We had an absolutely wonderful time in Kyushu! Everything worked perfectly and we felt very well taken care of every step of the way by our excellent guides Tomo and Nobu, and by the places you recommended for our accommodations.
The itinerary was excellent — very well-balanced with a terrific mix of nature, history, culture, and crafts. Yakushima was beautiful — we loved seeing the loggerhead turtle come to shore to lay her eggs, our hikes to see the ancient cedars and the moss-covered forest were amazing, we had many sightings of the Yakushima monkeys and deer, and Nobu introduced us to a craftsperson who makes gorgeous things from the cedar wood.
Hanzuiryo in Unzen was gorgeous and the onsen was fabulous — so restful and relaxing. And the kaiseki meals were amazing — a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. We really enjoyed Nagasaki’s history and sights, and Tomo will tell you we probably spent too long going through the museum at the Peace Park and the Glover House site.
Thank you for arranging for us to meet and see the galleries of three active potters — we loved meeting them and being able to see and purchase some of their work. We are glad we made the stop in Arita — we learned a lot on the tour you arranged, and Onta was fascinating — so interesting to learn about the techniques used by the potters through generations and in such a beautiful setting.
Thank you for arranging for a truly wonderful vacation for our family! We had a fantastic experience and have many happy memories.