Kyushu in Late Autumn: Flavours, Foliage & Onsen
Flavours, Foliage & Onsen
- All-Inclusive
- Small Group
- Local Guide
- Financial Security
A Week of Kyushu's Finest Food, Framed by Autumn Colour
Join our 2026 Kyushu Autumn Tour (1–8 December) and travel through the season’s last golden foliage, mountain onsen and historic towns, with food at the heart of every day. From Fukuoka’s yatai stalls to centuries-old sake and vinegar breweries, hands-on cooking and Kagoshima’s famous black-pork shabu-shabu, every meal tells the story of the region.
Travel well taken care of
Everything on the ground is arranged before you arrive — so your only job is to enjoy the season.
Autumn Tour December Itinerary
Tap any day for a quick look — or open the full day-by-day itinerary.
Welcome to Kyushu! Check in to your hotel, conveniently located in the heart of Fukuoka City, just a 15-minute taxi ride from Fukuoka International Airport. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Whether you choose to rest or explore, the city offers plenty to discover, stroll around the historic Hakata Old Town, browse the bustling shopping arcades, or sample your first bites of Fukuoka's legendary food scene. Even Japanese people travel here just to eat!
After departing Fukuoka, your first stop is the historic "little Kyoto" of Akizuki. If the timing is right, you'll take in the last of the vibrant autumn foliage while exploring the castle ruins and atmospheric streets of this old castle town. After a local lunch in the historic centre, continue toward the fertile plains of the Chikugo region. In the afternoon, visit a prestigious sake brewery established by a local family with over 800 years of history, a guided tour reveals how they still produce premium sake using carefully selected local ingredients, honouring generations of craftsmanship. Your day ends in a city celebrated for its "shomin ryōri" (common people's cuisine), with a casual, hearty dinner featuring the region's most beloved comfort food.
Begin your day with a guided tour of a traditional vinegar brewery, where you'll take part in a hands-on fruit vinegar-making activity. Discover how time-honoured fermentation techniques, still practised in this region, are used to craft rich, tangy flavours, and sample a variety of vinegars as you learn their uses in Japanese cooking. For lunch, enjoy a set meal featuring vinegar-based dishes that highlight the ingredient's versatility and health benefits. In the afternoon, travel to Kumamoto to visit a local orchard for a citrus-picking and tasting session, complemented by a lecture on the different regional varieties. Before heading to your hotel, stop at a local seaside station for some shopping. Your day concludes with check-in at your Kumamoto hotel and dinner at a local restaurant.
Begin the day in Kumamoto with a visit to a local centre dedicated to the region's rich artisanal heritage and traditional handcrafts. From there, travel to the scenic riverside town of Hitoyoshi for an immersive cooking session and lunch, focusing on authentic local flavours and seasonal ingredients. In the afternoon, continue toward Kirishima to explore the world of Japanese fermentation, learning about the production of essential ingredients like koji, shochu and amazake during a guided tour and tasting session. Finish the day in Kagoshima with a hearty dinner featuring the region's most famous culinary speciality, renowned black-pork shabu-shabu, prized for its incredible tenderness and rich, savoury flavour, a perfect end to the day's journey.
Begin your morning in Kagoshima with a visit to a historic landscaped garden, famous for its grand scale and its unique use of the active volcano and bay as borrowed scenery. Following this, take part in a hands-on sushi-making experience, learning to craft this iconic Japanese dish before enjoying your creations for lunch. In the afternoon, board a ferry across the bay to one of the world's most active volcanoes, exploring a dramatic landscape of rugged lava fields and observation decks looking out to the distant smoking crater. Travel onward to the mountainous region of Kirishima, dramatic in its volcanic scenery, for an evening that concludes with a premium dinner at a local restaurant specialising in high-quality grilled meats, a chance to savour the region's renowned beef and pork.
Begin the day in the mountains of Kirishima with a visit to a magnificent Shinto shrine, renowned for its vibrant vermilion architecture and its deep connection to Japanese mythology. After exploring the sacred grounds, travel back toward Hitoyoshi for a traditional lunch featuring regional specialities. In the afternoon, continue to the historic town of Yamaga to check into your accommodation for the evening, a refined hot-spring inn. You'll have time to relax in the restorative waters of the onsen before enjoying an elegant kaiseki dinner, a multi-course meal that showcases the artistry and seasonal flavours of Japanese haute cuisine.
Begin your morning in Yamaga with a visit to a beautifully preserved Edo-period playhouse, known for its classic architectural style, or perhaps explore a local museum dedicated to the delicate folk art of lantern making, a craft central to the town's identity. After a local lunch in the historic town centre, travel toward Fukuoka. In the afternoon, visit one of Japan's most important Shinto shrines, dedicated to the deity of learning. While exploring the atmospheric approach to the shrine, you'll have the chance to try Umegae-mochi, a toasted rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste and stamped with the pattern of a plum blossom, paired with a bowl of whisked matcha. Enjoy your final evening in Fukuoka however you please: unwind at the hotel or explore the lively streets around Hakata Station, and for a classic local experience, visit the riverside yatai food stalls for a memorable last night.
Breakfast in the hotel and then check out. The tour is over, but the memories remain. Thank you for choosing Kyushu Journeys for your Japan autumn journey. Safe travels! Feel free to ask our staff to arrange your taxi to the airport, or any add-on tour to continue your Kyushu adventure.
Here's what previous participants said...
“"The tour was perfect for us. Our guide was charming, knowledgeable, helpful and efficient. Somehow she managed to organise a diverse group through a very busy programme, without us feeling pressured or rushed. It would never have worked unless we all understood, respected and helped each other to enjoy each of the experiences. The quality and range of food was superb. We were frequently surprised by the tastes and delicacy of the food we received. When you add the traditional ryokan inn experience and onsen opportunities it was wonderful. Thank you to the whole team."”
“"I would wish to start by congratulating your team and you for making our journey to Kyushu both memorable and enjoyable. The tour was very well planned, and the patience and understanding of our guide was truly outstanding. I was astonished and pleasantly surprised by the repertoire of Japanese food introduced, especially for breakfast, and the hotels were well selected. Ivy and I have no complaints and wish to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to your team, and we would not hesitate to recommend Kyushu Journeys to our relatives and friends."”
“"Itinerary, well planned, great places to visit. Adequate time allowed. Food was of a high quality throughout. Transportation, first class, comfortable and great helpful driver. Guide, excellent, professional, good English, helpful and informative. Overall I would say we both enjoyed ourselves and with the small group we were able to interact with everyone. It was a great tour for us."”
“"Many good points: the group is just right. We had an international group of 6 countries, and the pace of the daily tour programs is well planned. Give thumbs up for the varied accommodation — very comfortable and relaxing stay."”
“"We have enjoyed your tour. The itinerary was well organised. All the meals were of a high standard, and the arranged private dining rooms or dining areas are particularly appreciated."”
“"The tour delivered. I liked the slower pace and the places we visited had more Japanese visitors than overseas tourists. Thanks again for the great trip."”
“"What to say about our trip to Kyushu. It was an unforgettable experience."”
“"I had a wonderful time and everything was well thought out and planned. I am telling my friends about Kyushu Journeys and I would like to do another tour with you sometime."”
“"Everything was fantastic: the nature, onsens, the Kaiseki dinners. Our guide was the best and the driver did a fantastic job. Thank you."”
“"I had a most wonderful time. The bus was comfortable and the lodgings were excellent, especially the last night at the ryokan. The food was varied and tasty. I know that I saw a lot more of the area than I could possibly have arranged on my own."”
“"I enjoyed the whole tour very much. It was interesting, we visited many beautiful locations, met nice people on the tour, had great food, and just had a great time. The tour guide was excellent. We would highly recommend Kyushu Journeys to our friends."”
“"The itinerary and food were excellent. Enjoyed all the varied experiences and cuisine, which we wouldn't have been able to arrange on our own. The ryokan was amazing! Our guide was helpful and good at his job."”
“"What can I say? The tour exceeded my expectations on all counts — a truly wonderful experience. I have never been on a tour before but think it unlikely that I could find another one with such high standards. And I must add a special mention about our guide: he was not only extremely knowledgeable (and made efforts to find out things he didn't know) but unfailingly kind with a good sense of humour. I can't thank you enough for enhancing my visit to Japan."”
“"An excellent mix of the different types of food that Kyushu can offer. Bus was comfortable and we had a good and safe driver. Many thanks for a lovely holiday."”
“"The booking communications was great and it felt like we knew each other even before we met. Everything was organised in a professional manner. The 5 days went by so quickly. Thank you, Simon and Moo."”
“"Thank you very much for a wonderful and memorable tour. I thoroughly enjoyed the lovely sights, the gourmet meals, and the onsen. Huge thanks to Kyushu Journeys!"”
“"Thank you once again for taking great care of us and for such a lovely tour!"”
“"Thanks for taking good care of us for the past few days. We really enjoy this trip a lot. Good work!"”
FAQ
Everything guests usually ask before booking. Anything else — just ask below.
This tour doesn't focus on expensive 'gourmet' restaurants or celebrity chefs. Instead you'll get the chance to eat like the locals eat. Each restaurant has been carefully chosen to highlight the tastiest Kyushu cuisine using locally-sourced seasonal ingredients wherever possible. You'll explore a wide variety of local dishes. What they all have in common is a fierce pride in the manner in which they are prepared and served. If you have any dietary restrictions please ask us about alternatives before booking your tour.
You will stay in a mix of clean and comfortable city hotels and traditional Japanese ryokan inns with onsen baths. In the city hotels you will be sleeping in western beds. In the Japanese ryokan inns, western beds are provided as standard, with traditional tatami rooms and futon bedding available on request.
A comfortable private bus. You will accompanied at all times by an English-speaking tour leader.
We love small group intimate travel. Maximum participants will be 12 people.
Definitely yes! You will be travelling by private bus and accompanied at all times by an English-speaking tour leader. There are no long hikes on this tour but of course you will need to walk around various attractions. There may be some non-paved paths and steps to climb. It will be no problem if you prefer to skip any activity and wait for the group on the bus or in a seated area.
This is an adult tour with no activities for children. We welcome all participants aged 12 years or older.
A deposit of 20% is required to secure your places on the tour. The 80% balance is due 60 days before the tour begins. There are only 12 places available on this tour so please contact us as soon as possible if you want to join. We can temporarily block your places on the tour with no payment required to give you time to check your flights.
This tour requires a minimum of 6 confirmed guests. If that minimum is not met within 60 days of the departure date, the tour will be cancelled and you will receive a full refund. Our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee also applies to any deposit paid.
- After payment of deposit: 20% cancellation charge (forfeit of deposit)
- 60–46 days before the tour begins: 30% cancellation charge
- 45–31 days before the tour begins: 40% cancellation charge
- 30–16 days before the tour begins: 60% cancellation charge
- 15–8 days before the tour begins: 80% cancellation charge
- 7 days or less before the tour begins: 100% cancellation charge
Taste the Season: Our All-Inclusive Kyushu Autumn Tour Package
¥475,000 per person / Twin sharing. 20% deposit to secure your spot.
Currently offering a 10% Early Bird Discount! With this offer, the price is ¥427,500 per person (double/twin sharing). Single room supplement: ¥154,000. Contact us for triple sharing rates. Pay by international bank transfer and save an additional ¥15,000.
Minimum 6 guests required. If this is not reached within 2 months of the tour start date, the tour will be cancelled and all guests receive a full refund.
Lifetime Deposit Guarantee: If you are unable to travel for any reason, your deposit is protected as a Lifetime Credit to use toward any future tour at a time that suits you.
Tour Inclusion
- 7 nights' accommodation with breakfast
- 6 x Lunch
- 5 x Dinner
- English-speaking tour leader
- All transport in a private tour bus
- All entrance and activity fees
- 10% Early Bird Discount currently available (Discounted price: ¥427,500 per person)
- ¥15,000 discount for payments made by international bank transfer instead of credit card
Minimum 6 guests required. If this is not reached within 2 months of the tour start date, the tour will be cancelled and all guests receive a full refund.
Our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee: We understand that travel plans can be affected by unforeseen circumstances. If you are unable to travel for any reason, your deposit is protected as a Lifetime Credit. It will be held securely for you to use toward any of our future tours at a time that suits you.
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