Japan, I admit, I am addicted to you. It’s my 5th time and I know for a fact that I will be back for more.
In this series I will share my excitement and guide you through the Kyushu region. The magnificent mountains and scenic beaches which you can admire while dipping in a hot spring are just the start. Japan is a true paradise for nature lovers and geeky foodies. Even a boxed meal from the convenient stores here tastes so much better than most ridiculously overpriced Japanese restaurants outside of Japan. Be prepared to skip your diet and indulge in steaming bowls of ramen and experience the art of meticulously crafted sushi. In this country you can also enjoy heated toilet seats with built in sprinklers and vending machines that offer hot cans of rainbow boss coffee and real gold. You will see more Hello Kitty than police and the traffic lights chirp like a bird. The trains are shaped like a bullet and will take you from one sense of wonder to the other at an incredibly high speed. Wherever your trip in Japan takes you, it will be full of cuteness and convenience topped with the highest level of respect.
Discovering Kyushu by Train
Kyushu is the southernmost main island of Japan known for it’s active volcanoes, natural hot springs and beaches.
The Kyushu JR Rail Pass is the one of the easiest ways to explore this area. You can take unlimited (bullet) trains for 3 or 5 days so you don’t have to worry about buying expensive train tickets in Japan. The area covered by the rail pass is nicely marked in red (left bottom) on the map below:
Yufuin
Our journey starts on the Yufuin no mori train which feels more like sophisticated resort on wheels.
Beppu
From the peaceful city of Yufuin we make our way to the 7 hells of Beppu. Although I would not advice to take a dip in most of the brutally stunning pools.
Oita
The next stop is Oita where we explore the remains of a magnificent castle.
Kumamoto
Kumamoto thanks it’s well known name to the cartoon Kumamon. Initially this mascot was created in 2010 to attract more tourists to the area but things got a little bit out of control and the bear is world famous now.
Kitakyushu
After a visit to Kokura castle in Kitakyushu we wander in the Tanga market to pick up fresh sushi and hand made fish cakes.
Nagasaki
The stunning views from Glover garden in Nagasaki today contrasts with the horrific cruelty of the Atomic Bomb dropped at 11:02 August 1945.
Fukuoka
The Sakura express, one of those epic high speed bullet trains, arrives perfectly on time and takes us to Fukuoka where the famous ramen chain ichiran was born.
Dazaifu
A short train ride from Fukuoka we wander in Dazaifu. At the Tenmangu Shrine we cross a bridge over a pond shaped in the Japanese character for heart.
Stay tuned for a detailed Kyushu Travel Guide
In this post I barely scratched to surface of all the awesomeness you will experience in Kyushsu. So if this sounds like your cup of Macha then stay tuned for the next posts where we will explore each city in more detail 😉
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Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback 🙂