ASUKA III Cruises
A six-day spring voyage through Kyushu's finest ports: the hot spring mists of Beppu, the Meiji-era Western architecture of Moji Port, and the spring tranquility of Fukue in the Goto Islands.
In Kobe the mountains and the sea are only a few streets apart. The Kitano houses were built for foreign merchants in the Meiji era, the stone buildings of the old foreign settlement are now shops, and the waterfront lights up after dark. From the terminal, Sannomiya is a walk or a short ride away.
From the Airport to the Pier：Kansai International Airport、Kobe Airport、Sannomiya
Half a Day Before Boarding：Kitano Ijinkan、Kobe Port Tower、Former Foreign Settlement、Nankinmachi
One More Day After Disembarking：Nada Sake Breweries、Arima Onsen、Mount Rokko
Local flavours：Kobe Beef、Akashiyaki、Nada Sake、Western Pastries
Beppu is one of Japan's largest hot spring resorts, with the highest volume of hot spring water in the country. Steam rises from the streets, and the colorful 'hells' (jigoku) with their diverse water qualities are the most concentrated stage of Japanese hot spring culture.
Beppu Hells and Hot Springs: Day Route：Sea Hell (Umi Jigoku)、Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell)、Tatsumaki Jigoku (Tornado Hell)、Kannawa Onsen、Myoban Yunosato
Local flavours：Jigoku Mushi (Steam-cooked) Cuisine、Sekisaba and Sekiaji、Bungo Beef、Toriten
Mojiko is the starting point of Kyushu's railways and shipping. The red-brick Western-style buildings from the Meiji and Taisho eras are well preserved, forming a rare 'museum of modern architecture in a port town' in Japan. Across the Kanmon Strait lies Shimonoseki; the strait's night view and currents are unique local scenery.
Mojiko Retro: Day Route：Mojiko Station、Former Osaka Shosen Building、Kanmon Strait、Mekari Park、Ganryujima
Local flavours：Baked Curry、Fugu (Pufferfish)、Kanmon Seafood、Shiba Eel
Fukue Island is the center of the Goto Islands, a place of hidden Christian faith, with its church group listed as a World Heritage site. The grass-covered Onidake and the ruins of Ishida Castle create a landscape of island faith and nature.
Goto Faith and Nature: Day Route：Dozaki Church、Onidake、Fukue Castle (Ishida Castle)、Mizunoura Church、Takahama Coast
Local flavours：Goto Udon、Goto Coastal Fish、Kankoro Mochi、Camellia Oil Cuisine