Routes · Asia

London to Kyushu: Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Mount Aso

London → Nagasaki → Kumamoto → Mount Aso

Port history, a samurai castle & an active volcano Best season (general guide): Mar–May, Oct–Nov

Kyushu, Japan's southern main island, is warmer and greener than the north, with a long history of contact with the outside world. This route spends six nights between Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Mount Aso. From London you'll fly via Tokyo, Seoul or another hub to Nagasaki.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Nagasaki: day one, Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum; day two, Dejima and Glover Garden; day three, night view from Mount Inasa. Then spend days four and five in Kumamoto: day four, Shinkansen to Kumamoto, then the castle; day five, Suizen-ji garden. Then spend day six at Mount Aso: into the Aso caldera.

Nagasaki was Japan's window to the West for centuries. Dejima, a small artificial island in the harbour, was the Dutch trading post, and Glover Garden preserves Western-style houses on a hill.

In 1945 the city was struck by an atomic bomb. The Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum are moving places to visit.

UNESCO lists Hidden Christian sites in the Nagasaki region, linked to Christians who practised their faith in secret during a long ban.

Kumamoto Castle is one of Japan's great castles. It was damaged in the 2016 earthquake, and restoration work continues. Suizen-ji is a classical garden with a miniature Mount Fuji.

East of Kumamoto, Mount Aso has one of the largest calderas in the world, with farms and towns inside it. Access to the active crater depends on volcanic activity.

Spring and autumn are the best seasons. Summers are hot and humid, with a rainy season.

Nagasaki's trams are the easiest way to get around its hilly streets. Champon, a noodle soup, is the city's signature dish. In Kumamoto, walk around the castle walls to see the restoration work up close. Aso is a good place to slow down, with grassland walks and hot spring baths in the villages around the caldera. A JR pass can be useful if you plan several long train rides, but compare it with single tickets first. Pack light, since you'll change trains and hotels several times on this route.

Good to know: The Kyushu Shinkansen and local trains link the cities. Check volcanic alerts before visiting the Aso crater, which closes when gas levels are high.

Safety: Canada's advice for Japan is to take normal security precautions (updated 29 September 2026).

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