Miyazaki

After consulting other people's reviews, I chose this one-day trip. Under the enthusiastic guidance of our guide, Yoshiko Sugiyama, the day's itinerary was completed very easily and smoothly. We rode the Takachiho Scenic Railway and saw the Takachiho Gorge. Despite the Mount Aso volcano being closed at level 3, we detoured to Kusasenri and saw the volcano from afar. It only started raining near the end of the trip – incredibly lucky! The scenery at the scenic spots wasn't really affected, and we didn't see any damage along the way, as we were quite far from the epicenter. I'm very grateful to our guide for her enthusiastic leadership; even though she was from a disaster-stricken area in Yatsushiro and transportation was disrupted, she still drove two hours to lead the tour. Thank you to the team for their help, making my long, self-guided trip, which involved several days of walking and a broken leg, a day of easy transportation and travel. As other reviews mentioned, the seats would be perfect if they were more comfortable for sleeping. But this minor flaw doesn't detract from the overall experience; the trip was very good and excellent value for money. It's a pity there's a six-photo upload limit, haha.

This time I was a little disappointed that we couldn't go up to the crater for sightseeing or participate in horseback riding. However, the restaurant owner was very warm and attentive to the customers at lunch, and the Wagyu beef was delicious.

The best way to visit distant attractions without a car: the tour guide speaks Chinese, making communication easy and answering all questions. Highly recommended.

The cruise ship docked in Fukuoka from 12:30 to 22:00, with actual disembarkation around 1:30 PM. It's recommended to return to the pier by 8:00 PM at the latest to allow ample time for boarding and avoid missing the cruise. We opted for a private English-speaking driver, and the overall experience was excellent! The driver was friendly, punctual, and professional, arranging the smoothest route based on the cruise ship's boarding and disembarking times, real-time traffic conditions, and passenger needs. He provided many practical suggestions and had excellent time management, making the shore excursion easy and efficient. The itinerary included: * Visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, taking a walk, and enjoying local cuisine * Shopping at LaLaport in Fukuoka (UNIQLO, GU, Nike, Onitsuka Tiger, drugstores, etc.) * Shopping for drugstores and souvenirs in Tenjin Shopping District * Enjoying dinner with family in Tenjin. The short 6.5-hour shore excursion not only allowed us to visit all the attractions we wanted but also provided ample time for shopping and dining. There was no rush or transportation issues throughout the trip. If your cruise ship is docked in Fukuoka, we highly recommend choosing a private shore excursion. Not only will it save you time transferring to public transportation, but it also allows you to customize your itinerary to your needs. A professional driver will help plan the most suitable attractions and stopover times, maximizing your limited shore excursion time and ensuring you easily visit all of Fukuoka's popular spots, creating wonderful travel memories.