Tokyo → Hiroshima → Beppu → Aso → Takachiho → Kirishima → Kagoshima → Ibusuki → Kumamoto → Nagasaki → Fukuoka → Tokyo

Day 1 – Tokyo → Okayama Distance: ≈ 650 km Driving: 7–8 h Follow the Tōmei and Sanyō expressways. Breaks: Nagoya Castle or Himeji Castle en route. Evening in Okayama — stroll Kōrakuen Garden beside the river. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Kibiji Facilities: 24 h toilets, café, market, no showers. Nearby onsen: Saidaiji Onsen (8 km). Day 2 – Okayama → Hiroshima (plus Miyajima) Distance: ≈ 160 km Driving: 2 h Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, then ferry to Miyajima Island for the “floating” torii gate. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Sera Facilities: 24 h toilets, café, no showers. Nearby onsen: Sera Onsen (9 km). Day 3 – Hiroshima → Beppu (Oita Prefecture) Distance: ≈ 280 km Driving: 4–5 h Cross the Kanmon Bridge to Kyushu and arrive at Beppu, Japan’s onsen capital. See the colourful Hells of Beppu and soak in the beach sand baths. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Yufuin Facilities: 24 h toilets, café, gift shop, no showers. Nearby onsen: Yufuin Onsen (3 km). Day 4 – Beppu & Yufuin (rest day) Walk around Lake Kinrin, visit art cafés and open-air baths. Day 5 – Beppu → Mount Aso (Active Caldera) Distance: ≈ 110 km Driving: 2–3 h Drive through Kuju Mountains to Aso Caldera — vast grasslands, smoking crater and viewing roads. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Aso Facilities: 24 h toilets, restaurant, market, coin showers. Nearby onsen: Kurokawa Onsen (15 km). Day 6 – Mount Aso (rest day) Hike the rim trails or visit Daikanbo Viewpoint and Aso Shrine. Day 7 – Aso → Takachiho Gorge Distance: ≈ 80 km Driving: 2 h Cedar forests and winding roads to Takachiho Gorge — basalt cliffs, turquoise river, shrine and Kagura dance. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Takachiho Facilities: 24 h toilets, café, showers. Nearby onsen: Takachiho Onsen (4 km). Day 8 – Takachiho → Kirishima Mountains Distance: ≈ 150 km Driving: 3–4 h Head south through high forest to Kirishima National Park, birthplace of Shintō myths. Walk the Ebino Kogen crater lakes or visit Kirishima Shrine. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Kirishima Facilities: 24 h toilets, café, produce shop, no showers. Nearby onsen: Kirishima Onsen Village (8 km). Day 9 – Kirishima → Kagoshima City & Sakurajima Distance: ≈ 50 km Driving: 1.5 h Drive to the bay-side city of Kagoshima, with views of Sakurajima Volcano. Cross the short bridge to the island for Yunohira Viewpoint and lava fields. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Tarumizu Facilities: 24 h toilets, café, sea views, no showers. Nearby onsen: Tarumizu Onsen (5 km). Day 10 – Kagoshima → Ibusuki (Black Sand Baths) Distance: ≈ 60 km Driving: 1.5 h Drive along the Satsuma Peninsula coast to Ibusuki, famous for natural black-sand baths where attendants bury you in warm volcanic sand. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Yamakawa Port Ibusuki Facilities: 24 h toilets, restaurant, market, coin showers. Nearby onsen: Sarayu Sand Bath Onsen (3 km). Day 11 – Ibusuki → Kumamoto (via Ferry Bridge) Distance: ≈ 200 km Driving: 4 h Return north via Route 3, hugging the coast with views of the East China Sea. Kumamoto offers a beautifully restored castle and Suizen-ji Garden. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Arao Facilities: 24 h toilets, café, EV chargers, no showers. Nearby onsen: Arao Onsen (8 km). Day 12 – Kumamoto → Nagasaki Distance: ≈ 120 km Driving: 2.5 h Drive west to Nagasaki, one of Japan’s most historic ports. Walk the Dutch Slope, Glover Garden, and Peace Park, and see the evening view from Mount Inasa. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Yumekaidō Nagasaki Facilities: 24 h toilets, restaurant, shop, coin showers. Nearby onsen: Nagasaki Onsen Yurino Sato (6 km). Day 13 – Nagasaki (rest day) Visit Dejima Island, Oura Church, and sample castella cake. Day 14 – Nagasaki → Fukuoka (Northern Kyushu) Distance: ≈ 150 km Driving: 3 h Arrive in Fukuoka, Kyushu’s largest city — street-food stalls (yatai), lively Tenjin district, and seaside parks. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Munakata Facilities: 24 h toilets, café, no showers. Nearby onsen: Munakata Yuraku Onsen (9 km). Day 15–16 – Fukuoka → Hiroshima (via Shimonoseki Bridge Distance: ≈ 290 km Driving: 4 h Cross back to Honshū through Kanmon Straits, stop at Shimonoseki Fish Market, then relax overnight near Hiroshima again. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Sera. Day 17 – Hiroshima → Lake Biwa (Shiga Prefecture) Distance: ≈ 370 km Driving: 5–6 h Scenic stop by Japan’s largest lake; visit Hikone Castle or relax by the shore. Overnight: Michi-no-Eki Kusatsu Facilities: 24 h toilets, restaurant, no showers. Nearby onsen: Ogoto Onsen (13 km). Day 18–20 – Lake Biwa → Fuji Five Lakes → Tokyo Distance: ≈ 450 km Driving: 6 h total (split)** Final scenic run back to Tokyo Campers via Mount Fuji, overnight at Michi-no-Eki Narusawa (Fuji area). Facilities: 24 h toilets, food hall, coin showers, Fuji views. Nearby onsen: Yurari Onsen (2 km).

Route 16 – Classic Starter Loop: Tokyo, Fuji & the Highlands Tokyo → Fuji Five Lakes → Yatsugatake → Lake Suwa → Karuizawa → Tokyo Google Map - Route 16 Overview This compact circuit is ideal for first-time visitors to Japan or travellers wanting a shorter, slower-paced camper-van trip. The route circles the foothills west of Tokyo: lakes beneath Mount Fuji, farm valleys and alpine cafés in Yatsugatake, hot-spring towns by Lake Suwa, and the wooded resort of Karuizawa. Smooth roads, gentle distances and regular Michi-no-Eki stops make it an easy first drive in Japan. Total distance: ≈ 750 km Duration: 7–9 days Best seasons: March–November Tokyo → Fuji Five Lakes Distance: ≈ 130 km Driving time: 2½ h Leave Tokyo via the Chūō Expressway and climb gradually toward Mount Fuji, visible long before you reach it. The Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchi, Saiko, Yamanaka, Shoji and Motosu) offer boating, forest trails and mountain reflections. Visit the Arakurayama Sengen Park pagoda for the classic view of Fuji over red roofs, or explore Oishi Park for sunset photos across the lake. Overnight stop: Michi-no-Eki Katsuyama – on Lake Kawaguchi’s shore. Facilities: 24-h toilets, local café and shop, no showers. Nearby onsen: Fuji-Yama Onsen (6 km). Fuji → Yatsugatake Highlands Distance: ≈ 110 km Driving time: 2½ – 3 h Head north on winding roads through Kōfu Basin vineyards to the Yatsugatake Mountains, a plateau of farms and art museums under clear skies. Stop at Kiyosato Terrace for coffee above the clouds or browse the open-air Moeginomura Village for local cheese, bread and beer. Even in summer the evenings are cool and star-filled. Overnight stop: Michi-no-Eki Kobuchisawa – right beside the main resort road. Facilities: 24-h toilets, restaurant, market, coin showers, Wi-Fi. Nearby onsen: Hakushu Onsen (11 km). Yatsugatake → Lake Suwa Distance: ≈ 60 km Driving time: 1½ h Descend gently to Lake Suwa, a calm inland lake surrounded by old inns and sake breweries. Visit the four shrines of Suwa Taisha, watch locals fish from the jetties, and taste Suwa’s crisp mountain-water sake. Overnight stop: Michi-no-Eki Shiojiri-Kita – 20 min north of the lake. Facilities: 24-h toilets, local diner, convenience shop, coin showers, parking for RVs. Nearby onsen: Katakurakan Onsen (9 km). Lake Suwa → Karuizawa Distance: ≈ 110 km Driving time: 2½ h Cross wooded passes to Karuizawa, a leafy resort with cafés, cycle paths and cool summer air. See the Stone Church, the Karuizawa Lake Garden, or the designer outlets near the station. In autumn, maple colours line the Usui Pass road. Overnight stop: Michi-no-Eki Karuizawa Oiwake – 10 min from the town centre. Facilities: 24-h toilets, café, shop, no on-site showers. Nearby onsen: Karuizawa Sengataki Onsen (6 km). Karuizawa → Tokyo (return via Usui Pass) Distance: ≈ 150 km Driving time: 3 h Descend past Mount Asama’s lava fields and join the expressway east. If time allows, stop at Mount Takao for a final forest walk before returning your camper.