kyoto & kyushu tour
kyoto & kyushu tour:
ancient capitols of bathing & culture
based on many many years of our original “kyoto, kyushu & the kumano kodo” tour, we have sinced discovered so many more gorgeous baths that we decided to make two separate tours in order to spread the joy!
the “kyoto & kyushu” trip visits the ancient bathing island of kyushu and the ancient capitol of japan, kyoto. from tokyo we fly south to kyushu for 9 days in the volcanic mountains that run through the center of the island—-as well as the southernmost volcanic bathing area of ibusuki. we stay in villages small enough to have no convenience stores (a true rarity in japan!) to a small, arty town with horse-drawn and rickshaw carriages as a primary mode of transport. the lodging and baths on this tour are super refined and elegant modern takes on traditional japanese design, making this tour a great finale after our other, more rustic northern tour. the food, culture, crafts and hospitality are different in each of the regions we travel to, with kyushu being no exception. to end, we have three days in magical kyoto: always a highlight.
kyoto & kyushu 2025
18 days: november 7–24, 2025
$10,700 USD (pricing based per person/double occupancy)
day one 11/7: leave US
day two 11/8: arrive NRT (generally 3-5 pm for US flights) we will greet you after customs and get you to the hotel in narita for the night. nothing planned so you have time to unwind.
day three 11/9: visit our favorite onsen in narita in the AM for our first bath. time in the afternoon to wander the streets & temple of this great ancient temple town. welcome dinner at our favorite izakaya. (B, D)
day four 11/10: back to the airport after lunch to fly to kyushu island. then we’ll take a romantic deco-era train to the gorgeous town of yufuin, with time to settle into our lodgings before a gourmet feast in the inn. (B, D)
day five 11/11: a completely free day to explore all that yufuin has to offer: its many baths, galleries, cafes, temples, & hiking. dinner at a grill-it-ourselves local meat joint. (B, D)
day six 11/12: more time to wander the village. amazing dinner once again in the inn (B, D)
day seven 11/13: after time in the AM to bathe & lunch, charter transfer to the hidden hot spring village of kurokawa onsen. time for orientation to the village before dinner in the inn. (B, D)
day eight: 11/14: a free day to explore kurokawa’s many rustic baths using your hot springs bathing pass. great day for a hike & a famously decadent cream puff! dinner in the inn. (B, D)
day nine 11/15: another beautiful day to explore the secrets ofkurokawa village. (B, D)
day ten 11/16: today we train all the way to the southern tip of kyushu island, japan’s southmost mainland outpost of ibusuki onsen. famous for its black sand baths, where radiant onsen water heats the sand you get buried in! time for orientation to the hotel & its baths before a fantastic dinner in the inn. (B, D)
day eleven 11/17: day trip to remote baths of the edge of the sea, with a great local lunch en route. (B, D)
day twelve 11/18: another day to explore the area’s baths, beaches, shochu tastings, etc. local sushi dinner (B, D)
day thirteen 11/19: trains back north to fukuoka city, where we have timed our trip perfectly in order to attend a night of sumo! free evening to wander this cities cool “yatai” food stands that line the rivers. (B)
day fourteen 11/20: morning free to wander the city. in afternoon, bullet trains to kyoto, japan’s ancient capitol & most magical city on the planet. brief orientation & then off to our fave chef’s place for a welcome dinner. (B, D)
day fifteen 11/21: a full day to fill as you wish in magical kyoto. on your own for dinner. (B)
day sixteen 11/22: more kyoto or venture further afield to a local onsen (TBA) (B)
day seventeen 11/23: more bullet trains to take us back to narita for our farewell dinner. (B, D)
day eighteen 11/24: enjoy a last morning visit to the temple or onsen before your safe journey home!