Driving from Fukuoka to Kagoshima

Hi,

We are planning a self drive trip from Hakata to Kagoshima and Miyazaki and back to Hakata in mid Dec but we have only 5 days for this trip.

My itinerary is as follows :

Day 1 - Arrive Fukuoka in the morning and drive to Kagoshima.
Day 2 - Kagoshima and Mt Sakurajima
Day 3 - Kagoshima and Ibusuki for sand bath
Day 4 - head for Miyazaki for an overnight stay
Day 5 - Drive back Hakata
Day 6 - Dep Fukuoka early in the morning

Would appreciate advice on the following :
1) Toll charge from Fukuoka airport to Kagoshima. Understand that the drive will be shorten from 6 hrs to 3 hrs with the toll road

2) Alternatively, could I stopover between Fukuoka and Kagoshima for a night if toll charge is high. Advice on a recommended stopover place is appreciated.

3) How long is the drive from Miyazaki to Hakata ? Time difference between toll road and cost? Or should I stopover at a place to break the journey ?

4) Any suggestion for onsen along the way ?

Am not keen to take the JR because we prefer a rental car to drive around.

Any suggestion or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

1. 6220 yen. Recently NEXCO offers Kyushu Expressway Pass for foreign tourists. Like Japan Rail Pass, this pass enables foreign drivers unlimited ride of the expressway in Kyushu. The price is 2500 yen/two days, 5500 yen/5 days etc.

http://corp.w-nexco.co.jp/corporate/release/kyushu/h26/0908/

To use this pass you must rent a car at some specific company, such as Toyota, Budget, etc.

3. 3h 35min.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Miyazaki,+Japan/Fukuoka,+Japan/@32.686...

4. Though not very close to the expressway, there are many. Kirishima, Yunoko (in Minamata), Kurokawa, etc.

Thanks Frog1954 for sharing on the expressway pass. I don't seem to be able to get details on this pass for the link which you have provided.. Can I check whether it has to be used on consecutive days?

Now that driving time will be shorten with the toll road, would you recommend any detour visits along the way from Fukuoka - Kagoshima and return journey from Miyazaki - Hakata.

For the onsen location, I will do some research. Thanks.

Any recommendation for must visit places and local eateries in Kagoshima ?

Few years back, I sought your advice on places to buy seaweed and wakame chips to be eaten as snacks. Can I get such snacks in local shops other than departmental store in Kagoshima.

Thanks for any recommendation.

Hi,

I have found the article on NEXCO offering the Kyushu expressway pass which was issued very recently on 13 Sep 2014. Thanks for the info. However, not sure if you know whether it has to be used on consecutive days. Anyway, I can check with the car rental company.

Appreciate any response to my other questions.
Thanks

Hi, DL

I remember your post on some seaweed snacks :).

About the pass, it should be used in consecutive days. For other questions, I will write later.

would you recommend any detour visits along the way from Fukuoka - Kagoshima and return journey from Miyazaki - Hakata.

Hitoyoshi is a nice onsen town where you can find some affordable onsen ryokans. It is located on the toll road.

Ebino-Kogen and Onami-no-ike are good hiking spots, but in case of snow, driving will be difficult.

Of course, Aso volcano is one of the most popular tourist spots in Kyushu.

Any recommendation for must visit places and local eateries in Kagoshima ?

Kagoshima has two peninsulas, Satsuma and Osumi. Each has some headlands or capes with nice views. I like Kasasa best. There are some travel reports about Kagoshima.

http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/schauwecker/110518.html

Eateries:

Hangyojin: Seafood (Japanese style)

http://tabelog.com/kagoshima/A4601/A460101/46006669/

Wakana: Japanese food

http://tabelog.com/kagoshima/A4601/A460101/46000031/

Tonkatsu-no-Taketei: Tonkatsu

http://tabelog.com/kagoshima/A4601/A460101/46001074/

Kaitenzushi Yokoduna: Sushi

http://tabelog.com/kagoshima/A4601/A460103/46002262/

Can I get such snacks in local shops other than departmental store in Kagoshima.

Horaikan in my neighborhood is a "bussankan" where local farmers cell their products.

http://eguchihouraikan.com/product.html

Of course, the website is in Japanese only :).

https://www.google.com/maps/place/“ú’uŽs�]Œû–H—‰ŠÙ/@31.6545921,130.329222,13z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x353e6ad95d3232bd:0x94cd21f83b12a4ce?hl=en

Thanks for all recommendation, especially the local eateries. Will figure out the address etc for the snack shop and recommended onsen town :)

Your itinerary is very vague about your plans, and often shows just going from one place to another. Daylight is much shorter in December but you could add a few sites en route for a better trip. Another question that must be asked is if you're ready for driving in Japan, on the left side, do you know Japanese driving laws and habits, etc.
In any case there are many places you might consider going to. In Fukuoka one often overlooked and unknown jewel is the nearby Nanzoin Temple and Great Buddha - truly mind blowing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT4VQFmHFyM
Another is in the Gion area - the Tochoji Great Buddha - 2 in the same area and both free!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LcPcmoSg-j4RLa6iC7ayvBAbOn8-0...
Plus you completely bypass Kumamoto, which has Mt. Aso (convenient for a car) and while you're going to see Sakuarajima, you can't get close to it or peer down the crater. Suizenji is a beautiful historical landscape garden worth at least ½ an hour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9xyXmU8U1g
You're giving a full 2 days for Kagoshima - maybe a bit too much for just Sakurajima, Shiroyama Koen, and Isoteien. There's more you could see of course, like the Botanical Garden and aquarium, but you can see something like that in nearly any major city.
Sakurajima though will definitely take up a lot of your time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxDmLuq6ssI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpnDK_Wux9Q
And you don't say what or where in Miyazaki is your target. I suggest Takachiho since you are driving:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H49x41ViFJk
And of course your time is very limited - you are not seeing Nagasaki, which is really one of the most interesting cities on the whole island.

Hi Ken, thanks for your suggestion.
My itinerary is very vague because I have not done much research for the details at this present moment. Any suggestion on side trips in Kagoshima & Miyazaki will make my planning easier.

We have driven many times in Japan, including Hokaido , Kyusu, etc & we covered quite a number of places in Kyushu , including Nagasaki, Takachiho Gorge, Mt Aso, Aso Farmland which William5 recommended ( enjoyed the dome houses & fresh produce, especially the fresh milk)! We did not have time to cover Kagoshima & Miyazaki then, so will be making a trip this time cover to just these 2 areas, especially when I have only 5 days.

I am thinking of staying in one of the hotel/resort facing the ocean in Miyazaki. Do you think it is a good idea considering that it will be in dec? And of course, we will be doing the coastal drive in Miyazaki.

Frog1954 has suggested onsen town at Hitoyoshi and Kirishima. Which area would be less of a detour as I originally thought of going to Kirishima on my way from Kagoshima to Miyazki.

But Hitoyoshi seems interesting too. Appreciate any sharing on personal preference between these 2 onsen towns.
Thanks !

Hitoyoshi onsen is very close to Hitoyoshi interchange, maybe within 10 min drive.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.2263658,130.7565247,15z?hl=en

Hitoyoshi is a castle town with onsen, and Kuma river. In general, the hotels or ryokans in Hitoyoshi are not so large as compared to Kirishima (of course there are some small ryokans in Kirishima). If you like big onsen with many various types of baths which can accommodate hundreds of people, go to Kirishima. If you like old-fashioned onsen and strolling the town, go to Hitoyoshi.

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=Hitoyoshi+onsen&client=safari&rls=en...

One more, Hitoyoshi is famous for its Unagi.

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=Hitoyoshi+unagi&client=safari&rls=en...

Thanks Frog1954 - the info is exactly what I am looking for :)

Hitoyoshi onsen will be where I will be heading for :)

Can I check whether should my route be Fukuoka - Hitoyoshi- Kagoshima - Miyazaki - Hakata
OR
Fukuoka - Kagoshima - Miyazaki - Hitoyoshi - Hakata ?
I guess driving time is about 1 - 1.5 hours fom Hitoyoshi to Kagoshima and Miyazaki ?

Another question - is it at Ibusuki that I can get the sand and mud bath ? Have tried sand bath in Beppu
, thus keen to try both sand and mud bath this time round.

Thanks !!

Fukuoka - Hitoyoshi- Kagoshima - Miyazaki - Hakata
OR
Fukuoka - Kagoshima - Miyazaki - Hitoyoshi - Hakata ?

I think it depends on the places you want to visit in/around Kagoshima, Miyazaki and Hitoyoshi, as Ken stated earlier. Assuming you will stay overnight at these places, you have another night for your itinerary. First you should list up the places to visit and decide where to visit and decide where to stay overnight,

I guess driving time is about 1 - 1.5 hours fom Hitoyoshi to Kagoshima and Miyazaki ?

Yes, that is right. But you might think some detour.

s it at Ibusuki that I can get the sand and mud bath ?

I have never heard of mud bath in Ibuski. The only place in Kagoshima I know of is Sakura-Sakura-Onsen in Kirishima.

https://translate.google.co.jp/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=j...

https://www.google.com/maps/place/2324-7+Kirishimataguchi,+Kirishima-s...

Thanks Frog1954.
I will work out the details with all the information that you have given me. Thanks.

Hi DL,

My favorite places in Kagoshima (and Miyazaki) are as follows.

West coast of Satsuma peninsula.

Eguchi-Houraikan

http://goo.gl/iUkC09

Kasasa

http://goo.gl/7BHl3Q

http://goo.gl/sCaL2Z

Bonotsu

http://goo.gl/j1lnWX

Ebino-Kogen area

Onami-no-ike

http://goo.gl/uGq9dD

Ebino Kogen

http://goo.gl/Jr0icN

South coast of Satsuma peninsula

Healthland Tamatebako Onsen (open air onsen)

http://goo.gl/fV7YDd

Sakurajima

Yunohira observatory

http://goo.gl/a5PhR8

Thank Frog1954 for the additional info.
I nearly missed it as I did not follow the thread for the past week.

Proposed itinerary for your comments :

Day 1 - Fukuoka airport to Hitoyoshi(overnight in Hitoyshi)
Day 2 - Drive to Sakurajma Island (overnight in Kagoshima)
Day 3 - Ibusuki and Flower Park
(Overnight in Kagoshima)
Day 4 - Head to Miyazaki, doing the coastal drive from Tio Cape
Day 5 - Head to Hakata, stopping by Yume Tea Plantation

Some queries :
1) We intend to do the Kuma Kudari. Would it be avaiable in Dec ? and also to visit Mukashi Mukashi- is this an interesting place ?

2) We intend to visit Tsubobatake on Day 3 and Takachiho Farm on Day 4 on the way to Miyazaki. Should Tsubobatake be covered in Day 4 on my way to Miyazaki so that I need not make a return trip to Kagoshima ?

3) For Day 4, would it be very ambitious for us to cover maybe Tsubobatake, the farm and do the coastal drive in a day?


Any advice will be appreciated.

1. "Normal" Kuma Kudari is operated till the end of November. In December they operates "Kotatsu-bune" service. I do not have experience about this, but I guess it is some kind of House-boat with heating by Japanese traditional heater, Kotatsu. It is operated request base, about 30000 yen per boat (accommodating 10 people).

I do not know Mukashi Mukashi. What is this? Could you clarify?

2 and 3. If you are planning to go to Toi Cape on Day 4, you might better include Takachiho farm on Day 3 and Tsubobatake on Day 4, since Tsubobatake is on the way to Toi Cape. Toi Cape is very nice place and I like it, but the road is heavily winding. After Toi cape, also you must drive long winding road. I suggest you to stay not Miyazaki but somewhere nearer to Toi Cape, such as Nichinan or Aoshima.

By the way, in December the sunset is early (around 5 o'clock) so you might think to arrive at the hotel/ryokan early. In Kagoshima you will have something to do (shopping, dinner, drinking) but in rural area you should enjoy ryokan stay by itself. Search a lot to find nice ryokan.

I guess I will give Kuma Kudari a miss since it will be so expensive.

I got this from the internet - Mukashi Mukashi is a place that sells traditional Japanese stuff such as ceramic arts, chinas, kimono, old toys, various kinds of coffee beans and teas, etc. It is located very close to Hitoyoshi Craft Park.Is this not a popular local market ?

If I go to Takachiho farm on Day 3, it would mean that I would have to make a return loop back to Kagoshima. Can I go to Sakurajima and drive around the island to the eastern side of the island to go towards Takachiho farm ? Or would using the Kyushu Expressway be a faster route ? Is the farm very commercialised to warrant a visit ? Any frank comment appreciated.

I will take up your suggestion to skip an overnight stay in Miyazaki and consider a ryokan instead. Will start my search soon. Apparently, I have some problem looking for mid-range onsen stay in Hitoyoshi as the small establishment with English website tend to be fully booked on my date :(

Sorry - with regards to the Takachiho farm, my question should be is it very commercialised that does not warrant a visit:)

I see. Mukashi Mukashi is, judging from the internet, a kind of a shop selling some art crafts. If you like these things, go there. The shop has good reputations on the net.

On day 3, my recommendation is, first go to Ebino, and then take the express way to Kagoshima, get on the ferry to Sakurajima, go around and then back to Kagoshima city. Honestly Takachiho farm is not so bad, but it is commercialized place.

http://goo.gl/g04hg0

December is a low season, so in general ryokans and hotels have vacant rooms even on the day. Hitoyoshi has several ryokans with good reputation in Rakuten travel. Some are traditional and some are somewhat modern. The fare is around 13000 yen per person with two meals if you are two persons. I stayed at a ryokan, but now, I will recommend other ryokans, such as Hitoyoshi ryokan, Suiransou, and Seiryu Sansuika Ayu no Sato.

Aoshima hotels: I searched on the net and found Hotel Aoshima Cinqmale should be nice.

http://goo.gl/pDQyUg