This 17-day Japan train itinerary takes you from Tokyo through Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hiroshima before continuing deep into Kyushu to Fukuoka, Yufuin, Beppu, Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima.
It combines many of Japan’s classic first-trip destinations with a much deeper journey into southern Japan, where hot-spring towns, historic port cities, regional food and volcanic landscapes give the second half of the trip a very different character.
17-Day Route at a Glance
Tokyo → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka → Hiroshima → Miyajima → Fukuoka → Yufuin → Beppu → Nagasaki → Kumamoto → Kagoshima
This is an ambitious itinerary, but the route generally keeps moving west and south rather than repeatedly returning to the same base.
17-Day Tokyo to Kyushu Itinerary Overview
| Day | Route | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tokyo | Tokyo |
| Day 2 | Tokyo | Tokyo |
| Day 3 | Tokyo | Tokyo |
| Day 4 | Tokyo → Kyoto | Kyoto |
| Day 5 | Kyoto | Kyoto |
| Day 6 | Kyoto | Kyoto |
| Day 7 | Kyoto → Nara → Osaka | Osaka |
| Day 8 | Osaka | Osaka |
| Day 9 | Osaka | Osaka |
| Day 10 | Osaka → Hiroshima & Miyajima | Hiroshima |
| Day 11 | Hiroshima → Fukuoka | Fukuoka |
| Day 12 | Fukuoka → Yufuin | Yufuin |
| Day 13 | Yufuin → Beppu | Beppu |
| Day 14 | Beppu → Nagasaki | Nagasaki |
| Day 15 | Nagasaki | Nagasaki |
| Day 16 | Nagasaki → Kumamoto | Kumamoto |
| Day 17 | Kumamoto → Kagoshima | Kagoshima or departure |
Fast-Paced Once You Reach Kyushu
The first half of this itinerary includes several multi-night stays. From Day 12 onward the pace increases considerably, with more frequent hotel changes. Travelers who prefer slower travel should consider adding two or three extra nights in Kyushu.
Is a 14-Day JR Pass Worth It for This Itinerary?
This itinerary includes enough long-distance rail travel that the nationwide Japan Rail Pass is definitely worth comparing with individual tickets. However, at today’s prices, do not assume that the pass will automatically save money.
Major Long-Distance Journeys
- Tokyo → Kyoto
- Kyoto → Nara → Osaka
- Osaka → Hiroshima
- Hiroshima → Fukuoka
- Fukuoka → Yufuin
- Yufuin → Beppu
- Beppu → Nagasaki
- Nagasaki → Kumamoto
- Kumamoto → Kagoshima
Recommended Activation: Day 4
Spend the first three days in Tokyo using an IC card and individual fares, then activate a 14-Day JR Pass when you leave Tokyo for Kyoto on Day 4.
Fourteen consecutive days then takes you exactly through Day 17, including the final journey from Kumamoto toward Kagoshima.
The current 14-Day Ordinary Japan Rail Pass costs ¥80,000 for an adult. From October 1, 2026, purchases through overseas JR-designated agencies rise to ¥84,000, while JR’s official online purchasing service is temporarily retaining the ¥80,000 price.
Nozomi and Mizuho: An Important Current Rule
JR Pass holders are not limited only to slower Shinkansen services. Nozomi and Mizuho trains can now be used by purchasing a separate special JR Pass-holder ticket for the relevant journey.
If you do not purchase that additional ticket, use eligible services covered by the regular JR Pass instead.
See our Japan Rail Pass Guide for current prices, coverage and purchasing rules.
Day 1: Tokyo — Asakusa and Classic Tokyo
Begin your journey with a relatively relaxed introduction to Tokyo. After arriving and checking in, explore some of the city’s historic eastern neighborhoods rather than trying to cover too much on your first day.
Suggested Highlights
- Senso-ji Temple and Kaminarimon Gate
- Nakamise shopping street
- Walk along the Sumida River
- Ueno or Akihabara if you have additional time
Don’t Activate the JR Pass Yet
Use an IC card or individual tickets for local transportation during your first three days in Tokyo. Save the 14-Day JR Pass for Day 4, when the expensive long-distance rail travel begins.
Overnight: Tokyo
Day 3: Tokyo — Choose Your Own Tokyo
Use your final full day in Tokyo to concentrate on the part of the city that interests you most. This flexible day also gives you room to adjust the itinerary if jet lag, weather or arrival delays affected the first two days.
Choose One or Two Areas
- Traditional Tokyo: Yanaka, Nezu and Ueno
- Modern Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi
- Food & Shopping: Ginza, Tokyo Station and Nihonbashi
- Anime & Pop Culture: Akihabara, Ikebukuro or Nakano
- Family Day: choose one major attraction rather than rushing between several
Prepare for Tomorrow
Tonight is a good time to organize your luggage and reserve your Shinkansen seat for Kyoto. If you are carrying large suitcases, luggage forwarding from Tokyo to Kyoto can make tomorrow much easier.
Overnight: Tokyo
Day 4: Tokyo to Kyoto
Activate your 14-Day Japan Rail Pass and begin the long-distance section of the itinerary by traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto on the Tokaido Shinkansen.
Suggested Kyoto Arrival Day
- Check in or leave your luggage at your hotel
- Explore Kyoto Station and the surrounding area
- Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha if you arrive early enough
- Enjoy Gion or central Kyoto in the evening
JR Pass Day 1
Hikari and Kodama services on the Tokaido Shinkansen can be used with the nationwide JR Pass without an additional Nozomi ticket.
If you prefer to take a faster Nozomi service, JR Pass holders can purchase the special Nozomi/Mizuho ticket separately before boarding.
For train times, ticket prices, JR Pass rules, Mt. Fuji seating and luggage advice, see our complete Tokyo to Kyoto by train guide.
Kyoto deserves more than an arrival afternoon, so the itinerary keeps you here for the following two full days rather than rushing onward.
Overnight: Kyoto
Day 5: Kyoto — Higashiyama and Gion
Spend your first full Kyoto day exploring the historic eastern side of the city, where temples, traditional streets and preserved neighborhoods can be combined into a natural walking route.
Suggested Highlights
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
- Yasaka Shrine
- Maruyama Park
- Gion
JR Pass Day 2
You may use the JR Pass very little today. Many of Kyoto’s most famous attractions are reached more conveniently by bus, subway or private railway, so keep an IC card handy.
Starting early is worthwhile, especially around Kiyomizu-dera and the Higashiyama streets, which become much busier later in the day.
Overnight: Kyoto
Day 6: Kyoto — Arashiyama and Northern Kyoto
Use your second full Kyoto day to explore a different side of the city. Arashiyama works especially well in the morning, while the afternoon can be used for another major temple or central Kyoto.
Suggested Highlights
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Tenryu-ji Temple
- Togetsukyo Bridge
- Kinkaku-ji
- Nishiki Market or central Kyoto in the late afternoon
JR Pass Day 3
JR trains can be useful for reaching the Arashiyama area, but much of today’s sightseeing will again require local transportation outside the JR network.
If you prefer a slower day, skip one of the major attractions and spend more time walking around Arashiyama or central Kyoto.
Overnight: Kyoto
Day 7: Kyoto to Nara to Osaka
Check out of your Kyoto hotel and travel to Nara for a half-day visit before continuing to Osaka in the afternoon or evening.
Suggested Nara Highlights
- Nara Park
- Todai-ji
- Kasuga Taisha
- Kofuku-ji
- Naramachi if time allows
JR Pass Day 4
Eligible JR trains between Kyoto, Nara and Osaka are covered by the nationwide JR Pass. Local buses and private railway services require separate payment.
If you are carrying large luggage, consider forwarding it directly from Kyoto to Osaka or using station lockers while sightseeing in Nara.
After arriving in Osaka, spend the evening around Dotonbori, Namba or Umeda.
Overnight: Osaka
Day 8: Osaka — Castle, Umeda and Central Osaka
Spend your first full Osaka day exploring some of the city’s best-known central sights. Compared with Kyoto, Osaka has a more modern, energetic atmosphere and is especially rewarding for food and nightlife.
Suggested Highlights
- Osaka Castle and Osaka Castle Park
- Umeda and Osaka Station
- Grand Front Osaka or nearby shopping areas
- Dotonbori in the evening
JR Pass Day 5
Eligible JR lines around Osaka are covered by the nationwide JR Pass, but Osaka Metro and most private railways are not. An IC card is still useful for local sightseeing.
Overnight: Osaka
Day 9: Osaka — Food, Shopping or a Slower Day
Keep your second Osaka day flexible. At this point in a 17-day itinerary, having a less structured day can be useful for shopping, laundry, resting or visiting attractions you missed earlier.
Possible Options
- Kuromon Market
- Shinsekai
- Namba and Shinsaibashi
- Umeda Sky Building
- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
- A relaxed food-focused afternoon and evening
JR Pass Day 6
You may not get much financial value from the JR Pass today, but that is perfectly fine. The expensive long-distance journeys later in the trip are the main reason to compare the nationwide pass.
Use the evening to prepare for tomorrow’s move to Hiroshima. If you have large luggage, consider forwarding your main suitcase directly to your Hiroshima hotel.
Overnight: Osaka
Day 10: Osaka to Hiroshima and Miyajima
Leave Osaka in the morning and travel west to Hiroshima. After leaving your luggage at your hotel, continue to Miyajima for one of the most memorable sightseeing days of the itinerary.
Suggested Miyajima Highlights
- Itsukushima Shrine
- The famous offshore torii gate
- Omotesando shopping street
- Daisho-in Temple
- Mount Misen if you have enough time
JR Pass Day 7
Eligible Shinkansen travel from Shin-Osaka toward Hiroshima is covered by the nationwide JR Pass. If you use Nozomi, remember that the separate JR Pass-holder Nozomi/Mizuho ticket is required.
The JR West Miyajima Ferry is also covered by the Japan Rail Pass. A separate ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax is currently charged when entering the island.
If you return to Hiroshima early enough, visit the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome in the late afternoon. Otherwise, save central Hiroshima sightseeing for the following morning before continuing to Fukuoka.
Don’t Try to Do Everything
Hiroshima and Miyajima can easily fill more than one day. On this itinerary, prioritize Miyajima and add central Hiroshima sightseeing only if your train schedule and energy level allow.
Overnight: Hiroshima
Day 11: Hiroshima to Fukuoka
Use the morning for any Hiroshima sightseeing you did not fit into yesterday, then continue west to Fukuoka by Shinkansen.
Possible Hiroshima Morning
- Peace Memorial Park
- Atomic Bomb Dome
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
- Hiroshima Castle if time allows
JR Pass Day 8
Travel from Hiroshima to Hakata Station in Fukuoka by an eligible Shinkansen service. If you choose Mizuho or Nozomi, the separate JR Pass-holder special ticket is required.
After arriving in Fukuoka, keep the rest of the day fairly relaxed. Explore Hakata or Tenjin and try some of the city’s famous local food.
Suggested Fukuoka Highlights
- Hakata Station area
- Canal City Hakata
- Tenjin
- Nakasu
- Yatai food stalls in the evening
Overnight: Fukuoka
Day 12: Fukuoka to Yufuin
Leave Fukuoka and head into the mountains of Oita Prefecture for Yufuin, one of Kyushu’s best-known hot-spring towns.
If the operating schedule matches your travel date, the Limited Express Yufuin no Mori is one of the most enjoyable ways to make the journey from Hakata toward Yufuin.
Suggested Yufuin Highlights
- Lake Kinrin
- Yunotsubo Kaido
- Small galleries and shops
- Views of Mount Yufu
- Relax in an onsen or ryokan
JR Pass Day 9: Reserve Yufuin no Mori Early
Yufuin no Mori has reserved seating only and is a popular sightseeing train. Reserve your seat as early as practical once your itinerary is confirmed.
The train does not operate in exactly the same configuration every day, so check JR Kyushu’s current operating calendar before travel.
Rather than treating Yufuin as a quick day trip, this itinerary stays overnight so you can enjoy the town after many daytime visitors have left.
Overnight: Yufuin
Day 13: Yufuin to Beppu
Enjoy a relaxed morning in Yufuin before continuing to Beppu, one of Japan’s most famous hot-spring cities.
Suggested Beppu Highlights
- Beppu Jigoku hot-spring “hells”
- Takegawara Onsen
- Beppu waterfront
- Kannawa hot-spring district
- Try a local onsen or sand bath
JR Pass Day 10
Check the current JR Kyushu timetable for the most convenient rail connection between Yufuin and Beppu. Depending on the service and time of day, the journey may involve travel via Oita.
Yufuin and Beppu offer very different hot-spring experiences. Yufuin is smaller and more atmospheric, while Beppu is larger and known for the sheer scale and variety of its geothermal activity.
Overnight: Beppu
Day 14: Beppu to Nagasaki
Leave Beppu and travel across northern Kyushu to Nagasaki. This is one of the longer travel days in the Kyushu portion of the itinerary, so an early start is worthwhile.
Current Rail Route
- Beppu → Hakata by Limited Express Sonic or another suitable JR connection
- Hakata → Takeo-Onsen by Limited Express Relay Kamome
- Transfer at Takeo-Onsen
- Takeo-Onsen → Nagasaki by Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen Kamome
Important: Older Nagasaki Train Information May Be Outdated
Older travel guides may describe a direct Limited Express Kamome from Hakata to Nagasaki. The current route instead requires a transfer at Takeo-Onsen between the Relay Kamome and the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen.
The transfer is designed to be straightforward, with the connecting trains using opposite sides of the same platform for many services.
JR Pass Day 11
Eligible JR services on this route are covered by the nationwide Japan Rail Pass. Reserve seats for the long-distance sections when possible.
After arriving in Nagasaki, keep the evening relaxed. The waterfront, Dejima area and central streets around the city make good options if you still have energy after the journey.
Overnight: Nagasaki
Day 15: Nagasaki
Spend a full day exploring Nagasaki. Its history as one of Japan’s major international ports gives the city a character quite different from most other destinations on this itinerary.
Suggested Nagasaki Highlights
- Peace Park
- Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
- Dejima
- Glover Garden
- Oura Church area
- Mount Inasa for an evening view, if the weather is clear
JR Pass Day 12
You may use the JR Pass very little today. Nagasaki’s streetcars and other local transportation are separate from the JR network, so an IC card or individual fares will be more useful for much of your sightseeing.
Nagasaki rewards slower exploration, so avoid trying to fit every major attraction into one route. The Peace Park area and the historic waterfront area work particularly well as two separate sightseeing zones.
Overnight: Nagasaki
Day 16: Nagasaki to Kumamoto
Leave Nagasaki and continue to Kumamoto for the penultimate day of the itinerary.
Current Rail Route
- Nagasaki → Takeo-Onsen by Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen
- Takeo-Onsen → Shin-Tosu by Limited Express Relay Kamome
- Shin-Tosu → Kumamoto by Kyushu Shinkansen
JR Pass Day 13
This journey involves several trains, but the connections form part of the normal current rail route between Nagasaki and Kumamoto.
At Takeo-Onsen, the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen and Relay Kamome are designed for convenient transfers. At Shin-Tosu, change to the Kyushu Shinkansen toward Kumamoto.
Suggested Kumamoto Afternoon
- Kumamoto Castle
- Sakura-no-baba Josaien
- Shimotori and Kamitori shopping arcades
- Suizenji Jojuen Garden if you arrive early enough
Kumamoto is also a useful base for travelers who want to extend the trip toward Mount Aso after this itinerary.
Overnight: Kumamoto
JR Kyushu is operating a temporary Shinkansen timetable through September 30, so travelers should check current departure times before travel.
The conventional Kagoshima Main Line between Uto and Yatsushiro remains suspended, with replacement transportation operating while restoration work continues.
The Shinkansen portion of this itinerary can now be followed again, but always check JR Kyushu’s latest operating information shortly before departure.
Service update last checked: September 20, 2026.
Check JR Kyushu’s latest operating information immediately before travel.