Kyushu

The Kyushu region is made up of Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Oita, Miyazaki, Saga, Nagasaki and Kumamoto prefectures.

Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki | A Place for World Peace

One of the most emotional places in Japan is the so-called Peace Park. It is located in Nagasaki, a few minutes’ walk from the atomic bomb museum and it commemorates the victims of the atomic bombing.
Sanno Sanctuary, Nagasaki has connected Japan with the world

One of the most impressive and curious places in Nagasaki is the Sanno Shrine because the main torii (gateway to the shrine) maintains only one pillar. How did this happen?
Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki | Beautiful main shrine and historic statues of sacred horses

The Suwa shrine in Nagasaki was founded in 1614 as a way to expel the Christian faith from the region. During the Edo period, Nagasaki was one of the few places where there was contact with foreigners.
Shimabara, Nagasaki | Beautiful nature and rich tourism resources

Although Shimabara has been plagued by (man-made) disasters in its history, it is a nice town to visit when you are traveling through Kyushu. The upside to being in a seismically active area is that there are many hot springs to be found.
Monument For The 26 Martyrs | Clash of Japanese Culture and Christianity

Around 1549, Christian missionaries started arriving in Japan. They usually came from countries such as Spain and Portugal, and their objective was to spread the word of the church.
Nagasaki City | A city that connects the world and Japan

The city of Nagasaki is especially known for having been bombed with an atomic bomb during WW2. This fact overshadows its long history as an ancient point of contact with the Portuguese and the Dutch.
Takachiho, Miyazaki | Beautiful land also called the home of myths

In the deep forests of Kyushu, there’s a village named Takachiho, which is where you can find the famously beautiful Takachiho Gorge. It is easy to imagine how ancient myths originated in this area.
Kumamoto Castle, one of the three most beautiful castles in Japan

Kumamoto Castle is a Japanese castle located in Kumamoto City, the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture. It is regarded as one of the three best castles in Japan together with Himeji and Nagoya castles.
Mount Aso, Kumamoto | One of the world’s largest calderas and beautiful mountain scenery

Mt Aso is the biggest active volcano in Japan and one of the largest calderas in the world. Some of the most unique views of the world can be seen when you hike in the environment of this mountain.
Beppu, Oita | One of the most famous hot spring resorts

Beppu is located in the central part of Oita, on the coast of Beppu Bay in Kyushu. It is one of Japan’s most famous onsen resorts, and you can see and experience some unique hot springs here.
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka | Abundant gourmet food and beautiful scenery

Kitakyushu City is a non-touristy, industrial city in the north of Kyushu. There is still something to see though; Kokura with Kokura Castle and Moji with Moji Port where you can find retro buildings are interesting areas.
Fukuoka City (Hakata) | Largest city in Kyushu

Fukuoka has plenty of things to offer to tourists; a thriving nightlife and many shopping opportunities, traditional shrines and historical sights, and Japanese festivals.
Tanegashima, Kagoshima | Beautiful nature and Japan’s largest rocket launch site

Tanegashima is an island that is part of Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu. The headquarter of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is located here, and there are beautiful beaches and mangroves.
Sakurajima, Kagoshima | Beautiful active volcano and the people who live there

Sakurajima is an active volcano and former island in Kagoshima, in the south of Kyushu island. How does the volcanic activity influence the region?
Yakushima, Kagoshima | The most beautiful and powerful wilderness

Yakushima is a subtropical island off the southwestern coast of Kyushu. It is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan’s oldest living trees called Yakusugi that became a World Natural Heritage Site.
HanaNoka Sake Brewery, Kumamoto | Sake very popular among Japanese people

After taking a bite, the gentle flowery flavor of the sake Hananoka burst in my mouth, just as the name is translated as ‘the fragrance of flowers’ in English.