Enjoy! Kyushu Column
◆Let's experience the charm of Kyushu and make your trip to Kyushu more fun, comfortable and enjoyable!
Kyushu offers a wide variety of attractions, including "history and traditional culture," "mythology," "nature," "food," and "contact with local people," and is full of tourist attractions that visitors can enjoy.
In this article, we will provide information on sightseeing facilities recommended by travel professionals, information on experiences that are unique to Kyushu, and information on travel services to make your visit to Kyushu more enjoyable and comfortable.
Choose from the area you want to see
Kyushu Island
Located in the southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu has some areas with a tropical climate and many islands with beautiful seas and scenic beauty, including Amami Oshima.
There are many famous sightseeing spots with dynamic nature, including Yakushima, Mt. Aso, and Takachiho, as well as many other places where you can enjoy various activities.
And within Kyushu alone, there are areas that range from tropical climates to areas where it snows, offering many variations from beautiful beaches to viewing mountain village omagura (Shinto music and dance) in the snow.
There is also a wide variety of World Heritage sites and attractions related to history, culture, and traditions, and each prefecture is full of its own unique and fascinating sights.
Blessed with abundant nature, Kyushu is also a treasure trove of culinary delights, from fresh seafood, brand-name beef, and seasonal ingredients to local delicacies, as well as nationally famous sake and imo-shochu.
Just as many golfers visit Kyushu, it takes only one and a half hours to fly from Korea to Fukuoka and about three hours by high-speed ferry.
In addition, there are airports in all prefectures in Kyushu, and it takes only two hours from Fukuoka to Kagoshima by Shinkansen bullet train.
We hope you will add this rich Kyushu region to your travel destinations, tour all the prefectures of Kyushu, and enjoy the bounty of Kyushu's various regions.
Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture is known as the gateway to Asia for its delicious food, rich history, traditional culture, and its location.
Fukuoka's culinary culture is a unique and delicious fusion of its fresh local ingredients and traditional cooking techniques.
Delicacies such as Hakata ramen, cod roe, motsunabe, and udon noodles have spread by word of mouth, attracting many tourists from Japan and abroad.
Historically, Fukuoka has been a trading center since ancient times, where many cultures have gathered and mingled.
Its historical buildings, such as the ruins of Fukuoka Castle and Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, leave a deep impression on visitors.
Culturally, Fukuoka is known for its traditional crafts, such as Hakata textiles and Hakata dolls.
These crafts epitomize Fukuoka's exquisite craftsmanship and aesthetic sensibilities.
Fukuoka Airport is only a 5-minute subway ride from Hakata Station, and is known as the "Gateway to Asia" for its world-class accessibility, attracting many tourists from both Japan and abroad.
We invite you to experience its rich food, deep history, and vivid traditional culture.
It will surely be an unforgettable experience!
Saga Prefecture
It is located in the southwestern part of the Japanese archipelago and in the northwestern part of Kyushu, bordering Fukuoka Prefecture to the East and Nagasaki Prefecture to the West.
Saga Airport has direct flights from Haneda and Narita, and it is easily accessible, taking about 40 minutes by train from JR Hakata Station to Saga Station. Therefore this area is recommended for casual excursions.
Facing the Ariake Sea and Genkai Sea, you can enjoy fresh seafood such as squid.
The prefecture is also famous for its sake breweries, and there are many of them in the prefecture, which are crowded with people during spring ``sake brewery tourism.''
In addition, there are many other attractive attractions such as hot springs rich in health benefits, festivals, traditional pottery, and historical sites.
Please come and enjoy the charm of Saga, which is rich in history and traditional culture.
Nagasaki Prefecture
Located in the Northwestern part of Kyushu, Nagasaki Prefecture is surrounded by the sea and offers scenic beauty.
It has many remote islands and peninsulas. Approximately 40% of the total area of the prefecture is an "island." It has the largest number of islands in Japan, and the second longest coastline in the country.
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With a history and culture that has flourished as a window for exchanges with foreign countries while accepting foreign cultures, there are many places of interest, such as Dejima and many historical sites of Christianity."
Nagasaki is home to two World Heritage sites, and is also known as a place of world peace. It is a unique area where visitors can enjoy the culture and landscape that straddles the line between modern and historical.
Many tourists also visit facilities famous for their illuminations and fireworks.
Nagasaki is also known as a treasure trove of culinary delights, including freshly caught seafood and brand-name beef, and is blessed with beautiful nature and abundant food and tourism resources, making it an attractive prefecture.
Kumamoto Prefecture
Located almost in the center of Kyushu, you can access Fukuoka and Kumamoto in about an hour using the Kyushu Shinkansen.
Kumamoto is located in the Aso district, where you can see up close the spectacular view from Daikanbo, the violent white plume of the Nakadake crater, and the dynamic landscape. It also includes the Amakusa district, where you can run around the coast of Amakusa and meet wild dolphins. There are many recommended activities to enjoy while enjoying the rich nature of the mountains, sea, and rivers, such as the Hitoyoshi area where you can experience the Kuma River rafting. It alsoo has a history of over 100 years.
Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan's three most famous castles, is currently open to the public as a ``special public'' tour, and is a must-see tourist spot.
You can also experience wearing a kimono, so we recommend trying it out as part of your Japanese cultural experience.
Please come and meet Kumamoto Prefecture's PR mascot character Kumamon.
Oita Prefecture
Oita Prefecture, located in the northeastern part of Kyushu, boasts the highest number of hot spring sources in Japan and the amount of hot springs flowing out.
Onsen Prefecture is home to many hot spring areas, including the nationally famous Beppu Onsen and Yufuin Onsen.
Oita Prefecture has Mt. Nakadake of Kyushu's highest peak, the Kokonoe Mountains, in the western part of Oita Prefecture, Mt. Sobo in the southern part, and the coastal area faces the Seto Inland Sea, so you can enjoy the mountains and fresh seafood all year round.
In addition to hot springs and food, there are many tourist spots that make use of history and nature, such as the national treasure Usuki Daibutsu and historical explorations on the Kunisaki Peninsula, where unique Buddhist historical sites remain, and many tourists from Japan and abroad visit. .
Please come and enjoy the charm of Oita, Onsen Prefecture.
Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki, a tropical country located in the southeastern part of Kyushu, has a warm climate throughout the year and has one of the highest number of sunny days in the country.
This prefecture is ideal not only for sightseeing trips but also for sports training camps.
In addition, Takachiho, located on the border of Kumamoto Prefecture, is a nationally famous tourist destination as a place connected to Japanese mythology, and there are many shrines that enshrine gods and places that are said to be the setting of myths, such as Amanoiwato and Tenyasu Kawara.
Manai Falls is located in Takachiho Gorge and has been designated as a national scenic beauty and natural monument.
The illuminations in the summer and the changing leaves in the fall delight visitors.
Food is one of the joys of traveling.
The prefecture is a paradise for gourmets, with products such as Miyazaki brand beef, Miyazaki local chicken, ripe mangoes, and Miyazaki shochu.
There are also plenty of golf courses, so we recommend planning a trip and sightseeing at Aoshima Shrine, a power spot known for its matchmaking benefits.
Kagoshima Prefecture
Located at the southernmost tip of Kyushu, Kagoshima Prefecture is full of attractions that can only be experienced in Kagoshima.
Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of activities, such as exploring ancient forests on the World Natural Heritage site of Yakushima, enjoying the southern paradise of Amami Oshima and other remote islands and beaches, experiencing unique hot springs such as the sunamushi hot springs on the coast, feeling the spirit of Satsuma samurai in samurai residences, and experiencing traditional culture and crafts such as Satsuma cut glass.
You can also look forward to food which is nurtured in a rich natural environment.
Fresh seafood from the southern seas, local brand kurobuta (black pig) and imo-shochu (sweet potato shochu) are just a few of the delicacies that can only be enjoyed in Kagoshima.
In addition, Fukuoka and Kagoshima are easily accessible via the Shinkansen bullet train, which takes only 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Whether you wish to be impressed by the spectacular scenery, healed by the hot springs, or simply enjoy a tropical resort, a visit to YOKATOKO Kagoshima will surely satisfy your needs!
