Kagoshima

Arrive in Kagoshima and check in to your hotel. Visit the peaceful Senganen Garden with views of Sakurajima volcano. Walk through the Kagoshima Flower Park and visit Cape Nagasakibana to see Mt. Kaimondake. End the day with a soak in your hotel's onsen and enjoy the sea view. The combination of nature and culture sets the tone for your southern Japan journey, gardens, mountains and onsen in one afternoon and evening.

IBUSUKI

Quiet morning with a walk on Ibusuki's soft beaches or green parks. Visit the Satsuma Denshokan Museum to learn about the region since the Meiji Restoration. Go to Chiran to explore the well-preserved samurai district, old homes and narrow lanes bring history to life. Walk through the gardens and learn about the warrior culture. Back to your hotel in the evening for dinner and rest, time to reflect on the stories and traditions that still shape Ibusuki's landscape.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Yakushima Island

Travel to Yakushima Island, one of Japan's most unique and biodiverse islands and Japan’s first UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. See the ancient Jomon Sugi tree, over 7,000 years old, standing in the forest. Enjoy the island’s wild scenery, forests, mountains and wildlife. Yakushima’s coastal areas are home to diverse marine life, with opportunities to learn about sea turtles at the Yakushima Sea Turtle Hall and explore vibrant underwater ecosystems. Visit a cultural and environmental centre to learn how the islanders protect the fragile ecosystem. End the day at the elegant Sankara Hotel and Spa surrounded by nature where you can relax and absorb the island’s rhythm of life.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Yakushima Island

Yakushima Island

Hike to Oko Waterfall, the tallest in southern Kyushu. Then visit Kashima-Kougei, Yakushima's oldest crafts workshop where you can make keyrings or chopsticks from ancient cedar wood. After that walk through Shakunage No Mori Park, famous for its forest views and clear rivers. Visit small artisan workshops around the island to meet local craftspeople and learn about their work. A lovely day of nature, creativity and quiet discovery before back to your hotel for the night.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kirishima

Back to Kagoshima and travel to Kirishima, a mountain region of volcanic peaks and spiritual legends. These misty mountains are linked to Japan's creation stories and have walking trails through ancient forests. Enjoy the fresh mountain air and take time to appreciate the region's beauty and energy. Spend the evening at Wasurenosato Gajoen, a peaceful inn in nature, where you can relax after a day of travel and reflection in southern Japan.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kirishima

Visit the Kirishima Open Air Museum where modern sculptures are displayed in the landscape, art and nature blend. In the afternoon choose to walk to Sengri-ga-taki Waterfall or visit Kirishima-jingu Shrine with its beautiful setting and deep cultural meaning. Either way you connect with the land and its stories. Back to Wasurenosato Gajoen for another peaceful evening surrounded by Kirishima's beauty and tradition.

Meals Included: Breakfast

UWAJIMA

Travel by scenic train and ferry to Uwajima, a coastal town famous for its seafood and traditions. Enjoy local dishes like Taimeshi (sea bream rice) and Jakoten (fried fish cake) unique to the area. If your timing is right you may be able to see Uwajima's traditional bullfighting, a rare event where two bulls compete—no people are harmed. The journey itself is part of the charm, with sea views, peaceful stops and a slower pace to enjoy Japan's island life.

Meals Included: Breakfast

UWAJIMA

Walk through Uwajima Castle, a well-preserved castle from the Edo period with great views. Visit the Doi Pearl Farm to learn how pearls are grown in the sea. Stop at Warei Shrine, loved by local fishermen and Taga Shrine famous for its bold symbols of fertility. These sites reflect the region's spiritual life and respect for nature and tradition. Back to your hotel in the evening with a deeper understanding of Uwajima's history, religion and craftsmanship.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Muroto

Travel to the Muroto Peninsula where tropical plants grow and dramatic rock formations rise from the shore. This area was once under the sea and now shows the signs of shifting tectonic plates. Nature tells the story of the Earth's changes here. Walk along quiet trails, breathe in the ocean air and let the wild landscape calm your mind. Muroto's power is in its peaceful rhythm where sea, stone and sky come together.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Muroto

Muroto

Walk on the Ransho Promenade, a coastal trail with Pacific views and chances to see dolphins and sperm whales. Visit Mikurodo Cave where Kobo Daishi, a famous monk, once meditated. Then stop at Hotsumisakiji Temple perched on the cliffs above the sea. These sacred sites connect visitors to Japan's spiritual roots. Back to your hotel to relax with the day's peaceful energy and the quiet wisdom of Muroto's land and sea.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Iya Valley

Start your journey into the hidden Iya Valley with a visit to the Udatsu district in Miyoshi, famous for its old-style buildings. Travel deeper into the mountains to reach the steep valleys and vine bridges of Iya. This remote region is known for its dramatic landscapes and traditional ways of life. The peaceful setting and natural beauty offer a break from the modern world and a glimpse into a slower, simpler way of living where every view feels like a painting from the past.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Iya Valley

Iya Valley

Soak in a hot spring bath reached by cable car with views across the valley. Visit the Buke Yashiki Samurai Residence to learn about samurai life then cross the famous Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge—an adventure not for the faint-hearted. In the afternoon stop at Hashikura Temple, part of Shikoku’s 88 Temple Pilgrimage and later visit a local sake brewery in Miyoshi. Taste freshly brewed sake and learn about the region’s long tradition before back to your hotel in the evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kotohira & Takamatsu

Travel to Kotohira and climb the stone steps to Kompira-san Shrine where sailors pray for protection. Visit the Nakano Udon School to learn how to make udon noodles—then enjoy your own handmade lunch. Spend the afternoon in Takamatsu and explore Ritsurin Garden, a beautiful Japanese garden. Visit Yashima Peninsula for the views and end your day at Marugame Castle before a Thai massage to soothe your body after a day of walking, climbing and culture.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kotohira & Takamatsu

Visit Kotohira Shrine again surrounded by Setonaikai National Park’s stunning landscapes. If the weather is kind take a boat cruise through the Naruto Strait, famous for its fast currents and whirlpools. Later visit the Miyako Bijn Sake Brewery and taste their local sake. In the evening experience the magic of Awaji Ningyo-Joruri, a traditional puppet performance at Awaji Ningyoza. These shows tell powerful stories through intricate puppetry keeping a unique part of Japan’s artistic heritage alive.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kotohira & Takamatsu

AWAJI ISLAND

Travel to Awaji Island, thought to be the birthplace of Japan in ancient myths. Explore Izanagi Shrine, Japan’s oldest shrine honouring the divine couple Izanagi and Izanami. Walk the shrine grounds surrounded by trees and silence and feel the connection to Japan’s creation stories. Awaji’s peaceful charm and deep-rooted beliefs offer a meaningful experience far from tourist crowds in a place where spiritual stories and nature live side by side.

Meals Included: Breakfast

AWAJI ISLAND

Return to Izanagi Shrine if you missed it earlier or explore it again with a local storyteller who shares myths and traditions. Take part in a soul-cleansing ritual led by a Shinto priest, a quiet moment for reflection. The ceremony marks the end of your journey through Japan. Spend your last evening on Awaji Island in quiet thought, appreciating all you’ve seen, heard and felt over the past days—from waterfalls and mountains to shrines, gardens and island seas.

Meals Included: Breakfast

KOBE OR OSAKA - DEPARTURE

Today depart from Awaji Island to Kobe or Osaka. Take with you the stories, images and feelings of your journey—waterfalls and mountains, shrines and gardens, hot springs and crafts, people. This journey has given you not only beauty but also time to pause. Whether you’re heading home or on to somewhere else the spirit of Japan will stay with you.

Meals Included: Breakfast