Kyushu Culinary & Sake Trail – 3-Day Tour
A Gourmet Journey Through Kyushu’s Best Food & Sake
Discover the Rich Flavors of Kyushu
Embark on a Kyushu Culinary & Sake Tour featuring the region’s top sake breweries, fresh seafood markets, and gourmet dining experiences. From Fukuoka’s bustling food stalls to the refined sake houses of Kumamoto and the seafood-rich shores of Nagasaki, this tour is a must for food and sake lovers.
📍 Day 1: Fukuoka – Street Food & Sake Beginnings
Savor Japan’s Best Street Food & Local Sake
Morning:
- Kick off your journey with a Hakata ramen breakfast at a top-rated local shop like Ippudo or Ichiran.
- Explore Yanagibashi Market, known as "Fukuoka’s Kitchen," for fresh seafood and specialty local delicacies.
Afternoon:
- Visit Fukuoka Sake Brewery, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour and a tasting of local rice-based sake.
- Optional: Walk along Ohori Park and Maizuru Park, home to Fukuoka Castle ruins.
Evening:
- Enjoy a yakitori and sake pairing at a local izakaya in Nakasu.
- Stay overnight at a traditional ryokan or modern hotel in Fukuoka.
📍 Day 2: Kumamoto – Sake, Wagyu, & Castle Views
A Deep Dive Into Sake & Kyushu’s Legendary Wagyu
Morning:
- Travel by shinkansen (bullet train) to Kumamoto.
- Visit Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan’s most impressive fortresses.
Afternoon:
- Private sake brewery tour & tasting at Takahashi Shuzo, a producer of fine junmai sake.
- Enjoy a Kumamoto Wagyu steak lunch, one of Japan’s most prized beef varieties.
Evening:
- Experience a kaiseki dinner with a curated sake flight.
- Stay overnight at a hot spring ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen.
📍 Day 3: Nagasaki – Seafood & Historic Sake Breweries
Taste the Coastal Delights of Kyushu’s Port City
Morning:
- Take a train to Nagasaki, a historic trade hub with diverse culinary influences.
- Visit Dejima Island, a historic Dutch trading post, and try Nagasaki’s famous castella cake.
Afternoon:
- Fresh seafood lunch at Nagasaki’s Dejima Wharf, featuring locally caught fish and shellfish.
- Tour Fukuda Sake Brewery, a heritage brewery specializing in unique aging techniques.
Evening:
- Wrap up your trip with a Kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) dinner paired with regional sake.
- Return to Fukuoka or stay an extra night in Nagasaki.
🔹 Customization & Add-ons
This itinerary can be shortened, extended, or tailored to fit your needs. Popular add-ons include:
- Saga Beef Experience – Visit Saga for an A5 Wagyu tasting experience.
- Yame Green Tea & Sake Tour – Explore the famous Yame tea region and pair it with sake tastings.
- Karatsu Seafood & Pottery Workshop – Discover the coastal town of Karatsu, known for fresh seafood and traditional ceramics.