Yōkoso, Kyushu!
5 Days in Kyushu: Fukuoka, Yufuin, Beppu, Kumamoto & Mount Aso
Overview
Day By Day ItineraryBook before you go
Must See Attractions
Private Fukuoka Tour with a Local, Highlights & Hidden Gems 100% PersonalisedBook now 
teamLab Forest Fukuoka TicketBook now 
BOSS E ZO FUKUOKA Amusement Facility Ticket in FukuokaBook now 
Fukuoka Tower Admission TicketBook now 
Historical Hakata TourBook now 
Fukuoka Your Way: 100% Customisable Private Tour with Local GuideBook now 
Fukuoka Nakasu River Cruise TicketBook now 
Fukuoka: Nakasu Food Stall Private Guided Tour with TastingsBook now
A Little About This Trip
Five days gives this Kyushu road trip enough room to add Yufuin and Beppu without losing the places I would prioritize most! 🚗 You’ll begin with Fukuoka’s shrines, food, and yatai 🍜, then spend day two pairing Yufuin’s storybook shops and Lake Kinrin with Beppu’s steaming geothermal hells and an onsen soak. You’ll then continue to Kumamoto for the castle, Sakura no Baba Jōsaien, Kumamon Square, Akaushi beef, and basashi. 🏯♨️
The final two days trade city time for Mount Aso’s volcanic landscapes, Kurokawa Onsen, and Takachiho Gorge and Takachiho Shrine, with a café stop and nagashi somen at Chiho no Ie. 🌋 If you would rather give Fukuoka more time before leaving the city, use my 2-day Fukuoka itinerary or 3-day Fukuoka itinerary. If you have less time, the 4-day Kyushu itinerary keeps the Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Mount Aso, and Takachiho core. If you can add one more day, the 6-day itinerary continues south to Kagoshima at the end of the road trip.
Itinerary Map Overview
Try another dayTap Day 2 to update the route.
Explore nearbySwitch between hotels and experiences.
Day OneFukuoka Highlights: Fukuoka Castle, teamLab Forest & Hakata
- Maizuru Park · Momochi · Hakata
- 8 stops
Stop 1~ 2 hours
Fukuoka Castle Ruins & Ōhori Park
Why this stop?
- Hilltop ruins turn Maizuru Park into a history walk with sweeping city views
- Ōhori Park adds a lake loop, island bridges, and a Japanese garden
- The early blossoms were SO beautiful during my first spring trip to Japan! 🌸
Stop 2~ 1 hour
teamLab Forest Fukuoka
Why this stop?
- An interactive digital forest where projected animals react to your movement
- Catch and release digital creatures to build your own collection
- Climb, balance, and jump through artwork that changes around you ✨
Practical Tips
- Wear secure, flat shoes; unstable footwear restricts interactive areas. visitor information
Stop 3~ 1 hour
BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA
Why this stop?
- An indoor entertainment complex mixing rooftop thrills, VR, baseball, Sanrio, and digital art
- SUBE-ZO drops you through a 100-meter tube slide outside the building
- You can choose one attraction or turn the building into an entire playful afternoon 🎢
Stop 4~ 2 hours
Fukuoka Tower
Why this stop?
- A mirrored 234-meter tower rises like a sail beside Hakata Bay
- The observation room opens wide views across the city, sea, and distant mountains
- After dark, the illuminated tower becomes part of the skyline 🌆
Practical Tips
- Visit around sunset for daylight, golden hour, and city lights.
Stop 5~ 1 hour
Tochoji Temple
Why this stop?
- A peaceful Hakata temple hiding an enormous wooden Buddha inside
- The bright five-story pagoda is one of Old Town’s prettiest landmarks
- The quiet grounds create an easy pause while exploring Old Town
Practical Tips
- Photography is prohibited near the Buddha; its passage becomes completely dark.
Stop 6
Kushida Shrine
Why this stop?
- Hakata’s guardian shrine connects everyday worship with its famous Yamakasa festival
- The calm grounds and enormous decorative float were SO striking! 😍
Stop 7~ 1 hour
Fukuoka Nakasu River Cruise
Why this stop?
- A quick boat ride revealing central Fukuoka from an entirely different angle
- Glide past Canal City, riverside yatai, and Nakasu’s bright skyline
- Some sailings add live singing onboard for an extra-fun city view 🎶
Stop 8~ 2 hours
Nakasu Yatai Food Stalls
Why this stop?
- Tiny open-air stalls where everyone squeezes around one lively counter
- The riverside setting makes dinner feel completely different from a regular restaurant
- Our random stall served one of the BEST ramen bowls I’ve ever had! 🍜
Day TwoYufuin, Beppu & Attack on Titan Statues
- Oyama · Yufuin · Beppu
- 6 stops
Stop 1~ 1 hour
Oyama Dam: Attack on Titan Statues
Why this stop?
- Young Eren, Mikasa, and Armin face a 94-meter dam like Wall Maria
- Standing below makes the Attack on Titan scene feel surprisingly real! ⚔️
Stop 2~ 1 hour
Lake Kinrin
Why this stop?
- Lake reflections, mountain views, and a torii create Yufuin’s quiet little reset
- Its peaceful shore sits surprisingly close to bustling Floral Village 🏞️
Practical Tips
- Visit early for a quieter stroll before nearby shops open.
Stop 3~ 1 hour
Yufuin Floral Village
Why this stop?
- Themed shops, cafés, animals, and character corners create a tiny storybook world
- Ghibli finds and Miffy treats made this ridiculously cute place SO fun! 🛍️
Stop 4~ 2 hours
Cook yourself a meal using hot spring steam!
Why this stop?
- Cook vegetables, eggs, seafood, or meat using Beppu’s natural hot-spring steam
- Turning the city’s geothermal energy into lunch was such a fun experience! ♨️
Stop 5~ 2 hours
Seven Hells of Beppu
Why this stop?
- Seven viewing springs create a geothermal tour of blue, red, and earthy pools
- I loved how completely different each surreal, steam-filled “hell” looked ♨️
Stop 6~ 1 hour
Umi no Hotel Hajime Onsen
Why this stop?
- Private open-air baths overlook the water after a geothermal sightseeing day
- Having the bath to ourselves was SUCH a peaceful, special finish 🌊♨️
Day ThreeKumamoto: Castle, Basashi, and Kumamon!
- Kumamoto Castle
- 5 stops
Stop 1
Kumamoto Castle
Why this stop?
- A modern museum fills Kumamoto’s landmark black-and-white keep amid massive stone walls
- Construction, siege, and earthquake-recovery exhibits made this layered visit SO impressive!
Stop 2
Sakura no Baba Jōsaien
Why this stop?
- Castle-town-style shops and restaurants make an easy introduction to Kumamoto Castle
- I loved browsing local food and distinctive souvenirs along peaceful Sakuranokoji 🏯
Stop 3
Akaushi - Kumamoto Wagyu
Why this stop?
- Try Aso-region Akaushi through steak donburi, grilled cuts, or curry
- My simple steak bowl was delicious—definitely make room for this local beef! 🥩
Stop 4
Kumamon Square
Why this stop?
- Kumamon’s home base combines an interactive stage show, playful displays, and packed shop
- His dancing show was geared toward kids, but I had SUCH a great time! 🐻
Stop 5
Basashi (Horse Sashimi) at Aoyagi
Why this stop?
- Taste Kumamoto’s basashi through multiple preparations in a seasonal kaiseki meal
- The liver was a favorite, and this basashi surpassed every version I’d tried! 🤩
Practical Tips
- Request a reservation online or call the restaurant.
Day FourMount Aso, Nabegataki Falls & Kurokawa Onsen
- Mount Aso · Oguni · Kurokawa Onsen
- 5 stops
Stop 1
Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine
Why this stop?
- Lantern-lined stairs climb through mossy cedars toward a dramatic rock opening
- The misty woods felt like stepping directly into Hotarubi no Mori e ✨
Stop 2~ 1 hour
Daikanbo
Why this stop?
- See across Aso Valley from the caldera’s dramatic northern rim
- The central peaks’ reclining-Buddha outline reveals the caldera’s enormous scale 🌋
Stop 3~ 1 hour
Nabegataki Falls
Why this stop?
- Walk behind a broad waterfall curtain inside a wooded rocky recess
- Looking outward through the cascade gives the falls a completely different perspective 🌿
Practical Tips
- Reserve timed entry online before arriving. reservations
- Stairs, steep slopes, and spray require shoes with grip. park information
Stop 4
Kurokawa Onsen Hopping
Why this stop?
- Wander Kurokawa in yukata between riverside, forest, and cave-like outdoor baths
- Bath hopping made the WHOLE town feel like part of the experience! ♨️
Practical Tips
- Buy the wooden bath-hopping pass when you arrive.
Stop 5
Stay at a Ryokan
Why this stop?
- An overnight ryokan stay lets you enjoy Kurokawa after day-trippers leave
- Ichinoi’s sashimi, basashi, hot pot, and yellow-watermelon kaiseki was one of my BEST! 🍉
Book this stopRyokan Ichinoi
Similar Experiences
Day FiveTakachiho: Sacred Shrines & Takachiho Gorge
- Amanoiwato · Takachiho Gorge
- 4 stops
Stop 1~ 1 hour
Amaterasu no Kakure Café
Why this stop?
- Soft serve, drinks, and light bites create a playful sacred-site break
- Our colorful treats were exactly the reset we needed 🍦
Stop 2
Nagashi Somen at Chiho no Ie
Why this stop?
- Catch cold somen rushing down bamboo before dipping it into sauce
- The noodles were delicious, but chasing lunch was the BEST part! 🤣
Stop 3
Takachiho Gorge
Why this stop?
- Patterned basalt cliffs surround the green Gokase River and Manai Falls
- Rowing right beside the waterfall made such a sweet date! 🥹
Practical Tips
- Reserve boats when the two-week booking window opens.
Stop 4~ 1 hour
Takachiho Shrine
Why this stop?
- Towering cedars surround peaceful wooden halls near Takachiho’s center
- Nightly masked dance, flutes, and drums bring local mythology to life ⛩️🎭
Before You Go to Kyushu
Five days is enough for a rewarding northern and central Kyushu route, but it is still a fast-moving road trip. This version travels from Fukuoka through Yufuin and Beppu to Kumamoto, Mount Aso, Kurokawa Onsen and Takachiho without pretending to cover the entire island.
A rental car is strongly recommended from the Mount Aso portion onward. Fukuoka and Kumamoto work well by rail and local transit, but the rural volcano, onsen, gorge and Oita stops become much easier to connect by car.
Keep exploring
- Kyushu · 4 days
4 Days in Kyushu: Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Mount Aso & Takachiho
- Kyushu · 6 days
6-Day Kyushu Road Trip: Fukuoka, Yufuin, Kumamoto, Takachiho & Kagoshima
- Kyushu · 7 days
7-Day Kyushu Road Trip: Fukuoka, Yufuin, Kumamoto, Takachiho & Kagoshima
- Kyushu · 8 days
8-Day Kyushu Road Trip: Fukuoka, Yufuin, Kumamoto, Takachiho & Kagoshima
