What’s the best of Kyushu?
What’s the best of Kyushu?
Kyushu is situated southwest of Japan’s main island Honshu, and is a train ride of 2.5 hours from Osaka and 5 hours from Tokyo. Because most first-timers only stay in Japan for a maximum of 2 weeks and want to see highlights like Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Nara with maybe a trip to Hiroshima, Kyushu is often reserved for repeaters. If you, however, like to veer off the beaten track you will love Kyushu. Let us share with you what we think is the best of Kyushu!
Including Kyushu in an itinerary
Because of its out of the way location you will need to do some planning and make choices for your Japan itinerary, depending on how much time you have. You can choose to take only the train or airplanes and trains. Just taking the train is by far the cheapest option, as you can buy a JR pass and travel unlimited for 1, 2 or 3 weeks.
Let’s assume you have 2 weeks in Japan, and that it is your first visit. The route that would make most sense would be to arrive in Tokyo, move on to Kyoto, then Osaka, then Hiroshima, and then your next stop would be Kyushu. These are some ideas for routes:
Pottery and history: Fukuoka – Karatsu – Nagasaki
Impressive nature: Fukuoka – Beppu – Aso – Takachiho
Traditional Japan: Fukuoka – Yame – Kumamoto – Kagoshima
Flying back home from Fukuoka would be a good idea if Kyushu is your last stop in Japan.
Best of Kyushu ‘s north
Fukuoka: in this port city you don’t want to miss an evening of tasting Japanese street food in yatai food stalls. Island Nakasu is the best place to experience Japan’s street food culture in Kyushu, where you can try traditional delicacies such as yakitori, Hakata ramen, and oden. A trip to Dazaifu is also highly recommended, this is a pretty historic town with a famous shrine.
Karatsu: anyone who loves ceramics should add Karatsu to their itinerary. This small castle town has its own brand of pottery called Karatsu-yaki which is famous for its quality and design. You can visit a large pottery gallery for free, and there are also various hands-on workshops available. The famous Yobuko morning market is also well worth a visit with a great selection of what the locals love for sale almost every morning until noon.
Beppu: if your body is sore from the long trip, Beppu will cure all your ailments. Situated in a highly volcanic area, more spring water is produced here than anywhere else in Japan. This means that there is a great variety of onsen hot spring baths, each of which has its own health benefits. You should also try the sand baths, cooking your food with onsen steam, and see the Hells of Beppu with their interesting colors.
Best of Kyushu ‘s middle
Nagasaki: while Nagasaki is most known for its Atomic Bomb museum, there is more to this cosmopolitan harbor city. Because of its history as one of the few places where foreigners were allowed to trade during the Edo Period, there are several places relating to this interesting past. Dejima is the best example of this, as well as the Oura Church. And don’t forget to save half a day to visit Gunkanjima, the deserted island that resembles a battleship. The abandoned buildings have an eerie atmosphere and are therefore loved by urban explorers.
Yame: small city Yame is located in the green surroundings near Mt. Aso, and it is known as one of Japan’s best tea producers. Gently rolling hills covered with tea plantations is a famous vista in Yame. The town is also known for its high-quality artisanal products such as stone lanterns, washi (Japanese paper), and bamboo crafts. There are several workshops available around tea and crafts.
Takachiho: one of the most impressive natural landscapes in Japan can be found in the Takachiho Gorge. Forested steep cliffs surround a river that boasts several large waterfalls. You can see the spectacular landscape from above, but the best way to discover the gorge is by boat. The town is also strongly connected to the origins of Shinto religion, as a famous story about the Sun Goddess took place here.
Mt Aso: with its last eruption dating back to 2016, it is easy to tell Mt Aso is an active volcano. This means that a visit to the mountain could be disrupted by volcanic activity just like in Hakone, but don’t let that stop you from including a visit! The surroundings are stunning, and especially the grassy green fields of Kusasenri are very photogenic.
Best of Kyushu ‘s south
Aoshima: one of Japan’s most interesting geological formations can be found on the coast of small island Aoshima. It is called ‘the devil’s washboard’, as it does resemble an old-fashioned washboard. There’s a love shrine on the island, and a pleasant beach is nearby.
Kagoshima: full of samurai history, Kagoshima is a must-visit for history buffs. There’s a landscape garden that belongs to the famous Shimadzu clan which looks out over the bay and Sakurajima, a still-active volcano.
Yakushima: for an otherworldly experience, you should visit small island south of the Kyushu main island called Yakushima. Large parts of this island are covered with beautiful old cedar trees, some of which are over 1000 years old. Due to plenty of rainfall, the island is lush and green. The forests have a mystical atmosphere, and tourists love hiking here. It does indeed remind one of a Ghibli movie!
Amami Oshima: this subtropical island is an unspoiled paradise for those who love nature, beaches, and discovering the ocean life. It is a great destination for snorkeling and diving, and you will feel like you’re away from it all.
Tours in Kyushu
We also offer a few day tours in Kyushu that are done by enthusiastic, knowledgeable locals. In Karatsu, we have a tour that concentrates on pottery, and in Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and Fukuoka we do highlight tours. On these tours, you will see all the best spots of the city while the itinerary is flexible and can be adjusted according to your interests.
