Kyushu in 4 days

Guests are invited to the Kinsei lounge at Hakata Station at 10:30 a.m. where they will be greeted by the staff of the luxurious Kyushu Seven Starts train. At 11:20, the train departs for the port of Moji, where guests can visit the station built in 1914, which is a replica of the Rome Termini station. From there, the train departs for Yanagigaura in Ōita Prefecture. There, a private bus will take guests to the Usa Jingu Temple, the most important of the temples dedicated to Hachiman, the Japanese god of war and the guardian divine of Japan. The chapel was founded in the Nara period, more precisely in the Wadō era, i.e. in the years 708-714. The Miroku-ji temple was built next to the chapel in 779. Together they form the oldest such temple complex (jingū-ji) in Japan. Renovations have been ongoing since 2012, and while the inner chapel still retains the sanctity and grandeur of centuries of history, the whitewashed walls, vermilion lacquered pillars and cypress bark tiles have been completely restored. In the place where the syncretism of Buddhist and Shinto traditions began, guests will witness a special ceremony. Upon returning to the train, a dinner of French cuisine will be served.

After admiring the morning scenery of Aso, we invite guests to breakfast at the "Mars" restaurant on the station platform, where dishes prepared from fresh vegetables grown in the surrounding area will be served. Then it's time to walk around Aso and the streets of Bungo-taketa in Ōita Prefecture. The Bungo-taketa area is rich in historical buildings, including Buke-Yashiki - samurai residences. Thanks to this, it is sometimes referred to as "little Kyoto in Kyushu". The Aso Mountains are one of the largest volcanoes in the world and the largest active volcano in Japan. They have a height of 1592 m above sea level, and the circumference of the volcano's caldera is approximately 128 km. It was formed as a result of four great eruptions that occurred between 300 and 90 thousand years ago. The eruption that created the current caldera took place around 300 years ago. years ago. The last major eruption occurred around 90 years ago. years ago and was the largest. The material ejected in this explosion is equivalent to the volume of Mount Fuji. There is an active volcano on Mount Naka that constantly emits smoke and erupts from time to time. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in Kyushu. Later, guests can visit the Ōita Valley at the foot of the dormant volcano Mt. Yufu. This valley is extremely fertile due to the fact that the rains and snow that fall here filter through the mountains, absorbing nutrients from the volcanic rocks. The people of this region are very hospitable and warm. Guests will spend the night in Yufuin, relaxing in a selected, traditional and at the same time exclusive Japanese inn - ryokan: Yufuin Tamanoyu, Kamenoi Bessou or Sansou Murata.

After breakfast at the ryokan, guests travel by private bus from Yufuin to Beppu Station. Between Beppu and Miyazaki stations, passengers can enjoy the wonderful scenery of this southern region, with its vast skies and ocean. In Miyazaki, they will visit the Aoshima temple located on the island, the history of which begins before 820 AD. In Japanese mythology, since the time of the gods, Miyazaki has been an important place, mentioned in the oldest works of literature - Kojiki (Book of Ancient Events) and Nihon Shoki (Japanese Chronicles). ). According to legends, the first emperor of Japan, Jimmu, was born here. Myths still live in this place, which attracts visitors from all over the world. Upon returning to the train, you will be served a gourmet Satsuma-style dinner prepared with ingredients sourced from Kyushu on board the Seven Stars train.

On the last day of the exclusive Kyushu tour, after breakfast on the luxurious Seven Stars train, guests have the opportunity to travel along the Hisatsu Route. Here, passengers can fully enjoy their train journey. The tracks run through the Kirishima Mountains with many loops and serpentines. When this line opened in 1909, it modernized transportation throughout southern Kyushu. The views available to Seven Stars passengers are some of the greatest in Japan. Charming train stations are reminders of days gone by. In the morning, those interested can go sightseeing in the city of Hitoyoshi, where, among others, there is the Aoi Aso temple, listed as a national treasure of Japan. At the end of the journey, before the train returns to Hakata, there will be a farewell ceremony on board.