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Kyūshū Cities and Caldera Road Loop: 6-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
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The 6-day version for November: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight.
6
days
700 km
distance
17.5 h
driving
30
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Use the published road season and check current roads, weather, public access and every optional activity separately.
Before you go · check live details
This is a planning draft. Check these changing details for your dates before booking or travelling.
Some route advice is currently available in English.
- Check current roads, weather, volcanic alerts and public access for every date.
Aso restrictions can change without notice. The current Nakadake crater road closure and crater-viewing exclusion must be respected.
Check source ↗ - Confirm an insured car, fuel, lawful parking and every overnight.
The planner supplies no car, fuel, recovery, parking or lodging. Confirm rental terms and every overnight.
Check source ↗ - Arrange any crater access, onsen, sand bath, ferry, tour or provider activity separately.
The baseline contains no crater-viewing promise and bundles no provider activity.
Check source ↗
Day 1 Fukuoka public culture base
- Transit
- 0h37
- Finish
- ~15:50
- Temperature
- 7.1°C–15.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~13
- Daylight
- 10.2h
09:00
Fukuoka public culture circuit japan.travel map ↗
Use confirmed-open public parks, waterfront and civic heritage; food stalls, museums and provider activities stay optional.
50 min · Fukuoka public culture base · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
Admire a superb permanent art collection and special exhibitions.
50 min · Fukuoka public culture base
14:00
Discover the city's history through permanent and temporary exhibitions.
50 min · Fukuoka public culture base · ¥200 adults / 150 high schoolers / free for children
open: Tue-Sun 09:30-17:30
14:50
Menya Ishi instagram.com map ↗
Experience hearty udon and pollack udon in a cozy station-side spot.
60 min · Fukuoka public culture base · 1000 ~ 2000¥ Per person (price listed 2000)
open: 08:00 ~ 16:00
Overnight here
e.g. Fukuoka Youth Hostel · Fukuoka Backpackers Hostel
Day 2 Nagasaki public history day
- Transit
- 3h49
- Finish
- ~17:15
- Temperature
- 9.8°C–16.7°C
- Rainy days
- ~15
- Daylight
- 10.3h
12:20
Nagasaki public history circuit japan.travel map ↗
Use confirmed-open public memorial, park and civic access; museums, ropeways, islands and cruises stay optional.
50 min · Nagasaki public history day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
13:20
Admire this historic basilica honoring Japan's early Christian martyrs.
50 min · Nagasaki public history day
14:20
Explore the remnants of Japan's only port open to Western trade for centuries.
50 min · Nagasaki public history day · Adult ¥1100, senior or student ¥550
open: 08:00-21:00, entrance closes at 20:40, shop and restaurant close at 18:00
15:25
Reflect on history through poignant, anti-nuclear exhibits.
50 min · Nagasaki public history day · ¥200
open: 08:30-17:30
16:25
Feel solemnity beneath the Peace Statue, advocating for global peace.
50 min · Nagasaki public history day
Overnight here
e.g. Casa Noda · Nagasaki Kagamiya
Day 3 Kumamoto public castle-city day
- Transit
- 3h47
- Finish
- ~17:15
- Temperature
- 7.7°C–16.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~14
- Daylight
- 10.3h
12:20
Kumamoto public castle-city circuit japan.travel map ↗
Use confirmed-open public castle-city, park and heritage access; interiors, gardens and paid attractions stay optional.
50 min · Kumamoto public castle-city day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
13:20
Admire one of Japan's most beautiful castles, a historic landmark.
50 min · Kumamoto public castle-city day · ¥800
open: 09:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30)
14:20
15:20
Honmyo-ji Temple honmyouji.jp map ↗
Climb the candle-lined stairs to this famous temple honoring Kato Kiyomasa.
50 min · Kumamoto public castle-city day
16:25
Overnight here
e.g. Media Cafe Popeye · Toyoko Inn
Day 4 Aso confirmed-open public caldera day
- Transit
- 2h35
- Finish
- ~16:00
- Temperature
- 4.5°C–13.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~14
- Daylight
- 10.3h
10:40
Use only confirmed-open low-risk public caldera roads and viewpoints; the closed Nakadake crater road and crater viewing are excluded.
50 min · Aso confirmed-open public caldera day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
11:50
12:50
14:10
15:00
Kojirō-buchi kojirobuchi.com map ↗
Savor generous portions of meat cooked at your table over a fire.
60 min · Aso confirmed-open public caldera day · ¥1500-2000 (price listed 2000)
Overnight here
e.g. Nabenohira Campground · Aso Youth Hostel
Day 5 Beppu public landscape day
- Transit
- 3h10
- Finish
- ~17:15
- Temperature
- 9.6°C–15.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~12
- Daylight
- 10.2h
11:45
Beppu public landscape circuit japan.travel map ↗
Use confirmed-open public viewpoints, parks and town access; hot-spring hells, onsen, sand baths and tours stay optional.
50 min · Beppu public landscape day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
12:45
Global Tower b-conplaza.jp map ↗
Experience a full 360-degree vista of Beppu from atop the tower.
50 min · Beppu public landscape day · ¥300
open: Dec-Feb 09:00-21:00 Mar-Nov., Dec-Feb 09:00-19:00
13:45
Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center takezaikudensankaikan.jp map ↗
Learn about and try bamboo craftsmanship in this display center.
50 min · Beppu public landscape day
14:45
16:25
Umi-Jigoku beppu-jigoku.com map ↗
See the striking blue-green fuming pond.
50 min · Beppu public landscape day
Overnight here
e.g. Beppu Guest House · Happy Neko
Day 6 Fukuoka loop-return day → back to start
- Transit
- 3h31
- Finish
- ~15:20
- Temperature
- 7.1°C–15.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~13
- Daylight
- 10.2h
12:20
Fukuoka public return circuit japan.travel map ↗
Complete the loop with confirmed-open public waterfront, garden and civic access; food stalls and paid venues stay optional.
50 min · Fukuoka loop-return day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
13:25
ACROS observation deck search
Enjoy panoramic city views from the elevated observation deck.
50 min · Fukuoka loop-return day · Free
open: Weekends and public holidays only, 10:00-16:00
14:15
Daimyo search
Relax with happy hour refreshments before dinner in a pleasant atmosphere.
60 min · Fukuoka loop-return day
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.
Sources (11)
- Fukuoka public culture circuit — japan.travelOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — FukuokaCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Nagasaki public history circuit — japan.travelOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — NagasakiCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Kumamoto public castle-city circuit — japan.travelOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — KumamotoCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Aso confirmed-open public caldera circuit — env.go.jpOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikipedia — Aso Volcano MuseumCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Wikivoyage — Mount AsoCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Beppu public landscape circuit — japan.travelOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — BeppuCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)