Kyushu / Osaka

Hi there...need lots of advise...I plan to visit Japan in Jan 2009 (next year) and intend to start planning now.....I'm travelling with my 4yr old daughter.

Kyushu - any recommended itineraries..
Places that we will want to visit...
1) Huis Ten Bosch
2) Sasebo
3) Nagasaki
4) Beppu (Hot Spring)
Need advise how to plan my route if I start from Fukuoka airport.
How many days would be most ideal?

I recommend the following route:

Fukuoka - Sasebo - Huis Ten Bosch - Nagasaki - Fukuoka - Beppu - Fukuoka

The most inexpensive way of travel is probably the highway bus:
http://www.nishitetsu.co.jp/bus/highway/gb/

Thanks Uji.....how many days would be ideal for each location?

It depends on your preferred pace of travel. Furthermore, I have never been to Sasebo and Huis Ten Bosch and don't know how much time is required to see these places.

For Nagasaki, I recommend at least 24 hours. 2 days preferred as there is lots to see and taste.

Beppu, too, I recommend at least 24 hours to try out various types of baths.

Fukuoka at least one night.

Hi Uji....is it ideal to drive around Kyushu for non Japanese speaking tourists?

Signs along major roads are bilingual, roads tend to be wide and well maintained and drivers tend to be considerate. If you are a good driver in your own country, you should have little problems driving in Japan.

In case you come from a country with right hand side traffic, you will need some time to get used to the left hand traffic. Just be a little bit more careful than usual.

Hi oishii

I live in Nagasaki and will advise you about here.
Nagasaki city is enough for half of a day or 1 day.
And Sasebo and Huis Ten Bosch are 1 day.
You need time to move to Oita/Beppu for 3-4 hours by bus or train.And you will be able to see many things in there and take a hot spring,so need 1 day or 1 1/2 days.And after that,move to Fukuoka,so you will need 5-6 days in Kyusu and Osaka.

I hope it'll hlep your plan.

Hi maimai

Thanks so much for your advise...as I plan to spend 10 days in part of Kyushu but going really slow, no rush FREE N EASY as I'm travelling with children. Here's my itinerary....hope to hear your comments...

22 Jan - arrives in Fukuoka Int'l Airport, will head straight for Sasebo. Still figuring out how to get to Sasebo from the airport. Any idea which is the best location to stay in Sasebo?

25 Jan - move on to Huis Ten Bosch.
Seen on the website that there is this Hario Island which looks interesting especially the one with the bbq your catch on the stove, how do I get there? Any package day trip to this location?

27 Jan - move on to Nagasaki.
Same question, which is the best location to stay...easy to move around to places of interest.

30 Jan - return to Fukuoka.

01 Feb - return home.....

I will have to miss Beppu this trip.

From Fukuoka airport,you can catch a bus to Sasebo for 1 1/2.
http://www.fuji5931.com/c7p0.htm
http://www.solarehotels.com/english/chisun/grand-sasebo/gues...
http://www.wh-rsv.com/english/sasebo/index.html
http://www.sasebohotel.com/green/en/

Huis Ten Bosch is easy to go by train.And you will spend a lot of money at
there coz kids loves teddy bears,sweets and so on :)

I have no ideas where is Hario island but you mean here?
http://www.pearlsea.jp/english/
If not,let me know where you mean.

http://www.choice-hotels.jp/nagasaki/
http://www.toyoko-inn.com/
There are more but not English website.

And if you and your daugther wants to visit to Hot Spring,we have some famous
place calles Unzen or Obama(where is quite famous right now because of the election).
I'm not sure what you will do in Sasebo and Nagasaki but we don't have much places
to visit,so think possible to go to Beppu.

I hope it'll help you a little bit.