Friends of Japan Series: Open your mind to the wonders of Kyushu - Zaynab Nakhid

Whenever a tourist wants to come to Japan they will call and ask me for advice. Advice on the same three places each time; Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. While I don’t deny that they are exciting places to see with the regular touristy things laid out for tourists, there is so much more to Japan than just, and I say it again, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. There are the ski slopes in Hokkaido, the deep valleys of Shikoku, the crystal clear beaches of Okinawa and the most beautiful of them all, the wonderful rustic charm of Kyushu.
 

If you can spare some time from your trip to discover hidden places in Japan I must recommend coming to Kyushu. The southernmost tip of the main island of Japan, Kyushu is hardly given credit for its wonderful hidden treasures. Tickets from Narita to Fukuoka or Kumamoto can go for as low as ¥13,140 ($824TTD) round trip. Each of the 7 prefectures have their own domestic airport but are also connected to each other through highway buses, regular trains and the Shinkansen (I do not recommend taking a taxi anywhere in Japan besides Okinawa).
 

Each prefecture has something for each person which I will break down one by one.
 

Kagoshima- famous for 黒豚 (black pork). Kagoshima put in a bid to host the Trinidad and Tobago national team for their training for the Olympic games 2020. I know Kagoshima for its beautiful beaches which I can confidently say is on par with those of Okinawa. My recommendation: Ajirohama beach.
 

Miyazaki- the land of the Gods. Their famous omiyage are mango flavoured sweets. Miyazaki prefecture is widely known for Takachiho Gorge, which is 10 minutes from the cave of Amaterasu. My recommendation: Sun Messe. It is a place with replicas of the Easter Island Moai.
 

Kumamoto- my home. Also famous for Mt. Aso which is in turn famous for their Akaushi (red cows). I have many recommendations for this prefecture. Ashikita beach, Mt. Aso and Kusasenri, Kikuchi Gorge and The senbonzakura and Isshingyo of Takamori- you will have to go during Sakura season to see this.
 

Oita- the Onsen prefecture. Oita has some amazing Onsen . The prefecture’s volcanic activity caused the formation of the hells of Beppu which are also hot springs that are too hot for bathing, but are pretty to look at. My recommendation: Umi Jigoku
 

Saga- Saga’s festivals are much more famous than actual sightseeing spots. However, the town of Karatsu and the Karatsu Kunchi festival are always exciting to see. My recommendation: Treasure hunting for Porcelain in the Arita Porcelain Warehouse.
 

Nagasaki- Nagasaki is famous for being the prefecture that opened up Japan to the world. It is a well-known historical hub and is famous for the Nagasaki lantern festival. My recommendation: Huis Ten Bosch.
 

Fukuoka- my favourite city in Japan. It has all the conveniences of Tokyo and Osaka but isn’t as crowded. To rival Kyoto it also has a lot of history. Fukuoka was the birthplace of rice cultivation in Japan. My recommendation: Dazaifu Shrine.


Friends of Japan Series: Open your mind to the wonders of Kyushu (Japanese Embassy Facebook)


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