kalihiwai2

Getting excited about taking off next month. Planning on using Kyushu Rail Passes, Bus,Taxi and I also have my International Drivers License for the Kurokawa/Yakushima legs. I haven't noted day trips but Takachiko, Arita, Usuki and Satsuma / Chiran are in my plans.
The more I research the trip the more side trips I want to take so either the Yoshinogari/Mt Seburi visit or the Naeshirogawa pottery village expedition are going to have to wait.
Some details such as return ferry from Yakushima getting off in Ibusuki possibly for quick look at Satsuma/Chiran area are yet to be determined. I'll try to take some notes and make photos available to group.
Thanks to those Kyushu trip report members hawaiiantraveler, rkkwan and styrx for making their trips available to help with planning

Here is basic route.
0-- Depart Hawaii, Hawaiian Air -Honolulu - Fukuoka Dep 1:50 PM
(8-9 hour flight)

1-- Arrive Fukuoka - 6:50 PM (next day)

2 - Fukuoka

3 - Fukuoka

4- Yufuin

5 - Yufuin

6 - Kumamoto

7 - Kumamoto

8 - Kurokawa

9 - Kurokawa

10 - Kagoshima

11 - Yakushima

12 - Yakushima

13 - Kagoshima

14 - Fukuoka
Hawks Game!

15 - Return to Hawaii

hawaiiantraveler

Great itinerary kalihiwai, wish we could do this one with you. Where are you guys staying on Yakushima? Anxious to hear your take on the island.....kinda looks like Kauai in some areas I hear.
I was looking at those HNL/FUK tix, good deal.
Kumamoto-jo is worth the price if your into castles, one of the best we have seen. The rock work is incredible here. Watch out for ninjas popping out from around the corners.....
Envy you and the Hawks game! Let us know how it all turns out.

Aloha!

kalihiwai2

HT thanks again for your input and trip reports. We'll be following in your footsteps at the Sanga Ryokan and in Kumamoto where the castle is tops on the list and If I drop by the Bar Vespa I'll try not to embarrass you......;-)

On Yakushima we're staying at the Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel, it looks like an old school Japanese resort hotel with meal plan and onsen on the south side of the island. The photo of the hotel on their web page looks a lot like the north shore of Kauai.
Living in the country here on Kauai we like more urban vacations but after last years two weeks in Tokyo we thought we'd mix it up with city/onsen city/onsen.

Mahalo!

rkkwan

Went to Yakushima on honeymoon over New Year 2013. It is really like Kauai, but even quieter. You may find it too similar to home.

Also stayed at Sanga in Kurokawa.

kalihiwai2

rkkwan, I have read and reread your trip report for which i give many thanks.
Yes I know there may be some similarity to Kauai but I have had a fixation with visiting
Yakushima for some time that I have decided to fulfill. I know that the isolated setting, food and onsen will make it special even though I won't be hiking to Jomon Sugi.
There is always the temptation to second guess the itinerary and with Kyushu I think I could spend two weeks in Oita and Saga prefectures alone with not enough time to see everything.
That being said if weather conditions and other considerations allow I could be flexible and change in time for no cancellation charges. Right now I'm sticking with the original plan. Recently the NHK show "Journeys in Japan" featured Oita and three spots of which I plan to visit only one, Usuki.There is also the Bamboo museum in Beppu which would be fun. too many distractions! I think I'll just have to stick with the plan and play it by ear . Mahalo for your trip report