Christmas in Kyushu

We are planing to go to Kyushu over christmas, and we already have some places in mind we want to visit: Nagasaki, Aso, Miyazaki, Oita, Beppu, Unzen, Kumamoto, Kagoshima.
We can just visit 4 or 5 places, so we try to find out what to leave out, but we can not decide. Has anyone an opinion about that?
The other thing is that we are thinking about how to handle the housing. Does anyone know if it is feasible to travel there without booking any accomondations before? especially over the christmas days and at smaller places like Aso, or Unzen?
I�Lm looking forward to your opinions! thank you in advance!!

I been to Kyushu 2 years ago, visited most of the place you named. It depends which days over christmas. If you require 1 room then you might be able to do it without booking but I'm not sure last minute hotel cost in Japan, someone else might have better idea here. Some places offer very cheap price and some really steep. Big places like Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamotoa and Kagoshima, you would get away with last minute as there are plenty hotels there and I guess there would be one or two room, in at least one of them.

I visiting Osaka during New Year and hotels for the some of days are fully booked or rather expensive. But christmas is not holiday in Japan, however 23rd is the Emperor birthday, I think its a holiday. I think that smaller place needed to be booked as supply is limited. If there is no room in small places you would be pretty stuck, as transport is very limited, as well as short day light. Are you able to speak Japanese? English is rather limited in Kyushu, especially in Miyazaki and Kagoshima and other rural areas.

Thank you very much!!

So you have a list of possibles, and now you need to eliminate some of them? Well, Aso may not be open at all - lately there have been a lot of poisonous gases coming out, so you may have to pass on that. For Miyazaki, if you mean the whole prefecture, the most interesting place is Takachiho - but not convenient to get to by public transportation. While it's quite nice, if your time is short you could skip it.
For Oita Prefecture, there are many good places, but if you mean Oita City, it basically runs into Beppu. Beppu is worth seeing, for the hot springs, Hell Tour, monkey park and aquarium:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2NNi8MLcXM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBnZneDsKqQ
If you still have to eliminate one place, then either Unzen or Beppu. Some say Unzen is better, others say Beppu, But you could skip one of those places.
The real must-see place is Nagasaki - with its variety, history and mixed cultures, it is a true delight.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LcPcmoSg-gbw2yXNLK92siHyNqSNx...
You don't say how many nights you're staying or travel methods, etc. Many start and end in Fukuoka - if so, there are many nice sights there as well. You might look at:

http://www.tinyurl.com/see-fukuoka
as well as look through:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LcPcmoSg-j4RLa6iC7ayvBAbOn8-0...
Don't miss Nanzoin - one of the best temples in the country...and almost unknown to the outside world:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT4VQFmHFyM
I'm sure you'll have a really great trip.

Thank you Ken, for your detailed advices!
We go by public transportation (Japan Rail Pass) and now we already have a plan: 3 nights Beppu, 2 nights Kurokawa, 2 nights Kagoshima, 3 nights Nagasaki (maybe we include Nanzoin).
You mentioned that Aso might be closed. We do not necessarily have to go to the top of mt Aso if its not open, but do you still think its worth spending 2 days in Aso area (Kurokawa)?

My friend spent some time in Beppu and she said it was nice, but not a city she would necessarily recommend going to.

The city is rather ugly and there wasn't much going on other than, obviously onsen. I mean, if that is your thing, do it but 3 nights in Beppu are too much.

But this was her opinion

Regarding Aso, there is a beautiful area around it called Kusa Senri - and offers some nice hiking as well as even horseback riding. But the best time to see it would from late spring to autumn, and you're going in winter when it's all browning out. If you had a car, there'd be some good sites to see nearby, including the Nabegadaki waterfall and Daiknbo for a beautiful mountaintop view. But you'd need a taxi which would be quite pricey (and no way to get back unless you have him charge you and wait). I'd say your time is better spent elsewhere. One good alternative would be in Kumamoto City - the castle is famous, and the nearby historical landscape garden of Suizenji is a must-see:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9xyXmU8U1g
Regarding Beppu, as I mentioned there is more than just the hot springs - and the city is not "ugly". No awards for fantastic buildings, but it's about the only Japanese city where you can see steam coming out of the ground in many places in it. If you want more to do, then you might see Yufuin for a night - I'd also say 3 nights in Beppu is a bit much.

Thank you for your advises. Our new plan is: 2 days Beppu, 2 days Kurokawa, 3 days Kagoshima, 2-3 days Nagasaki, 1-2 days Osaka
I�Lm looking forward :-))