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

Festivals in Kyushu

Suggested Itineraries

Places to Visit in Kyushu

Onsen
Kumamoto

Kurokawa Onsen

Kurokawa Onsen - Atmospheric Mountain Hot Spring Village

A mountain onsen village in a wooded valley near Mount Aso, loved for its traditional atmosphere ...

Minamioguni, Kumamoto, Japan
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
City
Fukuoka

Fukuoka

Kyushu's vibrant capital famous for yatai street food stalls, tonkotsu ramen, and a lively canal ...

Fukuoka, Japan
Shrine
Miyazaki

Ama no Iwato Shrine

Cave Where the Sun Goddess Hid

Sacred shrine marking the cave where the sun goddess Amaterasu hid, plunging the world into darkn...

Takachiho, Miyazaki, Japan
Historic Site
Nagasaki

Glover Garden

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

Nagasaki, Japan
City
Kumamoto

Hitoyoshi

Hidden Mountain Town of Samurai Heritage and Shochu

Remote mountain town known as the Little Kyoto of Kyushu, famous for its samurai heritage, ball s...

Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto, 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
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
Historic Site
Kumamoto

Tsujun Bridge

Japan's Largest Stone Aqueduct Bridge

National Important Cultural Property and Japan's largest stone aqueduct bridge, famous for its sp...

Yamato, Kumamoto, 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
Onsen
Saga

Takeo Onsen

1,300-Year-Old Hot Spring with Vermillion Gate

Ancient hot spring town with a striking vermillion gate designed by the architect of Tokyo Statio...

Takeo, Saga, Japan
Castle
Saga

Saga Castle

Restored Honmaru Palace of the Nabeshima Clan

Beautifully reconstructed Honmaru Palace of the former Nabeshima lords, one of the largest wooden...

Saga, Japan
Castle
Nagasaki

Shimabara Castle

Castle of the Christian Rebellion

Reconstructed castle famous for its connection to the Shimabara Rebellion, with exhibits on Chris...

Shimabara, Nagasaki, 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
Historic Site
Nagasaki

Dejima

Restored Edo-Period Dutch Trading Post

A restored fan-shaped island in central Nagasaki that served as the Netherlands' trading post dur...

Nagasaki, Japan