Japan Guide
Kyūshū
Japan's third largest island, KYŪSHŪ, lies off the south end of Honshū, surrounded by a spray of smaller islands which trail off in a long arc across the East China Sea. It's a relaxed, uncomplicated place, with its own distinctive character and enough variety to make it a feasible holiday destination on its own. Though Kyūshū has no major sights, there's something for everyone here, from dynamic cities to ancient folk dances, grumbling volcanoes and steaming hot-spring baths. It's perfectly possible to just scoot round the main cities in a week, but you'll need more like two to do the region justice, allowing time for the splendid mountainous interior and a few of the more far-flung islands.
Closer to Korea than Tokyo, Kyūshū has long had close links with the Asian mainland, and its chief city, Fukuoka, is an important regional hub. An energetic city on the island's heavily developed north coast, Fukuoka is worth a stop for its museums, modern architecture and vibrant nightlife. If you've only got a couple of days on Kyūshū, however, Nagasaki represents the best all-round destination. Though its prime draw is the A-Bomb museum and related sights, the city also has a picturesque harbour setting, a laid-back, cosmopolitan air and a spattering of temples and historical museums. From here it's a short hop east to Kumamoto, famous for its castle and landscaped garden, and the empty, rolling uplands of central Kyūshū beyond. Dominated by the spluttering, smouldering cone of Aso-san, this is great hiking country, while hot-spring enthusiasts will also be in their element.
The island's southern districts contain more on the same theme – volcanoes, onsen and magnificent scenery. Highlights include Sakurajima, one of the world's most active volcanoes, which looms over the city of Kagoshima. After this, the perfect tonic is provided by the lush island of Yakushima, roughly 100km south of Kyūshū, designated a World Heritage Site in honour of its towering, thousand-year-old cedar trees.
Highlights
1 Fukuoka Slurp a bowl of ramen noodles at one of the open-air yatai stalls along the Tenjin river.
2 Dazaifu Pay homage to the god of learning, then visit an informative new history museum or take a dip in a nearby onsen.
3 Aso-san The peaks of this active volcano offer great hiking and superb views across the largest caldera in the world.
4 Takachiho Go boating through a gorge on the emerald-green Gokase-gawa, then watch the gods cavort at a kagura performance in this beguiling mountain village.
5 Usuki Contemplate Japan's finest stone-carved Buddhas, sitting serenely in their wooded valley for more than seven hundred years.
6 Furusato Onsen Take a yukata-clad soak at this sacred hot spring on Sakurajima, dedicated to a local dragon god.
7 Yakushima Go hiking in the rainiest place in Japan, through lush green forests up to the ancient yaku-sugi cedars, some of the oldest trees in the world.
8 Sakura-sakura Onsen This beautiful hot-spring resort in Kirishima is popular for its skin-softening mud baths and idyllic rotemburo.
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