Kyushu

Volcanoes, onsen and tonkotsu ramen

Kyushu is Japan's third-largest island and the southwesternmost of its four main ones, divided into seven prefectures. Fukuoka is the main entry point, with an airport close to the city centre. From there you can reach volcanoes like Sakurajima and Mount Aso, the onsen resorts of Beppu and Yufuin, historic Nagasaki and the castle city of Kumamoto. Yakushima's ancient cedar forest is off the south coast. The island suits a trip of a week or more, using the Shinkansen along the west side and a hire car for the countryside.

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Island in Japan

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.8

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	9

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3/5

English is spoken at major hotels, tourist centres and transport hubs, but less so in rural areas. Most signage is bilingual in cities, but a translation app is handy for countryside or small towns.

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Last update: 20 Oct 2026

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Kyushu Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
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Read how our scores work

Excellent for volcano landscapes and hot springs. Hike volcanic parks, relax in famous onsen towns, explore historic castles and enjoy regional Japanese cuisine.

Place score

8.4

Best at:

Spirits

Volcanoes

Geothermal

Hot springs

Spotless

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

👩 8

Solo

❤️ 8

Couples

Japan – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	100 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A Type A: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Japanese Yen (JPY) £1 ≈ JP¥210
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities, with some shops still preferring cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is the norm, and tipping is unnecessary in most places.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is legal and commonly accepted, particularly during festivals and events.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas. Some restaurants may have smoking sections.

New Year (January)	One of the most important holidays, expect crowded temples and high prices. Plan ahead.
Golden Week (April-May)	The busiest travel time, expect high demand for accommodation and transport.
Obon (August)	A time to honour ancestors, many businesses close, and transport can be crowded.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire & Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, JapanTaxi, DiDi
Other:	Japan is a country of respect, so understanding local customs and etiquette is important. Public transport is efficient, but can be crowded during peak hours.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Kyushu, Japan

🌤️

Jan

🌤️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

⛈️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

🌦️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

☀️

Oct

☀️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	April - May, Nov.
Shoulder season:	March, July - Oct.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Climate varies within Kyushu: north (Fukuoka, Nagasaki) has colder winters, south (Kagoshima, Yakushima) is milder, and Yakushima is very rainy year-round

Typhoon season August to September, can cancel flights and ferries, especially to islands

Access near Mt. Aso and Sakurajima can be restricted at short notice due to volcanic activity

Don't miss

♨️ Relax in Beppu’s famous hot spring baths
🥾 Hike scenic trails at Mount Aso volcanic caldera
🕊️ Explore historic Nagasaki Peace Park memorial
⛩️ Visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and plum gardens
🍜 Savour Hakata ramen in Fukuoka city

You've been here?

Why travel to Kyushu?

The volcanic landscape comes first. Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes, smokes across the bay from Kagoshima. At Mount Aso you can look into the crater from the rim. The Kirishima range has hiking trails on peaks such as Mount Karakuni and Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki is a deep river canyon. Off the south coast, Yakushima is home to ancient cedars including the famous Jomonsugi. That same volcanic heat powers some of the country's best hot springs. Beppu is a cluster of eight hot spring areas with steam over the town. Yufuin is a quieter onsen town known for relaxing stays. Hot spring baths are a regular part of the trip almost anywhere on the island. The cities add history and food. Fukuoka is the northern hub, known for tonkotsu ramen and the yatai food stalls along the river. Nagasaki is a port city with a layered past. Kumamoto has a large castle and Saga is known for pottery. The Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival fills Fukuoka's streets each July. Kyushu rewards a week or more. Most visitors choose either the north (Fukuoka, Beppu, Yufuin and Nagasaki) or the south (Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Kirishima and Yakushima) rather than trying to cover everything in one trip.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 Fukuoka
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 underground.
2 Nagasaki
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.
3 Kumamoto
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.
4 Beppu
A hot spring city facing the bay on Kyushu's east side where steam rises from vents across the hillside. The colourful Hells, sand baths, public bathhouses and steamed food fill a full day or more in one compact area.
5 Yufuin Onsen
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.
6 Kitakyushu
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 harbour district and a pedestrian tunnel to Shimonoseki fit into a single day.
7 Kagoshima
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.
8 Yakushima
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.
9 Oita
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.
10 Amakusa
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.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Fukuoka Tower
2 Sakurajima
3 Kumamoto Castle
4 Mifuneyama Rakuen
5 Hells of Beppu
6 Mojiko Retro
7 Kagoshima Shrine
8 Kurokawa Onsen
9 Marine World Uminonakamichi
10 Nagasaki Peace Park

🎡Places for activities

1 Kurokawa-onsen
2 Itoshima
3 Phoenix Seagaia Resort Seagaia Convention Center
4 Communication Plaza of the Natural Steam Sand Bath Town
5 Mountain is Fuji, the sea is Seto Inland, and hot springs are Beppu

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Sakurajima
2 Takachiho Gorge
3 Mount Aso
4 Hells of Beppu
5 Kirishima-Onsen
6 Mt. Unzen
7 芥屋の大門 (Keya no Ōto)
8 Kujuku-shima Islands
9 Sanctuary Mountain Dragon

🛍️Shopping

1 Canal City HAKATA
2 AMU PLAZA
3 AEON MALL
4 Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
5 youme Town Beppu
6 tenjin underground Mall
7 Yatai Food Stalls
8 Marui

🍽️Eat & Drink

1 Hakata Issou Hakata Station East
Hakata Issou serves Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, with thin noodles in a foamy pork-bone broth. It is in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, northern Kyushu, about seven minutes on foot from Hakata Station; the restaurant began in Fukuoka.
2 Shikairo
Founded in 1899, Shikairo is credited with creating Nagasaki champon, noodles in a pork-and-chicken broth with seafood and vegetables. It stands on Nagasaki’s waterfront at Matsugaemachi, southern Kyushu, near Oura Church and Glover Garden.
3 Akaushi to Basashi Gugu Shimodori
Gugu serves Kumamoto akaushi beef and basashi, raw horse meat prepared in regional styles. It is in Shimodori, central Kumamoto City, central Kyushu, about three minutes on foot from Karashimacho tram stop.
4 Restaurant Toyoken
Toyoken is credited with creating toriten, Oita’s tempura-style fried chicken, in 1962. The Chinese restaurant stands in Ishigakihigashi, Beppu, northeastern Kyushu, about 20 minutes on foot from Beppu Daigaku Station.
5 Naokyan
Ogura Honten serves chicken nanban: fried chicken dipped in sweet vinegar and topped with tartar sauce. It is in central Miyazaki City, southeastern Kyushu; the dish originated in nearby Nobeoka, where the related Nao-chan restaurant began serving an earlier version.
6 Kurobuta no Yakata
Kurobuta no Yakata serves Berkshire black pork raised by its owner, including shabu-shabu, tonkatsu and its shabukatsu cutlet. It is in Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Kyushu, around six minutes by car from Kirishima-Jingu Station.

🎈Events

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival
Karatsu Kunchi Festival
Nagasaki Lantern Festival
Miyazaki International Street Performance Festival
Saga International Balloon Fiesta
Kumamoto Castle Festival
Kagoshima Ohara Festival
Fukuoka Asian Month
Miyazaki Aoshima Beach Festival
Beppu Fire Festival
Oita Bamboo Lantern Festival
Yakushima Nature Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Pick north or south Kyushu rather than trying everything.
The SUNQ Pass gives unlimited rides on highway and local buses across Kyushu for set periods.
Some scenic trains such as the Yufuin no Mori are covered by the JR Kyushu Rail Pass.
Two popular scenic drives are the Aso Panorama Line in Kumamoto and the Nichinan coast road in Miyazaki.

How to travel to Kyushu

Fukuoka Airport (FUK) is the main airport for Kyushu and is only a few minutes by underground from Hakata Station. It has flights from Tokyo in about two hours and from many other Japanese and Asian cities. Smaller airports at Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Oita and Miyazaki serve regional routes. By rail, the Sanyo Shinkansen continues from Osaka and Hiroshima into Hakata. Osaka to Hakata takes around 2.5 hours and Tokyo to Hakata about five hours. Hiroshima to Hakata is about an hour and the Kyushu Shinkansen continues south from Hakata. Hakata Port has ferries to South Korea and to many Kyushu islands. Crossings to Busan take from a few hours to overnight depending on the ship. By car, tunnels and a bridge connect Shimonoseki on Honshu with Kitakyushu.

Access summary

From Fukuoka Airport (FUK): Underground to Hakata, then shinkansen across Kyushu.
From Osaka: Sanyo Shinkansen to Hakata (Fukuoka), roughly 2.5–3 hours.
From Tokyo: Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen to Hakata, usually about 5–6 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Kyushu

Most visitors stay in a few bases rather than moving every night. Fukuoka is the easiest, with the widest choice of hotels around Hakata Station and Tenjin and fast transport to the rest of the island. Kumamoto, Nagasaki and Kagoshima are good bases for their own regions. For hot springs, Beppu and Yufuin have ryokan with their own baths plus public bathhouses. Rural areas around Aso and Takachiho have small inns and guesthouses. Yakushima has lodges and guesthouses mostly near the coast. Booking pressure peaks over Golden Week, Obon in August and during Hakata Gion Yamakasa in July. Autumn foliage weeks fill the onsen towns, so reserve early for those periods and for ryokan at weekends.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Fukuoka Gion

9.1

The Royal Park Canvas Fukuoka Nakasu

9.1

Hotel Forza Hakataeki Chikushi-Guchi I

8.7

Hotel Forza Hakata-Guchi

8.9

REF Kumamoto by VESSEL HOTELS

9.3

Hakata Excel Hotel Tokyu

8.7

Hotel Resol Trinity Hakata

8.9

Nishitetsu Hotel CROOM Hakata

9.0

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Kyushu

Trains and cars cover most of Kyushu and the best choice depends on the region.

Trains:
The Kyushu Shinkansen links Fukuoka with Kumamoto and Kagoshima and a separate line serves Nagasaki. Limited express trains reach Beppu and Yufuin. Scenic trains also run on the northern routes. JR Kyushu sells rail passes for the whole island or for the north or south only.

Buses and ferries:
Buses run within cities and between destinations, including long-distance highway buses. Ferries are useful for Sakurajima and Yakushima and run to timetables posted by the local operators.

Hire cars:
A hire car suits the countryside where trains are thin, such as Aso and Takachiho. Hire desks are at most airports and major stations. Many visitors combine the Shinkansen for long hops with a car or buses for the regions.

Food in Kyushu

Food in Kyushu is hearty and varies by prefecture. Seafood is a highlight along the coasts and izakaya dinners are common, while ryokan serve multi-course meals.

Fukuoka:
Fukuoka's tonkotsu ramen with a rich pork bone broth is the best-known dish on the island. Yatai stalls serve it alongside grilled skewers and other late-night food.

Nagasaki:
Nagasaki is known for champon, a noodle soup with a pork and seafood broth and plenty of vegetables. It's a filling bowl that's easy to find in the city.

Kagoshima:
Kagoshima has black pork and sweet potato shochu. The pork appears as shabu-shabu and cutlets with the shochu as a good match.

Saga:
Saga is known for its beef, which is served as steak and in grilled meat restaurants. It's a good option for a special dinner.

In the countryside, restaurants are fewer and close early, so it helps to check opening hours. Vegetarians will find limited choices in ramen shops and ryokan dinners where pork and fish stock are standard. Convenience stores and station shops cover quick meals.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-45 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 45% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-20 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to JPY) is 20% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£55	£130	£324
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£34	£90	£188
🍝 Food per day	£16	£32	£99
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£7	£37

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£12.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£4.80
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.70
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.20

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.20
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£23
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.80

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£13
🤧 Cold medication	£6
💇 Basic haircut	£8

Safety information overview

General safety

Kyushu is very safe, with low crime in cities and the countryside. The main risks are natural. Volcanoes including Sakurajima and Aso can restrict access when activity rises. Typhoons hit in late summer and autumn and heavy rain can cause landslides.

Health & Medical

Hospitals and clinics are plentiful in big cities such as Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki and Kagoshima, though English-speaking staff are limited. Remote islands such as Yakushima have only basic clinics. Volcanic gas near craters can irritate the lungs, so follow local warnings.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies. Shinkansen stations and big city centres largely have lifts and step-free routes. Castles and shrines involve stairs and gravel. Onsen towns like Beppu have steep streets. Rural areas and islands rely on cars or infrequent buses.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink across Kyushu, as elsewhere in Japan. Bottled drinks are sold at convenience stores and vending machines. Remote islands and mountain areas have fewer shops, so carry water on hikes in Yakushima and around Aso.