Kyushu in the fall
 

We are hoping to visit Kyushu this fall and specifically hoping to spend much of our time on Yakushima.
Hiking and generally being outdoors is our hope. We would also like to visit Yafuin . Is there a better time to go - early October to early November ? Any recommendations about places to stay would be appreciated. Thanks.

We spent two nights at the Sankara on Yakushima on our honeymoon over New Year 2013. Not cheap, but it's worth every penny if you ask me.

There really aren't many hotels on the island. Seems most Japanese visitors stay at the numerous minshuku/B&Bs.

We visited in late October/ early November 2013 and the weather was perfect for us. Sunny days, nice weather, not super hot, the fall colours were starting to come through. It was a lovely time to visit. We don't do hiking so can't comment on that, but we self-drove around the northern half of Kyushu and loved it.

Thanks to you both. I have read your detailed reports which are wonderful. Will be coming back with more questions as we plan. Thanks.

okoshi2002,
Fall is a good season for Kyushu. October or November? I'd choose October, slightly longer days and warmer temperatures although the difference may be slight. Room rates and availability may differ as well. We stayed at the Iwasaki. Quite a stunning property with hiking trail to waterfall on site. Also onsen baths and fine dining on property. The public bus also stops right at lobby(or did), better check.. The bus also stopped at the JR hotel which is close by, as is the Sankara on this part of the island, Onoaida.

Iwasaki is a great spot but for the next trip I've bookmarked a hotel called Yakushima Sanso. Close to Anbo port, and why pay for resort hotel when most of time spent away from property? Couldn't find any online links to it though so maybe closed?

We arrived at Yakushima by hydrofoil, rkkwan's, air transport method would save a lot of time and is something I would consider.

Also next time we will rent a car and/or hire a guide for a better in depth hiking experience. Cost benefit of someone knowing trails plants history is worth it.
This guide has a blog and I think she was mentioned by another fodorite in a Kyushu post.
http://yakushimalife.blogspot.com/

Japan Times article
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/201.../#.VsIR5pMrIcB

If you're hiking all the obvious, good rain gear foot wear advice.
Hope to hear a trip report and wishing you a great time.

Thanks for suggestion regarding Iwasaki and Yakushima Sanso will check them out.

Renting a car on Yakushima island sounds reasonable. Any suggestions on vendor ?

We had hoped to visit Yafuin and or Kurokawa onsen. Are they easy to access from Fukuoka if using public transportation ?

Thanks.

okoshi2002,
We took a bus from Kumamoto to Kurokawa which was fun as we had a scenic tour of Mt Aso area which the route goes through.
If you check the link below you can see the various routes.
In retrospect we would get of the bus in Aso on the return trip and head out to Kagoshima from there. We did enjoy staying in Kumamoto but it looks like you could get to Kurokawa from Fukuoka or Yufuin.
We liked riding the bus as it was comfortable and gave us a good ground level view

http://www.kurokawaonsen.or.jp/eng_new/access/#access01

Can't help about car rental, thats still on my list of must do's.
Some good advice about it on this forum.

In Yufuin we stayed at the Yufuin Shuhokan, we enjoyed it but don't know if we'd go back, probably try somewhere else.
A lot of listings on booking.com for this area.
We used public transport with one week of North Kyushu pass and one week of all Kyushu Pass with some bus , taxi and hydrofoil.

Rental car is a must for Yakushima. Public transportation is very very limited and infrequent.

I suggest you just book through ToCoo.jp. And if you've read my trip report, you'll see the problem with renting at Anbo. I suggest you arrive either by air, or by jetfoil into Miyanoura. Not into the small village of Anbo.

Thanks rkkwan and kalihiwai.

We love using public transportation but it sounds like in Kyushu a rental vehicle might be better. I read about the tolls you describe rkkwan which gives me pause.

Maybe we can use a rental on Yakushima and train and bus on the main island of Kyushu ?

I need to look at routes and train schedules however the thought is go from Fukuoka to Yufuin, on to Kagoshima/Yakushima, then Kurokawa, and back to Fukuoka, spending 2 nights at Yufuin and Kurokawa each, and 5 nights on Yakushima.

We are aiming for mid October as you suggested which makes sense- a little warmer and longer days than November- good suggestion.

I did try to see if we could get two nights at Sanga but according to booking sites no availability. I wonder is it too early- more than 6 months out ?

Thanks for your help.

okoshi2002,

"I did try to see if we could get two nights at Sanga but according to booking sites no availability. I wonder is it too early- more than 6 months out ? "

Not too early but too late for reservations

I checked out Kurokawa on booking.com and it is almost filled up for October.

If you want to stay in Kurokawa better reserve something today.
Same thing for Yufuin .
These are popular spots at a popular time.
Make sure you understand the cancellation policies and check back in at the Sanga to see if they open up from a cancellation.
I've used the baths at the Ichinoi and it is a good location close to the center which is good if you want to do the onsen walk where you could visit the Sanga for its baths alone, may have to taxi there as its a little out of town.

We did fine using public transport.
A car would have been nice on Yakushima but even there the bus worked.
Good Luck

okooshi 2002,
Sorry I got mixed up about the Kurokawa Ryokans. I was thinking about the Ikoi which is close to town, the Ichinoi being a short ways out.
Many ryokans do have shuttle services and taxis are always an option.
Hope you find a good place, Kurokawa is a beautiful location.
good luck

One of our biggest pleasures in Kyushu was self-drive, as the areas we drove through were mainly agricultural and very peaceful and scenic. In addition, we constantly found ourselves weaving our way up and over and back down the many mountains / hills, and these roads were just spectacular. Not scary at all because the maximum road speeds are really low and there's no pushiness from other drivers. It was also nice to be able to stop as we wished along the way to enjoy views, stretch legs etc.

We booked the rental car out of Kumamoto and returned it in Fukuoka. Our itinerary was shinkansen straight to Kumamoto, 2 nights, then 2 nights in Kurokawa, 2 in Yufuin and 2 in Fukuoka. We also drove down to Takachiho Gorge and Usuki and across to Beppu during this time.

Kalihiwai it is amazing that some places in Kurokawa are already full for October ! Fortunately I did find two nights at Ichinoi and two nights at Yafuin Sankouen . I am glad you recommend the Ichinoi.

Kavey your encouragement to drive in Kyushu is good to hear. Perhaps we will consider driving our entire trip from Fukuoka to Yakushima and back.

Do we need a special license to drive in Japan ?

Okoshi
I would certainly never drive in Kyoto or Tokyo but we found driving in Kyushu very enjoyable, not at all stressful.

We booked a GPS that had English language functions, but note that the best way to enter an address is to obtain the destination's telephone number and enter that. That was a tip from a fellow Fodorite here, and a very very very helpful one, we found!

Oops, sorry I missed the last question.

We are from UK and need an International Driving License to drive in Japan. These are readily available via our Post Office service, cost just £5.50 and they last for a year, I think. All you need (in the UK) to get one is your regular full driving license, and then to fill in some forms etc.

Here is the Japan-Guide page: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2022.html

When we did our honeymoon trip over New Year 2013, we flew in and out of FUK, as there is non-stop from Hong Kong. Our main places to visit are Kurokawa and Yakushima. We seriously considered all these three options. All renting in Hakata, then drive to Kurokawa, then to Aso and down to Kagoshima. Then, then:

1. Park car at the ferry pier in Kagoshima for 2 nights, then drive back to Hakata after our stay on Yakushima by jetfoil both ways. Main advantage: cheaper car rental as we're returning car in same prefecture. Main disadvantage: time, as speed limit in Japan is excruciatingly low; also, the cheaper car rental rate is eaten by gasoline and toll.

2. Return car in Kagoshima. Jetfoil both ways, then take train back to Hakata. Main advantage: cost, as I believe that was the cheapest option for our time frame. Disadvantage: again, time, as it still means more hours getting back north.

3. Return car in Kagoshima. Jetfoil to Yakushima, fly back directly to FUK. This was the option we chose, despite paying full fare on the flight as it was Jan 2 and peak season in Japan. Main advantage: time, as it was just an hour flight back to FUK, instead of 1.5 hours on the Jetfoil to Kagoshima and then hours getting back north.

Is there a ferry that you can take your vehicle over to Yakushima ? Do most local visitors to Yakushima rent a car ?

I just looked at the Japan Guide you directed me to Kavey. Is it true that US visitors who want to drive in Japan have to take a written and practical exam which may require several attempts ? Yikes.

okoshi2002, where did you get the idea that you need to take a test in Japan? If you are from the US, you need to get an International Driving Permit.

okoshi2002,

All you need is a valid US drivers license and an International drivers license that can be issued by your nearest AAA office.
I did mine by mail.
You fill out a form provide photos and current license copies front and back and pay a fee.
You can get the forms online.
http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

I think the easies/most popular method is to rent a car on Yakushima island.

I'd be interested to hear from Japan drivers about parking, gassing up and tolls.
I really want to get a car this year in the Matsue area to cover the more remote sites. This may have to be on another thread though.

OK I think I understand now- guide-lines for visitors and visiting residents are different.

I see the process on AAA which seems simple enough. We have traveled a good bit around the world and driven but have never had to get an international driving permit before.

Thanks for all the good advice.

okoshi2002 - Car ferry to Yakushima takes 4hours and cost about US$300 for a car each way. Makes no sense for a visitor.

kalihiwai2 - Renting a car and driving in Japan isn't much different from other countries. With two main things that's a bit unique. One, as already mentioned, is that find out the land line phone number of the business and attractions you're going to. That's they easiest way to enter destinations in the GPS of the car. Second, rental company will give you a map of the gas stations near your car return location - you need to go to one of those shown on the map, and have the gas station sign a form saying they fill up the gas tank.

kalihiwai2 Already has it, no test needed!

Thanks for all the input.

Now that I am looking more closely at the logistics I think it may be most reasonable for us to fly into Fukuoka, spend a night and catch the shinkansen to Kagoshima on our first leg, catch a hydrofoil to Yakushima, rent a car on Yakushima for 4-5 days, then return via Kagoshima again by hydrofoil, and on to Kumamoto to reach Kurokawa by bus, and spend 2 nights. Thereafter we can reach Yafuin hopefully by another bus and spend another 2 nights before returning to Fukuoka.

Is catching the Yafuin No Mori back to Fukuoka worthwhile ? Would it be anticlimatic on a return trip ?

Should we spend a day in Kagoshima or go directly to Yakushima ?

Thank you.

Sounds like a good working plan.
IMHO
To make suggestions....., plan on 2 nights per transit city, at least on arrival or departure leg.
Each transit city, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, have enough to enjoy for extra day
Extra night in Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Kagoshima would give time to see sights Fukuoka (Dazaifu/Kyushu National Museum,
Kumamoto Castle/Suizenji,
Kagoshima Senganin/Sakurajima.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4850.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4501.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4602.htm

3 nights on Yakushima should be enough.
Looks like a great trip
Have fun

okoshi2002, regarding your question about Kagoshima, I spent four nights there in 2014. Although I did not find it to be a particularly charming city, I would recommend you spend at least a day sightseeing there, as long you are there anyway. I like the fish market in Kagoshima--it is more intimate and more interesting than the one in Tokyo, and I ended up with a private tour. I would also recommend taking the ferry over to the volcano--you can buy a "Cute Pass" for the day for about $10 at the ferry station. The pass allows you to take a little bus tour of the island, and then afterwards, you can soak your feet in the foot baths there, or walk along the little foots paths. Next, you can use the fun pass to travel on the city buses to other sites around the city. I also did a day trip to a Satsuma sake factory, and I went to the city of Chiran to see the Kamakaze museum there.

You also asked about Fukuoka. I stayed there for three nights at the beginning of my trip. The city itself is a snooze, but I took two day trips from there. One day, I went south to Daizufu Temple, and the national museum, and another day, I went north to Mojiko and Shimonoseki. I highly recommend both day trips.

Wow so many good suggestions ! I wish I had 3 weeks to spend rather than just 2 ! It sounds like I should add a day in Kagoshima and Kumamoto. I agree that two days in cities of transit is a good idea. I appreciate all these ideas.

I found Kumamoto to be a quite beautiful city. I spent a day there visiting the castle and its surroundings, and another day, I went on an excursion to Amakusa Island via bus. On the island, I went on a dolphin cruise, and I visited a pottery artisan. I like Kumamoto and its surrounding sites.

Where do you recommend to lodge in Kumamoto and Kagoshima ? We are OK with small simple hotels that are conveniently located since we are splurging in other locales.

In Kagoshima, I stayed at the Sun Days Inn, and it was top notch for a budget hotel. It is quite new, the location is good, and the service is superb. I wrote to the concierge well in advance of my trip, and he gave me prompt and wonderful advice. I told him of my arrival time, and he waited at the hotel to greet me. All in all, a great hotel for the price.

In Kumamoto, I stayed at the Kumamoto Green Hotel/Comfort Inn:
http://www.green-comfort.jp/
It's also a budget hotel, but at the time, there was only wifi in the lobby, and not in the rooms. It was clean, and the location was good. For the price, it was nice, but not spectacular. It was the best I found in the price range.

In Kumamoto we stayed at the Comfort Inn Shinshigai.
For Kumamoto remember that the downtown is a ways from the JR Station.
We took a cab downtown, you can walk to the castle and shopping is close, also we left from the bus station here to Kurokawa.
It looks like Kyushu is popular this fall as a lot of the hotels seem to be filling up in October.
In Kagoshima we stayed at the Dormy Inn. We like this chain and I'd consider it for Kumamoto and Fukuoka if available.
In Fukuoka the Dormy Inn Premium is right next to Canal City, and walking distance to downtown sights.

In Kumamoto we were at the Dormy Inn, very happy with our choice. Easy to get to via a bus from the train station, and well located too.

Here's another vote for the Dormy Inns. It's a rock solid chain of budget hotels that give lots of bang for your buck.

I stayed at the Dormy Inn Hakata Gion, in the city of Fukuoka. Although the hotel was a bit "tired" looking, I like the location within a 10 minute walk to the bus/train station complex.

The Dormy Inns have free onsen, complimentary ramen at 9 PM, and a gigantic breakfast buffet that looks light it's straight out of Las Vegas, Japanese style. They serve many regional dishes at the buffet. Our Japanese exchange student was born in Fukuoka, so he told me what to eat in Fukuoka--yum!

I too like Dormy Inns, especially for the onsens which most seem to have. I stayed at a super one in Matsumoto.

I am planning a trip to Kyushu in Nov. and Dormy Inns do not appear in Kyushu on booking.com for Nov. I don't know if it is because it is too early or if they are in fact booked.

shelleyk - I'm in the minority of posters here in that I always book directly with the hotels. I typically get a better rate, and I like the idea of the hotel not having to pay commission.

Here is the email address for the Dormy Inn Hakata Gion:

[email protected]

The other Dormy Inns use the same format. For example, here is the email address I used for the Dormy Inn Matsue:

[email protected]

You get the idea. And they always do write back. I usually book months in advance, and then I pester them endlessly with sightseeing questions.

Sorry to the op for changing the direction of the thread here...

Thank you so much for the links. I had no idea you could book directly with Dormy Inn. I Googled them and did not come up with an email address. So thanks again for this helpful information.

I appreciate everybody's help.

Can somebody comment on getting from Kurokawa to Yufuin ? One ryokan is accessed via Yunohira Station and the other via Yufuin Station. Is one more convenient than the other ?

Thanks.