshima City, and then go to Sakurajima from Kagoshima after lunch.
丨Sakurajima Volcano, the shock of nature
As an active volcano only 4 kilometers away from the city, Sakurajima is worthy of being Japan's most active volcano.
Strolling through the majestic and tranquil lava fields, you can imagine the intensity of past eruptions. If you're lucky enough to witness an eruption, you'll witness the entire dynamic, including a vast plume of gray ash being spewed thousands of meters into the air and the stench of sulfur filling the air. According to Kagoshima residents, at its peak, Sakurajima erupts over a thousand times a year, a display of natural fireworks throughout the year.
丨Cruise, everything about volcanoes
Visit the Volcano Museum, a vibrant science center nestled beneath Japan's most active volcano. The museum's dynamic volcano simulator recreates Sakurajima's 1914 Taisho eruption through light and sound effects. Combined with a vibrating floor and surround sound, the museum offers an immersive experience of the destructive power of a volcanic eruption. Dynamic monitoring displays the volcano's current seismic fluctuations, gas concentrations, and eruption warning levels (JMA 1-5), allowing visitors to observe the "breathing" patterns of an active volcano.
We will then stroll along a lava trail, quietly following the traces of the volcanic eruption, and finally arrive at the Yunohira Observation Deck, which is closest to the volcano.
After the tour, we will return to Kagoshima City by boat and stay in the planetarium area in the city center tonight.
Day 5 Kagoshima ★ Disbandment Day
All day
Itinerary Presentation ※ Farewell丨End of Yakushima, Japan
Today is the last day of the trip, which is a free day. So far, this trip to explore the world - Yakushima, Japan has come to an end.
Tourists departing by flight can take the airport bus to Kagoshima Airport opposite the CenTerrace Planetarium.
Tourists leaving Kagoshima by Shinkansen should remember to take the Shinkansen to Kagoshima Chuo (Kagoshima Chuo, not Kagoshima).
Although Japan is small, different places have completely different travel experiences. If you are interested in an in-depth trip to Japan, you can contact the product manager to find travel inspiration together.
