Southern Kyushu (Kagoshima + Miyazaki) — 7 days, car

A loop from Kagoshima around the south of Kyushu: Sakurajima volcano, the Kirishima highlands, Aoshima and Miyazaki, Udo Jingu and Cape Hyuga, Takachiho Gorge, and Ibusuki’s sand baths.

Don't miss

a kurobuta pork course in Kagoshima’s Tenmonkan.

• Day 1 — Kagoshima-Chuo → Sakurajima (ferry across the bay, volcano viewpoints, lava field) → Sengan-en garden (Satsuma villa with Sakurajima views) → Kagoshima city (Tenmonkan, shochu) (drive ~1h). Stay Kagoshima. — Route map
• Day 2 — Kagoshima → Kirishima: Kirishima Jingu, Ebino Kogen plateau, Onami-ike crater lake (foliage peaks late Oct–early Nov — slightly early) (drive ~1.5h). Stay Kirishima onsen. — Route map
• Day 3 — Kirishima → Ebino Skyline (scenic drive) → Aoshima (Devil’s Washboard rock formations, Aoshima Shrine) → Miyazaki city (Heiwadai Park, Miyazaki Jingu) (drive ~2.5h). Stay Miyazaki. — Route map
• Day 4 — Miyazaki → Udo Jingu (sea-cave shrine) → Cape Hyuga (cliffs, lighthouse) → Takachiho (drive ~3.5h). Stay Takachiho (night kagura 20:00). — Route map
• Day 5 — Takachiho Gorge (rowboats + Manai Falls — book 2 weeks ahead) + Amano Iwato Shrine (drive ~0.5h). Stay Takachiho (2nd night, night kagura). — Route map
• Day 6 — Takachiho → Chiran (samurai street, Chiran Peace Museum) → Ibusuki (sunamushi sand baths) → Kagoshima (drive ~5h). Stay Kagoshima. — Route map
• Day 7 — Kagoshima morning (Tenmonkan, shochu) → evening shinkansen/flight out (no car day). — map

Highlights

🏔️ Sakurajima volcano — active stratovolcano steaming across the bay

🌊 Aoshima Devil’s Washboard — wave-cut rock ribs with a seaside torii

⛩️ Udo Jingu — sea-cave shrine with lucky stones and a cliff-top torii

♨️ Ibusuki sand baths — buried in volcanically heated black sand

🏔️ Kirishima Onami-ike — crater lake on a volcanic plateau

🌊 Cape Hyuga — sea cliffs and lighthouse with the Nippon-maru sail ship

Local food & drink

• Kurobuta pork — Kagoshima’s black Berkshire pork, tonkatsu or shabu-shabu
• Chicken nanban — fried chicken with sweet-sour sauce and tartar
• Satsuma-age — fried fish cake with root veg
• Kibinago — silver-striped herring sashimi
• Miyazaki jidori — free-range grilled chicken
• Chiran tea — premium highland green tea
• Imo shochu — Kagoshima’s definitive sweet-potato spirit
• Sakurajima komikan juice — tiny volcanic tangerines Don’t miss: a kurobuta pork course in Kagoshima’s Tenmonkan.

Note: Takachiho rowboats book 2 weeks ahead (sell out fast). Aso crater road is currently closed (volcanic Level 2) — check aso-volcano.jp before any Aso stop.