Final itinerary Kyushu I hope!

Hi,
Well, it covers a fair number of places.
You might move the trip to Nikko to July 4th and then get a 3 day subway pass to save money. Seven hours on trains will be very boring and tiring. You could get an early morning start, then stop off someplace along the way. For example, you could take a couple of hours to see Himeji, with Japan's best castle, or Fukuoka to see the Nanzoin Temple which is one of Japan's finest. Or other good places - see this site as a good guide.

For Kagoshima, seeing Sakurajima is the big elephant in the room, and there is a fast paced one hour bus tour that takes you to several good vantage points of it if you like. Try and make time also to see the Senganen Garden afterwards which is one of the best in the country.

At Kurokawa, there is a 3 hot spring pass you can get for 1300 yen to experience many different places.
For Kumamoto, the castle is currently closed but don't miss the beautiful Suizenji Garden there too.

You can see the best of Nagasaki in 1½ days. You might also see Unzen (as well as its hot springs and 'hells'). Be sure to try the chanpon and saraudon for lunch or dinner.

Good luck.

Thanks so much Toraneko for this valuable feedback. I think I will add a stopover in Kobe (travel companions' request) to break up the trip to Kagoshima. Hanks again, I will follow up on your suggestions.

I will soon leave on this trip! Last minute itinerary check, I am thinking of not including Kumamoto. There is more travel time in this itinerary than I usually like and I am trying to slow it down. Any suggestions or recommendations would be most appreciated. Thank you, Sarah

July 1st to July 16th
1 Arrive Tokyo
2 Tokyo
3 Tokyo
4 Tokyo
5Train to Kobe (3 hours) 1 night - to break up long trip and to eat beef!
5 Train to Kagoshima (3 hours) 2 nights
6 Kagoshima
7 Train to Kumamoto (1 hour) then Sun Q bus to Kurakowa (3 hours) 1 night
8 Sun Q bus via Aso if accessible to Kumamoto (3 hours) 2 nights
9 Kumamoto
10 Train to Nagasaki (3 hours) 3 nights
11 Nagasaki
12 Nagasaki
13 Train to Osaka ( 5 hours)
14 Osaka
15 Train to Tokyo (3 hours)
16 Depart Tokyo

I have revised this itinerary and re-posted, thanks.

Hi,
Well it looks like it is shaping up nicely.

As I'm sure you're aware, July is summer and it will be very sticky and muggy - bring enough sunblock and deodorant, and be sure to keep hydrated. You are putting some generous time into Kagoshima and Nagasaki. If you want to do more for Kagoshima, you could go south a bit to Ibusuki and enjoy the volcanic sand baths. It's also a bit long to go from Kumamoto to Nagasaki, and if you want to see a real gem along the way, visit the Yutoku Inari Shrine along the way - you'd be taking the bullet train to Shin-Tosu and then the Kamome Ltd Express either way, the only change is getting off at Hizen-yamaguchi Stn to get a local train to Hizen-hama Stn, and then take a short bus ride or just grab a taxi.

For Nagasaki, you can certainly see all the good sights, and if you like, take the 3 hour tour to Gunkanjima or Battleship Island. It is something you will never forget - like going to Chernobyl without the radiation. If you want more to see, I mentioned Unzen, but there is also Huis Ten Bosch and [the Sasebo Island Cruise]. Within Nagasaki City get a streetcar day pass to see most of the sights. There is a tourist info office in Nagasaki Stn and worth a visit for maps and info.

I'm not sure what the drive is to see Osaka; every city has something of course, but Kyoto and Nara outshine the place. If you have not seen Himeji with Japan's best castle, that is also worth your attention. At night Osaka comes alive and has some great places to see though, such as Dotonbori, plus the night views from the Umeda Sky Bldg, and Abeno Harukas Bldg are wonderful.

Keep some aspirin and eye drops on you for the long flight - you'll need them by the time you land.

Good luck.

Thank you so much for your feedback Toraneko. I will add Ibusuki to our time in Kagoshimi and the Yotoku Innari Shrine to our trip to Nagasaki. Unzen, Huis Ten Bosch and Sasebo Island Cruise are now on my list for Nagasaki. Gunkanjima is a no go due to motion sickness! Osaka is to break up the trip fron Nagasaki to Tokyo and my son has arranged a food tour in Dontonburi. Thanks again Toraneko, Sarah.