Where Nature Becomes the Journey
There are places you see, and there are places that shape you. Kyushu — Japan’s southern main island — belongs to the latter. On this gentle yet adventurous 13-day journey, nature leads the way: lush forests, volcanic peaks, hidden beaches, steaming hot springs, and calmer towns where time feels measured by light and landscape rather than clocks.
Wild Green Heart — Yakushima Island
Your journey begins with Yakushima, a nearly primeval island where ancient forests meet the sea. Here, every path feels sacred and every tree seems rooted in history. Dawn tours into Jōmon Sugi National Park lead beneath towering cedars that have stood for millennia, and quieter trails let you listen to the rhythm of the forest rather than guide-led commentary. In the evenings, beaches become theaters for an even more profound show — as sea turtles return to nest under stars that feel impossibly bright.
Gorge and Water — Takachiho
Leaving the island, Kyushu’s interior unfolds. Takachiho Gorge is a poem written in water and stone. Hike paths along emerald cliffs, glide in a boat beneath the sun’s rays illuminating thundering falls, or simply pause on Sound Valley Suspension Bridge to appreciate how landscape sculpts silence. Here, nature doesn’t ask for attention — it gently invites it.
Steam and Stillness — Beppu
Next comes Beppu, a town defined by steam and springs. Part cultural curiosity, part natural wonder, the “Hells of Beppu” are geothermal pools of striking colour and shape, each unique and quietly dramatic. Wander local markets, ride a ropeway for panoramic views, and discover how everyday life embraces the warmth that rises from beneath the ground.
Volcanic Horizons — Mount Aso
The final chapter of this journey leads to Mount Aso — one of the world’s largest active calderas. Here the earth itself feels alive. Walk through grasslands framed by crater rims, visit Aso Shrine, and watch how light plays across volcanic slopes that have shaped culture and legend for centuries. On your final evening, enjoy an onsen bath that feels timeless — as if you’re part of the landscape, not apart from it.
Travel That Matches the Landscape
Kyushu, the Southern Shima, is a journey for those who love peace, wilderness, and small towns where nature still sets the pace. There are rail rides through rice fields, ferry crossings to remote shores, and enough variation that each day feels like a different chapter of the same story — one written by wind and water, volcano and forest.
At Secret Retreats, we design travel where the land itself becomes your teacher — where every quiet moment leaves a lasting impression. Kyushu doesn’t just invite you to visit. It invites you to feel the journey, step by step.