Kyushu Tour

Kyushu Tour

Kyushu  is the third-largest and most southerly of Japan's four main islands.  There is a theory that Kyushu was in ancient times home to its own independent dynasty, where a unique, southern-influenced culture and tradition distinct from that of Honshu flourished.

The island is mountainous, and Japan's most active volcano, Mount Aso at 5,220 ft, is on Kyushu. There are many other signs of tectonic activity, including numerous areas of hot springs. The most famous of these are in Beppu, on the east shore, and around Mt. Aso in central Kyushu. The island is separated from Honshu by the Kanmon Straits. Being the nearest island to the Asian continent, historically it is the gateway to Japan.

Flightplan HERE

Tanegashima, the easternmost and second largest of the Ōsumi Islands, is renowned in Japan for its traditional iron tools like knives and scissors. Its craftsmen maintain unique forging techniques dating back to the Taira clan’s exile from Kyoto in 1185, and the local dialect still reflects a Kyoto accent. The island also produces iron sand used in these crafts.

The Tanegashima Space Center, operated by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), is the country’s largest space facility. Founded in 1969, it handles satellite assembly, testing, launches, and rocket engine firing, including orbital launches of H-IIA rockets from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex.

Miyazaki sits at the southern end of the Miyazaki Plain, bordered by the Hyūga Sea to the east and crossed by the Ōyodo River. Most of the city is flat alluvial plains, except for its southern mountainous area. Historically part of Hyūga Province, a market town called Jogasaki flourished along the river in 1551, later coming under the control of various feudal domains. After administrative changes in the late 19th century, Miyazaki became the prefectural capital and grew rapidly with the development of the nationwide railway system.

Kagoshima, formerly Satsuma Province's center and the Shimazu clan’s base, became a political and commercial hub during the Edo period. Despite foreign trade restrictions, it thrived through ties with the Ryūkyū Kingdom and was notable for its role in early Christianity and opposition to the Tokugawa shogunate. The British bombarded Kagoshima in 1863 after the Namamugi Incident. The city contributed major leaders to the Meiji Restoration.

Japan’s Industrial Revolution began here, sparked by nineteen Satsuma youths who studied Western technology in the UK and brought modernization home; their statue stands at the station. Kagoshima is also the birthplace of Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō, celebrated for his victories in the Russo-Japanese War.

Amakusa and the nearby Shimabara Peninsula were central to the 17th-century Shimabara Rebellion, which involved Christian leaders and survivors known as Kakure Kiriword not allowedan, who continued their faith in secret despite persecution. Although often described as a Christian uprising against Matsukura Katsuie’s oppression, scholars generally view it as a peasant revolt due to misgovernance, with Christians joining later. The Shimabara Rebellion was the largest civil conflict of the Edo period and one of the few major uprisings under Tokugawa rule.

Nagasaki, the capital of Nagasaki Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan, was founded by the Portuguese and served as Japan’s primary port for Portuguese and Dutch trade from the 16th to 19th centuries. It features UNESCO-listed Hidden Christian Sites and was a significant naval base. In World War II, Nagasaki became the second city to endure a nuclear attack before being rebuilt.

Hashima Island, also called Gunkanjima ("Battleship Island"), is an abandoned island 15 kilometres off Nagasaki. Among the region’s 505 uninhabited islands, it stands out for its deserted concrete buildings and seawall. Once a symbol of Japan’s industrialisation, the island also served as a site of forced labour before and during World War II.  Covering 6.3 hectares, Hashima’s undersea coal mines operated from 1887 until they closed in 1974 when the reserves ran out. At its peak in 1959, the population was 5,259; after closure, all residents left, leaving the island uninhabited for decades.

Ojika is a town in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, comprising 17 islands, six of which are inhabited. The area is within Saikai National Park and known for over 20 surrounding volcanoes, earning it the nickname "Eastern Galapagos Island." The main island's circumference is about 34 km, with all islands totaling 97 km. Archaeological finds date back to 10,000 B.C., and Ojika was first mentioned in the Nihon Shoki. Historically, whaling was prominent around 1600, especially by the Oda family, whose former home now serves as the Ojika History Museum.

The Ikitsuki Bridge is a continuous truss bridge that connects Ikitsuki to Hirado Island. Completed in 1991, it has a main span of 400 meters (1,300 feet).  It is the longest continuous truss bridge in the world.

Saga City lies in southeast Saga Prefecture and dates back to the Jōmon and Yayoi periods as part of ancient Hizen Province. The area was ruled by the Ryūzōji clan until Nabeshima Naoshige took control in 1608 under the Tokugawa shogunate. Originally focused on water transport and agriculture, Saga grew into a castle town with thriving commerce and industry. Its location near Nagasaki helped it become a center for Western science and technology and play a key role in the Meiji restoration.

Fukuoka is the capital of Fukuoka Prefecture and a major city in Kyushu, Japan. Located on Hakata Bay, it has been an international trade hub since ancient times due to its proximity to mainland Asia. The area has been inhabited since the Jomon period and became prominent during the Yamato period, developing a unique local culture and dialect distinct from other Japanese regions. Today, Fukuoka is the most populous city on Kyushu, surpassing Kitakyushu, and is the largest metropolitan area west of Keihanshin. It was designated a government ordinance city in 1972, and by 2015, it became Japan’s sixth-largest city, overtaking Kobe and Kyoto in population size.

The Kanmon Bridge, part of the Asian Highway Network AH1, is a suspension bridge crossing the Kanmon Straits between Honshū and Kyūshū. Opened to traffic on November 14, 1973, and linked to the Kyūshū Expressway in 1984, it spans 1,068 meters (3,504 feet), making it one of the world’s 50 largest suspension bridges.

Kitakyushu, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, is the region’s second-largest city with about 940,978 residents as of June 2019. Established in 1963 from several merged municipalities around Kokura, it sits at northern Kyushu, opposite Shimonoseki across the Kanmon Straits. The two cities are linked by the Kanmon Bridge and multiple tunnels. Kitakyushu comprises seven wards and is one of three designated cities in Kyushu.

Our Kyushu tour will stop at the following airports.

•        RJFG - Tanegashima    
•        RJFM - Miyazaki
•        RJFK -  Kagoshima
•        RJDA - Amakusa
•        RJFU -  Nagasaki (Asobo Enhanced)
•        RJDO - Ojika
•        RJFS -  Saga
•        RJFF – Fukuoka (Asobo Enhanced)
•        RJFR – Kitakyushu (Asobo Enhanced)

The route is 425nm and an aircraft capable of 200+ knots will be needed.

Once again, I plan to fly the World Update 20 Japan Local Legend NAMC YS-11 in the All Nippon Airways (Mohican) livery.  I have included a camera.cfg with custom cabin wing and engine views for the YS-11.  The default Saab 340 would be a comparable commercial transport option.  As always you are free to fly what you like.

Recommend Departure time of 3:00 PM

Particulars:

•        Date and time: Saturday November 8, 18:00 UTC    
•        RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel
•        MFS Multiplayer: US Eastcoast Server

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!