Fukuoka City

Our tour guide, Jimmy, was lively and fun, and he reminded everyone of important things. The driver was also very friendly and polite! The only downside was that because the itinerary involved a lot of driving, there wasn't much time to stop at the attractions. However, considering how inconvenient it is to get to the shrines, I still highly recommend taking this day trip!

Yanagawa is quite far from the city center. Although you can drive or take the train, this bus is really great! It's like having a small tour bus for a dozen or so people; there's no need for socializing, just pay attention to the boarding time. We visited four attractions. We didn't spend much time at the first two, but since the areas aren't large, it was manageable. The two main attractions, Yanagawa and Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, were a bit rushed, but suitable for first-time visitors. After seeing them, you can decide whether you want to come back a second time; you can then take the train yourself. In short: suitable for solo travelers, those traveling alone, or those who want a simple trip.

Solo travel is no problem either; you can catch up on sleep on the bus and then sightsee after getting off. The outbound journey started at platform number 1 on the first floor of Hearts Bus Station, and the return journey ended at the Chikushi Exit of Hakata Station, super close to my hotel. Mount Yufu was magnificent and beautiful! I thought the Kamado Jigoku (Hell of the Hearth) was alright; it would be fine to just visit Dazaifu instead. Overall, I highly recommend it, and thank you to our guide, Ms. Gao Chuang, for her helpful photos! 👍