Overview

Places of interest in Kyushu

Overview
1 Yakushima
Ancient cedars, mossy forest and waterfalls
8.8
A mountainous subtropical island off southern Kyushu, home to one of Japan's first natural World Heritage sites and cedars thousands of years old. You can hike mossy ravines, see waterfalls and watch sea turtles come ashore in early summer.
Highlights:
  • 🐒 Spot Yakushima macaques and deer along forest trails
  • 🌳 See Jomon Sugi, Japan’s legendary 7,000-year-old cedar tree
  • 🌲 Hike through the ancient cedar forests of Shiratani Unsuikyo
2 Kurokawa Onsen
Riverside bath hopping in a Kumamoto valley
8.8
Highlights:
  • 🏮 Enjoy seasonal lantern festivals lighting the village
  • 👘 Stroll the charming streets in traditional yukata robes
  • ♨️ Use the wooden pass for onsen hopping across baths
1 Kurokawa Onsen
POI
3 Yufuin Onsen
Lakeside onsen town below Mount Yufu
8.4
A small hot spring town in a mountain basin below Mount Yufu with a misty lake, small art galleries and a busy lane of shops and snack stalls. Ryokan with private open-air baths fill the quiet streets nearby.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Take a morning walk around tranquil Lake Kinrin
  • 🛍️ Stroll along Yufuin’s picturesque Yunotsubo Kaido shopping street
  • 🛀 Bathe in a private open-air onsen with mountain views
1 Sanctuary Mountain Dragon
POI
4 Fukuoka
Kyushu's biggest city, known for yatai and ramen
8.4
A city on Kyushu's north coast, formed from a samurai castle town and a merchant port. It's known for evening yatai food stalls, Hakata ramen and an airport only five minutes from the main train station by subway.
Highlights:
  • 🌸 Explore Fukuoka Castle ruins during cherry blossom season
  • 🌅 Stroll through Ohori Park’s lakeside paths at sunset
  • 🍜 Slurp tonkotsu ramen at the original Ichiran stall
2 Fukuoka Tower
Tower
1 Canal City HAKATA
Shop
2 AMU PLAZA
Department Store
1 Itoshima
Place
3 tenjin underground Mall
POI
3 Marine World Uminonakamichi
Aquarium
4 Yatai Food Stalls
Way
2 芥屋の大門 (Keya no Ōto)
Viewpoint
5 Marui
Department Store
5 Beppu
Steaming hot springs and colorful Hells
8.1
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Try a traditional sand bath at Beppu Beach Sand Bath
  • 🌋 Watch the spectacular steam vents rise at Umi Jigoku
  • ♨️ Bathe in the famous Beppu hot springs known as “onsen hells”
6 youme Town Beppu
Shopping Mall
3 Hells of Beppu
POI
4 Hells of Beppu
POI
2 Mountain is Fuji, the sea is Seto Inland, and hot springs are Beppu
Artwork
6 Aso-Kuju National Park
Giant caldera, active volcano and highlands
8.1
A volcanic national park on Kyushu covering one of the world's largest calderas and the Kuju mountains across Kumamoto and Oita. You can look into an active crater, ride horses over open grasslands and soak in hot springs.
Highlights:
  • 🐎 Ride horseback across the grasslands of Kusasenri Plateau
  • 🥾 Hike the Kuju Mountains for sweeping views of lush valleys
  • 🌋 Peer into Mount Aso’s active volcanic crater and feel the heat
4 Mount Aso
Volcano
5 Shirakawa Spring
Aso spring that feeds Kumamoto's river
A spring in the southern Aso caldera where roughly 60 tons of {{temperature:14}} water emerge every minute. It feeds the river through Kumamoto City and visitors can fill bottles with spring water at no charge.
Highlights:
  • 💧 See crystal-clear water bubble up from the spring
  • ⛩️ Visit the quiet Shirakawa Yoshimi Shrine beside the spring
  • 🌋 Drive across the Aso caldera for views of Mount Aso
7 Oita
Monkeys, hot springs and Otomo history
7.9
A port city on Kyushu's east coast beside Beppu, known for wild monkeys at Mt. Takasaki and Otomo clan history. Hakata is about two hours away by the Sonic train. Beppu's hot springs are a short ride away.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Stroll the charming streets of Yufuin and visit its art galleries
  • 🌋 Explore the surreal steaming pools on the Beppu Hells tour
  • ♨️ Relax in Beppu’s famous and therapeutic hot springs
8 Nagasaki
Peace memorials, trade history and harbor views
7.9
A hilly port city on Kyushu's west coast that was Japan's window to Europe for two centuries and suffered the second atomic bombing in 1945. The peace memorials, the Dutch trading island and the trams are all close together.
Highlights:
  • 🌄 Take in panoramic city views from Mount Inasa
  • 🏛️ Explore historic Glover Garden and Western mansions
  • ☮️ Visit the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park
5 Mifuneyama Rakuen
POI
7 Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
POI
6 Kujuku-shima Islands
Archipelago
6 Nagasaki Peace Park
Park
9 Kagoshima
Volcano views, samurai history and black pork
7.7
A port city on Kagoshima Bay with the smoking Sakurajima volcano just across the water. Samurai history, a Shimazu clan garden, black pork and hot sand baths are all within easy reach by tram, ferry or train.
Highlights:
  • 🌄 Watch city and volcanic views from Shiroyama Observatory
  • 🌋 Take ferry to active volcano Sakurajima and explore trails
  • 🏯 Tour Sengan-en garden with views of Sakurajima volcano
7 Sakurajima
Volcano
7 Sakurajima
Volcano
8 Kagoshima Shrine
Place of Worship
8 Kirishima-Onsen
Railway Station
3 Communication Plaza of the Natural Steam Sand Bath Town
Park
10 Kumamoto
Castle city with horse sashimi and Mt. Aso
7.6
A castle city in central Kyushu with a rebuilt keep, an Edo-period garden and a mascot bear named Kumamon. The Shinkansen from Fukuoka takes about 40 minutes while Mt. Aso's giant caldera makes a good day trip.
Highlights:
  • 📚 Meet Kumamon, Kumamoto's famous bear mascot, at Kumamon Square
  • 🌿 Stroll through the serene Suizenji Jojuen Garden
  • 🏯 Explore the historic Kumamoto Castle grounds
9 Kumamoto Castle
Historic Castle
11 Amakusa
Hidden Christian sites and wild dolphins
7.5
A chain of more than 120 islands in western Kumamoto Prefecture, linked to mainland Kyushu by bridges. Hidden Christian fishing villages and about 200 wild dolphins living offshore are two good reasons to make the crossing.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Relax in the seaside hot springs of Amakusa Onsen
  • ⛪ Visit Sakitsu Village and its historic Catholic church
  • 🐬 Spot wild dolphins on a cruise around Amakusa’s waters
12 Unzen Onsen
Volcanic hot spring town with steaming hells
7.4
A hot spring town high on Mount Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture, set among steaming volcanic vents and sulfur-rich baths. The Unzen Hells walk starts at the edge of the village and a ropeway nearby goes up toward the peaks.
Highlights:
  • 🍱 Relax among mountain scenery and enjoy local onsen cuisine
  • 🔥 Wander through the dramatic Unzen Jigoku “Hell Valley” geothermal area
  • ♨️ Soak in Unzen’s steaming sulfur hot springs in a traditional ryokan
9 Mt. Unzen
Volcano
13 Takachiho
Rowboat gorge and shrines of Japanese myth
7.1
A mountain town in northern Miyazaki Prefecture where a narrow river gorge and a set of shrines are tied to Japan's founding myths. Visitors can row beneath Manai Falls by day and watch sacred kagura dance at night.
Highlights:
  • ⛩️ Visit Amano Iwato Shrine, said to be the cave of the sun goddess
  • 🛶 Walk through the mystical Takachiho Gorge and row a boat on its river
  • 🕺🏻 Watch the Takachiho Kagura night dance performance at Takachiho Shrine
10 Takachiho Gorge
Viewpoint
14 Kitakyushu
Castle, retro port and steel heritage
7.0
A port city at the northern tip of Kyushu, a short Shinkansen ride from Fukuoka and across the strait from Honshu. Kokura Castle, a restored early-1900s harbor district and a pedestrian tunnel to Shimonoseki fit into a single day.
Highlights:
  • ☕ Discover retro streets and cafes in Mojiko Retro District
  • 🌉 Watch the Kanmon Bridge light up at dusk from Mojiko
  • 🏯 Visit Kokura Castle and stroll through its scenic gardens
10 Mojiko Retro
POI
15 Miyazaki
Coastal shrines, gorge rowboats and surf
7.0
A warm prefecture on the southeastern coast of Kyushu with surf beaches, shrines tied to Japan's founding myths and the deep Takachiho Gorge. Mangoes and charcoal grilled chicken are local favorites. Flights from Tokyo take around two hours.
Highlights:
  • ⛩️ Toss a lucky stone at Udo Shrine’s seaside cave
  • 🛕 Visit Aoshima Shrine on its tiny subtropical island
  • 🚣‍♂️ Paddle a rowboat through scenic Takachiho Gorge
8 AEON MALL
Shopping Mall
4 Phoenix Seagaia Resort Seagaia Convention Center
POI
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