Coexisting with the active volcanoes, the island of Kyushu is rich in hot springs and natural beauty. Check out the steaming hot spring and bubbling waters of Beppu Onsen (Oita) and impressive volcanoes of Sakurajima Island (Kagoshima) and Mt. Aso (Kumamoto).
Prefectures : Fukuoka / Saga / Nagasaki / Oita / Kumamoto / Miyazaki / Kagoshima
Highlights
Fukuoka
Fukuoka city, the prefectural capital of Fukuoka prefecture, is the largest city in Kyushu and one of the ten most populous cities in Japan. Hakata ward is one of the central areas of Fukuoka city, famous for its Motsunabe (A famous hotpot food made from Beef or Pork offal) and Tonkotsu ramen. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is the most famous tourist attraction and more than 6,000 plum trees bloom magnificently in the spring.
Beppu and Yufuin Onsen
Beppu and Yufuin are two of the largest hot spring resorts in western Japan, where you can enjoy both hot spring and sightseeing. Beppu is famous for its Jigoku Meguri, where you can visit seven colorful hot springs. The average temperature is about 98 degrees, so you can’t go in - only looking! Learn to make the traditional bamboo crafts in Beppu, which is designated as Japanese traditional crafts. Yufuin is a town where you can enjoy the natural hot springs and also experience the arts in museums and galleries.
Yakushima
Yakushima is a subtropical island in Kagoshima prefecture, covered with a vast cedar forest. In 1993, part of the island was registered as a natural UNESCO World Heritage site, and many tourists explored the forest to see the historic cedars. It is also the largest spawning ground for sea turtles in Japan, and if you are lucky, you may be able to see them in the summertime.
More Destinations
- Saga
- Saga Prefecture is famous for its traditional ceramics made in the cities of Arita, Imari, and Karatsu. The archaeological site Yoshinogari Park is also a classic place where you can learn about the history of Japan's Yayoi period. Yobuko town is famous for its squid, and you can taste the freshly caught and lively dancing squid at the port.
- Miyazaki
- Takachiho Gorge, located in Miyazaki prefecture, is known as a legendary area in Japanese mythology. It is also famous as a power spot surrounded by its beautiful nature. You cannot miss the boat ride experience at Takachiho Gorge. It also has a comprehensive resort facility where you can enjoy surfing and outdoor activities.
- Nagasaki
- Nagasaki has an important history of being called “the trade gateway”. The Glover Garden exhibits the mansions of former foreign residents, and the Nagasaki Peace Park is a memorial park for the atomic bomb dropped in 1945. Sasebo City is also home to one of Japan's largest amusement parks Huis Ten Bosch, which recreates the streets of a Dutch town.
- Kumamoto
- Surrounded by mountains, Kumamoto prefecture offers hot springs and local specialties. Mt. Aso is an active volcano with one of the world's largest calderas with a circumference of over 100 km, and its active crater is a popular tourist spot. Kumamoto Castle is one of the largest and most complete castles in Japan, also a spot where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring.