Photo: Tayawee Supan
Rail & Stay · 10 days / 8 nights
Kyushu Explorer
The warm south — mild winters, volcanoes and island history.
From €780 per person ¥131,000
Ten days across Japan's southern island — Fukuoka's food stalls, Nagasaki's layered history, Kumamoto's castle and the vast Aso caldera. A region almost no one in our markets sells at this level.
What's included
- Pre-booked hotels in walkable, station-side locations for every night — the star level depends on the level you choose (see the level table above).
- The right rail product for your route, chosen honestly — a JR Pass only when it actually saves you money, otherwise point-to-point tickets.
- Digital city-guides for each base, in your language.
- An eSIM and IC-card starter kit.
- Our Visit Japan support line, in your language, on Japan hours.
- Access to our curated menu of H.I.S. excursions, bookable in euros on a single invoice.
Not included
- International flights to and from Japan.
- Travel insurance.
- Meals, unless a specific experience or your chosen level includes them.
- Airport transfers and seat reservations on the Comfort level — on Comfort you get clear instructions and can add these on; tickets and reservations are included from Select upward.
- Included excursions on the Comfort level — signature excursions come included from Select (one) and Prestige (two); on Comfort you book them à la carte from the menu.
- Optional à-la-carte excursions and any personal spending beyond what your level includes.
Suggested day by day
- Days 1–3 — Fukuoka: yatai food-stall evenings (digital guide).
- Days 4–5 — Nagasaki, with the Gunkanjima Battleship Island cruise.
- Days 6–7 — Kumamoto, with a Mt. Aso & Takachiho private day.
- Days 8–9 — Back to Fukuoka.
- Day 10 — Departure.
A flexible framework — this is self-guided, so you set the pace and swap days around.
How the rail works
The JR Kyushu Pass is genuinely good value on this loop — and, again, we're the official place to buy your pass rather than a third-party site.
Choose your level
Every level includes hotels, the right rail product, digital city-guides, an eSIM & IC-card kit and our support line. The level you pick decides your hotel class and how much we handle for you — transfers, seat reservations and included excursions. Here is exactly what each level adds, so there are no surprises.
Prices through the year
Prices change with the season — Japan is busiest and dearest during cherry blossom, Golden Week, mid-August and New Year. Figures below are per person, twin share, land only, and indicative; we confirm the exact price for your dates when you request a quote.
| Season | Dates | Comfort3★ | Select4★ | Prestige5★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 06/01 – 28/02 | €730¥122,000 | €1,180¥198,000 | €2,100¥354,000 |
| Standard season most other dates | — | €780¥131,000 | €1,250¥211,000 | €2,250¥380,000 |
| Summer | 01/06 – 09/08 | €810¥136,000 | €1,300¥218,000 | €2,340¥395,000 |
| Cherry-blossom season | ~25/03 – 07/04 | €900¥151,000 | €1,430¥240,000 | €2,590¥436,000 |
| Autumn colours | ~15/11 – 30/11 | €860¥144,000 | €1,370¥230,000 | €2,470¥417,000 |
| Spring holiday (Golden Week) Peak | 29/04 – 06/05 | €1,060¥178,000 | €1,660¥279,000 | €3,020¥510,000 |
| Mid-August holiday (Obon) Peak | 10/08 – 17/08 | €940¥158,000 | €1,490¥250,000 | €2,690¥454,000 |
| New Year Peak | 28/12 – 05/01 | €880¥148,000 | €1,400¥236,000 | €2,540¥428,000 |
Land only, per person on twin share. International flights, travel insurance and optional excursions are not included. Single-room and exact peak-date prices are confirmed on request.
Prices are set in Japanese yen (¥). Euro amounts are indicative, converted at the ECB reference rate of €1 = ¥177.34 (09.10.2026); the final euro price is calculated at the exchange rate on the day of payment. General Terms
Signature experiences
These are the highlight experiences on this route. How many come included in your price depends on the level you choose — any others are easy add-ons from our excursion menu, booked in euros on the same invoice.
This route's signature experiences
- Gunkanjima Battleship Island
- Mt. Aso & Takachiho (private)