Things to Do in Kyushu, Japan
The volcanic south: active craters, some of Japan's best onsen, and gateways to the Ryukyu islands.
162 destinations across 7 prefectures
Festivals in Kyushu
RubyKaigi
14 to 16 April 2027
Miyazaki · Festival
Hakata Dontaku Port Festival
3 to 4 May 2027
Fukuoka · Dance festival
Hakata Gion Yamakasa
1 to 15 July 2027
Fukuoka · Float procession
Nagasaki Kunchi
7 to 9 October 2027
Nagasaki · Dance festival
Karatsu Kunchi
2 to 4 November 2027
Saga · Float procession
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...
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...
© Tomio344456 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Nagasaki
Nagasaki - Where East Met West
Historic international port city with a unique blend of Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese ...
© ぱちょぴ / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Nozaki Island
Nozaki Island: An Emptied Island, a Brick Church and Two Boats a Day
A long, hilly island east of Ojika in the northern Goto chain. Over 650 people lived in its three...
© 663highland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)
Unzen Onsen
Hot Springs Around the Steaming Unzen Jigoku: Its Inns and Public Baths
A historic hot spring resort in the Unzen volcanic mountains, famous for its dramatic jigoku (hel...
© 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...
© Atsasebo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Sasebo
Western Kyushu Port City and Gateway to Kujukushima
A port city in western Nagasaki Prefecture that serves as the gateway to Kujukushima and is known...
© Flickr user: Kanko* from Nagasaki, Japan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Glover Garden
A hillside open-air museum featuring Western-style residences from Japan's Meiji-era foreign sett...
© JKT-c / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Huis Ten Bosch
Huis Ten Bosch - Japan's Dutch Kingdom Theme Park
Japan's largest theme park recreating a Dutch town with canals, windmills, flower gardens, and se...
© Indiana jo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Kuroshima
A Ferry Island off Sasebo Where Hidden Christians Farmed an Old Horse Ranch, and a Brick Church from 1902
A small hilly island about 50 minutes by ferry from Ainoura in Sasebo, settled in the 19th centur...
© 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...
Photo: Saigen Jiro / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Yoshinogari Historical Park
Yoshinogari is Japan's largest Yayoi-period archaeological site, featuring reconstructed ancient ...
© MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Kirishima Shrine
Mountain Shrine of the Divine Descent
Grand vermillion shrine dedicated to the deity Ninigi-no-Mikoto who descended from heaven to foun...