10D7N Winter Luxury Gourmet & Onsen in Kyushu

HIGHLIGHTS

Assemble dates:

• 25 JAN 2023 *CNY*

Price:

• S$5,188*

Taxes & Fuel Surcharge:

• S$640*

Highlights

Unique experiences:

• Nagasaki Lantern Festival (Light up from 17:00~), Gunkanjima Cruise (2.5h), Strawberry Picking (60min), Ohori Park Winter Illumination (Light up from 17:00~)

Sightseeing & Shopping Experiences:

• Dazaifu Shrine, Unzen Jigoku Hell, Unzen Ropeway, Kumamoto Castle, Kyusendo Cave (30min), Arimura Lava Observatory, Kirishima Shouchu Factory Garden, Udo Jingu Shrine, Umagase Cliff and Hyuga Observatory, Usuki Stone Buddha, Yunotsubo Kaido Street and Lake Kinrinko, Umi Jigoku Hell, Chinoike Jigoku Hell

Special Gourmet Delights:

• Sumptuous Japanese multi-course dinner Japanese Kaiseki or buffet in Ryokans/Hotels, local delights at restaurant

Hotel / Ryokan Stays:

• 04-nights of authentic Japanese Onsen experience in Shimabara, Kagoshima, Miyazaki & Beppu. 03-nights of centrally located hotel in Nagasaki & Fukuoka

ITINERARY

Day 1: Assemble at Changi Airport for Check in

• JL036 SIN-HND  2225-0555
• JL309 HND-FUK 0855-1100

Day 2: Fukuoka – Kashima – Nagasaki 福岡 – 鹿島 – 長崎

• Hotel: Hilton Nagasaki or similar / Western room 
• Meal: Meal on Board / L / D
• Upon arrival at Fukuoka Airport, coach transfer to a local restaurant for lunch [Japanese Set]. After lunch, head to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (太宰府天滿宮). It enshrines Sugawara Michizane (845-903) as the god of academic achievement. During the entrance examination season each year, students from all over Japan will head to the shrine to pray for success in academic achievement. Next, transfer to Nagasaki city and visit the Nagasaki Lantern Festival (長崎ランタンフェスティバル). The Nagasaki Lantern Festival takes place every year from January 1st of the Lunar Calendar (Chinese New Year) to January 15th, spanning 15 days of activities. During this time, similar to the Lantern Festival in China, over 15,000 Chinese lanterns richly paint Nagasaki’s Shinchi Chinatown, Hama-ichi, and Kankodori Arcade as well as other parts of the city. You will be fascinated by the wide expanse of events dripping in the color of China. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Japanese Course] at a local restaurant. After dinner, transfer to the hotel for check in.

Day 3: Nagasaki – Unzen – Shimabara 長崎 – 雲仙 – 島原

• Hotel: Hotel Nampuro or similar / Japanese Western room 
• Meal: B / L / D
• This morning, visit Gunkanjima (軍艦島) by cruise (2.5h). Hashima Island, also known by its nickname “Gunkanjima” (Battleship Island) due to its unique silhouette, is a small island that flourished as a coal mining community from 1890 to 1974. It reached its peak population of 5,267 people in 1959, making it the world’s highest population density ever recorded in history. However, in 1974, the island became completely deserted after the coalmine was closed. After that, transfer to Unzen and have lunch [Kamameshi Set] at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit Unzen Hell (雲仙地獄). High-temperature hot springs and gases erupt violently from the ground, together with the strong smell of sulfur, the steamy scenery evokes a vision of hell. By Unzen ropeway (雲仙ロープウェイ), you can easily climb up the 1,333-meter-high Mount Myokendake. The ropeway departs and arrives at Nitatoge observation deck. From the top of the mountain, you will have a 360-degree panoramic view of Unzen, a national park. Heiseishin-zan is a volcanic mountain as a result of the eruption of Mount “Fugendake,” can also be seen closely. Finally, transfer to Shimabara for the hotel check in. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Japanese Kaiseki] at the hotel.

Day 4: Shimabara – Kumamoto – Hitoyoshi – Kagoshima 島原 – 熊本 – 人吉 – 鹿児島

• Hotel: Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima or similar / Western room 
• Meal: B / L / D
• After breakfast, let’s head to to Shimabara Port (島原港) to take the Ferry to Kumamoto (around 30min). Upon arrival, proceed to the Kumamoto Castle (熊本城), one of three most famous castles in Japan. It houses a museum which contains artefacts from the Kato and Hosokawa clans, as well as detailed information on the castle’s remarkable history. This afternoon, lunch [Kumamoto Local Japanese Set] will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch, continue your journey to visit Kyusendo Cave (球泉洞). 4.8 kilometers in length, Kyusendo Cave is Kyushu’s largest limestone cave and was discovered in March 1973. It is believed that a limestone layer rose from the bottom of the sea roughly 300 million years ago, and even now the cave is developing with beautiful stone pillars and stalagmites. Finally, transfer to Kagoshima for the hotel check in. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Japanese Kaiseki] at the hotel.

Day 5: Kagoshima – Sakurajima – Kirishima – Miyazaki 鹿児島 – 桜島 – 霧島 – 宮崎

• Hotel: Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort or similar / Western room 
• Meal: B / L / D
• After breakfast, transfer to Sakurajima by ferry (~30min). Upon arrival at Sakurajima Pier, transfer to Arimura Lava Observatory (有村溶岩展望所). The observatory is located along a 1-km trail on a small hill in the lava field created by the great 1946 eruption. From here there is a clear view of impressive Sakurajima, the world famous active volcano, and Kinko Bay. After lunch [Chicken Namban Set] at a local restaurant, visit Kirishima Shochu Factory Garden (霧島ファクトリーガーデン). In the vast space of Kirishima Factory Garden, you can interact with soothing plantlife, learn about the exciting culture of shochu, and fully experience the future that will be created by people and shochu. Next, head to Udo Jingu Shrine (鵜戸神宮), which is located on unusual topography, where its main building is situated in a cave. At the end of the day, transfer to the hotel for check in. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Buffet] at the hotel.

Day 6: Miyazaki – Hyuga – Usuki – Yufuin – Beppu 宮崎 – 日向 – 臼杵 – 由布院 – 別府

• Hotel: Oniyama or similar / Japanese room 
• Meal: B / L / D
• This morning, start your day at Umagase Cliff and Hyuga Observatory. Umagase (馬ヶ背) refers to a precipitous cliff formed along the coastline at the tip of Cape Hyuga. It is a sequence of exposed pillar-like rocks that stretch 70 meters high and 100 meters deep inland. Hyuga Observatory has been built to provide a striking scenic view of this geological wonder backed by the surrounding ocean. This afternoon, your lunch [Hairtail Fish Rice Bowl Set] will be served at a local restaurant. Thereafter, continue your journey to Usuki Stone Buddhas (臼杵石仏). The Usuki Stone Buddhas are statues of various Buddhas sculpted into a cliff about five kilometers southwest of Usuki’s city center. In Japan, Buddha statues are usually made of wood or metal. Stone statues are rarer, and Usuki’s are the only stone Buddhas in Japan to be designated as national treasures. Next, transfer to Yufuin city. Take a stroll at Yufuin Yunotsubo Street（湯の坪街道）and explore more about this rural little onsen town by yourself. Move on to Lake Kinrin (金鱗湖), one of the landmarks of Yufuin. There is a hot-spring source which wells up in the bottom of the lake. In the cold early morning, particularly from fall to winter, the lake is shrouded in morning mist and creates a haunting atmosphere. Finally, transfer to hotel for check in. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Japanese Kaiseki] and natural hot spring at the hotel.

Day 7: Beppu – Fukuoka 別府 – 福岡

• Hotel: Grand Hyatt Fukuoka or similar / Western room 
• Meal: B / L / D
• After breakfast, start your day in Beppu (別府). Beppu is famous for its unique and numerous hot springs. There are several thermal vents that produced water too hot for hot springs, make up a unique part of Japan – its 8 “Hells”. Among these, you will visit two hells, which is Umi Jigoku Hell (海地獄) and Chinoike Jigoku Hell (血の池地獄). This afternoon, your lunch [Seasonal Japanese Set] will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch, the Japanese orchard awaits you. Enjoy the Strawberry Picking (60min) which is just in season! Thereafter, move on to Fukuoka city and visit Ohori Park (大濠公園) Winter Illumination. Ohori Park is a large urban park that consists mostly of water, originally part of the moat system for Fukuoka Castle. The park was constructed in the 1920’s and is modeled on the classical Chinese garden of West Lake in Hangzhou. In the middle of the pond are three narrow islands connected to each other and to the banks of the pond by Chinese-style bridges. In winter, the islands are illuminated at night and a popular romantic spot for couples. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Blowfish & Taifish Course] at a local restaurant. After dinner, transfer to hotel for check in.

Day 8: Fukuoka 福岡

• Hotel: Grand Hyatt Fukuoka or similar / Western room 
• Meal: B / – / –
• Today, enjoy a full day free and easy time in Fukuoka city.

Day 9: Fukuoka – Singapore 福岡 – 新加坡

• Meal: B / – / –
• JL330 FUK-HND 2000-2135
• JL035 HND-SIN  0050-0645
• After breakfast, free at your own leisure until departure.

Bid farewell to Fukuoka this morning as we depart for Singapore. We hope that you have enjoyed this vacation with JTB and we look forward to helping you create your next perfect moments, always!

Day 10: Singapore 新加坡

• Arrive Singapore

REMARKS

• All the photos are for illustration purposes only
• The itinerary is subject to change due to weather condition
• Meals indicated are for reference only and are subject to change
• Flight schedule is subject to change