Penguin VisualI’m planning four days on Kyushu’s west coast around the Marine Day weekend in July. Shinkansen from Osaka to Hakata, then a rental car, with nights in Kurume, Obama Onsen and Sasebo. Those stops should help keep holiday hotel costs down and make the drive west easier.
These are notes before departure. I’ll write about the actual drive, charging and hotels when I’m back.
I plan to buy the return Shin-Osaka–Hakata tickets using JR-West shareholder discount vouchers from a ticket resale shop. In Hakata, I’ll rent a Tesla Model 3 for about 72 hours and mainly use Superchargers. Charging costs and conditions depend on the rental service. The camera is my Panasonic LUMIX S5 again.
An evening Shinkansen to Hakata, then pick up the car and drive straight to Kurume. I chose it to save on accommodation and make the next day’s drive toward Nagasaki easier. Dinner will depend on how late I arrive.
Head toward Omura Bay in the morning and stop at DOGHILL to see the corgis. Walk around Unzen Jigoku in the afternoon, then drive down to Obama Onsen for the night. I’d like to try the Hot Foot 105 footbath and seafood cooked with hot-spring steam.
After checking out, follow the coast north to the monument at Kohzakibana, the westernmost point of Japan’s main islands. I’d like to get an arrival certificate if the timing works. In the afternoon, photograph Kujukushima from either Tenkaiho or Ishidake Observatory, depending on the weather and sunset time.
Charge the car and eat in Sasebo before heading to the hillside hotel. Views toward the harbor and islands were part of the reason I booked it.
After breakfast, drive toward Hakata with a stop at Takeo City Library to look around and take photographs. Return the car before evening, eat near the station if there’s time, then take the Shinkansen home.
These costs are already booked or mostly fixed. All amounts are in Japanese yen and cover two people.
This is not the final cost of the whole trip. Expressway tolls, parking, food, admission and activities, any mileage charges from the rental service, and personal spending still need to be added.
