Private Full Day Tour from Fukuoka to Nagasaki





Description
For those with limited time but who want to see the best from Fukuoka to Nagasaki and everything in between, this is the tour for you! It will be a long day with approx. 6 hours of driving but the memories and experiences will be worth it, to explore the countryside of the region. We will visit many natural attractions that will amaze you with their beauty and uniqueness. Japanese cultural attractions are also a big part of our day and you will be more connected to Japan as a result of these interactions. Only a tour like this one will allow you to see real Japan that you don't get to experience from city stays. Finally, extra special experiences will be had that can only be achieved with a guide who has lived in Japan for many years. I hope to share these attractions with an eager clientele. I am sure you will appreciate my passion and energy for this amazing region of Kyushu and no I don't mind you you have a small snooze along the way and or on the 2 hour return drive to Fukuoka.
Tour Options
Itinerary
One of the best Observation decks and lookouts in Kyushu without a doubt is Mount Kagami located in Karatsu in Saga Prefecture. It is only located approximately an hours drive from Fukuoka City and when combined with other great attractions in the area makes for a spectacular day out.
One of the most amazing locations in all of Kyushu is without a doubt the Karatsu Castle. It is located on an island overlooking the Karatsu Bay with the Black Pine Forests of Niji no Matsubara in close proximity. Everything about this place screams Japanese! The history, the culture the architecture and of course its purpose, to crush any uprising and discontent in the ranks of its people and rival factions.
A famous pottery region in Kyushu that still remains and now is used predominately to educate the public about the history of their works. They provide pottery classes to people of all ages to promote the cultural aspect of ceramic making.
One of the 4 main Inari Shrines located in Japan. Everything about this place scream Japanese with history and culture everywhere. An amazing location that is enjoyed by all.
A Sake Brewery is one of the most popular stops on our Day Tours out of Fukuoka. Why is this? Well, it all about the tradition of the Sake Brewing process, exploring the old but esthetically pleasing building as well as the tasting experience that gets everyone fully involved in the process.
The Shrine has 3 Torii gates that are strategically placed from the shoreline out into the picturesque and highly productive seaweed producing Ariake Sea. At high tide all 3 gates are covered with water at various depths, whilst at low tide one can wander around and fully inspect each Torii Gate and get a feel of what a 6 meter tidal range really means from an environmental and nature point of view.
As you drive from one bus stop to the next, you will wonder what fruit or vegetable will come next. In some ways, when you don't see your favorite one you wonder why it hasn't been included and of course when you have passed the last one and headed into the next prefecture you will also have a slight feeling of disappointment that you won't see another one again in Japan.
The Spectacle Bridge in Isahaya is a double arch stone bridge spanning a pond at Isahaya Park, which is one of the main sightseeing places of the area. The bridge is twice the size of the famous Spectacles Bridge in Nagasaki City and has many temples and shrines as well as walking trails that you could easily spend 1 or 2 hours here soaking up the ambiance. The bridge was originally built over the Honmyo River in 1839. However, after the flood of 1957, it was relocated to the park. Every year on the anniversary of the flood, the city of Isahaya has a festival at the original location of the bridge. It was designated as an Important Cultural Asset in 1958.
The Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki is located in the park above the epicenter. It's exhibits show the overwhelming destruction caused by the bombing while also telling us the importance of world peace and the removal of weapons to protect the Earth from something like this ever happening again! It is a very sobering place and definitely not for the faint hearted as the stories, exhibits and pictures are extremely graphic. There hasn't been a time when I haven't seen someone crying out loud and or emotionally uncontrollable. This museum definitely isn't every one's cup of tea. However, it is important to remember history and not to forget about the past as this is the way we don't make the same mistakes of the past. So, in that sense the museum can be a great place to come together and never let this happen again for the benefit of mankind.
Of course the normal view of the Nagasaki Peace Park main statue is a powerful one, undeniably a moving experience and packed with sorrow but at the same time hope for the future. The reverse side however holds all the above but also in addition there is a feeling of doubt that mankind and humanity can actually learn from its mistakes and not go down that narrow windy path of devastation that the nuclear arms race has headed in the past and still does to some degree in this age of the 21st century.
The Mount Inasa Nightview in Nagasaki is a unbelievable place to visit. The daytime views are in a world of there own but in relation to the nighttime view it rates rather poorly in my opinion. Words don't explain this incredible place like the way they should and this view needs to be seen to be believed. Without a doubt one of the most scenic views in all of Nagasaki and probably in all of Japan. It is a place that I try to bring every visitor and customer that comes to Nagasaki as it really brings out the highlights of everything Nagasaki has to offer in terms of beauty and nature from its scenic location to its panorama.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
I will send you the details of the vehicle that I will be using on the day and will contact you by WhatsApp before meeting at the pre-arranged pickup destination.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travel time is included in the tour duration.
Reviews(11)
Shannon was easy to work with from our very first communication. He was flexible with an itinerary, allowing us to see landmarks not typically on his list, but also asking about our interests as he planned our day. Stopping for ceramics was never something we would have planned, but Shannon was patient as I shopped, leading me to a beautiful vase! Shannon's tour was more than just a drive to landmarks. It was full of history and culture, from stopping to chat with school children to tasting sake! It's clear Shannon has immense pride in his tour but also in Japan. If you are lucky enough to fit into Shannon's schedule, book immediately, it will be one of the highlights of your travels!
Thankyou so much for this incredible review! Even though our tour was 13 hours long, time just flew by. Each attraction along the way just got better and better and it is so pleasing that you appreciate how much effort I put into every tour that I do. Please come back to Japan again and I will take you to another spectacular region in Kyushu.
We had a fabulous day with Shannon exploring the various sites on our way to and in Nagasaki. Shannon provided so much interesting information on life in Japan and various history of the sites we visited. We would definitely recommend the day for anyone visiting Kyushu.
Hello Marg, Thanks for this amazing review. We covered a lot of distance, ate local Nagasaki noodles, visited many incredible sights but most of all, bought some Sake at a regional brewery. Hope that bottle got saved for a special occasion? Please return again some day!
Great knowledgeable guide. Had a great day. Went to places you wouldn’t normally see. Loved the visit to the library
Hello Jenni, I throughly enjoyed our day together and even though we made changes to the itinerary on the go, they all turned out perfectly. I thought the special attention by the Sake Brewery President on their new season release was absolutely amazing timing and not planned. I think James asked the Shinto gods to help out in this regard, don't you think? Please come back to Japan again!
Really enjoyed the full day. The information and history was brilliant. Great lunch too. Highly recommended to others.
Thanks for a fantastic review and your positivity on the day. Really enjoyed swapping Rugby stories amongst others. I am sure we will meet again sometime in Japan.
Shannon was an excellent guide and showed us places we would not have found but for his experience. Highly recommended.
Thankyou for this positive review Karen. It was an amazing day and we accomplished a lot indeed. The highlight attraction was obviously the Yutoku Inari Shrine with its full bloom Cherry Trees in view for as far as ones eyes can see. Just incredible!! Please come back to this region of Japan again someday.
Was a great day filled.with amazing stops, great cuisine, and historical sites. Driver Shannon was very knowledgeable and personable- I highly recommemd!
We absolutely had an incredible adventure! I am so happy that the exquisite lunch and amazing Japanese Sake made up for a few pitfalls that were out of our control on the day! You and your wife were amazing!! From the bottom of my heart I wish you both a smooth and seamless trip during your adventures all over Japan.
The tour with Shannon Lefebvre was a great experience. He took very good care to explain the history and culture of the areas. He did not rush through the tour and was open to added suggestions. The tour was a lot of fun and a relaxing time learning about the cultural significance of Nagasaki and its involvement in the landscape of WWII. It was a positive experience learning about the people of this region and their role in Japanese society as a whole. Shannon Lefebvre was very knowledgable and informative and was open to questions and discussions during the tour. The tour mixed history and fun experiences together. He took us at the end of the tour for a great hot steam foot soak that was amazing and a nice end to the day of sightseeing. A few days after the tour he sent to us a memory keepsake video from our tour together. It was a wonderful thoughtful and unique keepsake surprise. We highly recommend this tour if you are interested in Nagasaki, its history, its food and its culture as it relates to the Japanese culture. It's a very special day when Shannon Lefebvre is your guide on this tour both as a knowledgable professional, english speaking pleasant fun tour guide. This was a memorable great experience.
All I can say is WOW! Thankyou for such amazing comments and I am so appreciative. Also, may I say that you taught me so much about certain specifics regarding pottery at the Shidayaki Ceramics location, that now I am able to explain in more detail about this interesting cultural aspect of Japan. All the best and please come back to Japan again!
More than half a year after spending an ambitious Fukuoka-Nagasaki Day with Shannon, my children still randomly say "Remember Shannon? He was so so cool!" That he was! Endlessly kind, entertaining, and efficient—Shannon took us to IYKYK spots that we would never have found on our own. I'd recommend Shannon to anyone interested in history, architecture, crafts, photography, food, and sake! We've kept in touch and would love to tour with him again when we return to Fukuoka!
I am so glad that your 3 wonderful kids still remember me. They were obviously well researched and knew so much about Japan even before me met. IYKYK (if you know you know) is my forte, I am never satisfied and always adding new attractions to my itineraries. Please come back to Japan again soon, I will be eagerly waiting!
We had a wonderful time touring Fukuoka region and Nagasaki with Shannon our Aussie guide who has lived in Japan for so long that he’s essentially Japanese in all but appearance! We felt very comfortable and safe with him. A very knowledgeable guide who customised our tour according to our requests and needs. Our two boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves too and we learnt loads about Japanese history and culture. I absolutely recommend Shannon to all English-speaking visitors to the Kyushu region; rest assured that he is well-versed in Japanese customs and traditions, showing off Japan to its full potential. It is not easy to get a guide in Japan who is both fluent in English and Japanese. Shannon, we are waiting for you to plan our Kyushu beef tasting tour! :) Thank you again for a lovely family holiday, including booking a yummy motsunabe restaurant for us!
Thankyou so much for this incredible review and yes your future Wagyu tasting tour of Kyushu is in the works as we speak. I am glad that I was able to surpass your expectations and look forward to meeting your boys again and helping them with their Japanese speaking skills. Till we meet again in 2025 or 26.
Very enjoyable all day trip to many different places that we would never have been able to go to just traveling by ourselves. Shannon is a fantastic guide, very responsive and enjoyable to chat with. His tour is well worth it!
Thankyou so much for this review. I know how much effort and patience you had in trying to get this on the forum. Our day together was long and fruitful. Many amazing experience were had and I am sure you will be back for another trip. Japan has you hook, line and sinker!



