Our final driving leg concludes today, bringing us from the geothermal steam of Beppu back to the urban embrace of Fukuoka on Christmas Eve. The schedule is strategic: a necessary deposit of luggage at the hotel followed by the early return of our rental car at the airport, mitigating any possible delay before our Christmas Day departure. Shedding the responsibility of the road marks the quiet conclusion of our demanding driving adventure. With a mixed sense of relief and nostalgia, we exchange the car key for the train ticket. Now, mobile and lightened, we look forward to one final, relaxed afternoon of celebratory lunch and essential city shopping.