Southern Japan Experience

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Booking Type Instant booking
duration 12 days
tour type Small group Request as private
age requirement 15-99 yrs
max group size 12
guiding method Fully guided
Tour Code BM-10847
Footprint Carbonneutral CO₂ emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
Operated in English

Starts Osaka, Japan
Ends Osaka, Japan

HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes

Explore the unique island of Naoshima – transformed from a sleepy fishing community into a world-class art destination, with sleek and stylish museums and artworks that harmonise with the landscape.
Stay in a countryside homestay, taking you off the beaten track to experience excellent Japanese hospitality. Feast on home-cooked meals over fascinating conversations with your welcoming hosts and learn about rural life in Japan.
Watch the steam coming out of the ‘hells’ (hot spring pools in Jigoku) of Beppu and enjoy a soak in a Michelin star onsen, followed by a unique experience for dinner – you’ll steam your food in the hot spring water, creating authentic flavours rich with healthy minerals!
Take in the stunning view of the five peaks of Mount Aso from the Daikanbo Observatory, then a light hike on the moon-like terrain to the largest crater of Nakadake before hopping in a rowboat to paddle through the deep gorge of Takachiho.
Expect the unexpected in Nagasaki, tragically famous for being one of the only two cities that were bombed during the war. Discover the unique charm of this port-side Dutch influenced city and all the history it has collected over the years.
By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.
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The "Southern Japan Experience" trip starts from and ends in Osaka. It is a city sightseeing tour that takes 12 days taking you through Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Nagasaki and 3 other destinations in Japan. "Southern Japan Experience" is a guided small group trip that includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

One of Japan’s greatest attractions is its ability to offer modern and traditional versions of itself. On this 12-day trip, you’ll veer off the main island of Honshu and travel to the less-touristy southwest. Discover revived art on the island of Naoshima, wander the castle in Matsuyama and spend a night in a tranquil homestay in the village of Usuki. Steam away your worries in the onsens in Beppu and be treated to two nights in the volcanic Mt Aso, staying right in the middle of a caldera in a traditional Japanese inn surrounded by rice terraces. Remind yourself of the sobering history of Nagasaki and end it all back where it began – in thriving Osaka. This adventure is the ultimate combination of modern art, bullet trains, countryside villages, traditional inns, delicious feasts and onsens, surrounded by impressive views of rice terraces, volcano craters and deep gorges. If you’re looking for a new side of Japan – this is it!

ITINERARY Expand All

Day 1: Osaka
Day 2: Takamatsu
Day 3: Naoshima Island/Takamatsu
Day 4: Matsuyama
Day 5: Usuki Homestay
Day 6: Beppu
Day 7: Mount Aso
Day 8: Mount Aso
Day 9: Arita/Nagasaki
Day 10: Nagasaki
Day 11: Osaka
Day 12: Osaka

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights), Homestay (1 night), Japanese Inn (2 nights)

Meals

3 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 3 Dinners

Transport

Train , Ferry , Public Bus , Private bus , Metro , Bullet Train

Guide

An expert tour leader

Included Activities

Takamatsu - Ritsurin Garden & Sanuki Folkcraft Museum
Takamatsu - Naoshima day trip (ferry, public bus & bicycle)
Matsuyama - Matsuyama Castle
Usuki - Local Sake brewery visit and tasting
Usuki - Japanese home-cooking experience
Beppu - 'Hells' of Beppu (Jigoku)
Beppu - local onsen
Beppu - Steamed dinner (Beppu style)
Mount Aso - Ogi Rice terraces
Mount Aso - Daikanbo Observatory
Mount Aso - Nakadake Crater
Mount Aso - Sunasenri trail hike
Takachiho - Takachiho gorge rowing boat ride
Takachiho - Takachiho Shrine
Arita - Tonbai Wall Alleys walking tour
Arita - Tozan Shrine
Nagasaki - Peace Park & Atomic Bomb Museum

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

Any international flights to/from Osaka are not included in this price. We always recommend that you arrive 1 day prior to your tour starting date.
Travel insurance is not included in this Southern Japan Experience tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. World Nomads' travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a Premier This travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.5 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 189 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6 rating.

REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:

Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected Travel within your own bubble.
Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.

Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.

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GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes

CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Southern Japan Experience tour. You can cancel the tour up to 58 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 57 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 12 June 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 12 June 2024, a deposit of 400 USD is required to confirm the tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 57 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

Southern Japan Experience tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families.

Visa

For this Southern Japan Experience tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

Is this trip right for you

Japan is best to explore on foot – in fact, most travellers are surprised at how much distance they end up covering just exploring places! Make sure your shoes are comfy and sturdy, and you’re fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet.
You’ll stay in a homestay and a traditional Japanese inn on this trip. It’s a great taste of tradition and local life and you’ll sleep on the traditional tatami mat (futons and blankets on the floor mat), just like the locals do! The facilities here will be shared.
This trip uses mainly public transport, which means you’ll ravel the same way as the locals do. These are great opportunities to experience authentic local travel but be prepared to pack light and smart for this trip as you'll be required to carry your luggage between train stations and to hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs in crowded areas.

COVID VACCINATION POLICY

Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer mandatory on departures after 1st January 2023. Nonetheless, all travellers are strongly advised to be vaccinated as a safety measure to protect themselves and others on the tour. This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination are required.

Also, proof of vaccination may still be required at specific entry points or by the airlines. Therefore, please make sure to check all the travel requirements carefully before travelling.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene global standardised protocols have been adopted.
Hygiene and safety guidelines will be followed to ensure your well being is looked after during travels.

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