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Kyushu is Japan's land of volcanoes and hot springs. This loop from Fukuoka Airport takes you to Nagasaki and its history of trade with the Netherlands, across the bay by car ferry, over the caldera of Mount Aso and through the onsen towns of Kurokawa, Yufuin and Beppu, with no more than two and a half hours of driving a day.
At a glance
- Start and finish
- Fukuoka Airport
- Distance
- About 570 km, plus a 30 to 60 minute car ferry
- Days
- 7
- Driving per day
- Mostly 1 to 2.5 hours
- Highlights
- Nagasaki, Unzen, Mount Aso, Kurokawa Onsen, Yufuin, Beppu
- Best time
- March to May and October to November
The route day by day
The loop runs anticlockwise: west to Nagasaki first, then across to Kumamoto and Aso and back over the hot spring towns of Oita. Distances are by road; the times are driving time without stops. The map shows the route and the numbered stops.
Day 1: Fukuoka Airport to Nagasaki via Dazaifu
About 155 km and 2.5 hours. Stop first at Dazaifu (1), 20 minutes from the airport, where the shrine of Dazaifu Tenmangu is dedicated to the god of learning. Then follow the expressway south-west to Nagasaki (2). In the evening, go up Mount Inasa for one of the best-known night views in Japan.
Day 2: Nagasaki
A day in the city, with the car parked. At Dejima, the Dutch trading post was Japan's window on the West for more than two centuries; the restored buildings show how the traders lived. The Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum remember August 1945, and Glover Garden looks out over the harbour. Trams link the sights.
Day 3: Nagasaki to Kumamoto via Unzen and the ferry
About 75 km, a car ferry of 30 to 60 minutes and 20 km more. Climb to Unzen (3), a hot spring town on a volcano where steam rises from the vents of Unzen Jigoku. Drive down to Shimabara (4), with its castle and carp swimming in the canals along the streets. From Shimabara port, car ferries cross the Ariake Sea to Kumamoto; buy the ticket at the port and drive on. It is a short drive from Kumamoto port into the city.
Day 4: Kumamoto Castle, Mount Aso and Kurokawa Onsen
About 90 km and 1.75 hours. Start at Kumamoto Castle (5); the main keep reopened in 2021 after the earthquake of 2016, and walkways let you see the restoration of the walls. Drive east into the caldera of Mount Aso (6), one of the largest in the world. At Kusasenri, horses graze on a grass plain below the peaks; access to the crater depends on the volcanic gas levels, so check on the day. Spend the night in Kurokawa Onsen (7), a village of wooden inns along a river; a wooden pass lets you try the baths of three different inns.
Day 5: The Yamanami Highway to Yufuin
About 50 km and 1 hour, on one of the most beautiful roads in Kyushu. The Yamanami Highway crosses open grassland and volcanic hills with viewpoints along the way. Take your time and arrive in Yufuin (8) for the afternoon: a quiet hot spring town at the foot of Mount Yufu, with galleries and cafés. Early in the morning, mist rises from Lake Kinrin.
Day 6: Beppu
About 25 km and 30 minutes over the hill to the coast. Beppu (9) is Japan's hot spring capital. The "hells" of Beppu are hot springs in shades of blue, red and white, for looking at rather than bathing. In the Kannawa district, steam rises from the streets and food is cooked in it; try a sand bath on the seafront.
Day 7: Beppu to Fukuoka Airport via Usa Jingu
About 155 km and 2.5 hours. Stop at Usa Jingu (10), the head shrine of all Hachiman shrines in Japan, with its vermilion halls in the forest. From there the expressway takes you back to Fukuoka Airport in under two hours.
Car hire for this road trip
Pick up the car at Fukuoka Airport when you land and return it there at the end of the loop. Car hire in Fukuoka has the other pick-up points and more about driving there.
Car hire prices at Fukuoka Airport
From, total for 7 days
| Pick-up point | Small | Mid-size | Large / SUV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka Airport | €489 | €494 | €986 |
Total for a 7-day rental, fully insured with everything included. Rates vary by car, availability and how far ahead you book. Updated 12 November 2026. About this price
Included in the price
- Collision damage and theft cover
- Damage to windows, tyres, roof and undercarriage
- Lost or damaged keys and towing after an accident or breakdown
- Third-party liability, topped up to €10 million
- Unlimited mileage
- Local taxes and airport fees
- Fair fuel policy: return the car with the fuel level you picked it up with
What to bring
- Driving licence
- Your own licence held for at least 1 year, plus an International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Licences from Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland and Taiwan need an official Japanese translation instead.
- Credit card
- In the main driver’s name. The desk holds the deposit on it.
- Deposit
- Up to about €284 (50,000 yen), depending on the car. At Fukuoka Airport there are also cars without a deposit.
- Driver age
- From 18 on selected cars, from 21 on the others. Each car shows its age limits before you book.
- Additional driver
- Included with every car.
Driving in Kyushu
The rules for all of Japan are under Driving in Japan. On this route, these are the things to know.
The Kyushu Expressway Pass
Visitors from abroad can buy a flat-rate pass for unlimited expressway driving in the seven prefectures of Kyushu for a set number of days. It works with an ETC card from the rental desk; ask the desk whether they can add it.
The car ferry from Shimabara
Hire cars may go on the ferry; the rental conditions permit ferry crossings. You pay the fare for the car and its passengers at the port. Ferries run through the day; arrive 30 minutes before departure.
Mountain roads around Aso
The roads around Mount Aso and the Yamanami Highway climb and wind through open country. In winter they can have snow and ice; ask for winter tyres at the desk if you travel between December and February.
Best time for Kyushu
Spring, from March to May, and autumn, in October and November, are the best seasons. The rainy season runs from June into July, and August and September can bring typhoons. Winter is mild on the coast, but cold and sometimes snowy around Aso, which makes the onsen all the better.
Frequently asked questions
How much does car hire cost for the Kyushu road trip?
Car hire at Fukuoka Airport starts at €489 a week for a small car, €494 for a mid-size car and €986 for a large car or SUV, fully insured with everything included. You pick up and return the car at Fukuoka Airport. Updated 12 November 2026.
Do I need a credit card?
Yes, a credit card in the main driver’s name. The desk holds a deposit on it: up to about €284 (50,000 yen), depending on the car. At Fukuoka Airport there are also cars without a deposit.
How long is the Kyushu road trip?
About 570 km from Fukuoka Airport and back, plus the car ferry from Shimabara to Kumamoto. Plan 7 days.
Can I take the hire car on the ferry to Kumamoto?
Yes. The rental conditions permit ferry crossings. You pay the fare at Shimabara port; the crossing takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the ferry.
Can I visit the crater of Mount Aso?
Access to the crater depends on the volcanic gas levels and is sometimes closed. Kusasenri and the viewpoints in the caldera are open when the crater is not.