2-week Kyushu Roadtrip Itinerary - Kid-friendly

We had an amazing trip in Kyushu. Compared to other Japan major cities, it’s much less crowded, which made the whole experience more relaxing and very kid-friendly. Everything felt slower, easier, and less overwhelming with children.

Kyushu is also known for its food - and there were many spacious, family-friendly restaurants. Dining out with kids felt stress-free most of the time. I’ve also included the places we ate at below. If I didn’t list a specific restaurant, it usually means we just walked into a random spot or familiar chains like Yoshinoya, Matsuya, Sukiya, etc. You won’t go wrong with these in Japan. More details on the food/restaurants here.

We spent 16 days exploring the region, with a good mix of nature spots, city stays and playgrounds. But if you have less time, you can easily skip cities like Nagasaki, Miyazaki, or Kagoshima

We highly recommend self-driving in Kyushu. It’s easier to get around, gives access to more places that aren’t train-friendly, and is more economical overall. Parking is widely available and much cheaper compared to other major cities in Japan.

For accommodation, we mostly went for basic and simple places that could comfortably fit the four of us - nothing fancy, just convenient and family-friendly.

We traveled from late November to early December, so we got to enjoy autumn foliage. Other than some rain during the first few days in Fukuoka and Nagasaki, the rest of the trip was sunny.

🗺 Trip Map

Fukuoka → Nagasaki → Kumamoto → Takachiho → Aso → Kurokawa Onsen → Yufuin → Beppu → Miyazaki → Kagoshima → Fukuoka

📅 Itinerary Overview

Day 1 – SG → Fukuoka

• Arrived Fukuoka in the morning
• Tenjin Underground Mall for early lunch and some shopping
• Checked in early for a nap
• Canal City
  • Fountain light show from 7pm-9pm
• Christmas Market at Tenjin Central Park

Day 2 – Fukuoka → Yanagawa (1h) → Nagasaki (2h)

• Collect rental car from Orix
• Yanagawa Canal boat ride
  • We booked the boat ride on the spot and were hoping to see the ninja boatman stunt, but it didn’t happen - apparently not all boatmen perform it. We later found one on Klook that does.
    You can book it there and use my promo code: WEITING.
• Afternoon drive to Nagasaki

🍽 Meals:
Lunch: Ganso Motoyoshiya (steamed unagi rice)
Dinner: Marugame Udon

🏨 Burabura (Learn more about our accomm here)

Day 3 – Nagasaki

• Glover Garden
• Nagasaki Peace Park & Atomic Bomb Museum
• Sanno Shrine - one-pillar Torii Gate that survived the blast
• Due to bad weather, we didn't manage to visit Hashima Island and Mount Inasa night view
  • For Hashima Island, you'll need to book in advanced via Klook.

🏨 Burabura

Day 4 – Nagasaki → Kumamoto (3h)

• Minami-etsu Observation Deck
  • Chanced upon this spot while driving to Kumamoto City — a great vantage point with beautiful views. Rows of orange trees along the road.
• Reigando Cave and Unganzenji Temple
  • Where Miyamoto Musashi spent his final years, surrounded by 500 Rakan statues in a peaceful forest setting.
• Kumamoto Castle - no English on the exhibit text
  

🍽 Meals:
Dinner: Keika Honten (Kumamoto ramen)

🏨 Ark Hotel Kumamotojo Mae

Day 5 – Kumamoto → Takachiho (1.5h) → Aso (1h)

• Takachiho Gorge
  • The boat rental tickets opened 2 weeks in advanced and they run out very fast. (We missed it) Be sure to set your calendar to book.
• Amaterasu Railway train ride
  • Tickets only available on the day and at the station. Get there early to purchase tickets.
• Rakunoh Mother's Co., Ltd.Aso Milk Ranch
  • Huge farm with beautiful views
  • Activities for kids like milking cows and animal race
• Aso Candle Night
  • Thousands of candles light up the streets and fields. Usually happens in winter, dates change every year.

🍽 Meals:
Lunch: Tomoemaru

🏨 Kosugi Resort

Day 6 – Aso

• Nakadake Crater
  • Japan largest active volcano
• Kusasenri grassland
• Plenty of beautiful spots around the volcano - we just drove around and stopped for photos.
• Aso-Viva - Aso Uchinomaki Family Park
  • Playground for local children

🍽 Meals:
Lunch: Gotouya Akaushi

🏨 Kosugi Resort

Day 7 – Aso → Kurokawa Onsen (~1h)

• Nabegataki Falls
• Shimonjo Gingko Tree and Waterfall
• Explore the charming Kurokawa Onsen village
• Enjoy onsen & dinner in Ryokan
  • Kurokawa Onsen is a charming small town filled with clusters of ryokans. You can get a day pass to hop between the different onsens, each with its own unique style. Ours was cave onsen - really special experience. There's also private onsen available. But I was surprised there weren’t any shower facilities at the onsen.

🍽 Meals:
Lunch: 百姓や

🏨 Shinmeikan

Day 8 – Kurokawa Onsen → Yufuin (1.5h) → Beppu (30min)

• Yunotsubo Street + Yufuin Floral Village + Owl's Forest Zoo
• Kinrin Lake
• Beppu Hells
  • A collection of unique hot spring sites, and you can get a pass to visit them all. Honestly, visiting 2–3 is enough. We went to Umi Jigoku, a stunning cobalt blue pool, and Oniishi Bozu Jigoku, with its grey mud. Umi Jigoku is definitely worth it - there’s also a red pool inside. Most of the “hells” come with a free foot bath, so bring a small towel to dry your feet.

🏨 Nogami Honkan

Day 9 – Beppu → Miyazaki (~3h)

• Yukemuri Observation Deck
  • Views of Beppu’s steam rising from the hot springs.
  • Tucked in the middle of a residential area, so it’s easy to miss.
• Drive to Miyazaki

🍽 Meals:
Lunch: Jigokumushikobo Kannawa (steam your own food using geothermal heat)
Dinner: Miyachiku Beef Teppanyaki Steakhouse

🏨 Miyazaki Daiichi Hotel

Day 10 – Miyazaki → Nichinan → Kagoshima (2h)

• Udo Jingu Shrine
  • Seaside shrine built into a cliff with rabbit statues
• Drive to Kagoshima
• Shiroyama Observatory
  • Panoramic views of the Sakurajima volcano and the city skyline

🍽 Meals:
Lunch: Portside Station Meitsu
Dinner: Yushokutonsai Ichiniisan Tenmonkanten

🏨 Richmond

Day 11 – Kagoshima

• Sengan-en Garden
• Ferry to Sakurajima
  • Explore volcanic landscapes, foot baths, and scenic viewpoints. Fun learning experience for kids.

🏨 Richmond

Day 12 – Kagoshima → Ibusuki (1h)

• Sand bath experience at Saraku
  • No photos allowed here. If you’d like to take photos, you can head to Yamakawa, they allow it for a ¥500 photo fee.
• Playground at Lake Ikeda
• Pokemon Eevee drainhole cover hunting

🍽 Meals:
Lunch: Tōsenkyō Sōmen
Dinner: Aoba

🏨 Richmond

Day 13 – Kagoshima → Nanzoin (3.5h) → Fukuoka (30min)

• Nanzoin Temple
  • Giant reclining Buddha statue & beautiful temple grounds
• Drive to Fukuoka and return car

🍽 Meals:
Lunch: 吉田屋
Dinner: Ichiran Headquarter

🏨 Tokyu Stay Tenjin

Day 14 – Fukuoka

• Uminokamichi Seaside Park playground
  • Very huge park with a few big playgrounds and a mini zoo
  • Rent bicycles to go around
  • Splash / water play areas in warmer months
  • If you’re going by bus from the city, it only comes once an hour. Check the schedule and plan your timing properly.
• Lalaport
  • See life-sized Gundam

🏨 Tokyu Stay Tenjin

Day 15 – Fukuoka

• Explore Ropponmatsu
  • Stylish neighborhood near Ohori Park with modern shops and cafes
• Ohori Park &LOCALS for drinks, playground
• Shopping around Tenjin

🍽 Meals:
Lunch: Shin Shin
Dinner: Gyukatsu

🏨 Tokyu Stay Tenjin

Day 16 – Departure

• Buy matcha powder from 茶道具・抹茶 左座アクロス店

🍽 Meals:
Brunch: Ganso Hakata Mentaiju Nishinakasu