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25 Things to Do in Kyushu, the Underrated Travel Gem of Japan

Thanks to its beautiful culture, quirky modern attractions and delicious food, Japan is one of the top travel destinations in the world. That being said, for most travellers, even Malaysians, a trip to Japan usually only consists of visiting the Kanto region (Tokyo), its neighbouring Kansai region (Osaka and Kyoto), and perhaps Hokkaido in the north. 

Unbeknownst to most outsiders, there is a travel gem hiding in plain sight right under their noses in Japan! I’m talking about the Kyushu region at the southern tip of the Japanese archipelago! 

Image credit: T.kambayashi

Kyushu (literally meaning Nine Provinces) is actually one of Japan’s five main islands and the third largest among them. Some of Kyushu’s most famous prefectures include Fukuoka, Kagoshima, and Nagasaki among other ambient cities and towns. Nestled within mountainous terrain (volcanoes and hot springs, anyone?), Kyushu houses some truly incredible attractions that make it a rival to even Japan’s most touristy areas! Let’s take a look at some of them now! 

Also read: 28 Things To Do In Tokyo For Malaysians Visiting For The First Time

Fukuoka Prefecture

1. Walk among thousands of hanging wisterias in Kawachi Fuji Garden

No doubt, cherry blossoms season (right around March – April) is one of Japan’s busiest periods in terms of tourist traffic. However, if you’re not a fan of large crowds but would still like to see one of Japan’s most beautiful blooms, then check out the hanging wisterias at Kawachi Fuji Garden instead!

Blooming between April and May (after the hype around sakura season has subsided), these beautiful plants pain the garden in lovely hues of purple, with wisterias dangling above your head as you stroll through the garden’s iconic tunnel. With such alluring vistas around you, you won’t be able to resist whipping out your camera for some awesome photography!

2. Be amazed by the Icicles of Gouradani (Nanshogataki) during winter in the village of Umi

From one natural wonder to another, the Icicles of Gouradani (known locally as Nanshogataki) is an annual winter phenomenon in the quaint village of Umi. There are plenty of picturesque hiking trails here that take visitors through the alluring mountains surrounding this lovely village. However, it is during the winter when the town’s most famous attraction manifests. 

At the height of the winter season, the waters that usually flow through the mountains turn into ice, forming majestic icicles that can stretch almost 20m! The waterfall freezes, forming an impressive wall of ice, as if Elsa herself had just passed through the area! If you want to experience this surreal scenery even better, make yourself comfortable at the nearby Umicho Showanomori campground. Be warned though, it’s more than a little chilly! 

3. Spend a day at one of the largest and most unique shopping complexes in Japan

Image credit: Thilo Hilberer

Canal City Hakata is easily one of the most unique shopping complexes you’ll ever see. With over 250 shops offering a multitude of shopping and dining options, an amusement park, a cinema, a few performance theatres and even hotels, Canal City is also one of the largest shopping complexes in the entire country!

As the name suggests, the main draw of Canal City are the artificial canals that run through the area. At the centre of it all, there is also a fountain which puts on a music and water show every other hour! Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, you’ll still enjoy exploring this little gem. 

4. Visit the picturesque Tenmangu Shrine and pray for good fortune

It’s especially popular among students and learners!

5. Stroll around the romantic Ohori Park

Fun fact: Ohori Park is actually modelled after the West Lake of Hangzhou, China. It is one of the most popular places in Fukuoka for couples and families to spend a peaceful afternoon. 

6. Visit the historic Tanga Ichiba Market for fresh seafood and affordable bargains

Image credit: Kugel

Did you know? Tanga Ichiba Market is actually over 100 years old! 

7. Satisfy your street food cravings at Fukuoka’s famous Yatai Street

Image credit: Yoshikazu TAKADA

One delicacy you really mustn’t miss out on is Hakata Ramen. Unlike regular ramen, Hakata Ramen uses paper thin noodles that are bathed in a rich pork-bone broth. The slurpy combination of fragrant broth, chewy noodles and fresh scallions is perfect for any day of the week! 

Fun fact: A yatai is a small, mobile food stall, much like the stalls at our pasar malams! 

Image credit: そらみみ

8. Witness the colourful Hakata Gion Yamakasa

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🇫🇷 Oisa oisa ! Le festival Yamakasa s’est achevé lundi matin à Fukuoka. Cette année, à défaut d’aller voir la course finale, Kiyo et moi avons bien profité des "entraînements" comme ici au sanctuaire Kushida. C’était super impressionnant de voir les hommes porter ces immenses chars d’aussi près !! Vais-je réussir à convaincre Kiyo d’y participer l’an prochain ?😄 ・ 🇯🇵 おいさおいさ!令和元年の博多祇園山笠が無事に終わりました。 今年も追い山を見にいけなかったが、追い山ならしや櫛田入り練習など、色々見れて満足しています。特に印象に残ったのは櫛田入りでした。お櫛田さんで初めて山笠を見たんですが、男たちが近くて、やっぱり迫力がすごかったです! 来年は夫は走ってくれるかな?😄 ・ 🇬🇧 Oisa oisa! The Hakata Gion Tamakasa festival ended this Monday in Fukuoka city. This year too I wasn’t able to see the final race but I went to watch many events such as "Kushida-iri" which is a rehearsal for the race. It was the first time for me to see Yamakasa in Kushida shrine and the men’s power were impressive! Will my husband would like to run next year?😄 ・ #Japan #Japon #Kyushu #Fukuoka #Hakata #FukuokaCity #FukuokaPics #Yamakasa #HakataGionYamakasa #FukuokaTrip #iLoveFukuoka #FantasticFukuoka #KyushuTrip #JapanTravelPhoto #DiscoverJapan #VisitJapanJP #DiscoverUnder10k #JapanLife #Japan_Lovers #VivreAuJapon #JapanDaily #LifeInJapan #FukuokaLife #OnsenIslandKyushu #JapanTravel #VisitJapanFR #VisitJapanJP #九州 #福岡 #博多祇園山笠

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Held annually from the 1st to the 15th of July, Hakata Gion Yamakasa is an exciting race held in the city. It features heavy floats (each representing the seven districts of Fukuoka) being carried by about a dozen men. It’s quite the festive occasion, with plenty of fun and activity around. So, if you’re visiting Fukuoka in July, make sure to catch this exciting event! 

Nagasaki Prefecture

9. Learn about the harrowing history of Nagasaki before and after the atomic bomb at the Atomic Bomb Museum

Image credit: Asturio Cantabrio

10. Take a step into Europe at Huis ten Bosch

Huis ten Bosch, located in Sasebo city, is a massive theme park styled after a Dutch Village from the Netherlands. Some say that it’s even twice the size of Tokyo Disneyland. Whoa! Inside, you’ll immediately notice the canals, windmills and tulip fields, all reminiscent of Amsterdam, along with ambient open squares filled with the soothing aroma of freshly brewed coffee. 

However, Huis ten Bosch isn’t just a knock-off Netherlands. You’ll also find an owl forest, glitzy high-tech light shows, romantic gondola rides, an exciting water park, VR attractions and even an illuminated ice skating rink! Needless to say, this is easily one of the must-visit family attractions in Kyushu! 

11. Trace the long history of European immigration to Japan at Glover Garden

Image credit: Tina Ivano

12. Take a surreal walk through the abandoned streets of Hashima Island 

Have you ever wondered what the Earth would be like if all humans just disappeared one day? You’ll find your answer at Hashima Island, otherwise known as Gunkanjim (meaning battleship in Japanese). As you stroll along the eerily silent streets, overgrown with unkempt plants and weed, you’ll be surprised to learn that up until 1974, the island was actually one of the most densely populated islands in the country. 

Founded in 1887, the island used to be home to a major coal-mining operation, with numerous buildings built to accommodate the workers and their families. By 1974 however, after mass migrations following the closure of the mines, the island was completely abandoned and almost forgotten before locals began re-exploring the area in the 2000s.  

What remains today is a ghost town gradually being taken back by nature. However, the lack of inhabitants make Hashima Island a good place for photography. In fact, the island was actually featured in the 2012 James Bond film, Skyfall

Kagoshima Prefecture

13. Go for a scenic hike through Yakushima Island, Japan’s fairytale island

They say Yakushima Island experiences rain 32 days in a month. While a clear exaggeration, there’s no denying that the island receives more average rainfall than any other destination in Japan. However, on the flip side, the excess rain has allowed the cedar forest to flourish and give way to a fairytale-like ambiance, perfect for hiking and jungle trekking. 

14. Hike up Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park for some truly breathtaking views

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𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜…🎨🎨🎨 . 𓆡𓐍𓏸༚࿐࿔𓆝𓂅𓆞༚𓏸𓆡𓐍𓏧𓏸𓆉𓇼 セゾン初の夏イベント開催中! 🎐Concours d'été🎐 . ✴︎𝙴𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝙷𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚝𝚊𝚐 ☞ #saison_su2019 ✴︎期間 8/1〜8/31 . ✵ 今夏に撮られたお写真であればジャンル、形態、シチュエーションは問いません。 ✵ 過去作へのタグ付け𝙽𝙶。 新規𝙿𝚘𝚜𝚝 のみ有効。 . 皆さま奮ってご参加ください🍧 𓆡𓐍𓏸༚࿐࿔𓆝𓂅𓆞༚𓏸𓆡𓐍𓏧𓏸𓆉𓇼 . . 🌴𝙱𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝙰𝚈🌴 𝙿𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛 ➺➺➺ @396_zima . 🎨𝚂𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙱𝚢 @sai_._ias . . 🅲🄾🅽🅶🅁🅰︎🆃🅄🅻🄰🆃🅸🅾︎🄽🆂 . 𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎, 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚜𝚝'𝚜 𝚐𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚜! ________________ . 📸 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚐𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚢, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 @colore_de_saison 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚊𝚐 #colore_de_saison 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙽𝙾𝚃 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍. ❅ 𝙾𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚁𝚘𝚡 𝙲𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎. . セレクトにはフォロー&タグ必須。 ※ タグ付けは画像に貼られたものは対象外。 キャプション内、又はコメント欄へのハッシュタグ形式のみ有効 . . 🚫𝙽𝚘 𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚗 / 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚝 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚜!! 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚃𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚢𝚎. . 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚠𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚞𝚜!! いつも素敵なお写真のシェア有難うございます。 皆さまの心に残る、とっておきの瞬間をお待ちしております! . 𓆀༄ 𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 / 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛 : @sai_._ias 𓅸༄ 𝚂𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛 : @saytsu @hiromitsu_aoki @shinya1094 𓆁༄ 𝙳𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚎𝚛 : @2525link ________________ ❢𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚞𝚋❢ ☞ @Rox_Captures ________________ ❢𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍'𝚜 𝚑𝚞𝚋𝚜❢ ☞ @2_fineart_collective ☞ @daily_photo_japan ________________ #saison_396_zima . #鹿児島県 #佐多岬 #霧島錦江湾国立公園 #最南端 #絶景 #Instagram #Rox_Captures #写真 #写真好きな人と繋がりたい #ファインダー越しの私の世界 #ファインダーは私のキャンバス #igworld_global #worldprime #ipa_shotz #ourmoodydays #depthsofearth #streets_vision #global_creatives #moodygrams #globe_visuals #creative_ace #ig_myshots #ig_dynamic #ig_today #gramslayers #ig_shotz

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15. Take a ferry across the bay to Sakurajima, one of the world’s most active volcanoes

Image credit: Soumei Baba

16. Make a wish at Kirishima Jingu Shrine

Note: thanks to its location (surrounded by trees and mountains), Kirishima Jingu Shrine is also a great place to admire cherry blossoms during spring and autumn foliage in autumn! 

Kumamoto Prefecture

17. Visit the world’s biggest caldera basin at Mount Aso National Park

Mount Aso is another one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. And yet, countless locals and tourists flock to Mount Aso National Park every year, a testament to the profound beauty to be found here. 

You can reach the peak via ropeway or car if there are no warnings about volcanic activity in effect. Once there, remember to breathe, because the wondrously beautiful (I’m running of out of superlatives to describe it) view will likely take your breath away and leave you stunned. As far as the eye can see are wide, open plains and mountains bathed in verdant vegetation and majestic mountain ranges that look too pretty to be real. 

Oh yeah, about the caldera basin. It actually stretches between Kumamoto and Oita, reaching a length of approximately 90km between end to end! You can reach the Mount Aso side of the caldera by bus from Kumamoto (about an hour).

18. Take a look around Kumamoto Castle

19. Find your inner zen at Suizenji Garden

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👘愿望达成✌️

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Pro tip: the garden is at its most beautiful in spring, when the cherry blossoms bloom. 

20. Wish for good luck at Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine…or simply enjoy the serene surroundings

Miyazaki Prefecture

21. Plan a day trip to Takachiho Gorge, one of Japan’s most beautiful locations

 

Of all the things to do in Kyushu, this is probably my favourite! 

Remember that volcano we mentioned earlier? Mount Aso? Well, Takachiho Gorge is a direct result of its eruption some many, many years ago. The lava which spewed from Mount Aso carved through the rocks and formed a deep lava stream which later eroded to create majestic volcanic basalt columns measuring between 80 – 100 metres! 

Where lava once flowed, there is now a deep blue water which flows through the alluring gorge, blending with the face of the basalt columns and the green hues of the plants to create a stunning kaleidoscope of aesthetic brilliance for the eyes. Whether you decide to hike through the gorge or take a scenic boat ride, you’ll be in for a truly unforgettable experience. 

22. Watch the day go by at Aoshima Beach

Oita Prefecture

23. Take a dip in an onsen (hot spring) at Beppu

That being said, Beppu is also home to a few hot springs known collectively as jigoku onsen (hell springs). Though they may look extremely beautiful, as the name suggests, bathing in these hot springs are forbidden as they are literally too hot! You could join a tour to see these unique hot springs but make sure to stick to the onsen in the resorts for your therapeutic dip! 

24. Hang out with over 1,500 Japanese macaque monkeys at Takasakiyama Monkey Park

Image credit: Andres

Safety tip: Yes, they look super adorable but keep in mind that these wild animals may get agitated and angry if you look them in the eyes. That’s because they’ll think you’re issuing them a challenge. So don’t hold eye contact! 

25. Escape the confines of the city and plunge yourself into bliss at the colourful Yufuin Floral Village

So much to see and do!

And that’s it, folks! Wow, there’s so much to see and do in Kyushu that I’m appalled that it’s not as famous as the Kanto and Kansai regions! Truth be told, halfway through writing this, I started looking up flights to Kyushu and I’m already so tempted to just book a one way flight right now! 

Will I see you there? ^^

Also read: A Foodie’s Guide To Tokyo: 14 Unique Culinary Experiences In The Capital Of Japan

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About Author

Darren

Darren enjoys travelling, photography and good food. He loves cultural experiences and exciting adventures and is no stranger to travelling alone. When he's not putting his travel experiences into words, he's probably sitting behind his laptop, planning his upcoming adventure.

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