How to Plan a Road Trip in Kyushu, Japan | 9-Day Itinerary from Fukuoka ; Kyushu Road Trip; Nagasaki

How to Plan a Road Trip in Kyushu, Japan | 9-Day Itinerary from Fukuoka ; Kyushu Road Trip; Nagasaki

Hello, everybody, welcome to another 
episode of Gibbon Travelogue, I am Lilian. And I am Gilbert. And today, we are at… Fukuoka! And in this video, we are going to 
go on a road trip in northern Kyushu, from Fukuoka to Beppu, to Kumamoto and 
then to Nagasaki and back to Fukuoka again. So, let’s start our video, shall we? Yeah! Ok! In this video, we are sharing with 
you how to plan a Road Trip in Japan. If you are thinking of going 
somewhere in Japan that’s a little different from the usual 
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, or Hokkaido, let us introduce you to Kyushu, the 
third-largest of Japan’s four main islands, filled with hot springs, active volcanoes, 
and cities rich in culture and history. The gateway to Kyushu is Fukuoka, 
and it is incredibly well-connected. Fukuoka Airport serves around 
37 airlines, offering direct non‑stop flights to approximately 
48 destinations across 10 countries. If you are coming from 
Singapore like us, good news, Singapore Airlines flies directly 
to Fukuoka every day of the week. So, how many days should you spend in Kyushu? Ideally, give yourself at least a week. We have 9 days, and here’s 
how we make the most of it. Kyushu has seven major cities 
and regions: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. But with just 9 days, we decide 
to focus on Northern Kyushu. Here’s our itinerary: For Day 1 and 2, we go to 
Fukuoka, the capital city, famous for their Hakata ramen and street food. Day 3, we go to Beppu in Oita, 
Japan’s hot spring capital. For Day 4 and 5, we drive to Kumamoto, home to the iconic Kumamoto Castle 
and the active volcano Mount Aso. For Day 6 and 7, we will be in Nagasaki, 
a beautiful port city with a storied past. For Day 8 and 9, this is 
where we head back to Fukuoka, for shopping and one last taste of Kyushu cuisine. So, when’s the best time to visit Kyushu? Honestly, it depends on what you are looking for. Each season offers a different experience. The weather is cool and 
comfortable in Spring and Autumn. Winter in Kyushu is also milder 
compared to northern Japan, but you can still enjoy hot springs 
and snow-capped mountains. If you are visiting in summer, like 
we did, prepare for heat and humidity. Our trip is in late July, and let 
me tell you… it is really hot! Temperatures regularly hit between 32 to 
39°C, and the humidity can be intense. So if you’re visiting around 
this time, here are a few tips: Bring a foldable umbrella, not just 
for rain, but as a portable sunshade. Don’t forget sunblock, especially if 
you’re walking around open-air sites like Mount Aso or the Peace Park in Nagasaki. Most rental cars have great air-con, so road-tripping is actually a comfortable 
way to explore Kyushu in the summer heat. Which brings us to the next topic, renting a car. To explore Kyushu comfortably, 
we recommend renting a car. We book ours via Trip.com, with pick-up and 
drop-off near Fukuoka International Airport. Since we have 10 people, we rent two large 
cars, each fitting 5 passengers with luggages. Here are some important tips: You will need an International 
Driving Permit to drive in Japan. For Singaporeans, you can apply through the AAS 
or Automobile Association of Singapore website. It costs S$20 and usually 
arrives within 10 working days. Japan’s expressways are not free 
and you will encounter tolls. You can either use ETC, 
Electronic Toll Collection, which is fast and automated 
or pay by cash at toll booths Some rental companies offer an ETC 
card for about 500 yen per day. We decide to save that and just pay in cash. Slightly less convenient, but it’s 
ok, always good to save some money. In Japan, drivers drive on the left-hand. Speed limits are generally lower. Many road signages have English names, so 
you don’t have to worry too much there. For parking in hotels, there is generally a 
charge, around 10,000 to 30,000 yen per night. Parking in the city, like Fukuoka 
and Nagasaki, can be expensive. There are un-manned, coin-operated parking lots where there is a barrier raise 
under the car when you park. To retrieve the car, you will need to pay 
at the kiosk and after making payment, the barrier will be lowered so 
that you can drive the car away. Finally, it is preferably for 
you to rent a car with CarPlay function where you can view 
the map on a larger screen. Google Map or Waze work wonderfully for us. We used Agoda and Trip.com to 
book all our accommodations. Both apps are great for comparing 
prices, locations, and user reviews. Here’s where we stay: In Fukuoka, we stay at Hilton Fukuoka Sea 
Hawk for 34,300 yen or S$300 per night and for the return leg, we stay in Hotel Nikko 
Fukuoka for 23,500 yen or S$205 per night. In Beppu, we pick a charming ryokan 
called Hatto Onyado Nono Beppu, at 29,700 yen or S$260 per night. In Kumamoto, our hotel is Hotel Nikko Kumamoto, 
costing about 10,600 yen or S$93 per night. And in Nagasaki, we stay at Hilton Nagasaki, 
which cost us 19,000 yen or S$167 per night. As you plan your Kyushu road trip, it 
helps to know what each city has to offer. Rest assured there are plenty to 
see and experience along the way. We begin in Fukuoka, the capital of Kyushu, and most probably your entry 
point if you’re flying in. It is a vibrant, modern city with a 
good mix of food, culture, and shopping. One of the places to visit is Kushida Shrine, an important Shinto shrine in Hakata that comes 
alive during the summer Gion Yamakasa festival. Too bad that we are 1 week late. For shopping and entertainment, we stop by 
Hakata Canal City, a massive complex with a canal running through it, lined with shops, 
restaurants, and even a dancing fountain show. And if the heat gets too much, you can 
find relief in the Tenjin Underground Mall, a sprawling network of fashion 
boutiques and cafes beneath the city. From Fukuoka, we make our way to Beppu, one of 
the most famous hot spring towns in all of Japan. Beppu is known for its “Seven Hells”, a series of dramatic geothermal hot springs 
that are meant for viewing, not bathing. Each one of them has its own character, 
colour, and bubbling spectacle. For actual bathing, we visit Hyotan Onsen, a traditional bathhouse that has 
been awarded three Michelin stars. With multiple indoor and outdoor 
baths, sand baths, and steam rooms, it was one of the most relaxing 
experiences of our entire trip. Our next stop is Kumamoto, a city steeped 
in samurai history and natural beauty. No visit here is complete without seeing Kumamoto 
Castle, one of Japan’s most iconic castles. Although it’s still undergoing 
restoration after a major earthquake, you can explore parts of the grounds and take in 
the sheer scale of its stone walls and towers. From there, we take a scenic drive to 
Mount Aso, Japan’s largest active volcano. If conditions allow, you can actually drive up 
to the crater and peer into its steaming heart. Unfortunately for us, it is closed 
by the time we arrive there. Nearby, we also visit Takachiho Gorge, a truly 
magical spot where towering cliffs flank a crystal-clear river, and you can rent a boat 
to paddle right up to the cascading waterfall. Next, we continue our road trip to Nagasaki, a city forever marked by the events of World 
War II, yet filled with resilience and beauty. We spend time at the Atomic Bomb Museum, a deeply moving and sobering place that 
recounts the events of August 9, 1945. Just next to it is the Nagasaki Peace Park, a memorial space filled with 
sculptures and quiet contemplation, and the Hypocenter Park, which marks 
the exact spot of the bomb’s detonation. But Nagasaki is also known for its lesser-told 
history, the story of the hidden Christians, or Kakure Kirishitan, who continued their faith 
in secret during centuries of persecution. We visit the Museum of the 
26 Martyrs, which honours the memory of Christians executed for their beliefs, and the nearby Oura Cathedral, the 
oldest Catholic church in Japan. We also explore Dejima, the former 
Dutch trading post that served as Japan’s only window to the outside 
world during its period of isolation. Each city brings something unique, whether it is Fukuoka’s energy, Beppu’s healing waters, Kumamoto’s natural drama, or Nagasaki’s emotional depth. It’s this variety that makes Kyushu road 
trip so special, and so worth the journey. So that’s how we plan our road 
trip around Northern Kyushu, a mix of vibrant cities, scenic 
drives, and relaxing hot springs.

Hi everyone,
Welcome to another episode of Gibbon Travelogue.

In this video, we share how we planned our 9-day road trip through Northern Kyushu, one of Japan’s most underrated regions.

If you’ve already been to Tokyo, Osaka, or Hokkaido, it’s time to discover Kyushu — Japan’s third-largest island, known for hot springs, castles, volcanoes, and deep history.

✈️ We flew direct from Singapore to Fukuoka on Singapore Airlines, which now operates daily flights. Fukuoka Airport is well-connected with over 37 airlines from 48 destinations worldwide.

🚗 In this video, you’ll learn:
* How to plan your 9-day route across Fukuoka, Beppu, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki
* Where to stay and how much we paid
* Tips for renting and driving a car in Japan
* The best time to visit (we went in late July – super hot!)
* How to use toll roads, and where to park

📍 Highlights include:
* Fukuoka’s Kushida Shrine, Canal City & street food
* Beppu’s Seven Hells & 3 Michelin-star Hyotan Onsen
* Kumamoto’s iconic castle, Mount Aso & Takachiho Gorge
* Nagasaki’s Atomic Bomb Museum, Peace Park, and Hidden Christian history

🛏️ We booked hotels through Agoda and Trip.com, staying at Hilton, Nikko, and charming ryokans.
—
👇 Let us know in the comments:Which part of Kyushu are you excited to explore?

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on the bell for more travel tips from Gibbon Travelogue!

Love
Gilbert and Lilian
@gibbontravelogue

Caption in English available.
You can reach out to us at gibbontravelogue@gmail.com for collaboration and partnership.

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