Getting into Japan was a bureaucratic nightmare since COVID, not only did we need a visa obtained before we left Australia - costing $130 each but we also needed to download an app MySOS within three days before arriving. This asked for much the same information but was more concerned with our health mind you they didn't ask that we take any tests since we have been fully vaccinated.
We arrived into Osaka at about 9:30pm and armed with the visa and MySOS we passed through immigration and customs with no problems.
We were met by Takako who was also meeting a couple flying in from Australia. We were only five on the tour, initially only with Takako since Owen decided he wouldn't join us until a week later when the visa requirement was lifted.

Spent the next day travelling on the train to Kumamoto where we stayed two nights at an excellent hotel Blossom. Very new and very close to the station. The town is famous for its castle which I have seen before so Leith and the others went whereas I stayed and enjoyed the hotel. The castle has been renovated since it was damaged in an earthquake in 2016

The highlights of the next few days were the the sunset Orange dinner train from Sendai to Izumi, lovely tourist train with excellent four course meal served at tables in the train.
While staying in Nagaski we took trains (7 of them in one day) to and from the western most railway station of Japan then a taxi to Hirado to visit the restored Dutch Trading Post . This was established by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the early 1600's and the warehouse built 1639 however the Japanese forced it to be demolished in 1640!
It was restored at vast expense in 2011 with 20. 000 large sandstone blocks, and huge 48 cm square pinewood pillars  imported from Canada.

Leith and the group spent a day exploring the Goto Islands. These are where the early Christians in Japan built their churches unbeknownst to the authorities around the 16th C. I had a rest day, did a walk around the hotel!

The Japanese love giving a train ride a theme. One such train is known as the A train since they play American jazz over speakers during the trip. A bit of an addition to looking out the window.

We stayed in a ryokan in Yufuin for a couple of nights with fabulous banquets on both nights.
It was a traditional ryokan in that we had futons which were rolled out each night.  We worked out that if we moved the futons close to the low tables we could use the table to help us get up and down and I could sit on to get dressed.. Ah, what travel is all about.

The second ryokan -this time with low beds- was at Ibuski the hotel was Hotel Hakusuikan.  Nearby was the Satsuma Denshakan museum which not only gave us an excellent western meal but has a fabulous collection of ceramics of the area.
Leith had a sand bath, this is where you lie in a trench on hot sand and have hot sand put on top of you with just your head sticking out (see Ibuski link). I had one the previous time we there. You stay buried for about 10 minutes and because of the weight of sand I could feel my heart beating - an odd sensation.

From the relative warmth of Kyushu - walking around in shirt sleeves we flew up to Sapporo to join the Autumn Leaves tour. The Kyushu trip was about 11 days.

This was quite an adventure since we had to get ourselves to the Hakata airport and fly on a local flight to Sapporo. All we had was a QR code on paper, however this got us on the flight.
Luckily our hotel in Sapporo was only about 15 mins  in the taxi. We had to double check since there are two Crowne Plaza hotels in Sapporo one in the city and the one we booked in by the airport. I was pleased when we got to the right one.