Miyazaki

The tour guide worked very hard, switching between Chinese and English, and was extremely attentive! Truly fantastic! The scenery along the way was beautiful; I saw many stunning views, and it brought me great peace. However, I must point out the downside of this tour: there were too many people, and the ethnicities were very diverse, making the travel a bit difficult due to different customs. But the group was very punctual – which was really great! This itinerary was a bit rushed, so the guide often walked quite fast, requiring a brisk walk or even a jog to keep up. The mini-train ride, as mentioned on KKDAY, was an extra charge, but I didn't find the experience very enjoyable and it wasn't quite worth it.

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.

We boarded the bus at 8:00 AM. The highway to Takachiho was heavily congested at first, taking 4.5 hours to reach the destination. However, Takachiho itself was truly beautiful, with stunning scenery everywhere you looked. A small tip: if you haven't signed up for the boat tour, don't rush; you can take your time to explore and take photos. But I still recommend taking the boat since you're already there. Lunch was quite authentic, though I didn't particularly like the beef. The Aso Volcano and Kusanagi Scenic Area tour was fairly standard, and the traffic didn't shorten our sightseeing time. After a long 12-hour drive, everyone was tired. The tour guide was very professional and attentive, even helping us take photos. However, these locations are difficult to reach without a car, so overall, I still recommend it.

The guide spoke Chinese, but I asked in advance if English would be acceptable, and he replied that it would be fine. It was difficult to find the tour at the Chikushi Exit of Hakata Station in the morning, as there were many tour buses parked there. There were many tours from the same travel agency, and a guide on another tour told me that it was the young man's place. I was relieved when our guide, Alex, checked the list. The tour participants spoke about half English and half Chinese. The guide's English was very easy to understand, and he patiently answered my questions. I was deeply moved by the majesty of Aso's Kusasenri. We took a shuttle bus to the Aso Crater. It was a valuable experience, seeing the inside of a volcano for the first time in my life. The distance from Hakata to Aso and then to Takachiho Gorge was quite long, but we arrived at our destination earlier than expected, and I'm grateful for the driver's skill. At Takachiho Gorge, we rented a boat to get close to the waterfalls. The air was crisp and cold, and it was truly mystical and beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed Takachiho Gorge, known as the path of the gods. I'm originally from Kyushu, but I'd never been to the Aso crater, Kusasenri, or Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki. I chose this tour to show my daughter the highlights of Kyushu for her birthday. I was a little worried about the tour being full of foreigners, but our guide, Alex, was very kind and guided us carefully, so we had a great day. My daughter was also very happy. On the bus ride back, Alex told everyone that in addition to Aso and Takachiho, which we'd visited that day, he also recommended Beppu Onsen, a Kyushu hot spring. As a Beppu native, I was very happy. Thank you very much.

The entire tour is guided, making it perfect for travelers who want to enjoy the scenery in peace and quiet. The bus ride takes almost six hours round trip, but I personally think it's well worth it. Although it's very weather-dependent, Miyazaki is the birthplace of mythology, so a visit here will offer a unique experience. It's definitely an energy-boosting destination, highly recommended! After lunch, you'll need to return to the bus station on your own. After visiting Takachiho Gorge, you can ask the staff at the tourist information center to help you call a taxi to Takachiho Shrine. The walk from Takachiho Gorge to the shrine is quite physically demanding, so I suggest that travelers like me who don't want to go through that much exertion take a taxi (laughs). Overall, it's a fantastic experience!