Kagoshima/Miyazaki: Itinerary & Questions

Hello all! I'm planning a trip to Kagoshima and Miyazaki for August 17th to 23rd for my husband and I. So far, the only thing set in stone are the flights.

We are medium-paced travelers, and I'd say we usually start our mornings around 9-10am. I like to see everything possible, he likes to take his time and hit 1 or 2 major sights, so we usually compromise and do 3-4 in one day. Also when it comes to driving, I don't mind long distances, and we often drive at night to our next destination, then sightsee it the next day. With that in mind, what do you think of the following itinerary:

8/17: Flight from Tokyo to Kagoshima, arrival around 4pm. Stay in Kagoshima City.

8/18: Sightsee Kagoshima City area. Stay in Kagoshima City.

8/19: Pick up rental car: Sakurajima in the morning, Ibusuki in the afternoon. Stay in Kagoshima City OR Kirishima Onsen.

8/20: Kirishima area in the morning, Cape Toi/Nichinan-Kaigan Coast in the afternoon. Stay in Miyazaki City OR Takachiho/Mt. Aso area.

8/21: Takachiho sightseeing. Stay in Takachiho/Mt. Aso area OR Miyazaki City. Turn in rental car.

8/22: Miyazaki City. Stay in Miyazaki City.

8/23: Morning in Miyazaki City, leave for Tokyo in afternoon (~4pm).


Some questions:

Is the pace too rushed/too slow, and are the groupings okay? I originally considered Takachiho after Kirishima, so going to Takachiho in the afternoon/evening, staying the night in Takachiho on the 20th, then sightseeing Takachiho on the 21st, staying the night in Miyazaki. On the 22nd doing Nichinan-Kaigan/Cape Toi area in the morning, and Miyazaki City in the afternoon, so one extra day for the rental car.

Also, I was originally grouping Sakurajima with Kagoshima City, which was fine, but it seems like its easier to do Sakurajima with a rental car, so I grouped it with Ibusuki instead. If we did Sakurajima with public transportation and did a full day doing Ibusuki, we'd also spend time at Lake Ikeda and Chiran before heading to Kirishima, but if we did Sakurajima in the morning, I don't think we'll have much time for anywhere else but Ibusuki.

Next, I checked ryokan in Takachiho, and it looks like the only open one for my dates is SUPER expensive. The next closest options seems to be the Mt. Aso area in Kumamoto. I'm thinking fitting Mt. Aso in will be too rushed, but at the same time if we're staying there anyway it seems kind of a waste not to see a little bit of it. Any advice?

We're on a budget so cheaper is better, but I'd like at least one semi-nice ryokan with meal(s), either in Kirishima or Takachiho, or even both if they are reasonable. My husband's birthday is the 20th as well. Kirishima seems like it has more options, but I'd really like to see the night dances at Takachiho Shrine, so while I don't MIND driving all the way back to Miyazaki City after the dances, it'd definitely be easier to stay in the area then drive back the next day.


Finally (random question time!), why are hyuuganatsu called hyuugaNATSU when their peak season is December to April?

Scarreddragon,
I cannot answer your queries fully, but below is my recommendation.


8/18 Kagoshima sightseeing bus including Sakurajima.

http://www.jrkbus.co.jp/teikikanko/teikikanko.html

8/19

Kagoshima-Healthyland Tamatebako Onsen-Tosenkyo-Ikedako-Senganbira-Kirishima

https://goo.gl/dgJrWj

As far as I searched, the hotel price on this day is rather reasonable (Rakuten travel). 12000 yen per one twin bed room.

8/20

Kirishima-Ebino Kogen-Udo Jingu-Takachihokyo

https://goo.gl/8dkc8F

There are Minshuku and a public hotel, 11000 yen per person with two meals.

8/21

Takachihokyo-Mt. Aso-Daikanbo-Kuju Hana Koen-Kurokawa onsen

https://goo.gl/TNcnRD

Kurokawa has lots of nice onsen ryokans.

8/22

Kurokawa onsen-Kumamoto castle-Hitoyoshi castle ruin-Miyazaki

https://goo.gl/wBsIsN

why are hyuuganatsu called hyuugaNATSU when their peak season is December to April?

Well, I am not confident, but regular Mikan is the fruit of autumn/winter while Natsu-Mikan season is late winter to early summer which is closer to summer, as compared to the season for regular Mikan. Further, Natsu-Mikan is said to be able to store until summer, when the sourness is somewhat decreased. All in all, they call it as Natsu-Mikan and Hyuga-Natsu is one of its kind.

frog1954, thank you for your answer.

8/18: we don't use sightseeing tours or buses, so Kagoshima would be under public transportation. Hence why I'm not sure about adding Sakurajima here. If we did, we can't get to the buried torii and the backside of the mountain easily/at all. I'm not sure if that's a big deal or not, but it seems like it'd be interesting to see.

8/19: I'll consider this itinerary.

8/20: Cape Toi was not included in this, but it is a point of interest.
Can you post the link to the hotel website or list its name? I didn't find anything on search. I wont stay in Minshuku if other options are available. Are there any love hotels in the area? Otherwise we'll just stay in Miyazaki City.

8/21 and 8/22: This is a completely different direction. We aren't interested in seeing Kumamoto at this time and want to concentrate on Miyazaki and Kagoshima. The only reason I mentioned it is because if we have to stay around Mt. Aso anyway, it seems like a waste not to see at least there.

8/18: we don't use sightseeing tours or buses, so Kagoshima would be under public transportation. Hence why I'm not sure about adding Sakurajima here. If we did, we can't get to the buried torii and the backside of the mountain easily/at all. I'm not sure if that's a big deal or not, but it seems like it'd be interesting to see.

I am living in Kagoshima for more than 30 years, but I visited the buried torii only once. Honestly, it is just a buried torii, nothing so spectacular, as compared to the view of Sakurajima from the ferry or from the Yunohira observatory. However, it depends on personal interest. If you do not stick to it, Sakurajima Island View bus

http://goo.gl/X9u5TM

is sufficient. You can use "Welcome Cute" ticket 1000 yen/one day to travel around Kagoshima city and Sakurajima including Yunohira observatory.

https://www.kagoshima-yokanavi.jp/english/tips/documents/en_travel_cut...

8/20: Cape Toi was not included in this, but it is a point of interest.

OK. Cape Toi is interesting although the road is very winding which might result in the carsick of non-driver.

https://goo.gl/4nt0pF

Further, this route will take 7 hours, so you might better consider staying in/around Miyazaki and then go to Takachiho on 21st.

Can you post the link to the hotel website or list its name? I didn't find anything on search. I wont stay in Minshuku if other options are available. Are there any love hotels in the area? Otherwise we'll just stay in Miyazaki City.

I searched on Trivago.

http://goo.gl/pxyuGv

This is in Japanese, but there are lots of hotels in the list. However, changing country from Japan to USA resulted in only one expensive ryokan. If you can read some Japanese, you can book via Rakuten travel.

Minshuku Tenho

http://goo.gl/1SH4z5

16000 yen for two persons with 2 meals (dinner and breakfast).

Hotel Grateful Takachiho

http://goo.gl/0kvJCi

11000 yen for two persons (double bed) no meal.

Kokumin Shukusha Hotel Takachiho

http://goo.gl/edBGSl

25830 yen for two persons with 2 meals (dinner and breakfast).

There are many nice affordable hotels in Miyazaki. I searched on the Web and found that the middle range hotels (like Richmond, Roynet and Dormy-inn) offer twin rooms around 10000 yen in southern Kyushu area, which is less than half the price of Osaka or Tokyo.

8/21 and 8/22: This is a completely different direction. We aren't interested in seeing Kumamoto at this time and want to concentrate on Miyazaki and Kagoshima. The only reason I mentioned it is because if we have to stay around Mt. Aso anyway, it seems like a waste not to see at least there.

The reason I recommended Aso and Kumamoto is that Takachiho is rather north so it is not so far from these areas. But if you want to concentrate on Kagoshima and Miyazaki this time, you might better stay in Miyazaki on 20th, Takachiho on 21st and then back to Miyazaki to stay on 22nd.

frog1954, thank you for your reply, again!

The information about Sakurajima is very helpful. I'm glad to hear directly about the torii gate. If that's the case, then we will most likely follow your advice and do Kagoshima City and Sakurajima on the same day. I've read about the City View bus and travel pass, and am definitely considering that.

That way, we can spend more time driving to and around Ibusuki, then up to Kirishima.

Since I'm the one who gets carsick, I'll make sure I'm the one driving down to Toi! I really want to see the wild horses, which is why this is included. I think we will stay in/near Miyazaki City that night though, since as you said, it's a long drive.

Thank you very much for the links about the hotels. I would have probably searched in Japanese next, but since my Japanese is so-so, I tried English first. I'm glad to know there are more choices... I suspected that! If that's the case, we'll stay in Takachiho and skip Mt. Aso entirely. I plan on going to Kumamoto and the other Kyushu prefectures for sure, so I'll save that for the next visit.

As a Kagoshima resident, do you have any must-see places I haven't added/mentioned? Thanks for your help!

Scarreddragon,

Since I'm the one who gets carsick, I'll make sure I'm the one driving down to Toi!

I think the road to Toi is not so busy and you can rest along the way.

As a Kagoshima resident, do you have any must-see places I haven't added/mentioned? Thanks for your help!

Honestly, Kagoshima has not so many historical buildings due to Meiji restoration and the WWII. Only one major place is Sengan-en but the buildings are not so excellent as compared to those in Kyoto, Nara etc.

Kagoshima's main attractions would be related to nature, such as Sakurajima, Kaimon-dake, and Kirishima.

http://www.sakurajima.gr.jp/svc/english/guide/

Lava Nagisa Beach Park and Public Foot-Spa and Nagisa Lava Trail are very interesting. And of course, Yunohira observatory has stunning view.

I like the southern part of Satuma peninsula, including Ikedako lake, Mt. Kaimondake etc. The overall scinery is very nice. You can enjoy uninterruputed view everywhere in southern Satsuma peninsula.

You are travelling after Obon, which means you will encounter less crowds. I think you will enjoy relaxing travel.