OUTTAHERE

Trip itinerary / Kyushu / 7 days

7-Day Kyushu Family Self-Drive Itinerary

This seven-day winter self-drive itinerary leads families from Fukuoka to Oita's hot spring country. Combining teamLab Forest, strawberry picking, and Kyushu Wildlife Park with a relaxing Yufuin onsen stay, this route balances kid-friendly attractions with regional dining. Renting a car provides schedule freedom, though central Fukuoka parking requires budgeting. This guide helps you structure realistic daily driving legs.

Dolphin show performance with two dolphins leaping above the pool at Marine World Uminonakamichi in Fukuoka, Japan.

Travel period

11 Feb - 17 Feb 2026

Trip style

Family with a child

Transport

Rental car (Airport pick-up)

Cost per person

¥225,000

The seven-day Fukuoka and Oita loop

Base in Fukuoka for four nights to explore city sights, Dazaifu, and coastal Itoshima without repacking daily. On Day 5, drive east into Oita Prefecture for Yufuin and Beppu, returning via Tosu Premium Outlets directly to Fukuoka Airport.

11 Feb

Day 1

Sleep in Fukuoka

Arrival in Fukuoka and car pickup

12:55 - 17:05

Fly from Hong Kong to Fukuoka

UO638

Collect the rental car after landing, then keep the first evening deliberately light.

18:00 - 19:00

Car pickup

Booked a Toyota Alphard 30 Series via Booking.com with shuttle transport to the pickup spot.

Evening

Hotel check-in and nearby dinner

Fukuoka city

Drive to your Fukuoka base, check into your accommodation, and park in an overnight garage. Enjoy a casual dinner nearby to rest after transit and settle in for the multi-night stay.

12 Feb

Day 2

Sleep in Fukuoka

Marine life and city time

10:00 - 13:00

Marine World Uminonakamichi

Higashi Ward

Explore the multi-story aquarium and catch the outdoor dolphin and sea lion performance against Hakata Bay. Plenty of paid parking is available on-site; allow 30 minutes to drive back to Nakasu for lunch.

Read the Marine World Guide ↗
Three dolphins lined up on the edge of an outdoor pool stage at Marine World Uminonakamichi in Fukuoka, Japan.
Dolphins on stage at Marine World

14:00 - 16:00

Lunch at Yoshizuka Unagiya

Nakasu, Fukuoka

Dine on traditional kabayaki eel at Yoshizuka Unagi. Queues build quickly during peak hours, so aiming for a late lunch slot after 2:00 pm helps minimize wait times.

Traditional grilled unagi kabayaki eel set meal served with steamed rice at Yoshizuka Unagiya in Fukuoka, Japan.
Grilled eel set at Yoshizuka Unagiya in Fukuoka.

Late afternoon

Shopping around Hakata Station

JR Hakata City, Hakata

Park at JR Hakata Station garage complexes. Spend the late afternoon browsing local shops, food halls, and souvenir outlets in AMU Plaza and Hankyu before heading to dinner.

13 Feb

Day 3

Sleep in Fukuoka

Itoshima coast and teamLab Forest

10:00 - 16:00

Swing Heaven

Itoshima Peninsula

Drive 45 minutes west to explore the scenic Itoshima coastline. Skip the long photo queues at Sakurai Futamigaura’s Married Couple Rocks and head directly to the seaside swings at Swing Heaven for relaxed ocean views and photos instead.

READ MY HALF-DAY DRIVE ITINERARY ↗
Wooden tree swings hanging over the sandy coast in Itoshima with the ocean in the background.
Tree swings on the coast of Itoshima

Lunch

Winter Oyster Feast

ITOSHIHA Peninsula

Enjoy self-grilled fresh oysters and local seafood at a traditional beachfront oyster hut (Kakigoya). Free parking is available at major ports; arrive early to beat the lunch queue.

Fresh abalone with melting butter grilling over hot charcoal barbecue.
Charcoal-grilled abalone topped with butter

17:00 - 19:00

teamLab Forest Fukuoka

BOSS E.ZO FUKUOKA

Head to BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA and park at Mizuho PayPay Dome garage and purchase tickets directly at the counter upon arrival. Spend two hours exploring the immersive visual artwork and using your smartphone to capture virtual animals in the interactive Catching Forest collection.

Read teamLab Forest Fukuoka Guide ↗
cross bridge activity in teamLab Forest Fukuoka
Crossing the bridge with music beats in teamLab Forest Fukuoka

14 Feb

Day 4

Sleep in Fukuoka

Dazaifu, Yakiniku, and Tenjin shopping

10:00 - 14:00

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Dazaifu

Drive 30 minutes south to visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Stroll down the pedestrian approach lined with umegae mochi pastry shops and take in the historic temple architecture and garden grounds.

Bronze sacred ox statue on a stone pedestal outside a traditional Japanese shrine.
Sacred bronze ox statue at Dazaifu Tenmangu.

15:00 - 17:00

Yakiniku Daitoen lunch and Kushida Shrine

Kamifukuo-machi, Fukuoka

Enjoy a late Wagyu beef and cold noodle lunch at Yakiniku Daitoen Main Store, then walk two minutes down the street to Kushida Shrine to view the iconic Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival float before heading to Tenjin for evening shopping.

Evening

Shopping in Tenjin

Tenjin, Fukuoka

Drive back to drop off and park our car near the accommodation first to avoid heavy evening traffic and central garage fees. From there, head into Tenjin by transit to browse department stores and underground shopping streets.

15 Feb

Day 5

Sleep in Yufuin

Strawberry picking and Yufuin

10:30 - 12:00

Strawberry picking at Itadaki Strawberry Farm

Itadaki Ichigoen

Drive to Itadaki Strawberry Farm for a 40-minute all-you-can-eat harvesting session. Head into the greenhouses to sample multiple varieties, including the pale white Awayuki strawberry, and pay directly at the counter upon arrival.

Amaou strawberry picking at Itadaki Strawberry Farm greenhouse with fresh strawberry plants on elevated beds.
Amaou strawberry picking at Itadaki Strawberry Farm.

Afternoon

Drive to Yufuin and ryokan check-in

Yufuin, Oita

Drive approximately 1 hour east along the Oita Expressway to Yufuin. Explore Yunotsubo Street and Lake Kinrin on foot before checking into your ryokan for an onsen bath and dinner.

Read the Tanokura Recommendation ↗

Affiliate link / Trip.com

Check live room options ↗
Traditional entrance at Ryokan Tanokura in Yufuin
Ryokan Tanokura in Yufuin

16 Feb

Day 6

Sleep in Beppu

Kyushu Wildlife Park and Beppu

09:00 - 15:00

Kyushu Wildlife Park African Safari

Ajimu, Oita

Drive 25 minutes north from Yufuin to Kyushu Wildlife Park. Book tickets for the Jungle Bus upon arrival to feed lions and elephants safely from the armored viewing vehicle.

Read Kyushu Wildlife Park Guide ↗
Elephant-shaped safari tour bus with protective window grates at a wildlife park.
Light blue elephant-shaped safari bus.

Late afternoon

Transfer to Beppu

Beppu, Oita

Drive 30 minutes into Beppu. Visit the famous "Jigoku" (Hells of Beppu) geothermal view sites before checking into hotel for the night.

Panoramic view of Beppu Onsen city with geothermal steam rising from hot springs against Mount Tsurumi in Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan.
Steam rising over the hot spring town of Beppu

17 Feb

Day 7

Tosu Outlets shopping and departure

10:00-14:00

Tosu Premium Outlets shopping

Tosu, Saga

Drive 1.5 hours southwest from Beppu to Tosu Premium Outlets. Shop brand stores and grab a quick lunch, hit the road by 2:30 pm to allow ample transit time.

18:05 - 21:05

Fly from Fukuoka to Hong Kong

UO639

Return the rental car with enough time for refueling, inspection, and the airport shuttle.

Trip-linked recommendations

The places behind the route

Connect each itinerary stop to a detailed stay, restaurant, or attraction recommendation.

Attraction guide / Oita / 7 min

Kyushu Wildlife Park: Self-Drive or Jungle Bus?

Discover practical self-drive tips, morning Jungle Bus strategies, ticket rules, and dining choices to plan an engaging day trip to Kyushu Wildlife Park with kids.

Read recommendation →

Stay recommendation / Yufuin / 6 min

Ryokan Tanokura Yufuin for Family Onsen Stays

Discover whether this Yufuin ryokan delivers enough space, private baths, in-room dining, and easy lake access for families traveling together.

Read recommendation →

Attraction recommendation / Fukuoka/ 7 min

Is Marine World Uminonakamichi Worth Visiting?

Evaluate whether Marine World Uminonakamichi fits your Fukuoka itinerary, with practical advice on transportation, show seating strategies, ticket buying, and route planning for families.

Read recommendation →

Attraction recommendation / Fukuoka / 6 min

teamLab Forest Fukuoka: A Hands-On Family Guide for Kids

Plan an interactive family visit to teamLab Forest Fukuoka, where kids catch digital animals, scan custom drawings onto glowing walls, and play among oversized glowing spheres.

Read recommendation →