Charms of Southern Japan Tour

Designed for travelers wishing to visit more rural Japan, our Charms of Southern Japan Tours is a great opportunity to see a Japan rarely seen by most visitors. Visit the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku while traveling along on a private coach bus with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide at your side. Learn more about the unique culture and take in the amazing sights that Southern Japan offers. Visit main attractions incuding Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Takamatsu, and Beppu.

Visit Himeji Castle, also known as “White Heron Castle” for its opulent white exterior. Cherry blossoms also decorate the castle grounds during late March and early April or the fiery reds and yellows of autumn leaves can be seen in November. Cross the Seto Inland Sea on the Great Seto Ohashi Bridge which will lead you to Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four major islands. Take a peaceful stroll through Ritsurin Garden, where you can admire the many ponds, hills, ancient trees and beautiful pavilions. Travel to the main island of Honshu on a scenic drive across the Shimanami Kaido, one of three roads that connects Shikoku Island to the main island.

Once on Honshu, visit Hiroshima, a city destroyed by an atomic bomb during World War II. Today, the city flourishes and offers shopping centers, beautiful gardens, the Memorial Peace Park, and the Atomic Bomb Museuem. A short ferry ride away lies Miyajima, a sacred city famed for its vermilion torii gate of the Itsukushima Shrine, also known as the "floating" torii gate. Experience a high-speed Shinkansen bullet train to visit the Kitsuki Samurai District, marvel at the steamy “Hells of Beppu” hot springs, and meet the monkeys of Takasaki Monkey Park. Afterwards, enjoy a trip to the mythological town of Takachiho, where you can watch as performers reenact the legend of Amaterasu, the Shinto Sun Goddess.

Pay a visit to the Nagasaki Peace Park, a beautiful memorial to the lives lost in the second atomic bombing, and has around 200 cherry trees that bloom in spring. The city now holds several parks and gardens, including Glover Garden, an open air museum where the oldest Western style house in Japan stands. Also visit Japan's most famous Christian church, Oura Church. In Fukuoka, you will have the opporutnity to taste the famed Wagyu beef.

With dates in spring, summer, and autumn, each season offers something special. Select itineraries also include a night stay in Koyasan, the center of Shingon Buddhism, where you will visit some of the most sacred sites in Japan. This includes Okunoin Temple, the site where Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, was laid to rest. Stay overnight and enjoy the lifestyle of a monk, dining on vegetarian cusine, Shojin Ryori. The Charms of Southern Japan itinerary is meant for travelers searching for a deeper look into rural parts of Japan while also visiting must-see sites in Southern Japan.