Things to Do in Kyushu, Japan

The volcanic south: active craters, some of Japan's best onsen, and gateways to the Ryukyu islands.

91 destinations across 7 prefectures

Suggested Itineraries

Places to Visit in Kyushu

Historic Site
Oita

Usuki Stone Buddhas

National Treasure Stone Carvings from the Kamakura Period

A designated National Treasure, the Usuki Stone Buddhas comprise over 60 Buddhist figures carved ...

Usuki, Oita, Japan
Temple
Fukuoka

Tochoji

Hakata Temple with a Large Wooden Buddha

A Shingon temple in Hakata that houses the Fukuoka Daibutsu, a large seated wooden Buddha, along ...

Fukuoka, Japan
City
Kumamoto

Kumamoto City

Castle Town of the Legendary Kato Kiyomasa

Major Kyushu city centered around Kumamoto Castle, known for horse meat cuisine, streetcar networ...

Kumamoto, Japan
Shrine
Fukuoka

Kushida Shrine

Hakata's Most Important Shrine and Festival Hub

Hakata's central shrine and starting point of the famous Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, with a ye...

Fukuoka, Japan
City
Nagasaki

Nagasaki

Nagasaki - Where East Met West

Historic international port city with a unique blend of Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese ...

Nagasaki, Japan
Onsen
Nagasaki

Unzen Onsen

Unzen Onsen - Volcanic Hot Springs and Jigoku Hells

A historic hot spring resort in the Unzen volcanic mountains, famous for its dramatic jigoku (hel...

Unzen, Nagasaki, Japan
Onsen
Kagoshima

Ibusuki Onsen

Ibusuki Onsen - Volcanic Sand Bath Experience

A unique hot spring resort where visitors are buried in naturally heated volcanic sand on the bea...

Ibusuki, Kagoshima, Japan
Theme Park
Nagasaki

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...

Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan
City
Miyazaki

Miyazaki City

Sunshine City of Myth and Nature

Subtropical prefectural capital known for year-round sunshine, mythological sites, mango, and cha...

Miyazaki, Japan
Garden
Kagoshima

Sengan-en Garden

Shimazu Clan's Grand Seaside Villa with Sakurajima Views

Edo-period garden and villa of the Shimazu clan, using Sakurajima volcano and Kinko Bay as borrow...

Kagoshima, Japan
Attraction
Oita

Kunisaki Peninsula

Ancient Buddhist Culture in a Volcanic Landscape

Volcanic peninsula dotted with ancient stone Buddhist carvings, cliff temples, and the mysterious...

Kunisaki, Oita, Japan
Historic Site
Nagasaki

Glover Garden

A hillside open-air museum featuring Western-style residences from Japan's Meiji-era foreign sett...

Nagasaki, Japan
Garden
Saga

Mifuneyama Rakuen

teamLab-Enhanced Historic Garden

Historic 500,000-square-meter garden dating to 1845, famous for seasonal beauty and the immersive...

Takeo, Saga, Japan
Onsen
Oita

Beppu Onsen

Hot Springs City

Japan's most prolific hot spring city with more sources than anywhere else, famous for the specta...

Beppu, Oita, Japan
City
Fukuoka

Yanagawa

City of Canals and River Punting

Historic castle town known for its scenic canal boat rides through willow-lined waterways and fam...

Yanagawa, Fukuoka, Japan