Kyushu is Japan\u2019s southernmost main island, and it feels made for road trips. The distances are manageable, the scenery changes quickly, and each region has its own character. Travellers can move from steaming hot spring towns to volcanic highlands, coastal roads and historic cities in just a few days.If you\u2019re picking up your campervan rental on the Tokyo-side of Japan, Kyushu works best as a longer campervan adventure. It takes a bit of planning, but the rewards are huge. With ferries, flexible driving days and well-chosen overnight stops, the journey becomes part of the experience. So, let\u2019s go over the ultimate road trip guide to Kyushu by campervan!<\/p>\n
Driving from the Tokyo area to Kyushu is possible, but a ferry can make the journey easier and more enjoyable. Several long-distance ferries connect the Kansai region of Honshu with Kyushu, including routes from Osaka to Beppu, Kobe to Oita, Osaka to Shibushi in Kagoshima, and Kobe or Izumiotsu, near Osaka, to Shinmoji near Kitakyushu. Many of these are overnight services, with journey times often around 10 to 15 hours depending on the route. For this itinerary, a ferry to Beppu or Oita works especially well, as it places travellers close to hot springs, Yufuin and Mount Aso. Alternatively, if you have extra days to spare, taking a route that drives through Shikoku via shorter ferry connections is also highly recommended for an even richer road trip experience.<\/p>\n
Spring and autumn are especially good for a Kyushu road trip, with comfortable temperatures and pleasant sightseeing conditions. Kyushu is generally milder than northern Japan, but higher areas such as Aso can still be cold from October to March. This route avoids Hokkaido and northern Honshu in autumn and winter, as those areas can be affected by snow and icy roads. If travelling in cooler months, check the local weather before visiting mountain roads.<\/p>\n
When you travel by motorhome, Tokyo is only the beginning. Starting in Chiba, this 15-day itinerary takes you south towards Kyushu for a journey filled with hot springs, volcanic landscapes, coastal roads and historic cities. While the direct ferry is a popular option, taking the time to travel through Shikoku is another fantastic alternative if your schedule allows.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kyushu is Japan\u2019s southernmost main island, and it feels made […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":35498,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[155],"tags":[779,973,972,971,970,969,968,967,865,831,815,786,84,775,735,734,705,663,662,657,656,638,339],"class_list":["post-35385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-roadtrip","tag-japanese-alps","tag-miyazaki","tag-takachiho","tag-kumamoto","tag-nagasaki","tag-fukuoka","tag-oita","tag-kobe","tag-beppu","tag-kyushu","tag-mt-aso","tag-shikoku","tag-campervan","tag-osaka","tag-campervan-narita","tag-tokyo-road-trip-itinerary","tag-japan-campervan","tag-travel-japan","tag-japan-travel","tag-tokyo-roadtrip","tag-campervan-hire-japan","tag-rv-rental-japan","tag-campervan-trip"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n