Kyushu

Onta is a small village in Oita, Kyushu. They produce pottery with traditional techniques without using electric power. Strolling along the old street and visiting a few workshops to watch how they produce pottery is a great way to enjoy this town.

For history, activities in nature, and a balmy climate, Kagoshima is the place to go. Having always been more open to foreign influences, you can still find plenty of proof of that in local culture and Kagoshima’s historical buildings.

Karatsu Castle, Takatori’s Old Residence, wild natural scenery, and pottery beautiful in its minimalist simplicity are just some of the attractions that Karatsu in Kyushu, Japan has to offer. Find out what to include on your Karatsu itinerary!

The small island of Aoshima on the southeastern coast of Kyushu, Japan, is a little pearl of nature. Its most famous attraction is the ‘Devil’s washboard’ formation, but there is more to be seen here.

People flock to Kurokawa Onsen near Mt. Aso for one reason; to soak in natural hot springs with the best views. The location is secluded and a bit remote, which makes it easy to completely refresh yourself by just being in this small town for an overnight stay.

Yufuin is an onsen town located near famous hot spring city Beppu in Kyushu. People travel from far to come to Yufuin to enjoy the tranquil scenery, natural outdoor hot springs, beautiful ryokan accommodations, and several art museums. Yufuin also has some very pretty streets in the fairytale-like Yufuin Floral Village and Edo-style Yunotsubo Street.

Yame is a small town near Fukuoka in Kyushu that is famous for its high-quality tea. Tea from Yame is the 6th largest brand in Japan, and it is well-known for its superior flavor and aroma.

Arita and Imari are small towns that are located in Saga Prefecture. They have been known as towns of pottery for about 400 years.

Yoshinogari is an important archaeological site located on the plain of Saga Prefecture. By visiting this site you can get a rough image of a Japanese village of about 2,000 years ago.

Dazaifu City is located about 15km south-east from the center of Fukuoka City. Dazaifu Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine and the most important place in this city.

One of the most impressive and curious places in Nagasaki is the Sanno Shrine because the main torii (gateway to the shrine) maintains only one pillar. How did this happen?

The Suwa shrine in Nagasaki was founded in 1614 as a way to expel the Christian faith from the region. During the Edo period, Nagasaki was one of the few places where there was contact with foreigners.

Although Shimabara has been plagued by (man-made) disasters in its history, it is a nice town to visit when you are traveling through Kyushu. The upside to being in a seismically active area is that there are many hot springs to be found.

In Nagasaki, very close to where the epicenter of the explosion of the atomic bomb was, is the Atomic Bomb Museum. Here, you can learn about what happened in 1945, and why this should never happen again.

One of the most emotional places in Japan is the so-called Peace Park. It is located in Nagasaki, a few minutes’ walk from the atomic bomb museum and it commemorates the victims of the atomic bombing.

Around 1549, Christian missionaries started arriving in Japan. They usually came from countries such as Spain and Portugal, and their objective was to spread the word of the church.

The city of Nagasaki is especially known for having been bombed with an atomic bomb during WW2. This fact overshadows its long history as an ancient point of contact with the Portuguese and the Dutch.

Josaien was built to resemble a castle town of feudal time close to the Kumamoto Castle. The complex boasts a history museum, souvenir shops, and restaurants with local foods.

Kokonoe Yume Tsuribashi is one of the longest suspension bridges for pedestrians in Japan with a length of 390 meters. It is located in the mountains of Oita Prefecture in Kyushu and boasts amazing views!

There are lots of attractive places on the Kunisaki Peninsula in the northeastern part of Oita Prefecture in Kyushu. Because the peninsula is not easy to access, its towns, shrines, and temples have retained their original atmosphere.

Usa Jingu is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan with its foundation in the 8th century. It is located at the entrance of the Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita, Kyushu.

Takachiho is a town that is located on a mountain in the northern part of Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu. The Takachiho Yokagura is a traditional dance that has been performed by local men for a long time.

In the deep forests of Kyushu, there’s a village named Takachiho, which is where you can find the famously beautiful Takachiho Gorge. It is easy to imagine how ancient myths originated in this area.

I’m a local guide who was born and raised in Kumamoto, which is located on Kyushu island in the southwest of Japan. In April 2016, a big earthquake of magnitude 7.0 hit my hometown.

Mt Aso is the biggest active volcano in Japan and one of the largest calderas in the world. Some of the most unique views of the world can be seen when you hike in the environment of this mountain.

Kumamoto Castle is a Japanese castle located in Kumamoto City, the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture. It is regarded as one of the three best castles in Japan together with Himeji and Nagoya castles.

Beppu is located in the central part of Oita, on the coast of Beppu Bay in Kyushu. It is one of Japan’s most famous onsen resorts, and you can see and experience some unique hot springs here.

Kitakyushu City is a non-touristy, industrial city in the north of Kyushu. There is still something to see though; Kokura with Kokura Castle and Moji with Moji Port where you can find retro buildings are interesting areas.

Tanegashima is an island that is part of Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu. The headquarter of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is located here, and there are beautiful beaches and mangroves.

Sakurajima is an active volcano and former island in Kagoshima, in the south of Kyushu island. How does the volcanic activity influence the region?

Fukuoka has plenty of things to offer to tourists; a thriving nightlife and many shopping opportunities, traditional shrines and historical sights, and Japanese festivals.

Yakushima is a subtropical island off the southwestern coast of Kyushu. It is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan’s oldest living trees called Yakusugi that became a World Natural Heritage Site.

Hita is a city in Kyushu that attracts tourists with its beautiful old town with 200-year old houses, a float festival, and traditional ceramics. See what this off-the-beaten-path destination has to offer.

After taking a bite, the gentle flowery flavor of the sake Hananoka burst in my mouth, just as the name is translated as ‘the fragrance of flowers’ in English.