Kook’s 11-Day Japanese Journey
Japan
$5400 (payment plan dates: October 1 / March 1) | $1000 deposit to reserve spot
Solo room supplements available, inquire to learn more
October 23 - November 2, 2027
19 spots available
Neon lights of Osaka, ancient volcanic landscapes, sacred shrines, and one of Japan's most dramatic coastlines, this is Japan far beyond Tokyo.
About the Adventure
Most people who visit Japan never make it to Kyushu. That is exactly why this trip goes there. This 11-day journey starts in Osaka for a taste of the city before boarding an overnight ferry to Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island and one of the most culturally and geologically rich places in the entire country.
From there the trip moves at a pace that lets you actually absorb where you are. You will soak in the famous hot spring baths of Beppu, stand at the rim of an active volcano at Aso, witness an ancient Shinto ritual at the Takachiho Gorge, experience the soul of Japanese performance culture through Drum TAO and the traditional night Kagura ceremony, take a dragon boat across the water to Shimabara, and walk through the sobering history of Nagasaki before the trip ends back in Osaka.
This is not a highlights reel. It is a genuine immersion into a side of Japan that most visitors never see, with a private chartered bus, a full-time English speaking guide, and every day designed to take you deeper into the country's history, spirituality, and natural beauty.
Japan will change the way you see the world. Kyushu will change the way you see Japan.
Trip Led by Kook & Brynn
This journey will be guided by the energy and care of two leaders/ good friends who share a vibe like no other.
🌿 Kook (Kaleigh McAndrews) – Founder of Kook’s Wild Ride, she has spent years designing and leading international adventures that are soulful, high-adventure, and deeply connective. Kook brings a contagious enthusiasm for discovery, a heart for building community, and a steady hand in weaving logistics with magic.
✨ Brynn – A grounded and compassionate guide, Brynn carries a gift for creating space where people feel safe, inspired, and at ease. Brynn has led Kook's trips to Guatemala, South Africa, Albania, and Peru and continues to take the trips herself knowing there is simply no richer way to travel than on one of these trips.
Together, Brynn and Kook create a container that is adventurous and soulful, holding both the thrill of exploration and the gentleness of connection. Their shared vision ensures that every traveler feels both supported and challenged to step into something bigger than themselves
11-Day Itinerary Overview
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Note: Accommodations are subject to change due to availability, but we will ensure any alternatives are of equal quality.
DAY # 1
Arrival in Osaka
Touch down in Osaka and transfer to your hotel by private chartered bus. The rest of the day is yours to explore Japan's most electric city at your own pace.
Activities:
☯ Private chartered bus transfer from airport to hotel
☯ Check in and settle in
☯ Free evening to explore Osaka
DAY # 2
Osaka City Tour → Overnight Ferry to Beppu (B, L, D)
A full day taking in the best of Osaka before boarding an overnight ferry to Kyushu. Osaka Castle, the Umeda Sky Building, and the buzzing streets of Shinsaibashi and Dotonburi fill the day before you set sail.
Activities:
☯ Osaka Castle
☯ Umeda Sky Building with panoramic city views
☯ Welcome lunch (included)
☯ Free time in Shinsaibashi and Dotonburi
☯ Board the Sunflower Ferry for an overnight crossing to Beppu
☯ Buffet style dinner on board the ferry
Accommodation: Overnight on Sunflower Ferry (4-person dormitory room)
DAY # 3
Arrive Beppu: Hot Spring, Ropeway, Kannawa Town (B, D)
Arrive in Beppu, one of Japan's most famous hot spring cities, and spend the day exploring its most iconic sights. The Beppu Ropeway, the dramatic Sea Hells and Oniishibozu Hells, and a wander through Kannawa Town round out a full first day on Kyushu.
Activities:
☯ Beppu Ropeway with panoramic views over the city and coastline
☯ Sea Hells and Oniishibozu Hells, Beppu's famous naturally boiling hot spring pools
☯ Kannawa Town walk
☯ Optional: Shonin Park Sand Bath
☯ Optional workshops: bamboo lantern making, calligraphy, cooking class, tea ceremony, Japanese harp
DAY # 4
Yufuin, Kuju and Drum TAO Performance (B)
A day that moves from the serene to the spectacular. The charming hot spring town of Yufuin in the morning, then out to the dramatic volcanic plateau of Kuju for an evening performance by Drum TAO, one of Japan's most celebrated percussion groups.
Activities:
☯ Transfer to Yufuin
☯ Kinrin Lake, Yufuin Floral Village and Yunotsubo shopping street
☯ Transfer to Kuju
☯ Sky Theater Drum TAO Performance, an extraordinary show combining taiko drumming, acrobatics and traditional Japanese music
DAY # 5
Beppu → Mount Aso → Takachiho (B, L, D)
One of the most dramatic travel days of the trip. You cross the vast Aso caldera, visit an active volcano crater, and arrive in the deeply sacred town of Takachiho, nestled in one of Japan's most mythological landscapes.
Activities:
☯ Daikanbo Lookout with sweeping views over the Aso caldera
☯ Aso Monzenmachi town and Aso Milk Factory
☯ Akaushi beef lunch
☯ Kusasenri grasslands and Aso Volcano Crater (subject to volcanic activity conditions)
☯ Transfer to Takachiho and check in
☯ Dinner at hotel
Accommodation: Hotel Takachiho (Japanese Tatami Room)
DAY # 6
Takachiho: Shrines, Gorge and Night Kagura Ceremony (B, D)
The most spiritually significant day of the trip. Takachiho is one of the most sacred places in all of Japan, home to ancient shrines, a stunning river gorge, and a night Kagura performance that has been practiced for over a thousand years.
Activities:
☯ Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine en route
☯ Amano Iwato Shrine, the cave of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu from Japanese mythology
☯ Amano Yasukawara Cave, a sacred site covered in thousands of stone cairns
☯ Takachiho Gorge walk
☯ Dinner at a local izakaya
☯ Night Kagura Performance, a traditional Shinto ritual dance performed by local priests
Accommodation: Hotel Takachiho (Japanese Tatami Room)
DAY # 7
Takachiho → Kumamoto (B)
Transfer to Kumamoto, one of Kyushu's most celebrated cities, home to one of Japan's most iconic castles and a stunning feudal-era Japanese garden.
Activities:
☯ Kumamoto Castle and Wakuwakuza interactive history museum
☯ Explore Sakura no Baba Josaien arcade street in front of the castle
☯ Suizenji Japanese Garden, a perfectly preserved Edo-period landscape garden
☯ Free evening in Kumamoto
Accommodation: Ryokan in Kumamoto
DAY # 8
Kumamoto → Ferry to Shimabara → Nagasaki (B)
A day of movement with a dramatic crossing. A ferry across the Ariake Sea to Shimabara, a walk through its historic samurai streets, then on to Nagasaki, one of Japan's most historically layered and visually striking cities.
Activities:
☯ Ferry from Kumamoto Port to Shimabara
☯ Shimabara samurai residence street walk (Uenomachi Area)
☯ Transfer to Nagasaki
☯ Peiron Dragon Boat Experience on the water in Nagasaki (subject to availability and weather)
Accommodation: The Global View Nagasaki
DAY # 9
Nagasaki: Peace Park, Glover Garden, Mount Inasa Night View (B, D)
A day that holds some of the most moving and beautiful moments of the entire trip. Nagasaki's history demands to be understood, and its views at night are among the most famous in Japan.
Activities:
☯ Atomic Bomb Memorial Information Center and Peace Park
☯ Lunch in Shinchi Chinatown, Japan's oldest and most authentic Chinatown
☯ Glover Garden, the historic estate of Scottish merchant Thomas Glover with panoramic harbour views
☯ Oura Church, Japan's oldest Gothic style church and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
☯ Mount Inasa Night View Observatory, one of Japan's three greatest night views
Accommodation: The Global View Nagasaki
DAY # 10
Nagasaki → Hakata → Shinkansen to Osaka (B, L)
A farewell to Kyushu with one last lunch together before boarding the Shinkansen back to Osaka for the final night.
Activities:
☯ Transfer to Hakata
☯ Farewell lunch together as a group
☯ Free time around Hakata Station
☯ Shinkansen from Hakata to Shin-Osaka
☯ Transfer to hotel and check in
Accommodation: Anchored by RIHGA Osaka Namba
DAY # 11
Departure (B)
Private chartered bus transfer to Osaka airport. Japan will stay with you long after you leave.
Activities:
☯ Breakfast and check-out
☯ Private chartered bus transfer to airport for international departure
Included
Private 45-seater chartered bus and all transportation throughout the trip
10 nights accommodation in hand-picked hotels, a traditional ryokan, and one night aboard the Sunflower Ferry
Breakfast every day at the hotel
3 lunches and 5 dinners as listed in the itinerary including a welcome lunch in Osaka, Akaushi beef lunch at Mount Aso, buffet dinner on the overnight ferry, dinner in Takachiho izakaya, and farewell dinner in Nagasaki
Full-time English speaking guide for all 11 days
Professional Photographer
Overnight Sunflower Ferry from Osaka to Beppu
Beppu Ropeway and Hot Spring Hells entrance fees
Sky Theater Drum TAO Performance in Kuju
Night Kagura traditional Shinto ceremony performance in Takachiho
Kumamoto Castle and Wakuwakuza museum entrance fees
Peiron Dragon Boat Experience in Nagasaki (subject to availability and weather)
All entry fees
Your dedicated trip operator handling all pre-trip logistics, flight guidance and everything in between so you show up ready to go
Not included
International flights
Trip insurance- (highly recommended)
Any Table Drinks, Tea/ Coffee, Water, Chocolates, Beer etc.
Any Meals that are not included in the itinerary
Personal Insurance & emergency rescue charges if necessary
Personal Expenses, Medical and evacuation Cost, Travel Insurance and Laundry
Cost raised by re-routing, cancellation, political disturbance which are not under our control etc
Tips to the Guides, Porters and the drivers [Tips are expected]
Frequently Asked Questions
Travel is one of those things that naturally gives rise to queries, so we’re here to put your mind at ease. Which trip is right for me? What do I do about visas? How much do I tip? For questions frequent and otherwise, this is the spot.
Do I Need a Passport?
YES. The second you consider a trip with us, please check to ensure your passport is up to date and does not expire up to 6 months after the trip. At the moment, all of our trips are international. However, if we choose to do a domestic one, you would not need a passport but would need the REAL ID. In general, this is something you should consider getting soon to assist with your travel needs next year
Will I need a Visa?
Whether you need a visa depends on the country we are visiting. We will let you know in advance if a visa is required for any of our trips. Please be aware that visa fees are not included in the trip prices, but they are generally inexpensive. We will guide you through the simple visa application process before each trip.
Do I need to buy Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance is not included in our trip package. While it is not mandatory to join our trips, it is highly recommended. Travel insurance can cover various aspects of your journey, and there are many types and options available. We are happy to assist you in finding the right insurance that suits your needs before the trip.
Are flights included?
Flights are not included in our trip packages unless . However, we are happy to assist you in finding and choosing the best flight options for each trip. Please keep in mind that we recommend purchasing flight insurance for added peace of mind.
We offer flight help for a $60 fee.
Note: some trips include a domestic flight transfer as part of the itinerary, which will be listed as part of the trip details / inclusions on the webpage.
Are transfers to and from the airport included?
Yes, transfers to and from the airport upon arrival and departure are included in our trips. Please note, that if you arrive or depart outside of the scheduled trip dates, we can arrange transfers for an additional fee.
I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?
We are dedicated to accommodating special dietary requirements as best as we can. Please inform us of your specific needs in advance, and we will make every effort to ensure you are properly catered for throughout the trip. Please note that the ability to accommodate dietary restrictions may vary by location. We are knowledgeable of the areas we visit though, and will inform you if your specific needs cannot be met.
How do you arrange room sharing on the trip and who will I have to share with?
We arrange rooms based on your preferences. Often, friends and partners sign up together and request to share a room. Alternatively, solo travelers sometimes express a desire to share, and we assist in pairing them up.
On most trips we offer a solo room supplement for an additional fee. Please inquire via email, text, or through Instagram DMs for pricing if you are interested in this option.
If I am traveling with a significant other or friend, how do I ensure we are put in the same room?
When you sign up for the trip, please specify the person you wish to room with. We will ensure that you are placed together in the same room automatically.
Are there options for single rooms if I don’t want to share?
Yes, single rooms are available on our trips. There is an additional fee for solo rooms, which varies by country. We will inform you of this fee when you sign up.
When is the final due date for my trip?
We typically offer payment for our trips in 2-3 installments. The initial deposit is deducted from the total trip price. The final payment is due typically between 35 to 60 days prior to the start of the trip. The exact deadline depends on the country and payment schedule requirements.
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