A three-day trip built around the Lantern Festival that lights up Nagasaki in winter, also covering Nagasaki's night view, Huis Ten Bosch's winter illuminations and Takeo Onsen. Starting from Fukuoka, it loops through Nagasaki and Saga in winter, when there is plenty to enjoy after dark, without backtracking.
Travel from Hakata to Nagasaki, see Glover Garden in Minamiyamate, then go up Mt. Inasa. In the evening, walk around the Lantern Festival venues.
For getting from Hakata to Nagasaki, see the intercity travel guide.
A hilltop garden overlooking Nagasaki Port, lined with Western-style houses including the Former Glover House. The Former Glover House is one of the components of the World Heritage Site "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution."
Official site ↗
Take the Nagasaki Ropeway to the summit of Mt. Inasa. From evening into the night, you can watch the city lights come on. There is also a free loop bus (reservation required) linking hotels in the city with the ropeway station.
Official site ↗
The area around Chinatown and Minato Park is decorated with lanterns. After coming back down from Mt. Inasa, take a leisurely walk around the venues at night.
View guide →In the morning, visit the penguin aquarium in Nagasaki. Then head toward Sasebo and stay at Huis Ten Bosch until the evening illuminations.
An aquarium where you can see many species of penguins. Visit in the morning and head to Huis Ten Bosch by midday.
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A theme park that recreates a Dutch townscape. After walking the streets by day, you can stay on to enjoy the illuminations at night.
View guide →In winter, the whole of Huis Ten Bosch is decorated with illuminations. Staying in or around the park that night lets you enjoy them until late.
View guide →Take in the sea views of Sasebo's Kujukushima islands, then stop at Takeo Onsen on the way back to Hakata.
An aquarium showcasing the marine life of the Kujukushima islands. Visit in the morning and head toward Takeo in the afternoon.
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A hot spring town with a station on the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen. Stop here on the way back to Hakata and warm up in the hot springs at the end of your trip.
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A large garden near Takeo Onsen. It is famous for autumn leaves, but you can also enjoy a walk through the garden in winter.
View guide →Sample itineraries from day trips to 5 days, by region and season. Every stop links to its guide, and you can save any itinerary as your own trip plan and rearrange it day by day.
🗺 Day tripKyushu ・ 4 stops
In the morning, walk to Hakata's Kushida Shrine and the Fukuoka Castle ruins; in the afternoon, take the Nishitetsu line to Dazaifu and visit Dazaifu Tenmangu and Homangu Kamado Shrine. It fits easily into a stay in Fukuoka city or works as the first day of a Kyushu trip.
🗺 2 days, 1 nightKyushu ・ 6 stops
On day 1, tour the Hells of Beppu and the Umitamago aquarium, then stay overnight at Beppu Onsen. On day 2, move to Yufuin and stroll Yunotsubo Kaido and Lake Kinrinko. A one-night trip that lets you experience two hot spring towns with very different atmospheres.
🗺 2 days, 1 nightSummerKyushu ・ 6 stops ・ August
Visit Kagoshima for the Kinko Bay Summer Night Fireworks Festival, spending the daytime at Sengan-en and the aquarium. On day 2, head out on the Sakurajima Ferry, then go to Ibusuki's sand-steamed baths and Cape Nagasakibana. You can enjoy views of Sakurajima and Kinko Bay by day and by night.
Check prices, opening hours and access on each stop’s guide and official website. Seasonal events and peak seasons vary from year to year.
Information as of 2026-10-13
