Kyushu and Okinawa

Arrive in Fukuoka, Kyushu Island’s main city, and transfer to our comfortable and well-located hotel. The evening is free to relax and rest after our flights.

After an orientation briefing and introductory lecture, head to the city of Dazaifu. Explore the Kyushu National Museum, with exhibits covering Japanese history through the late 1800s, followed by a trip to the Shinto shrine, Dazaifu Tenmangu, and the captivating rock gardens of the Komyozenji Temple. We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then return to Fukuoka. Afterward, choose to visit Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, unique in its collection and exhibition of modern and contemporary Asian art, or return to our hotel for time at leisure before our welcome dinner closes out the day.

Devote the day exploring the rich tradition of pottery and ceramics in northern Kyushu. Travel through Saga Prefecture, stopping to visit Gen-emon Kiln, a fully operational 17th-century kiln believed to be the first facility to produce white porcelain in Japan, and the “secret pottery village” of Okawachiyama. We have lunch along the way as a group and enjoy dinner on our own after returning to our hotel.

Today, travel by train to Hita, a traditional hot spring town located on the Mikuma River. Enjoy lunch and time to explore this lovely mountain town on foot. Then, venture to the nearby Ontayaki Pottery Village, established in the 18th century and famous for its distinctive style of ceramics characterized by geometric patterns. Return to Hita and check in to our hotel, surrounded by plum trees and overlooking the Hibiki Gorge.

Drive to Aso-Kuju National Park to take in Mount Aso, a still-active volcano boasting one of the largest calderas in the world, with its impressive crater, Nakadake. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Kumamoto, stopping along the way at the Daikanbo scenic outlook at the edge of Mount Aso. Check into our hotel and dine independently this evening.

We begin our day at the stunning black Kumamoto Castle, built in 1607. As we explore, discover historical and architectural cues that illuminate how feudal lords lived in the Edo period. Visit the castle’s Suizenji Jojuen Garden, built by Lord Hosokawa Tadatoshi, and the mansion that was his former residence.  Dinner is on our own in Kumamoto.

From the Kumamoto Port take the ferry to the breathtaking Shimabara Castle, luminously white in stark contrast to Kumamoto Castle. After lunch and a drive to Nagasaki, we visit the Museum of History and Culture, with fascinating exhibits highlighting Nagasaki’s history as one of Japan’s major international trading ports. Next, time-travel to the Edo period with a visit to Dejima, a faithfully restored man-made island, which was Japan’s window to the West during more than two centuries of self-imposed isolation. We visit the Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum, with its impressive collection of Spanish art, then dine together at a local restaurant.

We start our day at the fascinating Oura Church and adjacent Christian Museum. Designed by a French missionary in 1864, the still-operational church was erected as a monument to the 26 Japanese and Spanish Christians executed by crucifixion in the city in 1597. Next to the church stands Glover Garden, an open-air museum highlighting Western-style mansions where merchants and other foreign residents once lived. After lunch, spend time at the Nagasaki Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum, awe-inspiring spaces that remind us of the horrors of war and the importance of working together to ensure a peaceful future. We enjoy dinner on our own.

Travel off the beaten track to Fukue Island in the Gotō Islands chain off the coast of Kyushu—a rare opportunity to explore the history of early Christians in Japan, with echoes of the book and miniseries, Shōgun! Fly to Fukue Island for a two-night stay in a serene cliff-top hotel that features delicious, locally sourced island fare. During our stay, we visit two spiritual sites: Dozaki Church and Museum, a red-brick, gothic-style church filled with the rich history of the Hidden Christians of the Edo period and beyond, and the Myojo-in Temple, a place of worship for Shingon Buddhists, built in 1778. Take in the dramatically set Osezaki Lighthouse and the Imochiura Church, which was originally established as a Lourdes grotto in 1899. We also see the last castle ever built in Japan, Fukue Castle, and Bukeyashiki Samurai Street, where samurai lived during the Edo period.

Enjoy the panoramic view of the East China Sea over breakfast before departing for Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. We fly to Fukuoka then transfer to our flight to Naha, the capital city of Okinawa. Check in to the hotel, settle in, and meet up for dinner together.

We start our day at Shuri Castle, the site of some of the fiercest combat during the WWII Battle of Okinawa. Next, we visit the Okinawa Craft Industry Promotion Center to view the stunning craftsmanship and distinct styles of lacquer, textile, and other arts, which have earned Okinawa the nickname, “island of crafts.” After lunch, visit Yachimun No Sato, a charming ceramic arts village.

Our first stop is the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Museum and Peace Park, with its stunning Cornerstone of Peace, a monument to Okinawa’s World War II history and the Battle of Okinawa. After lunch, see the Himeyuri Peace Museum, dedicated to the Himeyuri Student Corps who served in the Battle of Okinawa, followed by a possible visit to a U.S. military base. Dinner is on our own this evening.

Embark on an all-day excursion to the idyllic Kerama Islands via ferry. Begin at Tokashiki Island village (one of the two larger Kerama Islands that are still inhabited), visit World War II battle memorials, and enjoy views of pristine beaches and forests. Return to Naha in the late afternoon and regroup in the evening for our farewell dinner celebration.

Transfer to the airport for flights home.