JAPAN Holidays recently hosted a group of travel agents on a famil with the participants travelling from Osaka to Kumamoto via the new Sakura Shinkansen.
The Kumamoto region offers history, culture, sightseeing and fresh food with Japan Holidays creating self drive programs using Toyota Rent Cars with English navigation systems to the region.
Gonkanosho is located within the Kumamoto region and is where The Last Samurai film starring Tom Cruise was based.
Visitors to the area can choose to stay in Minshuku style accom with families who were direct decedents of samurai to really get a feel for the destination.
Japan Hols is offering packages to the region for tourists, see japanholidays.com.au.
Pictured above at a former Samurai residence located near Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto from left are: David Ballingall, Jetset Ballina; Tracy-Ann Pascoe, Milton Travel; Sonia Jones, Travel Associates; Anthony Luxton, Japan Holidays; and Sue Basedow, MTA.