Two weeks is enough for a full loop of Kyushu without rushing. You can see Nagasaki and the Shimabara Peninsula in the west, Kagoshima and Sakurajima in the south, and Aso and Takachiho in the middle, then finish in the onsen towns of Beppu, Yufuin and Kurokawa. There is one long driving day in the middle. On the other days you drive for two and a half hours or less, and several days have hardly any driving at all.

We're Karen and Doko, and we rent campervans from Fukuoka under the name VAN TRIP JAPAN. Our 7-day loop is the route we suggest most often. This is the version we'd plan if you have twice the time.

Why two weeks and not one?

A week covers the middle of the island well, but the south and the west are hard to squeeze in. With two weeks you add both, and you also get days with no driving at all, which on a campervan trip matter more than they sound.

It also changes the price. Rentals of 14 days or more get 15% off the whole booking, against 10% for a week. Here is an example for the Roof Tent Probox or the Bed Bongo Brawny outside the seasonal periods. Any 14 days in a row include two weekends, so that's ten weekdays at ¥22,000 and four weekend days at ¥33,000. That comes to ¥352,000, and with 15% off, ¥299,200. That works out to about ¥21,400 a day, which is less than the regular weekday rate. Seasonal rates apply on some dates, and the booking calendar shows the rate for every day.

What does the route look like?

It's a loop that starts and ends in Fukuoka: west to Nagasaki, across the Ariake Sea by ferry, south to Kagoshima, back north to Aso, east through Takachiho to Beppu, and home over the mountains. Drive times below are the ones from our own route guides. Traffic, weather and stops will stretch them.

Day 1: Fukuoka

Pick up the van at our base, 10 minutes from Fukuoka Airport. Keep the first afternoon short. Stock up on food, get used to driving on the left, and spend the evening in the city.

Day 2: Fukuoka to Nagasaki (about 2 hours)

Nagasaki is built on hills around a harbour, and the streets are narrow. Leave the van on flat ground near the waterfront and use the trams, which charge a flat fare. In the evening, go up Mount Inasa for the view over the harbour, by ropeway or by car.

Day 3: Nagasaki

A day without driving. The Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park need two to three hours and deserve them. After that, Glover Garden and Dejima, the old Dutch trading post, show the other side of the city's history. Our Nagasaki and Shimabara guide has more detail.

Day 4: Unzen and Shimabara

Drive out onto the Shimabara Peninsula. At Unzen Jigoku you walk between steaming vents for free. Shimabara itself has a rebuilt castle and old streets where spring water runs in channels with koi in them.

Day 5: Ferry to Kumamoto, then south to Kagoshima

Two car ferries cross from Shimabara to Kumamoto Port: Kumamoto Ferry's Ocean Arrow in about 30 minutes, and Kyusho Ferry in about 60. The crossing saves you driving all the way around the bay. From Kumamoto it's about an hour and a half down the Kyushu Expressway to Kagoshima.

Day 6: Sakurajima

Kagoshima has an active volcano across its bay. The car ferry to Sakurajima takes about 15 minutes, and you can drive onto it with the van. Walk the lava trail, stop at the Yunohira viewpoint, and soak your feet in the footbath with the volcano in front of you. Our Kagoshima guide covers the island and the city.

Day 7: Ibusuki

About an hour south of Kagoshima city, at the Ibusuki sand baths, the staff bury you up to the neck in sand warmed by the hot springs underneath. Take the evening slowly; tomorrow is the long one.

Day 8: Kagoshima back north to Aso

This is the longest drive of the trip, retracing the expressway past Kumamoto and then climbing into the Aso caldera. Break it with lunch in Kumamoto and aim to arrive before dark.

Day 9: Aso

The Aso caldera is one of the largest in the world. The Nakadake crater is sometimes closed because of volcanic activity, so check access on the day. Kusasenri, the grassland below the peaks, is the place for a slow evening walk. More in our Aso campervan guide.

Day 10: Aso to Takachiho (about 1.5 hours)

Takachiho Gorge is a basalt gorge with a waterfall you can row a boat underneath. Boats are popular, so go early. Amano Iwato Shrine, linked to the myth of the sun goddess hiding in a cave, is a short drive away. See our Takachiho guide.

Day 11: Takachiho to Beppu (about 2.5 hours)

Across the mountains to Beppu, the town that turned hot springs into its whole identity. Arrive in time for a public bath before dinner.

Day 12: Beppu

Another day without driving far. See the "hells", the brightly coloured hot springs you look at rather than bathe in, try the sand bath on the beach, and pick a different public bath in the evening. Our Beppu and Yufuin guide has the details.

Day 13: Beppu, Yufuin and Kurokawa (about 2 hours)

Drive up to Yufuin under Mount Yufu, then take the Yamanami Highway across the highlands to Kurokawa Onsen, a village of outdoor baths along a river. It's a good last night.

Day 14: Back to Fukuoka

Drive back down to Fukuoka and return the van at our base. If your flight is late, there's time for Hakata ramen on the way to the airport.

Where do you sleep along the way?

At campgrounds and RV parks, mostly. Japan's roadside stations (michi-no-eki) accept a rest in your vehicle but not camping, and a few ban overnight stays outright. Our overnight parking guide lists the rules station by station for all of Kyushu, with sources.

Which driving licence do I need?

If your licence comes from a country that is party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, such as the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands or Singapore, you need your licence plus an International Driving Permit of the 1949 type. If it comes from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan, Japan doesn't accept your permit, and you need an official Japanese translation of your licence instead. Our sister service JDLTC arranges it online, and we take ¥5,000 off the van rental when the translation was done through them. Just mention it on WhatsApp when you book (the driver's name has to match the order).

Do I need an ETC card for the tolls?

It makes the expressways much easier. You can request one with the van in advance. Tolls are charged separately. See our ETC card guide.

When is the best time for this route?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for long drives and hot springs. Summer is hot in the south, and the mountains around Aso can see snow and ice in winter. Our season guide goes month by month.

See the campervans and rates, or send us your dates on WhatsApp and we'll tell you what's free.