Three nights between Beijing and Fukuoka

When in Kyushu make sure to try basashi, horse meat sashimi. A local delicacy that is quite tasty.

What will you be visiting on your Road Scholar tour? I'm assuming Nagasaki will be part of that? If not, that's what I would recommend.

More in the central part of Kyushu, there's Kumamoto and Mt. Aso. I spent 2 nights there, one day dedicated to Kumamoto and another to Aso/surrounding area. There's a lot of nature/hiking stuff you could do if that's your thing. You might have to rent a car though, again depending on what you want to do.

I wanted to visit Kagoshima in the south, but didn't have time. I don't know if 3 days would be too much though. Again depends on what you want to do. But's it's conveniently connected on the Shinkansen line with Fukuoka.

Thanks for the tips, James.

The Road Scholar tour doesn't go anywhere close to Nagasaki. It really just covers the northern part of the island and the focus is nature and smaller towns and villages. So I will definitely give Nagasaki some serious consideration.

The tour is hiking every day, so I'm probably not looking for more hiking in those free days.

And Slate, thanks for the advice. I'll make note of basashi; however, even though I consider myself an adventurous eater, I'm struggling with the thought of eating horse.

Well, Lane, I don’t have any advice but I’m following this as I will also be in Fukuoka on a Road Scholar tour - but we end our tour there. I think I’m missing you by a couple of weeks…we get to Fukuoka on the 15th of December.

I second the recommendation of Nagasaki. Kagoshima would be another outstanding choice (depending on your interests). Both are an easy train ride up to Fukuoka.