6-Day Kyushu Campervan Road Trip: Fukuoka Airport to Beppu, Aso and Kumamoto

Six days is enough for a loop through Yufuin, Beppu, Aso, Takachiho and Kumamoto at about 476 km (296 mi); pick up and return at Fukuoka Airport. This Kyushu campervan road trip from Fukuoka keeps most driving days under two and a half hours. That leaves time for hot springs, a volcanic caldera and a river gorge.

• Route: Fukuoka Airport ➤ Yufuin ➤ Beppu ➤ Aso ➤ Takachiho ➤ Kumamoto ➤ Fukuoka Airport
• Distance: 476 km (296 mi) in total, approximate
• Duration: 6 days
• Best Time to Travel: Spring and autumn. JNTO notes misty mornings at Lake Kinrinko in autumn and winter, and Takachiho holds Yokagura night dances on Saturdays from mid-November to mid-February.
• Tolls & Fees: Expressway tolls depend on your route and vehicle class, so run your own dates through the NEXCO toll and route search listed in Sources. Overnight fees are set by each RV park or campground.
• Best For: Couples who want onsen towns each evening, families planning short driving days, and first-time campervan renters who prefer a loop that returns to the same hub.

Distances and drive times are approximate planning figures from OpenStreetMap routing, adjusted for a campervan, and they do not include stops.

Pick up: Fukuoka Airport

Fukuoka Airport is the start and end point of this loop. JNTO's Fukuoka City page states that the domestic terminal is five to six minutes from the city centre by subway (checked October 8, 2026).

Plan the pickup morning around documents first. JNTO's rental guide states that drivers need a booklet-type International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, obtained before departure. Card-type and smartphone permits are not valid in Japan, according to the same page.

The guide also explains that your arrival date is confirmed by the passport entry stamp. If you plan to rent a vehicle, JNTO advises using a non-automated gate at the airport so you receive that stamp. Licence holders from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan follow a different procedure: carry the original licence and a Japanese translation.

At the counter, ask about the following items:

• Insurance: JNTO states that renters are required to buy insurance with a certain level of coverage, and conditions vary by company.
• ETC card: Expressway gates with a purple sign take ETC cards, and JNTO notes that most rental companies rent them.
• Fuel: Rental charges do not include fuel, which JNTO lists at about 170 yen per litre (as of 2022).
• Vehicle check: Walk around the campervan with staff, note existing marks, and ask how the bed, power and water systems work.

Traffic in Japan drives on the left. JNTO also notes that main roads sign most major destinations in English, while rural roads may not.

Stop 1: Yufuin

Recommended stay

1 night

Best for

• Travellers who want a slower first evening after a flight
• Visitors interested in small museums, galleries and cafes
• Cyclists who want a short ride to a lake

Things to do

JNTO describes Yufuin as a town that combines scenic hot springs with museums, art galleries, boutiques and cafes. Yufuin Station, built in 1990, has a footbath near platform one and an Art Hall that doubles as a gallery. Horse-drawn carriages depart from the station, and the tourist information centre rents bicycles.

JNTO notes that the roads to Lake Kinrinko suit cycling. The lake has both cold and hot springs welling up from underground. On autumn and winter mornings, the page suggests a visit for the misty landscape.

Where to park overnight

Look for an RV park or an auto campground around Yufuin for the first night. The Japan RV Association defines an RV park as a vehicle-stay facility that meets its listed conditions, including a 24-hour toilet and waste disposal (checked October 8, 2026). The association also asks guests to phone each facility before arrival, since some sites may be closed.

Stop 2: Beppu

Recommended stay

1 night

Best for

• Onsen fans who want to compare several bathing areas
• Families looking for a short driving day
• Visitors interested in traditional crafts

Things to do

JNTO calls Beppu the largest hot spring resort in western Japan, with eight major hot spring areas and some 3,000 vents. The page suggests Kamegawa Onsen or Kankaiji Onsen, both surrounded by greenery. After bathing, it suggests wearing a yukata to explore the historic streets of Hamawaki Onsen.

The Hells of Beppu are for viewing rather than bathing. JNTO states that their waters reach about 98 degrees Celsius and range from cobalt blue to blood red. Tatsumaki Hell has one of the world's most active geysers, while Kamado Hell is where people once cooked rice over the steam.

Beppu's Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center shows local work from daily utensils to contemporary furniture. Visitors can learn the history of the crafts and try traditional techniques.

Where to park overnight

With only 20 km of driving, this day leaves time to reach a Beppu-area RV park or auto campground early. For an auto campground, the check-in time, quiet hours and rules on fires are set on that site's own page. JRVA's guide lists a nearby bathing facility within 15 minutes by car as an RV park condition, which fits an onsen-focused evening.

Stop 3: Aso

Recommended stay

1 night

Best for

• Hikers who want volcanic ridges and grassland views
• Photographers interested in wide landscapes
• Travellers who like to plan with a visitor centre's help

Things to do

Aso sits within Aso-Kuju National Park. JNTO describes Aso Caldera as the focal point of the Five Mountains of Aso, some 18 km wide and 25 km long. The surrounding park includes other volcanic peaks, grassland and farmland.

The park page lists hiking volcanic ridges and walking through flowering marshlands. It also suggests stopping at a visitor centre for maps, weather information and safety advisories. Check those advisories on arrival, because conditions near an active volcano change.

On the drive from Beppu, JNTO's Beppu page also points to Lake Shidakako. That lake lies inside the national park and is described as one of the area's most scenic spots.

Where to park overnight

The Aso area suits an auto campground or an RV park. Roadside stations, known as michi no eki, are also common in Japan, but MLIT's consultation page addresses overnight use directly (checked October 8, 2026). It states that a nap in your vehicle to recover from fatigue is fine. It also asks people to refrain from staying overnight as lodging in the car park.

Stop 4: Takachiho

Recommended stay

1 night

Best for

• Travellers interested in Shinto mythology and shrines
• Visitors who want a gorge walk or a rowboat ride
• Weekend arrivals in winter who hope to see the Saturday Yokagura

Things to do

JNTO states that Takachiho is not easily reached by public transport, and recommends car or sightseeing bus. Takachiho Gorge formed over 100,000 years ago through volcanic activity. You can rent a rowboat to see Minainotaki waterfall up close, or follow a paved path above the gorge.

The gorge is illuminated until 10 p.m. during the warmer months, according to JNTO. Takachiho-jinja Shrine hosts an abridged Yokagura every night at 8 p.m. for 1,000 yen per person, with online reservations. The shrine grounds also hold the "Couple Cedar," two trees with fused trunks.

Nearby, Amano Iwato-jinja Shrine sits beside the cave linked to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Futagami-jinja Shrine lies slightly southwest of the gorge.

Where to park overnight

Since the Yokagura show ends after dark, book a spot close to town before you arrive. Takachiho-area auto campgrounds list their own gate hours, so confirm late arrival on each site's page. MLIT notes that some roadside stations set aside separate overnight spaces; that station's website explains the terms.

Stop 5: Kumamoto

Recommended stay

1 night

Best for

• History fans interested in castles and samurai figures
• Art lovers who want a museum day
• Travellers who want a final evening within about two hours of the airport

Things to do

JNTO describes Kumamoto Castle as one of Japan's most visited. It was severely damaged in the April 2016 earthquakes. The restored tower is open, though many areas remain inaccessible, and visitors can walk around the grounds. Kato-jinja, on the eastern edge, is one of few places with a view of the keep.

Close to the castle, the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art shows paintings, lacquerware, ceramics and European works. Suizenji Garden has a thatch-roof teahouse, and nearby Lake Ezu offers waterside walks and pedalo rental. CAMK, the Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto, has a free permanent exhibition.

For a short trip out of the centre, JNTO lists Honmyo-ji, a hilltop temple where Kato Kiyomasa is laid to rest. Further out, Reigando Cave is where Miyamoto Musashi spent his final years.

Where to park overnight

A city-edge RV park or auto campground keeps the last night simple. JRVA's guide notes that RV parks are set up at many kinds of places, including hot springs, inns and roadside stations. It also states that camping activities are not allowed at its facilities. JNTO's rental guide adds that penalties may apply when a car is not in a designated parking space.

Travel Tips for Your Kyushu Road Trip

Before You Go

• Get a booklet-type International Driving Permit in your home country, and check that it covers your arrival date.
• Run each expressway leg through the NEXCO toll and route search, choosing your vehicle class.
• Book RV parks and auto campgrounds for each night, and phone ahead as JRVA's guide requests.
• If you plan a winter trip, JNTO's guide advises winter tires or tire chains in snowy areas, so ask your rental company what is fitted.

On the Road

• Use gates with a purple sign for ETC payment; green-sign gates take cash or credit cards.
• Rural roads may lack English signs, so set your next stop in navigation before each drive.
• Roadside stations provide free parking and 24-hour toilets, according to JNTO, which makes them useful rest stops.
• Allow extra time beyond the table figures, which exclude photo stops and meals.

When You Arrive

• At each site, ask staff where to place rubbish, where power hookups are, and when the gate closes.
• Use onsen near your site for bathing, since JRVA lists nearby baths as an RV park condition.
• On Day 6, leave Kumamoto with enough margin to refuel and return the vehicle on time.
• Conditions change, so confirm details with the facility, road operator or rental company before you travel.

More Inspiration

• Campervan rental cost items compared
• Overnight parking rules at roadside stations, FAQ
• 3-Day Mount Fuji itinerary from Haneda Airport