Kyushu: Itoshima and Kumamoto
Upcoming: 27 Nov - 2 Dec 2026
Coast to Caldera: An Autumn Journey Through Kyushu
As the seasons shift and Kyushu cools into autumn, we invite families to step outdoors, slow down, and reconnect - with nature, with each other, and with the rhythms of rural Japan.
This 6-day camp brings together sea, forest and mountain landscapes across Itoshima and Kumamoto, combining hands-on outdoor experiences with thoughtfully curated stays - from coastal glamping to traditional ryokan hospitality.
Designed for kids ages 6-12, each day blends exploration, creativity, and unstructured play, grounded in the natural environment.
Camp Dates: 27 Nov - 2 Dec.
Check in on 27 Nov in the afternoon, enjoy 2 nights of glamping in Itoshima. Drive to Kumamoto, check into a traditional ryokan, enjoy 3 nights of kaiseki dinner and onsen, check out on 2 Dec, the morning of the final day of camp.
We accept kids younger than 6 on a case-by-case basis.
Camp Experience
We begin by the sea in Itoshima, where our private glamping base in Karadomari sets the tone for a relaxed and social start. Days here revolve around coastal exploration, forest activities, and open-air living.
Midway, we transition inland to Kumamoto, staying at the renowned Ryokan Yamashinobu — where the pace slows, meals become ceremonial, and the surrounding countryside offers a deeper connection to Japan’s rural landscape. Throughout the three days in Kumamoto, Imoncoro serves as our activity base, anchoring a mix of nature-based learning, movement, and discovery. Evenings are as memorable as the days — from casual fireside drinks to refined kaiseki dinners that showcase the region’s seasonal ingredients.
Camp activities for kids run from 9am to 3pm each day. After dropping kids off at camp, parents are free to explore the town and countryside on their own before picking up the kids at 3pm.
Stay: Glamping at Karadomari Village and Onsen + Kaiseki at Ryokan Yamashinobu
Our time in Itoshima begins at Karadomari Village, a private coastal glamping retreat set just steps from a quiet beach. Surrounded by pine forest and sea air, this is where camp eases into rhythm — morning light over the water, unstructured play outdoors, and evenings gathered around the fire. The setting is intentionally simple yet atmospheric, allowing families to settle in, connect, and enjoy a slower pace of living by the coast.
After two nights at Karadomari Village, we drive to Kumamoto where our stay at Ryokan Yamashinobu brings a deeper sense of stillness and refinement. Nestled in the countryside near Mt. Aso, the ryokan offers spacious private rooms, soothing onsen baths, and meticulously prepared kaiseki dinners that reflect the season. After full days outdoors, evenings here become a ritual—soaking in mineral-rich waters, followed by multi-course meals that highlight local ingredients and craftsmanship. It is a shift from the casual openness of the coast to something more grounded and restorative, rounding out the journey with a distinctly Japanese sense of hospitality.
What We Love About Itoshima and Kumamoto
Slow coastal living in Itoshima. A seaside pocket of Kyushu where pine forests meet quiet beaches, Itoshima is perfect for slowing down, playing by the water, and ending the day with big skies and sunsets over the sea.
Hidden cafés and local makers. Scattered along the coast and in the hills are small, design-forward cafés, bakeries, and workshops run by locals who’ve traded city life for a slower rhythm—great for relaxed coffee runs and little discoveries between activities.
Easy nature adventures for families. From gentle coastal walks and beach play to nearby waterfalls and forest trails, Itoshima makes it simple to get kids outside without long transfers or complicated logistics.
Volcanic landscape around Mt. Aso. Kumamoto’s Aso region is all sweeping grasslands, crater rims, and huge skies, with one of the world’s largest volcanic calderas forming a backdrop to every hike and drive.
Onsen villages and starry nights. Ryokan stays in the Aso countryside pair mineral-rich hot springs with dark night skies, giving families that quiet, end-of-day reset after full days outdoors.
Space to feel “deep Japan.” Away from the big cities, small farming communities, local onsens, and roadside viewpoints around Kumamoto offer an easy, kid-friendly way into rural Japanese life—without feeling remote or hard to reach.
Pricing
S$7,500* for 2 adults + 2 kids
What's included:
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2-night stay at Karadomari Village and 3-night stay at Ryokan Yamashinobu
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5 breakfasts, 2 bbq dinners and 3 kaiseki dinners
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5-day nature camp with experienced outdoor instructors for 2 kids
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Pre-trip dinner
*Prices are indicative and will vary depending on the number of guests. All prices are quoted in SGD.
Additional 2.5% for payments using Singapore credit card, 3.5% for payments using overseas credit card. No transaction fees via PayNow.
Practical information
The easiest way to get around is to pick up a rental car at Fukuoka Airport. Itoshima is about a 40 minute drive away. From Itoshima, Kumamoto is about 2 hour 15 minutes by car.
Itoshima is 40 minute drive from Fukuoka Airport
Karadomari Village and Ryokan Yamashinobu
Karadomari Village is a laid-back coastal glamping village tucked beside a quiet beach in Itoshima, where families can sleep under the stars, wander between forest and sea, and spend unhurried evenings cooking together over open flames and watching the sky change color.
Ryokan Yamashinobu is a serene countryside inn in the Aso region, surrounded by trees and clear air, where guests move slowly between steaming onsen baths and carefully crafted kaiseki dinners, experiencing a warm, intimate style of Japanese hospitality that feels both deeply traditional and wonderfully restorative.
We ask that each family rents a car because having a car gives you the flexibility to explore Itoshima and Kumamoto on your own.
Self Drive
Forest Camouflage Experience, Forest Kaleidoscope-making Experience, Forest Museum Experience, Forest Restaurant Experience, Forest Micro-Creatures Experience, Fire-Starting Experience, ‘Maki-Maki’ Twist Bread Baking Experience, Cardboard Food-Smoker Making Experience, Baumkuchen(Tree-cake) Baking Experience, Survival Experience: Cooking Rice and Popcorn Using a Can Cooker.
Nature & Outdoor Activities