SPONSORED by KYUSHU SANKO BUS
We have already showed you sightseeing spots such as Kumamoto city, Aso, and hotsprings in Kurokawa. But there are even more sightseeing spots in Kumamoto and Kyushu. Since Kumamoto is located in the center of Kyushu, it is easy to access other places in Kyushu from there. Its convenient location makes it a decent idea to designate Kumamoto as the base of your Kyushu trip. So we will recommend some of the great spots that are perfect for a 1 DAY TRIP from Kumamoto!
World Cultural Heritage Site “Gunkanjima” ～Nagasaki City～
You can see a ruined city just as it was! The artificial unmanned island called Hashima, in Nagasaki city, is a Mecca for ruin lovers. The reason why this island is called “Gunkanjima” (it means warship island in Japanese) is quite straightforward. The view of this island with its many high ferroconcrete buildings standing in groups looks like the warship “Tosa”. Gunkanjima is a small island with only about a 1.2 kilometers (0.74 mile) perimeter and an area of 6.3 hectares. And nobody lives there now. However, in its golden age it was a prosperous island due to its coal mine under the ocean. In fact, there were 5, 300 people living on this small island in 1960. At that time, its population density was 9 times higher than that of Tokyo. Gunkanjima had everything; from a hospital, to elementary & middle schools, to a movie theater and even an amusement park. It was a big city. But then coal was replaced by oil as the major energy source, and Gunkanjima closed its coal mine in 1974. Since then, it has become an unmanned island. This island is part of a valuable industrial heritage, with the ruins of its city remaining just as they were, including the high ferroconcrete buildings and apartments from almost 100 years ago. Since 2009, it has been possible for anyone to go onto the island. So in other words, you can go sightseeing. And in 2015 Gunkanjima was designated as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
However, to set foot on this island, you need to take part in the guided landing tour. The Kyushu Sanko Bus, which we introduced previously, offers a one-day bus tour that includes the Gunkanjima landing tour, round-trip tickets for the expressway bus from/to Kumamoto. This is a convenient deal even if you are traveling by yourself.
Tour Schedule
■Boarding Kyusyu Sanko Bus’s Rindo-go (bound for Nagasaki)
Kumamoto Station (departure at 8:58）・Kumamoto Kotsu Center (departure at 9:10）→Nagasaki Station front（arrival at 12:28）
・Gunkanjima cruise (14:00～17:15）
■Boarding Kyusyu Sanko Bus’s Rindo-go (bound for Kumamoto)
Nagasaki Station front（departure at 19:10）→ Kumamoto Kotsu Center（arrival at 22:27）・Kumamoto Station（arrival at 22:35）
Tour fee is 5,900 yen per person.
※You need to pay the landing fee (300 yen/adult). Note that children under age of 3 are not allowed to board the ship.
https://www.kyusanko.co.jp/bustrip/tour/055/
※Information is available only in Japanese. We will provide English translation later on this article.
A village full of myths and legends, the spiritual “Takachiho Gorge”
At Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki prefecture, you can enjoy the natural landscape with a magnificent and scenic view created by pyroclastic flows from Mt. Aso. It consists of 7 kilometers (4. 615 miles) of cliffs that reach heights of up to 100 meters (328 feet) with an average height of 80 meters (262 feet). Many people from many different generations have visited Takachiho gorge as a place where God lives. And it is very popular as one of the most spiritual spots in Japan. Not to mention its countless stunning views; which is what attracts of many photographers. At Takachiho Gorge, you can rent a boat from 2000 yen. This makes it possible to see “the Manai waterfall” up close, right in front of you. It is dynamic and at the same time, breathtakingly beautiful.
※For more information on the rental boat, please check here.
Honestly, it is not easy to access Takachiho gorge when it comes to the transportation. But don’t worry, because Kyushu Sanko Bus also provides a one-day tour package that includes the round-trip expressway bus tickets from/to Kumamoto and the local cuisine lunch. This is a perfect solution for solo journeys as well.
Tour Schedule
■Boarding Kyusyu Sanko Bus’s Takachiho-go (bound for Nobeoka)
Kumamoto Station（departure at 9:11）・Kumamoto Kotsu Center（departure at 9:22）・Aso Kumamoto Airport（departure at 10:04）→Takachiho Bus Center（arrival at 12:43）
・Local cuisine lunch using Takachiho Beef (at Chiho no Ie）
※There are free shuttles from/to the restaurant. It takes about 10 minutes each way.
・Walking around Takachiho gorge.
※Takachiho gorge can be easily accessed from the restaurant in about 5 minutes.
■Boarding Kyusyu Sanko Bus’s Takachiho-go (bound for Kuamamoto)
Takachiho Bus Center （departure at 16:51）→Aso Kumamoto Airport（arrival at 19:27着）・Kumamoto Kotsu Center (arrival at 20:05）・Kumamoto Station（arrival at 20:17）
Tour fee is 5,900 yen per person.
https://www.kyusanko.co.jp/bustrip/tour/070/
※Information is available only in Japanese. We will provide English translation later on this article.
Premier Scenic View of “Amakusa” Archipelago
Amakusa in Kumamoto has an astonishing view that combines about 120 islands and their deep green mountains rising from a clear blue ocean. This is a One Day tour course, where you can visit islands via a cruising boat, enjoy the ocean view hot spring and eat lunch full of fresh seafood from the local fishery.
Tour Schedule
■Boarding Kyusyu Sanko Bus’s Amakusa-go (bound for Hondo)
Kumamoto Kotsu Center （departure at 9:10）・Kumamoto Station（departure at 9:18）→Maejima bus stop（arrival at 10:44）
・Cruising about 30 mines (Amakusa Gokyo Cruising）
・Experiencing the ocean view hot spring, and enjoy the fresh seafood lunch (Hotel Ryugu)
■Boarding Kyusyu Sanko Bus’s Amakusa-go (bound for Kumamoto)
Maejima bus stop （departure at 13:44）→Kumamoto Station（arrival at 15:06）・Kumamoto Kotsu Center（arrival at 15:14）
Tour fee is 5,900 yen per person.
https://www.kyusanko.co.jp/bustrip/tour/023a/
※Information is available only in Japanese. We will provide English translation later on this article.
How to make a reservation for a One Day Bus tour
Online reservation
Although information is provided only in Japanese, it is easy to make a reservation even if you don’t understand Japanese.
You need to reserve the tour by noon one day before the trip.
On the webpage that explains each course, click the number on the button below the date you would like to travel (the number reflects the available seats). It will lead you to the reservation page.
“〆” means that they are no longer accepting reservations anymore for some reason, for example, if that particular day is already fully booked.
Only credit cards are accepted as payment, and Kyushu Sanko Bus accepts “VISA”, “Master Card” and “JCB”. Payment must be made in one installment, and Kyushu Sanko Bus only allows orders from the credit card holder.
Step1.Agreement confirmation
When the following screen is displayed, check ①「注意事項を全て読みました」(I read all the precautions) and 「紹介動画を見ました」(I watched the video) and then click ②「同意する」(I agree) button.
※Precautions refer to the usage policies of the credit cards mentioned above and a provision that explains agreement from a parent will be required for minor participants without an adult. You need to agree with these precautions to proceed with the reservation.
Step2. Click the User Type
When the following screen is displayed, click 「初めての利用の方」(First time user) enclosed in red line.
Step3. Fill in Customer Information
Next, enter the following information on the screen below.
- Family Name
- Last Name
- Age
- Gender *choose「男性」if you are a male, or 「女性」if you are a female.
- Age Range *If you are an adult, choose「大人（中学生以上）」 (Adult (older than middle school student)). For an elementary school student, choose「小人（小学生）」 (child (elementary school student)), and choose 「小学生未満」 (younger than elementary school student) for a child who hasn’t started an elementary school yet.
- Number of passenger *If there are multiple participants, click here and repeat the same process for each participant.
- Telephone number.
- Email address
- Email address(Confirmation)
- Address *Choose 「海外」 if you are not living in Japan.
Step4.Follow the direction below when the next screen is shown.
- Select the point of departure. If it is Kumamoto Station, choose「熊本駅」. For Kumamoto Kotsu Center, choose 「交通センター」 and for Kumamoto Airport, choose 「阿蘇熊本空港」 respectively.
- Select the point of your arrival. If it is Kumamoto Station, choose「熊本駅」. For Kumamoto Kotsu Center, choose 「交通センター」 and for Kumamoto Airport, choose 「阿蘇熊本空港」 respectively.
- The method for receiving your itinerary. If you would like your itinerary sent to you once the reservation process is complete and to bring it along on the day of your tour, choose the top option. If you would like to receive it on the day you participate, choose the second option from the top.
- If you have any questions, use this section.
- If this is the first time for you to participate, choose the second option from top.
Step5: The next screen is only for minor participants without an adult. Unless this is applicable to you, click 1 to continue the reservation process.
※For participation without an adult, please contact Kyushu Sanko Bus using the following Email address because you will be required to complete a separate procedure. (English is acceptable).
daytrip-reservation@kyusanko.co.jp
Step6: Then the webpage for credit card payment will be displayed.
After you enter 1:Credit card number, 2:expiration date (month/year), 3:cardholder’s name and 4:security code (3 digits), click 「決済」(payment) button. Once you get an Email informing you about the completion of your reservation, the process has been successfully completed.
※Note that the cancellation fee will be applicable from 10 days prior to the day before the tour as follows.
10 days – 8 days prior to the tour…20%, 7 days – 2 days prior to the tour…30%,
1 day before the tour…40%, the day of your tour…50%, after the tour starts…100％
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kyushu Sanko Bus using the following Email address (English is acceptable).
daytrip-reservation@kyusanko.co.jp
