Explore the Tastes of Kyushu
December 1 – December 8, 2026
Embark on an unforgettable culinary journey through Kyushu with our Kyushu Food Tour 2026, from December 1 to December 8, 2026. This small-group tour, led by an English-speaking Japanese guide, is designed to immerse you in Kyushu’s rich food culture, crisp late-autumn scenery, and warm local hospitality.
From hands-on cooking experiences and traditional fermentation workshops to castle towns and coastal views, every stop has been thoughtfully selected to highlight the essence of the region. Travel comfortably in a private tour bus while experiencing Kyushu’s most flavourful offerings, both on the plate and in its landscapes.
Food is at the heart of this tour. Kyushu is celebrated throughout Japan for its culinary diversity, and every meal has been personally selected by our company Director, a Kyushu local and passionate foodie. This isn’t just a sightseeing trip, it’s a deep dive into Japanese food culture, tailored for travelers who want to eat their way through the island with intention and delight.
Limited to just 12 participants, this tour promises a personalized, relaxed, and immersive experience. Read on to start your Japan autumn foodie adventure.
Welcome to Kyushu! Check in to your hotel conveniently located in the heart of Fukuoka City, just a 15-minute taxi ride from Fukuoka International Airport.
Spend the day at your own pace. Whether you’re ready to rest or explore, the city offers plenty of choices. Stroll around the historic Hakata Old Town, browse bustling shopping arcades, or sample your first bites of Fukuoka’s legendary food scene. Even Japanese people travel here just to eat!
Overnight in Fukuoka city: Hotel Okura or similar
After departing Fukuoka, your first stop is the historic “little Kyoto” of Akizuki. If the timing is right, you can take in the vibrant autumn foliage while exploring the castle ruins and atmospheric streets of this old castle town. After a local lunch in the town’s historic center, continue your journey toward the fertile plains of the Chikugo region.
In the afternoon, visit a prestigious sake brewery established by a local family with over 800 years of history. You will enjoy a guided tour to learn how they continue to produce premium sake using carefully selected local ingredients, honoring generations of craftsmanship. Your day ends in a city celebrated for its “shomin ryōri” (common people’s cuisine). Enjoy a casual and hearty dinner featuring the region’s most beloved comfort food.
Overnight in Kurume: Suikoyen Hotel or similar
Begin your day with a guided tour of a traditional vinegar brewery where you’ll take part in a hands-on fruit vinegar-making activity. Discover how time-honoured fermentation techniques—still practiced in this region—are used to craft rich, tangy flavours. Sample a variety of vinegars as you learn their uses in Japanese cooking.
For lunch, enjoy a set meal featuring vinegar-based dishes that highlight the ingredient’s versatility and health benefits.
In the afternoon, travel to Kumamoto to visit a local orchard. Here, you will engage in a citrus-picking and tasting session, complemented by a lecture on the different regional varieties. Before heading to your hotel, stop at a local seaside station for some shopping. Your day concludes with a check-in at your hotel in Kumamoto and a dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight in Kumamoto: Hotel Nikko Kumamoto or similar
Begin the day in Kumamoto with a visit to a local center dedicated to the region’s rich artisanal heritage and traditional handcrafts. From there, travel to the scenic riverside town of Hitoyoshi for an immersive cooking session and lunch, focusing on authentic local flavors and seasonal ingredients.
In the afternoon, continue toward Kirishima to explore the world of Japanese fermentation. You will learn about the production of essential ingredients like koji, shochu, and amazake during a guided tour and tasting session.
Finish the day in Kagoshima with a hearty dinner featuring the region’s most famous culinary specialty, renowned black pork shabu-shabu. This celebrated dish is prized for its incredible tenderness and rich, savory flavor, providing a perfect end to the day’s journey.
Overnight in Kagoshima: Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel or similar
Begin your morning in Kagoshima with a visit to a historic landscaped garden, famous for its grand scale and its unique use of the active volcano and bay as borrowed scenery. Following this, participate in a hands-on sushi-making experience where you will learn to craft this iconic Japanese dish before enjoying your creations for lunch.
In the afternoon, board a ferry to cross the bay to one of the world’s most active volcanoes. You will explore the dramatic landscape, including observation decks that offer views of rugged lava fields and the distant smoking crater.
Travel onward to the mountainous region of Kirishima for the evening. Your day concludes with a premium dinner at a local restaurant specializing in high-quality grilled meats, allowing you to savor the rich flavors of the region’s renowned beef and pork.
Overnight in Kirishima: Kirishima Kokusai Hotel or similar
Begin the day in the mountains of Kirishima with a visit to a magnificent Shinto shrine, renowned for its vibrant vermilion architecture and its deep connection to Japanese mythology. After exploring the sacred grounds, travel back toward Hitoyoshi for a traditional lunch featuring regional specialties.
In the afternoon, continue your journey to the historic town of Yamaga to check into your accommodation for the evening: a refined hot spring inn. You will have time to relax in the restorative waters of the onsen before enjoying an elegant kaiseki dinner, a multi-course meal that showcases the artistry and seasonal flavors of Japanese haute cuisine.
Overnight in Yamaga Onsen: Seiryuso or similar
Begin your morning in Yamaga with a visit to a beautifully preserved Edo-period playhouse, known for its classic architectural style. Or perhaps, explore a local museum dedicated to the delicate folk art of lantern making, a craft central to the town’s identity. After a local lunch in the historic town center, travel toward Fukuoka.
In the afternoon, visit one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines, dedicated to the deity of learning. While exploring the atmospheric approach to the shrine, you will have the chance to try Umegae-mochi, a toasted rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste and stamped with the pattern of a plum blossom. Enjoy this local delicacy paired with a bowl of whisked matcha before returning to Fukuoka for your final evening.
Enjoy your final evening in Fukuoka however you please, whether you’d like to unwind at the hotel or explore the lively streets around Hakata Station. For a classic local experience, visit the riverside yatai food stalls for a memorable final evening.
Overnight in Fukuoka: Hotel Okura or similar
Breakfast in the hotel and then check out. The tour is over, but the memories remain. Thank you for choosing Kyushu Journeys for your Japan food tour!
Safe travels!
This price is based on double / twin sharing. For a single traveler staying in a room alone the additional charge is ¥170,000. For triple sharing price, contact us for details.
Each restaurant has been carefully chosen to highlight a wide variety of the tastiest Kyushu cuisine. The focus is on using locally-sourced seasonal ingredients wherever possible. If you have any dietary restrictions, please ask us about alternatives before booking your tour.
You will stay in a mix of clean and comfortable city hotels and traditional Japanese ryokan inns. In the city hotels, you will be sleeping in western beds. In the ryokan, you will be sleeping in western beds or traditional Japanese-style futon beds on tatami mat flooring. If you have any difficulty sleeping on a futon, please ask us about alternatives before booking your tour.
An onsen is a bathing pool using water from natural hot springs. It’s a wonderful pleasure with many health benefits. As nudity is required, onsen bathing is usually sex-segregated with males in one public bath and females in a different public bath. If you feel uncomfortable, you can skip this activity. Feel free to contact us with any questions you have about onsen bathing.
Comfortable private bus throughout the tour.
We want this to be a small group intimate tour. Maximum participants will be 12 people.
Yes, we can. We have several options for couples or private groups of family or friends. Contact us for details.
Definitely. You will be travelling by private tour bus and accompanied at all times by an English-speaking tour leader. There are no long hikes on this tour but of course, you will need to walk around the attractions. There will be some non-paved paths and steps to climb (especially in shrines or temples). It will be no problem if you prefer to skip any activity and wait for the group on the bus or in a seated area.
This is an adult tour with no activities for children. We welcome all participants aged 12 years or older. However, on a private tour, children of any age can join.
Absolutely! This tour is guaranteed to run, providing you with peace of mind and certainty. Unlike many other tours that require a minimum number of participants to proceed, ours departs as scheduled regardless of group size. This means you can book with confidence, knowing your travel plans are secure and won’t be canceled due to insufficient numbers. It’s the perfect way to ensure your adventure awaits, without any unexpected changes.
From your own pocket, you need to pay for meals on arrival day and dinner on the final evening. Tipping is not required in Japan so it is your choice if you want to show appreciation to your tour leader and/or driver if you receive exceptional service. See below for a detailed list of inclusions and exclusions.
Yes you can. The first and last hotels on the tour will be the same so you can safely store any luggage you don’t need during the tour while you are travelling.
While we strive to adhere to the scheduled itinerary, the route and accommodations may change due to circumstances outside of our control. Furthermore, our guides may adjust the daily program based on weather, traffic, or seasonal conditions (such as autumn foliage). As experienced travellers, we request your flexibility and understanding.
A deposit of 20% is required to secure your places on the tour. The 80% balance is due 60 days before the tour begins.
There are only 12 places available on this tour so please contact as soon as possible if you want to join. We can temporarily block your places on the tour with no payment required to give you time to check your flights.
We suggest you take out travel insurance to protect yourself in case you need to cancel for any unexpected reason.
Request the full itinerary or Ask Questions
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