15 Best Temple and Shrine Tours in Kyushu

Kyushu’s shrines lean further into myth than anywhere else in Japan. Takachiho claims Amano Iwato, the cave where the sun goddess Amaterasu hid, and at Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu, up a mossy stair in the Kumamoto hills, light falls through a hole punched in the rock.

1.Kyushu One-Day Tour: Yufuin no Mori Train & Yufuin Town & Nyoirin-ji Temple & Dazaifu & Hell Hot Springs (Departing from Fukuoka)

Compare two Kyushu day trips from Fukuoka, with Yufuin’s old-fashioned train, Beppu’s steaming hot springs, and time to explore.

Most Popular★ 4.9

“Tour guide Li Jing is very professional and wonderful! She is very lively and provides thorough introductions!”

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2.Kyushu One-Day Tour: Takachiho Railway & Takachiho Gorge & Amano Iwato Shrine (Chinese and English Speaking Guide, Departing from Fukuoka)

Take a long but rewarding day trip from Fukuoka to Takachiho Gorge, its waterfall boat ride, a mountain railway and sacred sites.

★ 4.8

“The whole day was very fulfilling, the time spent at the attractions was plenty, and it was much more relaxing than driving myself.”

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3.Mount Aso Crater, Kusasenri, Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine, Kurokawa Onsen (Departing from Fukuoka/Kumamoto)

Visit Kamishikimi Shrine, Mount Aso, Kusasenri and Kurokawa Onsen on a full-day Kyushu tour from Fukuoka or Kumamoto.

★ 4.9

“This tour experience was fantastic! The overall schedule was very smooth, the scenery along the way was gorgeous, and the pace was comfortable without feeling rushed at all. I especially want to praise our tour guide, Sun Peng. He was very friendly and professional, provided…”

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4.Kyushu Takachiho One-Day Tour | Takachiho Gorge Boat Ride-Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine/Takachiho Mini-Train-Mount Aso-Kusasenri (Departing from Kumamoto)

Compare boat and no-boat options on this full-day Kumamoto tour to Takachiho Gorge, Kusasenri and Mount Aso, with practical notes on tickets and timing.

★ 4.9

“Thank you, Sister Xiaoyu, for your professional explanations all the way and for taking such patient care of us. We will definitely request Sister Xiaoyu (Lihong) by name if we have the chance next time!”

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5.One-day trip to Kyushu Miyazaki: Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine & Takachiho Gorge & Ama-no-Iwato Shrine & Ama-no-Yasugawara (Departure from Fukuoka, including a special lunch)

Travel from Fukuoka to Miyazaki’s cedar shrines, Takachiho Gorge and mythic Ama-no-Iwato, with a local lunch option and long-distance transfers.

★ 4.7

“Great value for the money, the tour guide was very enthusiastic, the bus was clean and smooth, and the lunch was also delicious. It was a wonderful experience.”

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7.Kyushu: Nyoirin-ji Temple & Kinrinko Lake Water Torii & Yufuin & Beppu Hells Tour Day Trip

Visit Nyoirinji Frog Temple, Yufuin and Beppu’s steaming hell springs on a full-day trip from Fukuoka, with free time and practical planning tips.

★ 4.9

“Wang was fantastic. She shared the information and took care of everything very well. Memorable tour thanks to the tour leader and bus driver.”

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8.Kyushu Miyazaki Mythical Secret Realm: Takachiho Gorge (optional boating)-Amanoiwato Shrine-Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine (includes Japanese sweets & shuttle bus)

Travel from Fukuoka to Takachiho Gorge, Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine and Amano Iwato on a guided Kyushu day trip.

★ 4.8

“These are all relatively distant places, so joining a tour group is much more convenient. Our tour guide worked hard, too, and really did his best to take care of everyone.”

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9.Fukuoka Coastal Day Trip to Itoshima: Shiraito Falls, Miyajidake Shrine, Ichiran no Mori, Sakurai Futamigaura Meoto Iwa (Married Couple Rocks), Coconut Tree Swing (Departing from Fukuoka)

See Itoshima’s waterfalls, sea rocks, palm swing, ramen birthplace, and two famous shrines on a 10-hour day trip from Fukuoka.

★ 4.7

“This itinerary included the places I wanted to visit, Itoshima and the Path of Light at Miyajidake Shrine. Once the transportation issues were sorted out, Tour Guide Qiu's overall service was quite good.”

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10.Kyushu: Mojiko & Karato Market & Tsunoshima Bridge & Motonosumi Shrine Day Trip (From Fukuoka)

Review this Fukuoka day trip to Mojiko, Karato Market, Tsunoshima Bridge and Motonosumi Shrine, with practical advice on timing, costs and closures.

★ 4.7

“The tour is definitely worth taking. The sashimi at the seafood market is incredibly fresh and delicious, and all the places we visited throughout the day had beautiful scenery.”

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13.Kyushu One-Day Tour: Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine & Amanoiwato Shrine & Takachiho Gorge (Includes snacks & one-way shuttle bus to Takachiho Gorge)

Visit Kamishikimi Shrine, Takachiho Gorge and Amano Iwato on a long but rewarding day trip from Fukuoka, with a guide and gorge shuttle.

★ 4.8

“Thomas, it must have been tough taking care of 41 group members by yourself. I was worried the water would turn yellow due to the rain, but it didn't! So happy to see such beautiful scenery. And thank you to our tour guide for all…”

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15.Kyushu Mount Aso Takachiho One-Day Tour | Takachiho Gorge + Kusasenri + Mount Aso/Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine | Departing from Fukuoka

Compare this Fukuoka day tour to Mount Aso, Kusasenri and Takachiho Gorge, with practical advice on the boat, long drives and current shrine swap.

★ 4.9

“Kevin was very passionate, but the time allocation for each attraction left a bit to be desired. I wish we could have spent a little less time at the gorge and at least 15 more minutes exploring the shrine. Thirty minutes was barely enough time…”

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4.9Kyushu Beppu | Nyorin-ji Temple & Mount Yufu & Yufuin & Lake Kinrin & Hell Tour One-Day Trip10 hours$44.20 4.7Kitakyushu Motonosumi Shrine Red Torii & Mojiko/Karato Market & Sarakurayama Cable Car Day Trip (Departing from Fukuoka)10.5 hours$44.20 4.9Kyushu Yufuin Forest Secret Route One-Day Deep Tour – Beppu Sea Hell & Yufuin Forest Train Experience & Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (Departure from Fukuoka)10.5 hours$44.20 4.6From Fukuoka: Miyazaki, Takachiho Gorge and Shrines Day tour10 hours$50 4.8One-Day Kyushu Miyazaki Tour | Takachiho Gorge & Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine or Upgrade to Boat Ride & Mount Aso | Departs from Fukuoka10 hours$44.20 4.8Full-Day Guided Tour of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and Lake Kinrin$44.20 4.8Kitakyushu Sarakurayama Night View & Motonosumi Shrine Day Tour (Departing from Fukuoka)10 hours$44.20 4.8Fukuoka: Nyoirinji Temple, Beppu Hells Tickets Incl & Yufuin1 day$47 4.9(Lunch included) Kyushu Autumn/Winter Limited One-Day Tour: Fukuoka Mifuneyama Rakuen Autumn Leaves Festival-Yutoku Inari Shrine Autumn Maple Viewing or Saga Strawberry Picking Experience – Two Routes Available9 hours$44.20 4.8Kyushu Yanagawa & Itoshima Day Trip: Meoto Iwa & Ichiran Ramen & Yanagawa River Cruise & Shiraito Falls/Raizan Sennyoji Temple & Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (Departing from Fukuoka)10 hours$44.20 4.9Kyushu Hiking Tour | Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine & Mount Aso Kusasenri & Kurokawa Onsen & Free Crater Shuttle Bus (Departing from Kumamoto/Fukuoka)10 hours$44.20 4.9Kyushu Fukuoka Itoshima customized itinerary chartered car day trip/multi-day trip: Shiraito Falls, Sakurai Futamiura Couple Rocks, Sakurai Shrine, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, Nanzoin Temple10 hours$265.25 4.8Fukuoka Departure: Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine & Yufuin Town & Beppu Ropeway Day Trip$44.20 4.8Kitakyushu Day Trip: Karato Market / Mojiko & Motonosumi Shrine & Sarakurayama Cable Car (Departing from Fukuoka)10.5 hours$44.20 4.8Kyushu Itoshima Coast & Yanagawa River Cruise & Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Day Trip (Departing from Fukuoka)10 hours$44.20 5.0Kyushu Fukuoka Classic Day Tour | Nyoirin-ji Temple & Mt. Yufu & Yufuin & Kinrin Lake & Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) & Kamado Jigoku (Oven Hell) Day Tour (Chinese and English Tour Guides / Departure from Fukuoka)10 hours$44.25 4.8Miyazaki Kumamoto Exploration Tour | Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine, Amanoiwato, Takachiho Gorge, Mount Aso, Kurokawa Onsen Day Trip | Departing from Fukuoka9.5 hours$44.20 4.4Fukuoka: Beppu Hells HotSpring, Frog Temple & Yufuin DayTrip10 hours$96 4.9Kyushu Itoshima Coast Sightseeing & Shiraito Falls & Yanagawa River Cruise & Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Classic Dual Route Day Tour9.5 hours$44.25 4.7阿蘇中岳火山 & Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine One-day Downtown Highlights & City Highlights Tour$265.25 4.6From Fukuoka: Mount Aso, Kurokawa Onsen, and Shrine Tour10 hours$50 4.5Day Tour to Miyazaki Takachiho Gorge & Shrine Depart From Fukuoka$99.40 4.8Yufuin no Mori Train Experience: Yufuin Onsen Town & Kyushu Zoo & Beppu Hells or Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine + Beppu Ropeway Tour9.5 hours$102.65 4.5Kyushu Day Trip Miyazaki Takachiho Gorge and Shrine From Fukuoka$79.26