Oku Japan, a leading Kyōto-based tour operator specialising in sustainable and culturally immersive walking & trekking experiences, has launched a brand-new self-guided tour on the island of Kyūshū. The eight-day Kyūshū’s Hidden History self-guided itinerary represents a new type of tour style for Oku Japan, combining elements of its classic walking tours, complete with three stunning hikes through the island’s breathtaking landscape, complemented by new ‘Exploration Days’ in lively cities and historic towns.
“This tour is both our first ‘Walk and Explore’ offering, and first self-guided trip on the island of Kyūshū,” says Hiroshi Kawaguchi, General Manager for Oku Japan. “Combining classic, nature-immersive hiking opportunities for which we are so well known, with in-depth exploration of the island’s unique history in such culturally important areas such as Bungo-Taketa and Nagasaki, offers guests a wonderful combination of experiences and a truly in-depth and immersive way to delve into Kyūshū’s secrets.”
The third largest of Japan’s four main islands, Kyūshū is considered the cradle of Japanese civilization. It was through here that foreign traders arrived in the country, and the centuries of trade here formed the region’s cultural fabric as much as its volcanic activity formed its land. Even during the Edo period, when Japan famously sequestered itself from outside influence, foreign merchants from a select few countries were able to conduct business via Nagasaki’s trading post of Dejima.
On this new eight-day, ‘Walk and Explore’ self-guided trip, guests will travel from the onsen town of Beppu on Kyūshū’s eastern coast to the western port city of Nagasaki. Along the way, travellers will explore Usuki, once the domain of a famously Christian daimyō (despite the Tokugawa shogunate’s enforced ban of the religion) and the home of dozens of mysterious Buddhist sculptures of unknown origins; the Kusasenri Plain, located in the sprawling Aso Caldera, the largest in Japan; and Mount Unzen, a dramatic grouping of volcanic peaks and geothermal vents.
The tour features three unforgettable hikes up mountain trails that lead to breathtaking viewpoints. This includes a trek around the lovely, lush island of Ōnyūjima, followed by a night at a local farm in Saiki where guests get to experience rural life firsthand. The next is a hike up to the peak of Mount Eboshidake, which stands at 1,337 metres and is one of the mountains that make up the massive Mount Aso group (Mount Aso being the largest caldera in Japan and one of the largest in the world – large enough to have a city inside it!). And finally, guests will hike up to the peak of Mount Myōkendake, one of the mountains that make up the Mount Unzen cluster, where they will be rewarded with panoramic views of the Shimabara Peninsula.
Alongside these fantastic hikes, guests will have the opportunity to explore the region’s cultural landmarks guided by Oku Japan’s detailed, turn-by-turn walking directions, which also provides recommendations of things to see and do, as well as important historical information that helps paint a background picture and deepen one’s understanding of the area. Accommodations on this trip include Western-style hotels, onsen ryokans, family-run guesthouses, and one night at a farm where travellers will get an intimate look at the area’s rural lifestyle.
Departures are recommended from March until November, with pricing starting from AU$3,750.00 per person. Included in the price is accommodations, daily breakfast and four dinners, train tickets for intermediate journeys on the trip, ferry trip from Kumamoto Port to Shimabara Port, detailed maps, entrance fees for the Inaba Family Villa and Usuki Stone Buddhas, four pre-paid taxis, local support by telephone, and Oku Japan’s ‘Preparing for your Trip’ and ‘Traveling to Japan’ guidebooks.
