Sanin and Sanyo

We chartered a car from Fukuoka to a hot spring hotel in Yufuin. We first visited Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Because of the heavy traffic on Saturday, the driver suggested adjusting the itinerary and having lunch at a rest stop along the way before heading to Yufuin to avoid having to queue for lunch. After arriving, we parked the car in the parking lot in the middle of Yunotsubo, which was only a ten-minute walk from Lake Kinrin, which was great.

Many trains offer the premium Yakumo class, allowing you to recoup your cost with just two rides – it's fantastic! However, if you didn't buy your ticket from the official website, you can't reserve a seat online beforehand; you must reserve it early through the green window.

As instructed, we met early at the Hakata Oriental Hotel. Our guide, Tomas, was fluent in Chinese, English, and Japanese. For our group of about 15 people, he provided explanations and introductions in both Chinese and English. He was very attentive, and there were ample time and opportunities to rest and use the restroom during our travels. It's a perfect trip for families with elderly members to relax and enjoy. During the trip, my mother suddenly felt unwell and experienced slight panic at the entrance to the limestone cave. Thank you, Tomas, for understanding my mother's fear and arranging for the tour bus driver to pick her up and accompany her to the exit. I was truly sorry and grateful. He ensured I could successfully see the magnificent karst formations and caves. Our walk took about 40-50 minutes. The exit leads to a shopping street, which, although somewhat dilapidated, is a truly remarkable sight. He explained the Tsunoshima Bridge, the Kanmon Strait, the historical anecdote of Li Hongzhang related to the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Moji Port, and the story of Motonosumi Shrine in a very interesting way. Thank you so much for making our trip so enjoyable!

After purchasing tickets through the platform, I went directly to the station to exchange them and reserve seats. The whole process was quite convenient and without any major problems. I would consider doing it again if needed in the future.

Communication was smooth, the driver was very nice, drove very smoothly, and the car was very clean.