Tastes of JAPAN KYUSHU

Activity

Roadside Station Miyajidake Kakashi-no-Sato

The Miyajidake district of Shimoshima Island in Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, is a quaint countryside famous for a fun spring festival called the Kakashi (Scarecrow) Festival. At the newly opened Roadside Station Miyajidake Kakashi-no-Sato, visitors can shop for Amakusa's specialty produces and enjoy soba noodles and other local cuisine. The quaint scenery of the farming village evokes a feeling of nostalgia as the smiling scarecrows welcome you.

Experience

Amakusa Cultural Exchange Hall

The Amakusa region consists of 120 large and small islands in the southwest of Kumamoto Prefecture. It is a scenic area surrounded by the sea and is also known for being home to hidden Christians back when the religion was banned. The Amakusa Cultural Exchange Hall was built in 1935 and is a valuable Western-style building designated as a registered tangible cultural property of Japan. While preserving its cultural value, the building is now maintained as a place for learning and exchange for e…

Culture

Roadside Station Sakitsu

Roadside Station Sakitsu is located in Sakitsu Village of Amakusa, a component of the World Cultural Heritage site of Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region. The station offers guides to Sakitsu Church and exploring the historic village, as well as panels displaying the history of Christians in Sakitsu and Imatomi. There is also a shop selling local products and a bicycle rental service (200 yen per day).

Shopping

Roadside Station Ariake

This roadside station is in Ariake, a gateway town into Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture. Ariake is famous for its octopus production, and the station’s restaurant and product center offer a host of ways to enjoy the local specialty. Try the Takomeshi (octopus rice) and Takotendon (octopus tempura over a bowl of steamed rice) at the restaurant, as well as the giant Takoyaki called Bikkuri (surprise) yaki at the product center. How about an octopus mobile strap as a souvenir? There is also an adjace…

Activity

Roadside Station Amakusa Dolphin Center

Amakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture is a group of islands of varying sizes surrounded by the beautiful, blue ocean. The Roadside Station Amakusa Dolphin Center is an information station for Amakusa dolphin watching, located in the northern part of Shimoshima, the largest island in Amakusa. The resourceful facility includes a reception desk for dolphin watching tours, a virtual reality (VR) area to experience watching wild dolphins, a seafood restaurant and a local specialty products shop.

Shopping

Roadside Station Ushibuka Kaisaikan

Roadside Station Ushibuka Kaisaikan is located in Ushibuka, the southernmost point of Amakusa, with excellent access next to the ferry terminal of Ushibuka Port. The shop offers various products such as nerimono (fish paste products) and dried fish made from locally caught seafood. At the restaurant, visitors can enjoy dishes made from fresh local ingredients such as sashimi rice bowls amidst a scenic natural setting of the surrounding islands and sea and a regional landmark, Ushibuka Haiya Bri…

Shopping

Roadside Station Ukiha

Roadside Station Ukiha is in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture, along National Route 210. Blessed with a temperate climate, Ukiha is renowned for its production of delicious fruits. Roadside Station Ukiha offers fresh fruits and vegetables in season. Peruse the market for a host of local produce that comes in every morning, and then enjoy dining at the restaurant serving sumptuous dishes of seasonal ingredients. The popular roadside station ranked first in customer satisfaction in the roa…

Food

KAPATERIA Café

JR Tanushimaru Station has an adorable kappa design exterior based on the legend of the famous mythical creature in Tanushimaru, Kurume City. Inside, visit the KAPATERIA, a fun cafe serving delightful kappa-motif sweets and meals. Sit at one of the seats overlooking the platform, and enjoy the view of the huge Welcoming Kappa on the platform against the backdrop of the beautiful Minou Mountain Ranges as the trains leisurely pass by. Also, visit the information desk inside the station for the la…

Shopping

Jibasan Kurume

Jibasan Kurume is a souvenir shop offering various products from the Kurume area in Fukuoka Prefecture. At the JR Kurume Station store, you can purchase Kurume’s local sake, ramen noodles, Chikugo udon noodles, and sweets, as well as traditional crafts such as Kurume-Kasuri textile and Rantai lacquerware. Try the Yakitori Omusubi, a tasty rice ball made with local ingredients, available only at the JR Kurume Station store. The store is also close to a tourist information center, so stop by for …

Food

Kurume Ramen Alley

Tonkotsu ramen, popular for the savory pork marrow soup, is now a standard dish across Japan, but it is not so well known that Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture is its birthplace in 1937. To master tonkotsu ramen, let’s start by visiting the Kurume Ramen Yokocho!

Food

Usuki Fugu

Enjoy a wide variety of delicious fugu (pufferfish) dishes, from fresh sashimi to the fugu-chiri hot pot and smoky flavored hire-zake (hot sake with fugu fin). Fugu cuisine is one of Usuki's delicacies its merchants have cultivated over many years in this town that historically prospered from trade.

Activity

Yanagawa River Cruising

Located in the southern part of Fukuoka, Yanagawa is a castle town boasting over 400 years of history. When the castle was built, water-filled moats were also constructed throughout the town to protect the castle, which gave rise to Yanagawa’s reputation as the city of water. Today, it offers a leisurely tour that cruises down a 4-kilometer-long stretch of these moats that lasts about an hour.

Culture

White-walled townscape of Yoshii

Ukiha City is located in southeastern Fukuoka on the border with Oita Prefecture. The center of the city flourished as a post town along the Bungo Kaido road from the 17th century, producing a great number of wealthy merchants. This history still lives on in the streets lined with traditional buildings with white plastered walls known as the “dozo” style built by these merchants, which makes the town ideal for a stroll.

Culture

Ukiha Inari Shrine

Located within Jyogahana Park in Ukiha City in Fukuoka, Ukiha Inari Shrine welcomes you with a long line of vermillion torii gates running along the steep slopes of the mountainside. As you ascend the steps under the gates lining the approach to the shrine, a stunning view awaits. If the weather is good, you can spot Harazuru Hot Springs and mountainous terrain in the distance.

Accommodation

Chikugogawa Onsen

Located on the riverfront, Chikugogawa Onsen is a hot spring famous for its benefits. Besides relieving rheumatism, gout and nerve pain, the waters make your skin feel silky smooth. Chikugogawa Onsen is thus known as a hot spring for “bihada,” or beautiful skin. Chikugogawa Onsen has been listed as a National Hot Spring Health Resort for its fine-quality hot spring waters.

Culture

Port of Miike

Located in Omuta City in Fukuoka, the Port of Miike opened in 1908 and had served as the loading port for coal and provided foundations for Japan’s modernization. Miike is the only port in Japan boasting the same lock system as the Panama Canal. Still operating, the port lets you learn about Japan’s modernization.

Culture

Miyanohara Pit and the Remains of Miike Coal Railway

Miyanohara Pit and the remains of Miike Coal Railway have been inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage list as part of the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution. The introduction of the Western-style linear coal mining technology gave way to increased production at Miike Coal Mine. Coal was transported via a dedicated coal railway from mining pits such as Miyahara Pit to the Port of Miike for shipment.

Culture

Birthplace of Hakushu Kitahara

Hakushu Kitahara is one of the representative poets in modern Japanese literature who gave the world numerous fine pieces of poetry, tanka poems, and lyrics of children’s songs which all Japanese people know. Born in Yanagawa, Hakushu spent the most formative years of his childhood in this beautiful city. Today, his birthplace serves as a museum where you can see his writings and personal belongings.

Culture

Homangu Kamado Shrine

Kamado Shrine in Dazaifu City in Fukuoka Prefecture is famous for the god of “Enmusubi” that brings good relationships and marriage, so the threads with a small charm sold at the shrine are popular as a love amulet. Officially named Homangu Kamado Shrine, it has been venerated for over 1,350 years not only as a deity who brings luck in romance but also helps the establishment of good relationships and ties with people. The Kamado Shrine sits at the base of Mount Homan, a sacred mountain located…

Culture

Kora Taisha Shrine

Kora Taisha Shrine that boasts the largest sanctuary in Kyushu region is a popular power spot in Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture. Appreciated as the god who wards off evil spirits as well as bringing various benefits such as life extension and longevity, people visit the shrine to buy “omamori” amulets or receive a “goshuin” stamp, which is a token of a visit. Formerly a National Shrine and regarded as the most important shrine in the Chikugo region, this prestigious shrine stands on 312-mete…

Culture

Mizuta Tenmangu Shrine and Koinoki Shrine

Appreciated as the god of good matches and love, Koinoki Shrine is scattered with its heart crest, including “ema” votive wooden plaques, love fortune-telling “omikuji” paper strips and heart-shaped porcelain amulets.

Accommodation

Tsuetate Onsen

A historic hot spring resort that dates back 1,800 years, Tsuetate Onsen boasts one of Japan's most abundant hot springs with a temperature of around 98 degrees Celsius. The famous steam bath said to have an even older history than soaking baths, takes advantage of the plentiful and high-temperature waters, and is enjoyed by lying down in a room filled with steam from the hot spring. It is a popular bath for its detoxifying and skin-beautifying effects.

Accommodation

Uchinomaki Onsen

Surrounded by the outer rim of Mount Aso, Uchinomaki Onsen offers a variety of scenery of the picturesque Aso area for every season. Blessed with around 80 spring sources, each ryokan inn and hotel provides a different type of hot spring, many of which are direct from the source without being diluted or heated. There are various popular dining and sightseeing spots in the area as well.

Accommodation

Yamaga Onsen

The hot spring of Yamaga Onsen is known for its skin-beautifying effects. The resort town evokes the atmosphere of Japan in the Edo period (1603-1868) when it prospered as a post town on the Buzen Kaido Road. There is much to see, such as the Yachiyo-za Playhouse built in 1910 and the Sakurayu Onsen bathhouse that was revived decades after its closure.

Accommodation

Kikuchi Onsen

Kikuchi Onsen is a hot spring resort located in the northern part of Kumamoto Prefecture in the Kyushu region. Legend has it that a white dragon appeared amid the cloud of steam and gave a prophecy that led to the hot spring's discovery. Also known as a hot spring for beautiful skin or make-up-applied skin, the pleasant alkaline spring is also abundant in volume. Kikuchi Onsen is selected among the 100 best hot springs in Japan as an excellent resort for recuperation and relaxation.

Accommodation

Hinagu Onsen

Hinagu Onsen is a seaside hot spring town in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto. Famous as the hot spring beloved by renowned haiku poet Santoka Taneda, the townscape of stone-paved streets and ancient board-fenced buildings evoke its 600-year-old history. Explore the tangled streets and feel nostalgic as you encounter many retro shops.

Accommodation

Hitoyoshi Onsen

Hitoyoshi Onsen flourished as the castle town of the Hitoyoshi domain and preserves its picturesque historic townscape to this day. Along the Kuma River, there are many ryokan inns where you can enjoy the abundant hot spring from over 50 sources in the area. The weak alkaline carbonate spring water is known for its soft, moisturizing texture. There are also over 20 public baths in the city, still serving as popular places for gathering and relaxation for the residents.

Food

Sun Western Farm Produce and Seafood Direct Sales Shop

Ideally located on the western side of the Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita Prefecture and surrounded by the Suo-nada Sea, Bungotakada boasts an abundance of fresh seafood. A seasonal specialty is the small shrimps such as Akaebi and Saruebi ("ebi" means shrimp in Japanese), which are caught in the nearby sea and brought directly to local fish markets.

Food

Juwari Soba Etsu Bungotakada Soba Noodles Shop

Bungotakada, located on the western side of the Kunisaki Peninsula, is known for its delicious Bungotakada soba noodles. A unique feature of this local specialty is that the season for newly harvested soba (buckwheat) comes twice a year. In particular, the crop acreage of Harusoba, the soba planted in the spring, is the largest in the country. This is a staple dish you should definitely try when visiting Bungotakada.

Culture

Former Second Residence of Lord Inaba of Usuki Domain

Usuki in Oita Prefecture was a castle town ruled by Lord Inaba. After the lord relocated to Tokyo in the late 1800s, the mansion was built in 1902 as a second residence for when returning to his hometown. Although the building was constructed in the modern era, it is a residence that retains the feel the age of samurai, and also features a beautiful stroll-type Japanese garden.

Food

Kunisaki Oysters

The most characteristic feature of Kunisaki Oysters, a brand of Pacific oyster grown in Kunisaki, Oita Prefecture, is their sweet and savory flavor with a surprisingly refreshing aftertaste. Each oyster is grown with the utmost care, cultivated separately by the single seed farming method from its birth to harvest. It is a premium oyster that is beautiful in appearance with a firm, palatable texture.

Food

Toriten, an emblematic local cuisine of Oita Prefecture

Toriten (Japanese tempura-style fried chicken), which originated in a restaurant in Oita City in 1962, is now the area’s emblematic local dish. Chicken coated in tempura batter becomes crispy and juicy when fried, and the flavorful taste is addictive when dressed with ponzu sauce and mustard.

Food

Shirataki Carp Cuisine

The carps in Ogi’s local specialty dish are exposed to the clear stream of the Kiyomizu River, which was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Remarkable Waters, for about a month without feeding. Doing so removes its distinctive smell and the flesh becomes firm with tasty fat in the winter.

Activity

Hyuga Sun Park Onsen, Ofunade-no-Yu

Ofunade-no-Yu is a natural hot spring ideally located overlooking the deep blue sea and uninterrupted sky. In addition to a market of Hyuga's regional produce and Shiosai restaurant offering delicious food at a spectacular location, the complex facility is also equipped with an auto campground, a ground golf course, and tennis courts.

Food

Sumiyoshihama Resort Park Oyster House

Morie Bay in Kitsuki is Oita's top oyster production area. During the in-season from November to February, in addition to buying local oysters, the beach becomes lined with shacks where you can grill and feast on fresh oysters. The rich, creamy oysters hot and fresh off the grill are definitely not to be missed! Savor the limited season specialty of Kitsuki.

Activity

Snow Peak Okuhita Campground

The highland's fresh air and gorgeous starry sky are the perks of staying at this campground located at an elevation of 950 meters. From sectioned sites complete with water and electricity to a hilltop site with an expansive view, or a reasonably priced un-sectioned site, Snow Peak offers great camping experiences for novices and veterans alike.

Food

Nakasu Yatai

Nakasu is an area with a great sense of history that has long flourished as an outlet of culture and information. It includes Kushida Shrine, which has always upheld Hakata's traditional culture, and Canal City Hakata, an entertainment spot that is home to the latest trends. As the sun sets, the yatai, traditional Japanese street food stalls, start to appear.

Experience

Yanagawa River Cruise

The origins of Yanagawa, a castle town of 109,000-koku (a koku is a measure of rice that was used to indicate the degree of power of a fiefdom in feudal Japan), are believed to lie in a castle built by the Kamachi Clan, which ruled Yanagawa from the Kamakura Period (1185 - 1333) and into the Sengoku, or Warring States, Period (c. 1467 - c. 1600). However, Yanagawa Castle was not built in earnest until the Edo Period (1603 - 1868). The street grids and moat grids of the town are almost exactly as they were during the Edo Period, to the extent that it is said that you could walk the streets using a 300-year-old map of the town. Explore the moats and roam the streets of the town as you enjoy the streetscapes of the Edo Period. A highlight of Yanagawa is the river cruise. Listen to the boatman's explanations of the sights and his boat songs as you cruise for about 4 kilometers through the moats for about an hour and ten minutes. There are more than 200 of these boats, called donko-bune, so you can see them plying the waters from almost any vantage point in the town. You might even see a boatman washing his donko-bune.

Accommodation

Shimoda Onsen

Shimoda Onsen is located just inland from the west coast of Amakusa, an area famous for its beautiful sunsets. The water in the hot spring baths is sourced entirely from the source spring and is said to be beneficial for healing cuts and for recovery from exhaustion. It has a long history, with the first hot spring baths believed to have appeared here some 750 years ago. There is also a legend that the spring burst forth from a spot where an injured egret was soothing its wounds.

Culture

Yachiyoza

The Yachiyoza playhouse was built in 1910. Once open, it was used for various types of shows, entertaining audiences in the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras, but fell into decline as television became more popular. Subsequently, however, a local campaign to restore the theater resulted in its designation as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1988, and even today, it hosts a variety of performances.

Activity

Oseri Falls

Oseri Falls is one of Misato's most famous waterfalls. There are five lookouts on the walking path from which to view the falls, each offering a different spectacle.

Food

Oyster Hut Kakitei

Hososhima Port in Hyuga, Miyazaki, is a good natural harbor with a flourishing set-net fishing industry. This region overflows with the blessings of the ocean, boasting Miyazaki's largest catch of rock oysters. The port's unloading docks are bustling with fishing vessels landing their catches of fresh marine products. Here at Hososhima Port, amid the scents of the ocean, you will find the wonderful Oyster Hut Kakitei, a stylish eatery that serves freshly caught Hososhima rock oysters.

Activity

Unama Jizoson

Pass under the Niou Gate of Zenchoji Temple and climb the long, 365-step stone stairway to the peak of Mount Tetsushiro. The Unama Jizoson, a bodhisattva statue, enshrined here is said to be the work of the eminent Buddhist priest, Gyoki, who bowed in prayer three times each time he wielded his carving knife. Legend has it that Shogan, a priest of the Tendai school of Buddhism, who visited the Hyuga trail at the end of the Heian Period (794 - 1185), originally enshrined this sacred Buddhist statue as the main object of worship in a temple he founded in the Ichigi area of the Obara District, and that it was later relocated to the Jizo Hall on Mount Tetsushiro.

Activity

Mikado Shrine

Mikado Shrine, surrounded by a sacred forest, thick with giant trees. Said to have been founded in 718, the deities enshrined in Mikado Shrine include Oyamatsumi, Teika-O of Baekje, Hakuchi-O (the third prince of Baekje), Ukanomitama, and Emperor Ojin.

Activity

Nishi-no-Shosoin

Nishi-no-Shosoin, in the Nango District, is a faithful reproduction of Nara's Shosoin treasure house, built with 400-to-500-year-old Japan hinoki cypress trees. Its construction was based on the original drawings of Shosoin, whose removal from Shosoin's premises has always been forbidden. This was made possible with the cooperation of the Imperial Household Agency, the scientific assistance of the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, and the special permission of the Construction Minister at the time.

Activity

Ishitoge Lakeland

Ishitoge Lakeland in the Saigo District is a leisure complex on the shore of the Ouchibaru Dam. With its design concept of harmony with nature, it offers many experiences in the great outdoors for people of all ages to enjoy.

Activity

Nakagoya Astronomical Observatory

Nakagoya Astronomical Observatory in Misato in the Higashi Usuki District of Miyazaki is located on the Nakagoya Ridge at an elevation of approximately 1,000 meters. Due to its clear air and freedom from the effects of light pollution, it is the perfect spot for star-gazing. It was previously named the best star-gazing spot in Japan in the "darkness of the night sky" category of the National Continuous Star Observations that used to be conducted by the Japanese government.

Activity

Tashiro Shrine

Tashiro Shrine is located in the Tashiro area in the center of Saigo, Misato. The shrine is widely known for the Onda Festival, which takes place in July each year. The shrine's festival calendar, of which the Onda Festival is the central focus, begins with the Spring Festival on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar, in which peach blossoms and diamond-shaped mochi rice cakes are offered up to the gods, and ends on the final day of the Grand Festival in late November. On that day, a purification ritual is held in which the rice harvest is offered up to Kamado-gami, the Kitchen God. These are important agricultural rites that richly convey this region's ancient rice culture.

Activity

Nango Onsen Yamagiri

Legend has it that the hot springs of Nango Onsen sprang from the mountains behind the shrine dedicated to the Kudara (Baekje) royal family on the day of the noborimashi (the visit by Isaga Shrine to Hiki Jinja in Kijo and the ceremonial welcoming bonfires at the torii gate) of the Shiwasu Matsuri, one of Misato's top three festivals.

Food

Hekohazushi Okoshi

The origins of the local traditional confection, Hekohazushi Okoshi, are said to lie in a production method that Mikuriya Shirozaemon I, a merchant in the bustling post town of Matsubarajuku on the Nagasaki Trail, was taught by a Chinese Zen priest in 1679. The 300-year-old traditions of this sweet snack, with its distinctive flavor and texture, have been upheld over the centuries, with some creative improvements made along the way.

Culture

Hara Castle Ruins

Hara Castle was the scene of the Shimabara Rebellion that took place about 400 years ago. One of the Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Hara Castle Ruins today attracts many tourists. With views of Amakusa across the sea, it is a highly recommended spot for viewing beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Experience

Matsubara Blades

In the early years of the Showa Period (1926 - 1989), the area had about 20 blacksmiths. Now there are just three. When Ito Kajiya, the head family that had produced Matsubara sickles for centuries, closed down its operations, it passed its traditions on to Tanaka Kama Kogyo in appreciation of the high standard of the latter's skills. In the hope of spreading the word about the existence of Matsubara blades to more and more people, Tanaka Kama Kogyo offers private lodging and conducts a hands-on knife-making experience. This experience is not just a small part of the numerous processes involved in knife-making, but the full experience.

Food

Omura Sushi

The lord of the Omura Clan most connected to Omura Sushi was Omura Sumikore, the 16th lord of the clan. The 19th lord, Omura Yoshiaki, built Kushima Castle in 1599. Located inside the grounds of Kushima Castle, which is also known as Omura Castle, is Umegae-so, a Japanese restaurant that was founded in 1894. Here, you can enjoy Omura Sushi in a casual atmosphere, or, with an advance reservation, partake in a meal of traditional kaiseki cuisine in a private room.

Activity

Tsutsuki Beach

The seven Tsutsuki beaches, with their stretches of white sand and green pine trees, are a group of beaches that represent Iki. In particular, Tsutsuki Beach is Iki's top beach, having been selected as one of Japan's top 100 swimming beaches and one of Japan's top 100 seashores. The beach of fine, white sand stretches some 600 meters, and its wide, shallow waters and gentle waves attract large numbers of swimmers every summer. It is adjacent to Tsutsuki Beach Fureai Park, which has a camping ground, barbecue area, tennis courts, and other facilities, making this area one of Iki's most popular summer destinations.

Culture

Nakaoyama Pottery Village

Hasami is known as a pottery town, and the area of Nakaoyama has a particularly high concentration of potteries. The village features many nostalgic scenes of yesteryear, including one of the world's largest climbing kilns, which made mass production of ceramics possible in the Edo Period (1603 - 1868), brick chimneystacks, and back alleyways. Experience first-hand the history of this pottery village as you tour its potteries and explore its alleyways. Every year, the town comes to life with the Cherry Blossom Festival in April and the Autumn Porcelain Tour in late October. The potteries open their doors to the public, walking rallies are held, and potteries sell their wares directly to the public. This kind of festival, in which makers and users can enjoy interacting with each other, is unique to production regions.

Culture

Hinoe Castle Ruins

The Hinoe Castle Ruins are all that remains of the castle of Arima Harunobu, a Christian daimyo (feudal lord) of the Warring States Period. Harunobu was the founder of the Arima Seminario, the first European secondary education institution in Japan. (A seminario, or seminary, is a school of Christian theology. The Arima Seminario was equivalent to today's junior high schools.) The members of the Tensho Embassy, a group of Japanese youth who were sent to Rome, were selected from this school. Artifacts that have been excavated from the castle ruins include porcelain and china ware, which are evidence of trade, and gold-leafed roof tiles, which indicate a connection with Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

Culture

Arima Christian Heritage Museum

Arima Christian Heritage Museum is a facility that tells the story of the Hara Castle Ruins, one of the Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in June 2018. The museum's exhibits present, in an accessible way, the course of Christianity in Japan, from the first introduction and flourishing of Western culture to the oppression and eventual decline of Christianity. They include videos that present historical facts and artifacts that have been discovered and excavated.

Activity

Torii-bashi Bridge

Innai in Usa, Oita, is famous for its stone bridges. The town has 75 stone bridges , including many arched bridges, more than any other locale in Japan. Several of these bridges, including Fujimi-bashi and Torii-bashi, were built by Shinnosuke Matsuda, a builder who was hailed as the king of stone bridges in the Meiji Period. They are a must-see not only for their imposing structures, but also for the sense of the passage of time they provide.

Activity

Mifuneyama Rakuen

Mifuneyama Rakuen, in Takeo-cho in Takeo-shi in Saga, is a garden that offers beautiful scenery in all four seasons, including the beautiful colored leaves of autumn and cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring. It also holds events such as night-time illuminations and digital art presentations, adding to the enjoyment of the gardens after dark.

Activity

Former Takatori Residence

The former residence of Koreyoshi Takatori, a prominent coal baron who owned Kishima Coal Mine and other mines.

Activity

Oura Terraced Rice Fields

Saga has a number of terraced rice fields. Some of those fields have been selected in the Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields of Japan. In particular, the terraced rice fields of Oura, which were added to that Top 100 list in July 1999, present a sight that is artistic in its beauty. The rice grown in these terraces is of high quality, blessed by quality water and sunlight. The terraces have been built on the slopes of a peninsula that juts out into the Genkai Sea. The curved ridges between the paddies create beautiful steps.

Activity

Autopolis Circuit

Surrounded by magnificent nature, “Autopolis” is well loved as Kyushu’s only international racing circuit. The main course, with a total length of 4,674 meters, is one of the largest in the country. It is a space for all to see, participate in, and enjoy, used for everything from big races such as the Super GT, Super Formula, Super Endurance, and All Japan Road Race Championship, to sports drives for people who want to enjoy driving the circuit, and participatory events such as pushbike races a…

Culture

Hamawaki-no-Nagaya

Hamawaki-no-Nagaya is an accommodation facility created on the concept of “staying with art” by renovating an old nagaya row house that was built more than 100 years ago. Built in a nagaya row house that is more than 100 years old in the Hamawaki district of Beppu, Oita Prefecture, it has two rooms, "Tenku no Niwa" (Garden in the Sky) and "Shiroi Hako" (White Box), each of which has been designed in a different style. Both of these rooms offer special accommodation experience.

Activity

Oike Springs

The Oike Springs are located in the Asono district of Shonai in the city of Yufu in Oita’s central-south region.Even though they are not very far from the popular tourist destination of Yufuin Onsen and they have been selected as one of Japan’s best 100 waters, this is a hidden scenic spot known only by a few.

Activity

Sen-no-Iwa

Sen-no-Iwa, a rock formation formed from agglomerates, described as a representative part of the old Yaba scenery along with Mount Kyoshuho. In particular, Mount Kenga, the largest giant rock in the entire Yabakei Gorge, looks like a Sansui landscape painting.

Food

Tsuno Winery

Tsuno Wine, created in the town of Tsuno in Miyazaki Prefecture’s Koyu County. The Winery offers tours of the wine-making process and wine tastings, as well as meals at the cafe and wine-related events. There are various ways to enjoy Tsuno Wine, which is held in high regard around the world as well as in Japan.

Culture

Usa Jingu Shrine

Usa Jingu Shrine, a power spot of Oita Prefecture, is a shrine located in Minami Usa in the city of Usa, Oita Prefecture.

Activity

Otojima Island

An icon of the town of Kadogawa, "Otojima" is an uninhabited island in the middle of Kadogawa Bay. With a circumference of 4 km and the highest point of 80 meters above sea level, it looks just like the island from "Hyokkori-Hyotanjima", a popular Japanese TV puppet show. Here, we present Otojima, which is bound to stir up a spirit of adventure in anyone, child and adult alike, who steps foot on the island, along with information about the campground on the uninhabited island that is open for a…

Food

Teppanyaki Steak House Miyakichu

Miyazaki Beef, the epitome of Miyazaki Wagyu. It has won the Prime Minister’s Prize at the National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu three years running. Steakhouse “Miyachiku” in Shinbeppu Town, in the city of Miyazaki, is where you can enjoy Miyazaki Beef. Delicious wagyu beef, which has passed stringent criteria and received national recognition, is served in teppanyaki style.To be classed as Miyazaki Beef, the animal must be of the Japanese Black (Kuroge) breed, born and raised in Miyazaki P…

Activity

Beppu Onsen

In the city of Beppu in Oita Prefecture, eight hot springs, collectively known as the Beppu Hatto, are scattered throughout the city. They include Beppu Onsen, which has many inns nearby that allow non-staying guests to bathe during the day, and Kannawa Onsen, which is famous for the Kannawa Steam Baths. With so many hot springs in the same city, each with different scenery and hot spring water characteristics, you can enjoy all of their different offerings.Beppu has the largest number of sourc…

Culture

Takeo Onsen Bussankan

A recommended souvenir of Saga is a Yumino Doll, which you can paint yourself at Takeo Onsen Bussankan in the city of Takeo, Saga Prefecture. Round and colorful, these dolls are a traditional craft of Takeo. Their cute appearance, which is so nostalgic to look at, has a history of more than 100 years.Takeo Onsen Bussankan offers an extensive range of souvenirs of western Kyushu. As part of its new hands-on experience offerings, guests can now paint their own Yumino Doll. Take home a one-of-a-ki…

Culture

Kitsuki Castle Town

The Hiina Doll Festival of the Kitsuki castle town in Kitsuki City, Oita Prefecture, is a magnificent event. Various kinds of Hina dolls are put on display throughout the castle town, which has the air of a little Kyoto. The event is held from February to March every year. Only in Kitsuki can you see so many different Hina dolls in the 30 or so locations around the city. The Hina dolls on display include a precious set passed down from the Sano family, who were the local clan physicians, and do…

Food

Watatsumi Sushi Restaurant

Watatsumi Sushi Restaurant is located on the 3rd floor of "Miyazaki Bougainvillea Airport", the sky gateway to Miyazaki. From Ladies’ Sets to Seafood Rice Bowls and lettuce-wrapped sushi rolls, a Miyazaki original, to caviar and sturgeon meat sushi, the restaurant offers an extensive range of seafood to enjoy. It is the kind of place you can drop in for a casual bite while waiting for your plane.

Experience

Kouyaji Temple

Kouyaji Temple in the town of Kitagata in Takeo is a “Rhododendron Temple,” where 1,000 rhododendron bushes of 20 varieties bloom in April. Also known as “Shakunage Temple,” this unique temple also has a Shakunage Kannon statue, which casts away the misfortunes of worshippers, and Bokefūji Kannon statue, which is said to ward off dementia.This historic area was part of the Nagasaki Trail. It has many charms, including areas of beautiful flowers and delicious food offerings.Here, we introduce so…

Activity

Nagayu Onsen Walking Tour

Enjoy a walking tour of Nagayu Onsen, a hot springs resort town in the city of Taketa, Oita Prefecture. You will savor the wonderful feeling and health benefits of the hot springs, the abundance of nature, and a healthy lunch prepared with local ingredients, allowing you to make the most of all of the charms of an onsen town - hot springs, healing, health, and food.Nagayu Onsen, known as one of the world’s best areas of carbonated springs, is said to have major benefits in improving blood flow …

Culture

Ruins of Ryousenji Temple

Ryousenji Temple was known as the Seburi Senbo, a place where monks would undergo ascetic training. Monks from China came to Japan and trained there in the Nara Period (710 - 794). It is said that, in 1191, some 800 years ago, Eisai Zenji, the founder of the Rinzai School of Buddhism, completed his training in So (the ancient Japanese name for China) and brought home some tea plant seeds to use as a medicinal herb. He is said to have planted them in the Iwakamibo garden in the grounds of Ryosen…

Activity

Yufuin Onsen

Yufuin Onsen in the town of Yufuin in Yufu City, Oita Prefecture, is a hot springs resort town where you can enjoy the sensation of being at a health resort, either on a day trip or staying at a hot springs inn. The three hot springs of Yufuin, Yunohira, and Tsukahara have been designated as a Citizens Therapeutic Hot Springs Area, under the collective name of Yufuin Onsen.Yufuin Onsen, Yunohira Onsen, and Tsukahara Onsen each have their own unique characteristics. In addition to known as its h…

Culture

SELECT BEPPU

SELECT BEPPU is a curated shop opened in a renovated nagaya, or row house, that is more than 100 years old. On the 1st floor, there is a range of original products as well as works created by artists and artisans with connections to Beppu. The 2nd floor features a fusuma painting by Michael Lin, allowing visitors to come into contact with art in the everyday.

Culture

Hizen-Nagoya Castle Ruins

Hizen-Nagoya Castle in Karatsu City, Saga, was built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Today, the stone walls and ruins of the generals’ battle camps are all that remains of the castle. You can gain a history lesson at the adjacent Nagoya Castle Museum. The site is also famous for its cherry blossoms, attracting many visitors in the spring.

Activity

Former Karatsu Bank

The former Karatsu Bank in Karatsu City, Saga, is a building whose construction was overseen by Kingo Tatsuno. Kingo Tatsuno was a native of Karatsu, and the former Karatsu Bank is his only work remaining in his hometown.

Activity

Kyushu OLLE Ureshino Course

Hike the Ureshino Course on the Kyushu OLLE hiking trail in Ureshino City, Saga. For even more enjoyment of Ureshino Onsen, we recommend first working up a sweat with some hiking and trekking. When you grow tired from all that walking, nothing beats easing your aching feet in one of the foot spas. Kyushu OLLE is a series of trekking courses that offer the enjoyment of the beautiful views and delicious food of the various regions in Kyushu. Of all the Kyushu OLLE courses, the Ureshino Course is a course for more advanced walkers. Starting from Ceramic Town, where the art of ceramics has been passed down over many generations, you will walk alongside richly green tea fields and through natural forests, and finally enjoy the hot springs of Ureshino Onsen.

Activity

Takeo Onsen Tower Gate

Takeo Onsen, in Takeo Town in Takeo City, Saga, is a hot spring with a history stretching back 1,300 years. The symbol of those hot springs is Takeo Onsen Tower Gate. The gleaming vermilion and white Takeo Onsen Tower Gate is a structure that does not contain a single nail, built in an architectural style known as the Tenpyo style. Along with the Takeo Onsen Shinkan behind it, the Tower Gate is a designated important cultural property of Japan.

Activity

Hiryugama Kiln Workshop

Hiryugama Kiln in Takeuchi Town, Takeo City, Saga, boasts a climbing kiln with the largest capacity in the world.

Activity

Takeo City Library

Takeo City Library, in Takeo Town in Takeo City, Saga, was completely renovated into something that overturns the conventional image of a library, re-opening in 2013, with a cafe attached. The library’s interiors are bright and open, and you can enjoy a relaxing cup of tea while listening to the music that wafts through the spacious interiors. In 2017, the Takeo Kids’ Library opened next door. With many innovations that the whole family can enjoy, the library precinct has become a destination in itself.

Activity

Keishu-En

Keishu-En, in Takeo Town in Takeo City, Saga, is a garden that “borrows” the views of nearby Mount Mifune. It was created by Kinsaku Nakane, a famous landscape architect who was known as “the Kobori Enshu of the Showa Era.” The garden features beautiful tea fields, waterfalls, stone arrangements, and shrubbery.

Activity

Kyushu OLLE Takeo Course

"Kyushu OLLE", the sister version of the "Jeju OLLE" trekking course originating in South Korea, currently has 21 courses (as of July 2018).

Activity

Kyushu OLLE Karatsu course

Olle is trekking that originated in South Korea's Jeju Island, and the word means "narrow pathway that is connected from the street to the house's gate" in the original language of Jeju.

Culture

Onta Ware Village

In Onta Ware Village in Motoe-machi, Hita-shi, Oita, there are only 10 potters. The sound of the mortar that moves via the flow of the river has been selected as one of the protected 100 Soundscapes of Japan. In addition, at the Onta Ware Pottery Museum there are exhibits of materials and antique ceramics, and you can learn all about Onta Ware.

Culture

Bungo Mori Roundhouse

Bungo Mori Roundhouse is a railway yard formally used for steam locomotives in Bungo Mori Roundhouse Park in Kusu-gun, Oita. Inside the park there is a railway museum, "Roundhouse Museum," designed by Kyushu cruise train designer Mr. Eiji Mitooka, that provides fun for adults and children alike. Bungo Mori Roundhouse was completed in 1934 along with the opening of all lines of the Kyudai Main Line. It played an important role as a relay point between Kurume and Oita. At its peak, it had 25 steam locomotives that carried over 5,000 passengers per day. Kusu flourished as a railway town. Also, in wartime, it became a base for military transportation and was even strafed by the U.S. military. There are still bullet holes in the walls from that incident.

Activity

Heidi's Swing

The place known as "Heidi's Swing" on Mount Kirikabu in Kusu district, Oita, is recommend as a leisure spot! Enjoy the view from the "Observatory Rest Building" designed by industrial designer Mr. Eiji Mitooka, and meals, etc. at the 'Mori Food Truck'.

Activity

Fukino Waterfall

A rainbow on Fukino Waterfall in Usa city, Oita Prefecture! Visiting while the autumn leaves are at their peak is recommended.

Activity

Mount Tsurumi (Beppu Ropeway)

Beppu Ropeway goes up Mount Tsurumi, with an altitude of 1,375m. Mount Tsurumi is an active volcano located east of Aso-Kuju National Park, and it's also the source of the Beppu Onsen in Beppu City, Oita.

Accommodation

Amagase Onsen

The Amagase Onsen in Amagase-machi, Hita-shi, Oita, is a famous hot spring known for the Kawayu mixed bathing open-air bath. There are five mixed bathing open-air baths along the river, where the rising hot spring steam enhances the experience. There are many accommodations in place so that many people can enjoy hot springs, such as day-trip bathing and amenities in mixed bathing open-air baths so that women can use them with confidence. A variety of quality, abundant hot spring water. In the past, the hot spring water was so abundant that it was said, "If it's along the river there are hot springs everywhere." Even now, most of hot springs currently registered in the Amagase Onsen Ryokan Association are ones that can be enjoyed from the source.

Activity

Tadewara Marshland

The Tadewara Marshland is a basin-shaped wetland created through volcanic activity from around 15,000 years ago (during the last ice age) to 6,300 years ago (Holocene epoch).

Activity

Kyusuikei Valley

Kyusuikei is a ravine with sheer cliffs spanning around two kilometers on both banks of the Kusu River basin.

Activity

Ryumon Waterfall

This exciting, two-tiered waterfall is 40 meters wide with a drop of 20 meters. A scenic site designated by the national government, it is carved out of the Tsukushi Lava Plateau.

Activity

Higashi Shiiya Falls

A Designated Place of Scenic Beauty of Japan & chosen as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls, Higashi Shiiya Falls is also known as the Kegon of Kyushu for its resemblance to the famous Kegon Falls of Nikko.

Culture

The Kitsuki Historic Districts

The Kitsuki Domain was ruled by the Nomi-Matsudaira Clan in the Edo Period (1603-1867). Although only a small domain with an agricultural yield of just 32,000 koku, it was granted independent status and was ruled by hereditary daimyo. It supported its economic growth with shittoi.

Activity

Itogahama Seaside Park

The classic summer spot in Oita is Itogahama Seaside Park in Hiji-machi. It's a comprehensive leisure park centered on a shoaling beach area that's safe even for small children, as well as having an auto camping site, log cabins, tennis courts, and an athletic area where you can play baseball. SUP to enjoy a sea walk, a Beach Café Sunahama Shokudo where you can enjoy a meal while looking at the ocean, and a park golf course that is popular with adults and children alike.

Culture

Tenryo Hita mameda-machi

Built as a castle town when Mitsuuji Ogawa built Maruyama Castle in 1601, "Mameda-machi" became Tenryo (under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate) from the early Edo period, and prospered as the center of economic and cultural development in Kyushu. The grid townscape is full of old houses and museums, and this valuable district leaves a remarkable impression of the townspeople and merchant towns of the late modern period. For this reason, in 2004, it became part of the Nationally-selected Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings. As a sightseeing spot, there are about 100 shops, such as places to eat and shops selling various goods.

Activity

Yabakei

Yabakei (gorge) in Nakatsu City, Oita, holds the three titles of "New Three Views of Japan," "National Scenic Spot," and "Japan Heritage".

Activity

Yufu City Tourist Information Center

This is Yufu City Tourist Information Center, which opened on April 1, 2018.

Food

Ajimu Budoushu Koubou (Winery)

Ajimu Budoushu Koubou is where the popular Ajimu wine is made. Visitors can see how the wine is made, tour the vineyard, and enjoy tasting wines. Ajimu is situated in a basin and is shrouded in mist in the mornings because of the extreme temperature differences between day and night. Grapes started being harvested here since the 1960s, and a variety of types of grapes are being grown by taking advantage of this unique climate.

Activity

Takkiri Valley

Takkiri Valley, located in Innai-machi of Usa-shi in Oita, is where you can enjoy beautiful walks surrounded by nature as well as camping at the Takkiri Valley Camp Site.

Activity

Himeshima

Himeshima-mura is the only village in Oita and is also the only village on the island of Himeshima. This island is located five kilometers off the coast of Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita on the western edge of the Seto Inland Sea. It has a perimeter of 17 kilometers and a population of approximately 2,000. Himeshima has a long history, and is mentioned in such ancient texts as the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Ancient Japan). Himeshima-mura offers many charms, including the Seven Wonders of Himeshima for sightseeing fun, Himeshima Swimming Beach to enjoy the sea, delicious foods such as kuruma shrimp, and the Himeshima Blue Line for cycling along the shore.

Activity

Nagasakibana

Nagasakibana, located at Mime in Bungotakada-shi on the Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita, is where you can enjoy gorgeous views, relax at Nagasakibana Beach, enjoy camping in a camping trailer at the Nagasakibana Resort Camp, and more.

Activity

Chinda Falls

The Chinda Falls comprise two waterfalls: Odaki (male waterfall), which receives water from the main stream of the Ono River, and Medaki (female waterfall), which extends from Hiraigawa River, a tributary of the Ono River.

Activity

Harajiri Falls

Located on the Ogata Plain, Harajiri Falls are about 120 meters wide and 20 meters high. It seems as though the waterfalls appear out of the blue in the middle of the flat land. Seen from above, the falls are lined up in a beautiful arch shape and thus nicknamed the Oriental Niagara.

Activity

Kyushu OLLE Saiki Onyujima Course

Onyujima is a gourd-shaped, remote island located some 700 meters north-northeast from the city center of Saiki. A part of this beautiful island belongs to the Nippo Kaigan Quasi-National Park.

Activity

Fujigawachi Valley

Fujigawachi Valley is a beautiful spot hidden in Ume, a secluded village in Saiki, Oita. Situated in the Sobo-Katamuki Quasi-National Park, the valley receives water from Mount Natsuki (a 1,386-meter-high mountain that sits on the border of Oita and Miyazaki. The valley starts at Kannon Falls and extends some eight kilometers.

Activity

Nakaenoshima Island

In June 2018, hidden Christian sites in Nagasaki and the Amakusa region became a World Heritage Site. It consists of 12 heritage sites, including the Hara Castle Ruins, Nakaenoshima Island, Kasuga Village, and Mount Yasumandake. Sacred places and the village in Hirado (Kasuga Village and Mount Yasumandake) are communities in which Christians secretly maintained their faith by adhering it to natural things such as mountains and islands amidst Japanese ancient nature worship. Religious items were handed down in rooms called the "Nando" of the teacher's house and worshipped at sacred places such as Mount Yasumandake on Hiradoshima Island and the Christian cemetery that existed before Christianity was prohibited. The sacred places are still worshipped at, thus maintaining the unique landscape of the era of the persecution of Christians in Japan.

Activity

Kyushu OLLE Hirado course

"Olle" originated from Jeju Island, South Korea, and the term originates from a Jeju word meaning "narrow alleyways leading from the street to the houses." On nature-rich Jeju island, the number of trekkers gradually increased and "Olle" has come to be known as a general term for a trekking course. It is now the premier trekking course in South Korea. The charm of Olle is in experiencing the coast and mountains with all your senses and enjoying the course slowly at your own pace.

Activity

Kyushu OLLE Minamishimabara Course

"Olle" originated from Jeju Island, South Korea, and the term originates from a Jeju word meaning "narrow alleyways leading from the street to the houses." It's a meaningful word in Jeju, but after being used to name trekking courses it became well-known throughout South Korea. The charm of Olle is that you can take your time and admire the scenery as you walk past such natural settings as coastlines and mountains as well as the alleyways of private houses.

Activity

Nita-Toge

At Nita Pass in Unzen-shi, Nagasaki, you can enjoy viewing autumn foliage and other seasonal scenery of the mountain from the ropeway. You can also feast your eyes on the magnificent views from the observation deck. It takes around 20 minutes by car to climb the 8.2-km-long Nita Pass ring road that meanders through the mountain. From the second observation deck just before arriving at Nita Pass, you can look out upon the entirety of Mount Heiseishinzan and the mountains of Unzen. You can also observe the remnants of the flow of debris and pyroclastic flow from the 1990 eruption of Mount Fugendake, which will really bring home the perils of nature. On days of good weather, you can also see Mount Aso across the water.

Activity

Unzen Hell

The main attraction of Unzen-shi, Nagasaki, is Unzen Hell. Feel the power of the volcano by experiencing the steaming foot bath or by trying Onsen Eggs, Onsen Lemonade, and more.

Activity

Omura Park

Spring is the most lively season in the rich natural world of Omura. Approximately 2,000 cherry trees burst into bloom in Omura Park, signaling the start of spring. The park is listed as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Cherry Blossom-viewing Sites. The trees are lit up during the Omura Flower Festival from March 25 to June 20 so visitors can enjoy the blossoms at night.

Activity

Kamigoto

Kamigoto (Shinkamigoto town) is located at the western end of Kyushu in southern Japan and the northern part of Goto in Nagasaki. Many of the 67 islands are designated as part of Saikai National Park. The beautiful nature and the sunset over the East China Sea are must-see sights.

Activity

Fukue Island

Goto City consists of 11 habited islands and 52 uninhabited islands, centered on the three islands of Fukue, Hisaka, and Naru. Each island, whose ancient existence lives on, has many crystal clear beaches with table coral, including Takahama beach, which is one of the "Select 100 Japanese Beaches". Marine sports such as fishing and diving can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons. The islands are also famous for camellia oil, which can be extracted from the camellia that grow naturally throughout the islands.

Activity

Tatsunoshima Beach Resort

It is said that there are 150 shrines registered in the Jinja Cho (Association of Shinto Shrines) within Iki-jima, including the Tsukiyomijinja, said to be the origin of the Tsukiyomisha at the Matsunoo-taisha in Kyoto. The Kojima Shrine, which can be reached only when the approach path appears at low tide, is attracting attention as a "power spot" where you can feel the mysteries of nature. Many visitors come to receive the shrine's Shuin (a seal stamp).

Activity

Shiiba-son

The village of Shiiba-son in Higashiusuki-gun, Miyazaki, is one of Japan’s three major hidden scenic spots. It has numerous sightseeing spots such as the Tsurutomi Yashiki residence and Shiiba Itsukushima Shrine. The warriors of the Heike Clan, who had fled to the area after their resounding defeat at the hands of the rival Genji Clan in the 12th century, sought refuge and lived in Shiiba-son. Tsurutomi Yashiki was the site of a tragic love story between Daihachiro Munehisa Nasu of the Genji Clan and Princess Tsurutomi of the Heike Clan. It is said that Shiiba Itsukushima Shrine was built in sympathy for the remnants of the once-mighty Heike Clan. Today, the shrine still watches over the village, answering prayers for traffic safety and protection against misfortune.

Activity

Okuragahama

Everyone from beginners to skilled surfers can enjoy surfing on the plentiful waves off the coast of Okuragahama Beach in Hyuga-shi, Miyazaki. It is also one of Japan's best surfing spots, with international surfing tournaments held year in year out. In September 2017, the beach became Asia's first venue for the World Junior Surfing Championship, where young athletes aiming for the Olympics from 41 countries and regions demonstrated their skills head to head in competition.

Culture

Tsuno Shrine

Tsuno Shrine in Tsuno-cho, Koyu-gun, Miyazaki enshrines the deity Onamuchi no Mikoto. Many visitors to the shrine come to receive blessed amulets and stamps.

Activity

Shimojo

Located in Oguni-machi, in Aso-gun, Kumamoto, Shimojo no Oicho is a giant Ginkgo biloba tree that is more than 1,000 years old. It is a sight not to be missed when lit up at night and when it is ablaze with its autumn colors.

Activity

Gokanosho

The opening ceremony of the Gokanosho Koyo Festival is held in late October, and the whole area of Gokanosho becomes a riot of autumn color. Every year, the colors start to appear from the higher altitudes of the mountain, and the spectacular scenery can be enjoyed until the end of November.

Activity

Kencho Promenade

The promenade that leads to the entrance of the Kumamoto Prefectural Office is lined with 54 Ginkgo biloba trees, which are at their most beautiful around mid-November.

Activity

Kikuchi Valley

The Kikuchi Valley is located in a corner of the Aso Kuju National Park in the northeastern part of Kikuchi city, and the subterranean river water springing from Aso somma is so pure that it could be selected as one of the Selected One Hundred Exquisite Waters of Japan.

Activity

Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine

One of the famous power spots in Aso in Kumamoto is the Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine. As you climb up the approach road, along which there are nearly 100 lanterns, you feel as if you’ve entered a different world. It also became famous as a setting in a popular manga, and many people visit from all over the country.

Activity

Amakusa, Sakitsu Village

"Amakusa, Sakatsu Village" is one of the constituent assets of the "Hidden Christian sites in Nagasaki and Amakusa region."
Even during the time of persecution, the faith was continued for more than 250 years by cultivating a unique form of belief using familiar things in daily life and business as religious items, such as revering the pattern inside of shells that resemble Mother Mary.

Activity

Mount Aso

Entry to Mount Aso's crater has been restricted since the mountain erupted in October 2016, but now the tourist route has been reopened. The First Crater of Aso Nakadake, one of the five peaks surrounding Mount Aso in Kumamoto, is one of the few tourist destinations in the world where you can experience volcanic activities up close. (The photo shows Kusa-Senrigahama, a National Place of Scenic Beauty and a Natural Monument.)

Activity

Oko Waterfall

Yakushima (Kagoshima Prefecture) is an island 360km south of Fukuoka, which is a small round shape and 90% covered in forest. In the center are mountains of over 1,800m above sea level, including Mount Miyanoura (1,936m), which is the highest peak in Kyushu, and features unique vegetation that changes as the altitude rises.

Activity

Kirishima-Jingu

Imagine yourself wearing a kimono and walking leisurely through the shrine believed to be the site where the grandson of the sun goddess descended in ancient days. This program, “Stroll through Kirishima-Jingu Shrine in a Kimono” is a great way to get away from your daily life and experience something completely new!

Shopping

Tenmonkan Shopping Street

Tenmonkan Street in Kagoshima-shi is known as the biggest and most thriving shopping street in Kagoshima.

Activity

Kinsakubaru Virgin Forest

In Kinsakubaru Virgin Forest in Amami-shi on Amami Oshima Island in Kagoshima, you will enjoy a unique walking experience and encounter exotic species.

Activity

Miyakozaki

Cape Miyakozaki was designated as the Amami Gunto Quasi-National Park in 1974 and then upgraded to a national park (category 3) in March 2017.

Activity

Yakushima

Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine is one of the World Heritage Site’s popular tourist destinations. Located 600 to 1,050 meters above sea level, it is designated as a national recreational forest for its abundant yaku sugi cedar trees.

Activity

Tanegashima Space Center

Visitors to JAXA Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane-cho can look around its facilities on their own or join a guided tour led by a full-time guide.

Activity

Cape Sata Observatory Park

Cape Sata in Minamiosumi-cho, Kagoshima, is situated on the southernmost tip of the island of Kyushu. Walking on the nature trail in Cape Sata Observatory Park for about 800 meters leads you to a point from which you can overlook the seemingly endless expanse of blue ocean. On a sunny day, you may see as far as the Iwojima, Tanegashima, and Yakushima Islands.

Activity

Ogawa Falls

To visit Ogawa-no-taki Waterfall, you need to walk through a nature trail from the parking lot. The waterfall is majestic at 46 meters high and 60 meters wide.

Activity

Koshikishima

Koshikishima Islands are a popular scenic spot in Satsumasendai-shi, Kagoshima, located some 30 kilometers west of Satsuma Peninsula.

Culture

Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residences

The Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residences in Izumi, Kagoshima, has many samurai residences preserved to give visitors a feel of the daily lives of samurai warriors from long ago. These residences and their surroundings constitute Izumi-fumoto’s unique historic townscapes.

Accommodation

Kirishima hot spring village

Kirishima is one of Kagoshima’s leading hot spring resorts, with many hot spring hotels and ryokan that let their overnight guests and day-trippers alike enjoy hot spring bathing.

Culture

Sego-don Mura Village

The Hinatayama Sego-don Mura Village now has a new addition a Saigo Takamori-themed inn. Situated in the Hinatayama Onsen Village, the inn’s building is modeled after the Ryuho Residence Saigo used to stay at when on vacation in the village, thus making it a historically important facility as well. Complete with a beautiful Japanese garden, this facility provides a new great tourist attraction.

Activity

Ibusuki Natural Sand Bath Center Saraku

Ibusuki Sunamushi Onsen sand bath is the world’s one and only natural sand bath. The health benefits of the sand bath are said to be three to four times greater than that of a regular hot spring. After taking a sand bath, your body and mind will feel completely detoxified and refreshed. This unique bathing experience involves putting on a yukata robe, lying down, and being buried in the hot beach sand, which is heated by the hot spring water bubbling beneath the coastline. After about 10 minutes in the sand, your whole body will be soaked with sweat. Nothing is more relaxing than listening to the sounds of waves as you lay by the sea with your whole body wrapped in the warming sand.

Food

Kagomma Furusato Yataimura

Some food stalls in Kagomma Furusato Yataimura are open for lunch, offering a variety of great-tasting local Kagoshima specialties at reasonable prices.

Culture

Hakata Traditional Performing Arts Centre

In November 2017, the "Hakata Traditional Performing Arts Centre" was launched as a new sightseeing spot to "touch" and "experience" Hakata's traditional culture in front of its guardian, the Kushida Shrine of Hakata. This facility also serves as the "Hakata Kenban Office/Rehearsal Hall."

Culture

Niji-no-Matsubara Pine Grove

Niji no Matsubara stands alongside Miho no Matsubara (Shizuoka Prefecture) and Kehi no Matsubara (Fukui Prefecture) as one of the three great pine groves of Japan. It is said to have its beginnings in pine trees planted along the beach on the shore as protection against the wind and tide by Terasawa Shima-no-Kami Hirotaka, lord of the Karatsu Domain, approximately 400 years ago.Today, approximately one million pines, mainly Japanese black pines, line a stretch of land extending 4.5 km from east…

Culture

Karatsu Castle

Karatsu Castle was built by Terasawa Shima-no-Kami Hirotaka, vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, over seven years starting from 1602. It is said that materials from the dismantling of Hizen Nagoya Castle were used when building the castle. The sands extending from the east and west of the castle look like the outstretched wings of a crane, earning it the alternative name "Maizuru (Dancing Crane) Castle". It is also a famous place for cherry blossom trees and wisteria.

Culture

Nanatsugama Caves

The Nanatsugama Caves are designated as a National Natural Monument. These picturesque caves were formed due to erosion from stormy waves of the Genkai Sea hitting the cliffs. The cliffs were deeply worn away. Nanatsugama literally means seven cauldrons, and just as the name suggests, seven caves line the cliffs. You will be struck with awe by the glory of nature.

Shopping

The Giant Camphor Park of Kawago

The Giant Camphor Park of Kawago is located in Wakaki Town, Takeo City. The most distinctive features about this park are the strikingly large Giant Camphor tree and the water wheel.In the adjacent Tametomo Hall, visitors can enjoy performances of karakuri puppets themed around local legends. There are also sales of vegetables harvested in Wakaki, processed goods, and “water wheel rice” that has been polished by the water wheel of the Giant Camphor Park.

Culture

Mount Kurokami Pottery Village

Mount Kurokami in Yamauchi Town, Takeo City is a famous place for mountain climbing, where a variety of interesting rock formations tower high.At the foot of the mountain, there is an area called Mount Kurokami Pottery Village where many potters create pottery in the midst of the beautiful scenery.There are also studios that have a café built in to their galleries, so you can stop for lunch as you stroll around the area!

Culture

Kunen-an

Kunen-an consists of the retreat of the successful Saga businessman Yataro Itami, built in 1892, and the 6,800 m2 garden built over nine years starting in 1900. The retreat has thatched gambrel roof and clay walls panelled with cedar wood, and there are benches made from madake bamboo in the surrounding gardens, imbuing the area with a truly rustic vibe. This is a building in the Sukiya architectural style (traditional tea house architecture), with painstaking attention to detail in everything …

Culture

Karatsu Kunchi Hikiyama Float Exhibition Hall

Karatsu Kunchi is the regular fall festival of Karatsu Shrine. It is the largest festival in Karatsu. In 2016, the float ritual of Karatsu Kunchi was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Karatsu Kunchi is held on the three days of November 2, 3, and 4. Fourteen dazzling floats and a musical group featuring flutes, bells, and drums are paraded around the old castle town.At the Hikiyama Float Exhibition Hall, you can see the 14 floats up close.

Culture

Obi Castle Town

Obi Castle Town is known as the little Kyoto of Kyushu, and was the first place in Kyushu to be designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. There are streets of samurai residences lined with stone walls said to closely resemble times gone by, moss-covered castle walls, and rows of Obi cedars. On the commercial street, you should try sampling some of the delicacies on offer, such as the famous "Obi Tempura" and "Atsuyaki Tamago", thick Japanese omelet.

Culture

Horikawa Canal

This canal was completed in the Edo period after two years and four months of challenging work. There is an arched stone bridge over the canal called Horikawa Bridge. It also functions as a pathway into the neighboring Ahiratsu Shrine. As well as this, there are buildings in the vicinity of the canal such as Aburatsu Red Brick Hall (a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property) with a Taisho-retro vibe.

Culture

Yunomiya Zaronbai

Yunomiya Zaronbai is a nationally designated as a Natural Monument in Shintomi Town, Miyazaki Prefecture. Zaronbai is quite an unusual-sounding word in Japanese, what led to this peculiar name? There are a few theories, and the leading theory holds that the name dates back to Edo period, when the Sadowara domain and the Takanabe domain disputed over the ownership of this garden. "Za" means “seated” and "ron" means “talked over”, people seat and talked over, leading to the name Zaronbai. It has …

Activity

Idenoyama Park

Rainwater that has fallen on the Kirishima mountain range over many years spurts forth as spring water in Idenoyama at a rate of 1t per second. In early summer, you can see the dance of genji-botaru fireflies at the spring waters of Idenoyama. The Ministry of the Environment chose Idenoyama as one of the 100 best waters of Japan, and designated the Idenoyama area as “Home to Local Creatures.” This was the first place in Japan to successfully raise artificially incubated sturgeons.

Accommodation

Ishikawauchi

Ishikawauchi in Kijo Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, is where the late literary master "Saneatsu Mushanokoji" created his vision of utopia: "Hyuga Atarashiki-Mura". There are many facilities that make use of the area’s abundant nature, allowing visitors to enjoy the mountains of Miyazaki Prefecture. Located around one hour by expressway from Miyazaki Airport, it also attracts many visitors from outside the prefecture.

Culture

Takachiho Shrine

Takachiho Shrine enshrines the deities of the other 88 main local shrines of Takachiho. Built approximately 1,900 years ago, the shrine has a long history. It enshrines deities of good harvests, marriage prospects, transport safety, and lifting of bad luck, and attracts many faithful. Huge trees tower over the shrine premises, such as the 800-year-old "Chichibu Cedar" and the "Couple Cedar", which is said to be good for fortune in marriage. "Takachiho Kagura" is also performed every night in th…

Activity

Osaki Nature Park

The Osaki Peninsula extends into the calm seas of Omura Bay, and the entire peninsula is designated as a Prefectural Nature Park. This is a great recreational spot, surrounded by beautiful seas and thick greenery.You can visit Osaki Peacock Park, where you can encounter around 200 peacocks, as well as try out marine sports and bathe in hot springs.

Culture

The 500 Arhats of Tokoji Temple

Tokoji Temple in Esuka, Usa City contains 500 arhat statues showing every expression—from delight, to anger, sorrow, and pleasure.Tokoji Temple was founded in 1362 under the Rinzai sect, but was mostly destroyed due to the effects of over a century of war and turmoil, with only its remnants left over. It is said to have been restored in the mid-17th century. The temple changed to the Soto sect, to which it has continued to belong right to the present day.

Culture

Taku Seibyo

Taku Seibyo is a Confucian Temple in the city of Taku, Saga Prefecture. It is a temple where the soul of Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, who is also known as the god of scholarship, is enrished. “Sekisai”, a traditional ritual event for consoling the souls of Confucius and his disciples, is held twice a year, on April 18 and the fourth Sunday of October. Shigefumi, the fourth lord of the Taku domain, founded the temple in 1708 to promote education and to nurture the spirit of “respect”. It is one of Japan’s three most prominent Confucian temple and has been described as the most grand.

Culture

Seikei Park

At Seikei Park in the city of Taku, Saga Prefecture, you can enjoy autumn leaves, cherry blossoms, azaleas, and other flowers and plants. Seikei Park, where you can enjoy the changes in nature throughout the year, as well as at the adjacent Taku Seibyo and Taku Shrine. Kanotei, a Registered Cultural Property of Japan, can be found inside the park. The park is adorned with color all year round, starting with the plum blossoms of early spring, the 400 cherry trees, azaleas, and the riot of autumn color in the fall.

Activity

Unoko Falls

Unoko Falls located in Gokase-cho, Miyazaki Prefecture, are a very popular sightseeing spot. The basin has an area of 5,000 m2 and the waterfall drops from the height of 20 m. Surrounded by oddly shaped rocks in a columnar joint formation, the basin of the falls has a unique landscape, looking like a round hole has been scooped right out of the mountain. Cascading powerfully down from among the thick vegetation, the falls are a mystical sight. There are two ways of viewing Unoko Falls, “the view from the basin” will impress you with the sheer power of the waterfall, while “the view from the top” also offers views of the surrounding scenery.

Activity

Gokase Highland Ski Resort

Gokase Highland Ski Resort is located in Gokase-cho, Nishiusuki-gun, in Miyazaki Prefecture, is a highly recommended skiing and snowboarding destination. Suitable for all levels, from expert skiers and snowboarders to children, the resort has features such as the Paradise Course (1,000 m), the Dynamic Course (650 m), and a family slope, snowboarding also can be enjoyed on all slopes. Gokase Highland Ski Resort is Japan’s southernmost natural ski resort, located near the summit of Mount Mukozaka that has an excellent snow quality attracts many skiers and snowboarders every year. Come and visit Gokase Highland Ski Resort.

Shopping

Gokase Winery

Enjoy Gokase wine at Gokase Winery in Gokase-cho, Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture. Gokase wine has earned a high reputation among wine produced in Miyazaki and won numerous awards, including in the Japan Wine Competition and the Sakura Awards. While visiting Gokase Winery, you can also enjoy a glass of wine with lunch at the restaurant, “Kumo-no-Ue-no-Budo”. Our wine is made with 100% Gokase-grown grapes and is packed with the aroma of the land.

Activity

Shirataki Falls

Miyazaki’s Shirataki Falls is located in the town of Gokase in Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture. Shirataki Falls, a recommended spot to savor the beauty of nature when visiting Gokase for sightseeing, is at an altitude of 900 m above sea level and has height of the column of water of 60 m. The beautiful sight of the sheet of water, which resembles a white cloth draped over the cliff, takes on a completely different appearance in each season. The contrast between the white falls and the autumn foliage is particularly spectacular, attracting many photographers and tourists every autumn.

Activity

Takachiho Amaterasu Railway

The Takachiho Railway, which once ran through Takachiho-cho in Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture, is now the Amaterasu Railway. This popular local train crosses Japan’s highest railway bridge. The former Takachiho Railway was stopped operating due to damages caused by typhoon in 2005. Amaterasu Railway’s own original Grand Supercart now plies this line, giving passengers the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent views.

Activity

Kunimigaoka

Kunimigaoka, in Takachiho-cho, Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture is one of the most spectacular views in Miyazaki. It is famous for the “Unkai”, or sea of clouds, and the observation deck has won one star of Michelin Green Guide Japan. The observation deck is located in 513 m above sea level. It offers panoramic views of the Takachiho Basin, and when the weather conditions are good, you can see the Unkai in the early morning in autumn. Legend has it that it is from this hill that "Tateiwa Tatsu-no-Mikoto", grandson of Emperor Jimmu, gazed out over his country.

Culture

Amano Iwato Shrine

Amano Iwato Shrine, famous for the wishing stone stacks of Amano Yasugawara, is located in the town of Takachiho in Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture. Known as a power spot of Miyazaki, Amano Iwato Shrine attracts many people seeking "goshuin" (shrine red seals) and amulets. This is the land of the legend of Amano Iwato, which is found in the chronicles of Japanese mythology, Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. The shrine complex has two main shrines, Nishi-Hongu and Higashi-Hongu, both of which are dedicated to the sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikami. The object of worship of Nishi-Hongu is the cave in which Amaterasu Omikami hid herself away. Nearby, there is a large cave on the riverbank, where the god and goddesses met to discuss their strategy of luring Amaterasu Omikami out of hiding from Ama-no-Iwato, the cave in which Amaterasu Omikami had hidden herself away, plunging the earth and the heavens into darkness.

Accommodation

Onsen in Aso Area

A popular hot spring resort that attracts a million tourists a year. The resort’s concept is “the whole town is the inn, the streets are the corridors, and the ryokan are the guest rooms”. This hot spring town, which has the atmosphere of a quaint country town, is lively with people dressed in yukata strolling through the streets.

Accommodation

Onsen in North Kumamoto Area

One of Kumamoto’s largest hot spring resort areas, with around 20 ryokan inns and hotels. It emphasizes its atmosphere as a hot spring town with a long history, which was created in the Meiji Period in the style of the famous Dogo Onsen. Although located in the middle of the city, the open air baths and indoor baths have been ingeniously designed to create a rich atmosphere.

Accommodation

Onsen in South Kumamoto Area

A hot spring located inside the Ashikita Coast Prefectural Park that stretches along the picturesque rias coastline. The sodium bicarbonate saline spring has benefits for rheumatoid arthritis and nerve pain. Very close to the hot spring town is the island of Yunoko, which is linked to the mainland by a suspension bridge.

Culture

Ariake Sea

Various species of flora and fauna live in the Ariake Sea creates peaceful haven and get close to nature in Saga. The Ariake Sea, which shows various expressions due to the seasons and the extreme tide, was enriched with charm, importance as a habitat of migratory birds was recognized, and it was registered in the Ramsar site as an internationally important wetland.

Experience

Gion River

Known as one of Japan's most famous fireflies, Genji-botaru (Luciola cruciata) invites you to a world of illusion with a blink of light. Firefly appears in the middle of the Gion River in late May, and moves upstream up to near Aratani Dam. You can see different kinds of fireflies at the same time, including Genji-botaru on the river and Hime-botaru (Luciola parvula) in the bamboo groove on the other side.

Experience

Kuju Plateau

Fairwalk is...Some time ago, Kuju Plateau was stored so that the trees did not grow thick. Grazing and burning by locals, etc. To protect the beautiful scenery of the Kuju plateau."Kaze-no-Tabi" is part of a tour aimed at financing pasture management, so everyone who participates in this tour will be "friends protects the plateau" (fair exchange fees). It is hoped that "people who travel here" and "people who live here" will have "fair relations" during the trip, the Kaze guide actively tells about their local life.

Experience

Christian Village

Taketa City is known as “hidden Christian's village" where numerous relics and ruins of the leading Christian in the country were abandoned. Only found here, the only artificial Christian cave chapel in Japan that endured repression and protect them from wind snow for over 400 years, also the Christian bell "Bell of Santiago" made in 1612 when the declaration order was only given. It is said that these was not abandoned by chance, they must have been deliberately hidden by the clan. Taketa, a hidden pilgrimage area where has attracted the world’s attention.

Culture

Oka Castle Ruins

The stone castle stands above an altitude of 325m above sea level. In 1954, the lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi handed over the castle to his trusted follower Hideshige Nakagawa and ordered to rebuild the castle into a veritable stone castle.

Culture

Keishoji Temple Ruins

Keishoji Temple Ruins “Jigoku-Gokuraku” is located in Higashiera, Ajimu-machi, Usa City, Oita Prefecture. Here, there is a mysterious spot “Jigoku (hell) – Gokuraku (heaven) Cave where you can feel heaven and hell in one stroke.This cave was made by digging with chisels at the end of the Edo period to teach people about heaven and hell, and it was a rare cave in the whole country that remained as it was.

Culture

The Takatsuka Atago Jizo Statue

The existence of Jizo priest who is said to have received an oracle in the Nara period. Also known as “Takatsuka-san”, it is a rare example of a statue merging Buddhist and Shinto elements. It is said that there is a benefit in the fulfillment that anything will be granted if you ask it, gather faith widely and dedicate your wishes as many as your own year will be deposited with more benefit. More than 2,000 Jizo statues are dedicated in the precincts, which is one of the leading Jizo treasures in the whole country. It is also popular as a “Hatsumode” (New Year’s visit for Shinto) shrine.

Activity

Tsukumi Irukajima

Umitama Taiken Park "Tsukumi Dolphin Island" is an experienced facility that features the theme of "connection and healing" between dolphins and humans.It was established in a collaboration between Oita Marine Palace Aquarium Umitamago, Tsukumi City, and many dolphins live in the natural sea."Tsukumi Dolphin Island" where you can enjoy performance, challenge hand-on experiences program, or feeding the dolphins, is an ocean resort that you can play with dolphins all day.Moreover, enjoyment with the creatures of the sea, such as seals and penguins, plenty of fish and others are enormous.Surely your "new experience" is waiting here.

Culture

Ukiha City

Convenient access, just an hour from Fukuoka Airport! "Ukiha City", a utopia of beautiful nature and exquisite fruits!

Experience

Fruit Picking in Kurume

In the city of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, you can enjoy picking fruits in any season. Come and pick the fruits of each season, such as grapes and strawberries. The area is one where grape cultivation first started in Japan. Many varieties are grown, such as Pione and Rosario Bianco. You can also enjoy picking Amao strawberries, nashi pears, persimmons, mandarins, and other fruits at almost any time of the year.

Culture

Kurume, One of Japan’s Three Top Sake-Producing Regions

The city of Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture is described as one of Japan’s three major sake-producing regions. Kurume is famous not only for its Japanese sake, but also for Kyoho Winery, which has been called the Provence of Kyushu.The Annual Opening of the Jojima Sake Breweries is Kyushu’s largest Japanese sake event. At this event, which takes place in February every year, visitors can taste the Japanese sake produced by the sake breweries of Kurume. Choice sake, created from quality rice and clear water, is a specialty product of Kurume. Kurume also has many famous wines, including those produced at the Kyoho Winery in Tanushimaru-machi.

Food

Kurume, the birthplace of Tonkotsu Ramen

Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture, the birthplace of Tonkotsu Ramen. Kurume Ramen is the original Tonkotsu Ramen. It is characterized by that cloudy white broth, but apparently, it was not initially cloudy. About 80 years have passed since a street stall on Meiji Street in Kurume became the first place in Kyushu to sell ramen, then known as "Chinese Soba", in 1937. Today, the Tonkotsu Ramen that was born in Kurume has become the de facto standard for ramen around the world.

Experience

Omuta City Zoo

Omuta City Zoo in Omuta City located in the southernmost part of Fukuoka Prefecture and opened in 1941. In recent year, this zoo attracted so much attention for its role in the “Communication of Animal Welfare”. Omuta City Zoo focuses its effort to enrich the life of animals that tend to be more monotonous than wild life and health management with health check and blood collection in a method that doesn’t burden the animal’s bodies.

Culture

Dazaifu Tenmangu

Dazaifu Tenmangu is a popular spiritual spot and a tourist destination in Fukuoka. There you can purchase rice cake sweets called "Umegae mochi" on the path leading up to the shrine and enjoy events such as "Kyokusui no utage.

Activity

Seaside Momochi Area

The Seaside Momochi area features several of Fukuoka's tourist attractions and iconic buildings including the Fukuoka Tower and the Fukuoka City Museum.

Activity

Mojiko

Mojiko Retro's charms include its streetscape with quaint architecture as well as "Yaki Curry." Mojiko Retro attracts attention in the Kanmon Straits area in particular, featuring quaint architecture such as Mojiko Station, the Old Moji Customs Building and the former Mitsui Club; you can feel the atmosphere of the olden days.

Culture

Arita, the Home of Japanese Porcelain

Arita Town is well-known as being home to Arita ware, a Japanese traditional craft. A Korean potter named Sam-pyeong Yi and his colleagues discovered porcelain clay at Mt. Izumi early in the 17th century.

Culture

Takeo Shrine

Takeo Shrine is a shrine in Takeo in western Saga, first built in the year 735. It is a 25-minute walk from Takeo Onsen Station and a 15-minute walk from Takeo hot spring town.

Culture

Yoshinogari Historical Park

The Yoshinogari Ruins, designated as a Special Historical Site, is Japan's largest moated settlement from the Yayoi period.

Culture

Saga Castle History Museum

Saga Castle History Museum is a historical museum that has been reconstructed of the main Palace of Saga Castle, which existed here during the end of Edo Period. This museum showcases Saga’s attractiveness at the end of the Bakumatsu period, a time in history which paved the way for Japan’s modernization, with an easy-to-understand introduction.The audio guidance available in English, Korean, and Chinese, and you can listen to guidance from earphones while walking around the castle.

Culture

Yutoku Inari Shrine

The most popular tourist attraction in Kashima City, Saga, is Yutoku Inari Shrine, also known as a spiritual site. You can also enjoy the specialty sake in the Hizen Hamashuku area as well as healing your mind and body at Torii Gates in the Sea and Takezaki Hot Springs in Tara Town.

Activity

Goto, Which Boasts a Cobalt-Blue Ocean

Goto is home to a number of beautiful beach resorts. Among them are Takahama Beach Resort, the most beautiful of all natural beach resorts in Japan, as well as Koura Beach Resort and Kojushi Beach Resort.

Activity

Kujuku Islands

The ocean area from about 25 km from Port Sasebo up north to Hirado is a beautiful natural landscape with an intricate ria coast and 208 islands, four of which are inhabited.

Activity

Obama Onsen

Obama Onsen in Unzen City, Nagasaki, is a tourist attraction where you can enjoy relaxing with a foot bath, an open-air hot spring overlooking the Majestic Unzen, as well as a wide range of great foods.

Activity

Doya Tanada

Matsuura City, Nagasaki, has a variety of tourist attractions, including Doya Tanada, which is famous for the "Doya Tanada Fire Festival," and parks where you can fully enjoy nature.

Activity

Hirado

The Hirado Dutch Trading Post was built even before Dejima, Nagasaki, in a period when interactions between Japan and Holland were at their peak.

Activity

Tsushima

Tsushima, the border island facing South Korea, has many places for you to enjoy the majestic nature, including a bird's eye view of Aso Bay from Eboshi-dake.

Activity

Nabegataki Park

Nabegataki Park in Kumamoto Prefecture is a wonderful tourist destination with a fascinating waterfall. In the spring, an event is held in which the waterfall is illuminated from behind.

Culture

Kumamoto Castle

The Symbol of Kumamoto Watching Over the Castle Town. Kumamoto Castle is one of the three premier castles in Japan.

Culture

Tabaruzaka Museum

Tabaruzaka in Kumamoto, where a fierce battle took place during the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, has several tourist sites. Among them are Tabaruzaka Museum, which exhibits a variety of materials on the Rebellion. Also, in Tabaruzaka Park, a restored house stands to show scars of the battle.

Activity

Lake Kinrin

This is a major destination in Yufuin, where you can enjoy a relaxing time, strolling around the lake and watching the beautiful reflection of the mountains and trees in the water.

Activity

Usuki Stone Buddhas

When you visit Usuki City, Usuki Stone Buddhas and the ruins of Usuki Castle (Usuki Park) are two must-see places.

Activity

Kokonoe Suspension Bridge

The Kokonoe "Yume (literally, "dream")" Grand Suspension Bridge, at 390 m long and 173 m high, is Japan's largest suspension bridge exclusively for pedestrians.

Culture

Aoshima, Aoshima Shrine

Aoshima Island is located off the Aoshima coast, which elegantly curves toward the south of Miyazaki City.

Culture

Special Historical Park Saitobaru Burial Mounds

The Saitobaru Burial Mounds are one of Japan’s leading burial mound sites, containing over 300 mounds in an area extending 2.6km from east to west and 4.2km from north to south in the Miyazaki Plains.

Activity

Aya Teruha Suspension Bridge

The Aya Teruha Suspension Bridge, a must-see tourist destination in Aya Town, was built deep in the Teruha forest area within Kyushu Chuo Sanchi Quasi-National Park.

Activity

Umagase

Hyuga City, Miyazaki, has a number of tourist destinations with beautiful scenery, including Umagase, Kurusu-no-umi, Omi Shrine, Mimitsu, and Okuragahama Beach.

Activity

Ikoma Plateau

The tourist attractions in Kobayashi City include Ikoma Plateau, known for its beautiful cosmos flowers, and Ebino Plateau, where you can enjoy a variety of seasonal beauty throughout the year. At Idenoyama Park, you can relax in nature and visit a freshwater fish aquarium.

Culture

Miyakonojo Shimazu Residence

In Miyakonojo, you can enjoy the city's nature and history, including the scenic beauty of Sekino-o Falls and Miyakonojo Shimazu Residence, which has been selected as a Tangible Cultural Property. You can relax in the town while also enjoying hot springs.

Activity

Cape Toi

Kushima City is a tourist destination where you can see horses at Cape Toi and monkeys at Kojima. This is the perfect place to see wild animals in majestic scenery.

Activity

Sakurajima

Sakurajima, the major tourist destination in Kagoshima Prefecture, is one of the world's major active volcanoes, with the smoke still rising from its crater. It is located about 4 km from central Kagoshima City and a 15-minute ferry ride from the downtown area.

Culture

Museum of the Meiji Restoration

Museum of the Meiji Restoration in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima, has so many attractive features.

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