Oku Japan has launched a new self-guided tour on the island of Kyūshū. The eight-day “Kyūshū’s Hidden History” self-guided itinerary represents a new style for Oku Japan, combining elements of its classic walking tours, complete with three hikes through the island, complemented by new “Exploration Days” in bustling cities and historical towns.
“This tour is both our first ‘Walk and Explore’ offering, and first self-guided trip on the island of Kyūshū,” says Hiroshi Kawaguchi, general manager for Oku Japan.
The third largest of Japan’s four main islands, Kyūshū is considered the cradle of Japanese civilization. It was through here that foreign traders arrived in the country, and the centuries of trade formed the region’s cultural fabric as much as its volcanic activity formed its land. Even during the Edo period, when Japan sequestered itself from outside influence, foreign merchants from a select few countries were able to conduct business via Nagasaki’s trading post of Dejima.
On this new eight-day, “Walk and Explore” self-guided trip, guests will travel from the onsen town of Beppu on Kyūshū’s eastern coast to the western port city of Nagasaki. Along the way, travelers will explore Usuki, once the domain of a Christian daimyo—despite the Tokugawa shogunate’s enforced ban of the religion—and the home of dozens of mysterious Buddhist sculptures of unknown origins; the Kusasenri Plain, located in the Aso Caldera, the largest in Japan; and Mount Unzen, a cluster of volcanic peaks and geothermal vents.
The tour features three hikes, including a trek around the island of Ōnyūjima, followed by a night at a local farm in Saiki. The next is a hike up to the peak of Mount Eboshidake, which stands at 4,386 feet, and is part of the Mount Aso group. Guests will also hike up to the peak of Mount Myōkendake, part of the Mount Unzen cluster, where they will be rewarded with views of the Shimabara Peninsula.
Oku Japan will offer detailed directions for guests to explore the region’s cultural landmarks, besides recommendations of things to see and do, as well as important historical information. Accommodations on this trip include Western-style hotels, onsen ryokans, family-run guesthouses, and a night at a farm.
Departures are recommended from March until November. Prices include accommodations, daily breakfast and four dinners, train tickets for intermediate journeys on the trip, ferry trip from Kumamoto Port to Shimabara Port, maps, entrance fees for the Inaba Family Villa and Usuki Stone Buddhas, four pre-paid taxis, local support over telephone and Oku Japan’s “Preparing for your Trip” and “Traveling to Japan” guidebooks.
For more information, visit OkuJapan.com.
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