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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Timely-Plankton-8400 on 2025-06-20 11:16:54+00:00.
I, a solo female traveller, just travelled around Kyushu and visited every prefecture on public transport and am pretty happy with the route I took! Pretty much every long one-way trip was under 3000 yen (the faster route was twice as expensive and only 30-60mins faster) and I got to see everything that I wanted to see!
For me I was happy to spend an extra hour on pt and save 2-3 meals worth cost but I know it’s not for everyone (don’t come for me lol) Everything was calculated beforehand in order to arrange accom and late check ins. I did a lot of research to make sure I was buying the cheapest day tickets - lots of the day passes that are advertised for foreign tourists are more expensive …? I don’t know if this will help anyone, and I’m sure it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but as a solo traveller hoping to spend at least 6 months in Japan on a budget, I thought this was a relatively successful route!
Also there is the All Kyushu Pass! I can see it being worth it if youre only staying in each place for 1-2nights max and take a lot of public transport within the city. I personally want to stay in each prefecture for at least 3 nights, and prefer walking anyways so I didn’t need it.
Fukuoka (3 nights)
Some key highlights
- Dazaifu and Nanzoin temple (one day)
- Ohori Park
Bus to Saga (I wish I did this)
- Yutoku Inari Shrine
- Arita (did a day trip from Nagasaki instead)
- Yoshinogari Park
If you can, stopover in Saga for a night or two! It seems like a very quaint prefecture which a lot of interesting porcelain related attractions.
Bus to Nagasaki (4 nights) 4000yen from Fukuoka - I actually spent almost a month here and still didn’t feel like I saw everything but 3-4 nights is enough for the main attractions
Some key highlights
- Glover garden and surrounding areas
- Gunkanjima (Battleship Island)
- Kazagashira Park (best night view for sunsets and was alone the whole time!)
- Shrine street (you can visit a good 5 shrines in one go)
- Food food food! Castella, champon, Nagasaki milkshakes etc
I’m actually obsessed with this city so ask if you want more recommendations!
Bus to Unzen and Shimabara (1 night) 2500yen total
- Unzen jigoku
- Viral koi canals/gutter
- Samurai town
Cute city that was easy to get to! You could stay the night in Shimabara, or……
Ferry to Kumamoto (3 nights) 1900 yen
Ferry takes you straight to the port, then a short bus to the city (included in the 1900 fare!)
- Kumamoto ramen
- Kumamoto castle (maybe no need to go inside?)
- Suizenji Jojuen
- Mount Aso - rent a car!! I will remember this day for a lifetime. Saw horses, deer, birds, so much green and so many craters! Car rental could be around 4000-5000 so drag someone with you and split the cost lol
- Kamishikimi Shrine (Mount Aso)
Bus to Kagoshima (2 nights) around 4000yen
Grab the CUTE pass for 1300yen (single day)
- Sengan-en
- Sakurajima
Ferry to Yakushima (12000yen round trip) 3 nights
Grab the 3 day Yakushima Kotsu bus pass for 3000yen Y’all this was the highlight of the trip! Rent a car and bring some swimmers if you can!!
- Shiratani Unsui Gorge
- Yakusugi Land
- Isso Beach
Train to Miyazaki (3 nights) 2800yen
Grab the Miyazaki day pass for 700yen p/ day (if you travel between 10:00-16:00, which you most likely will w the amount of pt available) They advertise the All Day Pass for 2000yen (you need your passport for it) but you can also just get it for 1800 on the app Japan Transit!
- Aoshima Shrine
- Udo Jingu and Obi castle town
- Takachiho Gorge (day trip, continued onto Beppu for the night)
Would reccommend staying in Aoshima, then maybe sussing out some restaurants or the shrine in the Miyazaki city if you still want to check it out.
Train to Nobeoka (day trip) 2000yen round trip bus for Takachiho 1600yen
Train to Beppu (4 nights) 2800yen The first Beppu night was from Takachiho train from 20:00-23:00
- Kunisaki MUST DO!! If you don’t have a car, do the 1 day Kunisaki tour run by Oita Kotsu. There were only 3 people on my tour for around 5000 yen so I’m pre sure they had a big loss this time the tour is all in Japanese but you get the general gist of things. https://www.oitakotsu.co.jp/1day/
- Beppu onsens
- Yufuin
Ferry to Yawatahama (Shikoku)
DONE!
And that’s how I got from Kyushu to Shikoku! I didn’t realise it was rainy season here in Japan but somehow managed to steal all the sun for the best outdoorsy days. I’ve been to Japan a few times but I reckon Kyushu has the friendliest people, not many tourists and great food! A car would of course be more convenient, but you miss the romance of travelling through rice fields and talking to bus drivers and locals sitting across you. I would personally just hire a car for the day instead of the entire trip. I also don’t have an international license lol
Good luck!! Please consider visiting Kyushu because it is so lovely and I’m sure they’ll be excited to see some new faces.