Japan Adventure: Kyushu & Shikoku

Begin your adventure in Osaka, an electric port city on Honshu, the largest of Japan’s four main islands. Around 6pm, say konnichiwa to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Japanese welcome by arranging dinner. Want more time in Osaka? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

We’re off to Onomichi today, a quaint town on the Seto Inland Sea. Leaving our main luggage at reception (we’re reunited with it in Matsuyama on Day 4), we board the iconic bullet train. After 30-45 minutes, we stop in Himeji city to visit the 600-year-old Himeji Castle, one of the few remaining castles from Japan’s feudal period. In the afternoon, we complete our bullet train journey (2hr 10min) and arrive in Onomichi, and check into our accommodation. Important: As there is no storage for large suitcases on the train, you will need to pack a small overnight bag for the next two nights.

Linking several islands in the Seto Inland Sea, the Shimanami Kaido has been called ‘one of the world’s most incredible bike journeys’. Experience it for yourself today, riding 22mi (35km) to our next accommodation on Ikuchi Island. Helmets and bikes are provided, and we’ll be led by our tour leader and an expert local cycling guide, allowing you to fully focus on enjoying the coastal views and sea breezes. Those who do not wish to cycle can take the ferry, which must be booked at least one month before departure. Our destination, Ikuchi Island, is known for its lemon groves and coastal views, while the ornate Kosanji Temple complex offers a spot of culture.

Take an early transfer by bus to Imabari Station to catch our train and continue our journey (around two hours total) to the castle city of Matsuyama on Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four main islands. The city itself is the birthplace of modern haiku, while also offering plenty of cultural attractions, which we see today. After lunch and a walk around the historic district, we pay a visit to Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan’s last remaining original castles. On Mount Katsuyama, it’s also a great spot to enjoy views over the city and the Seto Inland Sea. We also visit Ishiteji Temple and stop nearby to view the 3,000-year-old Dogo Onsen, a hot spring bath that’s said to be the oldest in Japan. Entrance to the onsen is not included, but our tour leader can advise on how to visit in your free time if you’d like.

Leaving our main luggage at reception (we’re reunited with it in Beppu tomorrow), we take the train (one hour) to the Edo-era town of Uchiko. Here, we join our tour leader for a walk around the Old Town, allowing us to admire well-preserved Edo architecture. Our explorations include a visit to the Kamihaga Residence, a beautifully preserved former merchant house, as well as a local candle shop run by the family’s seventh generation, where we learn about the town’s long-standing candle-making heritage. After free time for lunch, we visit a traditional washi paper factory to learn about the production process of handmade Japanese paper. Here, we also enjoy a Japanese gilding class, or haku-oshi, taking it in turns to create a postcard made on washi (traditional Japanese paper). Gilding is a traditional craft that applies delicate metallic foils – gold, silver or coloured – onto handmade paper using special techniques. Return to Matsuyama by train in the afternoon, with free time to explore the city. Important: As there is no storage for large suitcases on the train, you will need to pack a small overnight bag for tonight.

Depart our accommodation before 8am and head south by train (around 45 minutes) and then bus (10 mins) to Yawatahama Port. From here, where we take a ferry (around three hours) to Kyushu, the third largest of Japan’s four main islands. This lesser-visited island of Japan is a haven for nature and adventure lovers, with towering mountains, volcanic ranges and the hot spring region of Beppu, where we stay. Upon arrival, we can explore the area around Beppu Station to enjoy karaoke or a nearby onsen.

Pick up some bento boxes or an easy lunch and hop on a local bus for our 40-minute journey to the mountains outside Beppu. Here, we immerse ourselves in nature with a hike on Mount Yufu. The exact route is decided by your tour leader, based on the group’s overall fitness, but generally follows a loop starting and ending at Yufu tozanguchi. The 4mi (9.5km) hike should take around 4hr 30min (2hr 30min up, two hours down) depending on the group’s pace, and we take well-marked, packed-dirt trails with some steep climbs and an overall ascent of 1,640ft (500m). After taking the bus back to Beppu, you may feel like a restorative visit to an onsen – the perfect ending to an unforgettable day.