Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, is often overlooked by travellers in favour of more popular destinations like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. As someone living here, I find that people are missing out as this island offers a unique blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and cultural experiences that make it a must-visit destination for any traveller.
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Fukuoka, accessible by ferry, train or plane, is located on the island of Kyushu in Japan. It is a charming city that is often overlooked by tourists in favour of bigger cities like Tokyo and Osaka despite being the unofficial "capital" city of the Kyushu region.
Whether you are interested in history, food, or simply looking for a more laid-back experience while being in a modern city, Fukuoka has something for everyone. Kumamoto, the birthplace of the lovable black bear mascot, Kumamon. If a visitor forgets that fact, when you get down from the Shinkansen from Hakata station, you will be greeted by a gigantic Kumamon head in the middle of the waiting area as well as hordes of merchandise lining the convenience store in Kumamoto station. Once you get over the initial shock / surprise from the Kumamon laden station, you can start exploring the city in earnest. First stop will likely be Kumamoto Castle, which was partially destroyed during the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. Visitors can get there by taking the city tram route A towards Kumamoto Castle Stop. Visitors can either use one of the many transportation cards on the tram (eg. SUICA, NIMOCA, ICOCA etc) or buy a one day pass for 500 yen at Kumamoto Station Tourist Information Center. As a bonus, the one day pass also offers some discounts in local stores. Nagasaki city is one of the most unique cities of Japan, from it's western inspired architecture to it's buildings on the rolling hillside, there are plenty of places to visit in Nagasaki for visitors of Kyushu. Take the Nagasaki Shinkansen
Kagoshima is the southernmost prefecture on the main island of Japan.
It has also the dubious distinction of being quite a risky place to live, mainly due to the active volcano called Sakurajima just a few kilometers from the city centre of Kagoshima Chuo (about 15km straight line distance). Kagoshima therefore has a dust problem from the volcano constantly spewing out smoke. Nevertheless, it is generally safe to visit, and there is even an active tourism programme with Sakurajima as the epicentre. |
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