Things to Do in Kyushu, Japan
The volcanic south: active craters, some of Japan's best onsen, and gateways to the Ryukyu islands.
156 destinations across 7 prefectures
Festivals in Kyushu
Suggested Itineraries
Places to Visit in Kyushu
Photo: Saigen Jiro / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Munakata Grand Shrine
Sacred Island and Ancient Shrines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site of five component parts, including the three shrines of Muna...
Yakushima
Ancient Cedar Forest World Heritage Island
A UNESCO World Heritage island with ancient cedar forests, said to have inspired Princess Mononoke.
© Birdman at Japanese Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Kumamoto Castle
One of Japan's Three Premier Castles
Under restoration after the 2016 and July 2026 earthquakes. The main tower has reopened, but chec...
© ぱちょぴ / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mount Inasa
333-Metre Summit with Night Views over Nagasaki
A 333-metre mountain west of central Nagasaki with a summit observatory reached by ropeway, known...
Photo: Houjyou-Minori / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Oura Church
Japan's Oldest Standing Church and National Treasure
Japan's oldest standing Christian church, designated a National Treasure and part of the UNESCO H...
© Yasuhiro from Tokyo, Japan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Yufuin
Yufuin Onsen
Yufuin is an onsen town at the foot of Mount Yufu, known for its art museums, boutique ryokan, an...
© Fukuoka Photo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Canal City Hakata
Fukuoka's City Within a City
A massive entertainment and shopping complex in the heart of Hakata with a canal, fountains, and ...
© 国土地理院 / Wikimedia Commons (Attribution)
Aoshima
Aoshima - Subtropical Island and Devil's Washboard
A small island connected to the mainland by a bridge, surrounded by unique wave-eroded rock forma...
Nichinan Coast
Scenic Coastline with Devil's Washboard Rock Formations
The Nichinan Coast stretches over 100 kilometers along Miyazaki's Pacific shore, famous for its d...
Amami Oshima
A UNESCO World Heritage island between Kyushu and Okinawa, with pristine mangrove forests, vibran...
Tanegashima
Island of Rockets and the Arrival of Firearms
Southern island famous as the site where firearms first arrived in Japan and home to JAXA's spect...
Kokura Castle
Kokura Castle - Edo-Period Castle with Unique Architecture
An Edo-period castle in the heart of Kitakyushu, notable for its distinctive karazukuri architect...
Hashima Island (Gunkanjima)
Abandoned Coal Mining Island and UNESCO Industrial Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution, Hashima...
Satsuma Peninsula
Southern Kagoshima's Scenic Cape and Historic Coast
Southern peninsula with coastal cliffs, the Chiran Kamikaze pilot museum, sand baths at Ibusuki, ...
Goto Islands
Remote Island Chain with Hidden Christian Heritage
Remote archipelago of 140 islands known for UNESCO-listed Hidden Christian churches, pristine bea...