Below is our DIY itinerary of our trip to Northern Kyushu in Japan last month. Folks planning a similar route might find it useful. It’s useful to rent a pocket Wi-Fi device while in Japan; I recommend getting one from CDJapan.
Day 0
Evening
- Fly in to Fukuoka
- Check in at Hotel Centraza Hakata
We took the Fukuoka City Subway from Fukuoka Airport to Hakata Station. We chose Hotel Centraza Hakata for its convenient location — it’s directly connected to Hakata Station and a 5-minute walk to Hakata Bus Terminal, where we will catch a Kyushu Express Bus to Nagasaki the next day. We bought our tickets in advance at the terminal that evening, as the seats are reserved.
Day 1
Morning
- Fukuoka Castle
- Pokémon Center FUKUOKA
Afternoon
- Bus ride to Nagasaki
- Check in at AirBnB
Evening
We took the subway to Ohori Park Station and walked to Fukuoka Castle, but we didn’t stay long as it began to snow. My husband W. and I are into Pokémon GO, so of course we had to drop by the Pokémon Center at the 8th floor of AMU PLAZA HAKATA, a shopping mall which is conveniently connected to Hakata Station. After lunch, we took a quick walk to Hakata Bus Terminal to catch our bus. Upon arrival in front of Nagasaki Station, we took the Nagasaki Electric Tramway to our AirBnB. From there, it is a short stroll to Hamanmachi, a shopping arcade where we bought our pasalubong at the infamous discount store Don Quijote.
Day 2
We spent the entire day at HUIS TEN BOSCH, a theme park recreation of the Netherlands located in nearby Sasebo. We started early and caught the Seaside Liner train from Nagasaki Station to Huis Ten Bosch Station.
Day 3
Afternoon
- Glover Garden
- Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge)
Tired from all the walking we did the previous day at the enormous HUIS TEN BOSCH, we started out late to Glover Garden. We took the tram to Ishibashi Station and then rode the Glover Sky Road, an elevator service that takes you up the hillside to the second gate of Glover Garden. Their Dutch coffee at Jiyu-Tei is highly recommended. We exited through the first gate and then took the tram to Nigiwaibashi Station, which is a stone’s throw away from the picturesque Megane Bridge.
Day 4
Morning
- Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
- Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims
- Nagasaki Peace Park
Afternoon
Evening
- Inasayama (Mt Inasa)
- Hikari no Resutoran (Restaurant of Lights)
- Nagasaki Ropeway
We took the tram to Matsuyamamachi Station to visit the atomic bomb sites. After lunch, we took the tram again to Morimachi Station to unwind at MIRAI NAGASAKI COCOWALK, a shopping mall with a ferris wheel on the roof. Shortly before sunset, we took a taxi to the observation deck at the peak of Mt Inasa, which offers an amazing view of the city. We went back down via the Nagasaki Ropeway after having a scenic dinner at Hikari Restaurant.
Day 5
Afternoon
- Bus ride to Fukuoka
Evening
- Fly out
We took the tram from our AirBnB to Nagasaki Prefectural Bus Terminal, which is right across the street from Nagasaki Station. Again, we rode the Kyushu Express Bus, which conveniently stops at the Fukuoka Airport International Terminal.