Family of three, 8 days 7 nights across Kyushu! Leisurely travel with kids, no rushing
Family of three, 8 days 7 nights across Kyushu! Leisurely travel with kids, no rushing✨
Our first Kyushu adventure! Our family of three visited Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Aso, Kagoshima, Ibusuki, and Kokura. We flew roundtrip to Fukuoka and changed hotels 3 times throughout the trip. It was probably the most complex Japan itinerary I've ever planned, but we enjoyed sightseeing, eating, and shopping along the way, tired but happy~
📍Overall Itinerary
After landing in Fukuoka, we actually spent 7 days and 7 nights exploring. Getting the All Kyushu 5-day Pass was incredibly worthwhile! It covered Shinkansen, Aso Boy, and Tamatebako trains. We redeemed reserved seats for 6 trips. Traveling with kids, we didn't have to worry at all – this pass completely sorted out our Kyushu transportation!
🏙️Fukuoka | The starting point and supply station for the Kyushu trip
We stayed 2 nights at a budget chain hotel near Hakata Station. Super convenient for transportation, just a short walk to the station. Spent quite some time sorting out train tickets on the night we arrived, but thankfully everything went smoothly~ The next day, we headed straight to Dazaifu, and after exploring, we went shopping in Hakata and Tenjin. On our return day, we also restocked at One Fukuoka BLDG, which was great for shopping! Choosing this area when traveling with kids is perfect for both shopping and getting around, very lazy-friendly.
🐻Kumamoto | Half a day of intense city sightseeing
Took the Shinkansen to Kumamoto early in the morning. First, we stored our luggage and bought a one-day tram pass. We visited Suizenji Jojuen Garden, Kumamon Square, and Kumamoto Castle. We queued for a while to eat at Katsuretsutei for lunch. Visiting three places on a tight schedule felt a bit rushed. Honestly, I think Kumamon Square can be skipped; it's more comfortable to spend that time leisurely exploring the garden~ At 3:30 PM, we took the JR to Aso, focusing on efficient sightseeing.
🌋Aso | The healing feeling of stumbling into an alien planet
Stayed 1 night at Fairfield by Marriott Aso, the environment was super comfortable. On the fourth day, we caught the first bus to Mount Aso, but unfortunately, the crater was closed due to a helicopter incident. We then went to Sunasenri, which had a vast, deserted wilderness feel. Stepping on the soft sand, it felt like we had stumbled into an alien planet – truly breathtaking! We took the 11:55 AM bus back to Kusasenri for lunch. In the afternoon, we explored and took photos around the area. Hiking at Sunasenri and Kusasenri each requires at least half a day. Friends who enjoy hiking are recommended to stay 1-2 more nights to slowly appreciate the beauty of nature. In the afternoon, we took the Aso Boy back to Kumamoto Station. The staff initially said we wouldn't make the 5:15 PM unreserved train and gave us reserved seats for the 5:40 PM train, but in reality, we could have easily made the earlier one. Real-world experience is so important!
🌊Kagoshima | Slow time where mountains and sea meet
Stayed 3 nights at Sheraton Kagoshima, finally no more frequent hotel changes! There's a shuttle bus directly from Kagoshima-Chuo Station, or you can take the tram. Note that you can't use a Suica card on this tram, and you need to get a transfer ticket for transfers. We didn't know this the first time and ended up paying twice, a small hiccup~ On the fifth day, we rushed to Sengan-en Garden + Sakurajima. Buying the one-day transportation pass was super cost-effective, covering the ferry + island buses. Following the transportation routes, we hit all the attractions. Traveling with kids, we didn't need to rack our brains planning, and we easily explored everything.
🏖️Ibusuki | A romantic journey on the Tamatebako train
We took the Tamatebako train roundtrip between Kagoshima and Ibusuki. It's a super stylish train, and the ocean views along the way were incredibly healing. We visited Cape Nagasakibana and Nishi-Ōyama Station. We were initially worried about long intervals between Ibusuki buses, but only visiting two places made it super relaxed. Enjoying the sea breeze and strolling leisurely filled us with happiness.
🏯Kokura | An unexpected hidden gem
From Kagoshima, we took the Shinkansen to Fukuoka, then transferred to a JR train to Kokura. Choosing this place was super smart! First, it was hard to find affordable flights from Kagoshima back to Shanghai, so using the JR Pass to go via Fukuoka was cheaper. Second, accommodation prices in Fukuoka surged on Saturday, so staying in nearby Kokura was a great deal, and we got to visit it too~ Kokura Castle and Mojiko Retro had very few tourists, perfect for a family of three to city walk, leisurely eat and explore without crowds. The experience was fantastic.
✨Thoughts on traveling with kids
This Kyushu trip involved changing hotels 3 times. Although it was a bit of a hassle, we got to explore the beauty of different cities with our child: Fukuoka's vibrancy, Kumamoto's charm, Aso's grandeur, Kagoshima's gentleness, Ibusuki's romance, and Kokura's tranquility. Each stop brought different surprises. The All Kyushu 5-day Pass was truly a lifesaver; traveling with kids meant no repeated ticket purchases, saving both time and worry. The various practical tips we learned also made the trip much smoother.
Our family of three's Kyushu journey concluded successfully. Every part of the trip created precious memories. Which city in Japan would you most like to visit with your kids?