While most tourists flock to Honshu’s hotspots (for good reason, we might add), it’s time to shout about one of Japan’s lesser visited – but no less spectacular – islands. The third largest of Japan’s four main islands, Kyushu is a subtropical land that seems a world away from Tokyo’s neon lights and heaving sites. From its grumbling volcanoes and glorious beaches to its delicious cuisine, read on for our top reasons to visit Kyushu…
1. Volcanic activity
2. Delicious cuisine
3. Lush landscapes
4. Fascinating history
5. Beautiful beaches
Volcanic activity
Did you know that Japan is home to a tenth of the world’s active volcanoes? Well, budding geologists are in for a treat on Kyushu, which boasts Japan’s biggest volcano, Mount Aso. Set amid rolling emerald countryside in the Aso Kuju National Park, Aso is a volcanic complex of five main peaks, with a caldera that measures over 11 miles wide. Visitors can hike up and around the park’s peaks to get well acquainted with these natural wonders. Kyushu is also home to the country’s most active volcano: Mount Sakurajima. This peak forms the iconic backdrop to the city of Kagoshima and has been erupting constantly for almost 70 years (and counting). Thanks to all this volcanic activity, Kyushu is blessed with some of Japan’s best hot springs, known as onsens. We recommend the onsen town of Beppu (with eight different hot springs to try), the picturesque Kurokawa onsen, or the natural sea onsen on Yakushima Island.
Delicious cuisine
It’ll come as no surprise that one of the best reasons to visit Kyushu is its mouthwatering cuisine. This is Japan, after all. Fukuoka, the sixth-largest city in the country, is the place to head for a thriving foodie scene. Visit one of the 100-plus atmospheric yatai food stands in the Tenjin and Nagahama neighbourhoods to try tasty treats ranging from yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) to hakata ramen (the city’s famous pork bone broth). In the port city of Nagasaki, sample shippoku cuisine, a style of dining influenced by Chinese, European and Japanese traditions. Beyond Fukuoka and Nagasaki, Kyushu is famed for its Miyazaki beef, and is also the best place to try fugu. For the adventurous (or reckless) among you, fugu is a poisonous pufferfish which can be fatal if not cooked correctly. No pressure, then…
Lush landscapes
Along with Kyushu’s volcanic geology, the island hosts some other special landscapes. Take the Takachiho Gorge, one of Japan’s most spiritual spots. Row a boat down the turquoise passage and marvel at the magical waterfalls gushing from the steep, foliage-clad rocks. If flowers are more up your street, visit the Kawachi fuji-en gardens in central Kitakyushu during spring to see beautiful cherry blossoms and wisteria in full bloom. A particular highlight is the 100-metre-long tunnel of lilac-hued wisteria. The lovely landscapes aren’t confined to the mainland either. Dotting the ocean off the coast of southern Kyushu is a group of subtropical islands, the most famous of which is Yakushima. Said to inspire Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki, Yakushima is a subtropical sensation home to Yakushima National Park, a mystical place of mist-shrouded forests, trickling streams, knotted trees and rugged beaches.
Fascinating history
Like all Japanese islands, Kyushu has an intriguing past. This is one of the top reasons to visit Kyushu, with its ports and ocean having played a key role in shaping its varied history. Between the 1600s and mid-1800s, Nagasaki was the only place in Japan that kept in contact with European powers. Today, you can visit the city’s fascinating Dutch port village and witness the unlikely combination of Japanese, Chinese and Dutch cultures. Of course, any trip to Nagasaki wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Peace Park, the sobering yet powerful memorial which is an important reminder of the 1945 atomic bomb atrocities. The city is also home to 505 uninhabited islands, the most famous of which is Hashima Island. Visitors can take a guided tour of this abandoned coal mine, now a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll find further UNESCO sites scattered across the countryside in the form of historic, hidden churches and cathedrals – a hangover from the Edo period when Christians were forced into hiding.
Beautiful beaches
Last up on our list of reasons to visit Kyushu is its bounty of beaches. Whether you’re a keen swimmer, surfer, diver or snorkeller, Kyushu’s coastline has the answers. Miyazaki, on Kyushu’s eastern coast, is a surfer’s paradise – head to the likes of Aoshima, Shirahama and Kisakihama beaches for consistent waves and warm waters. For soft white sands and a tranquil turquoise ocean, the Amami archipelago, a string of coralline islands southwest of Kyushu, is just the ticket. The largest island, Amami-Oshima, plays host to many gorgeous beaches, including Namikawa, Tomori and Ayamaru, where the waters are rife with fish and colourful coral. Takahama Beach on Fukue, part of the Goto islands, is another popular spot for discovering the underwater world during diving and snorkelling excursions. With a cerulean blue sea framed by a lush green landscape, it’s easy to see why this idyllic bay is one of Japan’s best beaches.
Written by Hannah Whitehall | All images by Getty Images
