Kyushu is Japan at its most raw — active volcanoes, ancient hot spring towns, and a history that shaped the country. I have been exploring this island for years, and there is always something new around the next corner.
Latest Articles
Dazaifu Tenmangu — The Shrine of the God of Learning
Eight million people visit this shrine every year. Most of them are students. They come with the same desperate hope...
Kitakyushu — The City the Shinkansen Skips
Most people skip Kitakyushu. They fly into Fukuoka, take the Shinkansen through Kokura Station without stopping, and continue to Hiroshima...
Dejima — Japan's Window to the West for 200 Years
For 200 years, this was the only window between Japan and the Western world. A fan-shaped artificial island about the...
Kokura Gion Daiko — The Drum Festival That Shakes Kitakyushu
I heard it before I saw it. A deep, rolling thunder coming from somewhere behind the covered shopping arcades of...
Nagahama Ramen — The Original Fukuoka Ramen and Where to Eat It
The bowl arrived in under two minutes. I had barely sat down and the woman behind the counter was already...
Karatsu Kunchi — Giant Floats, Beach Pulls, and 400 Years of Festival Chaos
The dragon was 5 metres tall and it was coming straight at me. Fifty men in white happi coats were...
Kitsuki Castle and the Sandwich Town — Japan's Smallest Castle and Best-Preserved Samurai District
Most people who visit Beppu never make it to Kitsuki. It is only 25 kilometres up the coast, but the...
Unzen Jigoku — Walking Through Hell in Nagasaki
The ground was warm under my feet. Not metaphorically — actually warm. I was standing on a boardwalk at Unzen...
Kyokusui-no-en at Dazaifu Tenmangu — A Thousand-Year-Old Poetry Ceremony in Kyushu
I had no idea what was happening. Thirteen people in silk robes were sitting on red felt mats beside a...
Noh Theatre in Kyushu — An Ancient Art Form You Can Still See Today
The first time I watched a Noh performance, I did not understand a single word. The language was archaic Japanese,...
Hakata Ningyo — The 400-Year-Old Dolls of Fukuoka
I bought my first Hakata doll from an old man in a workshop behind Kushida Shrine. He had been making...
Karatsu — Castles, Pine Forests, and the Best Pottery in Kyushu
I found Karatsu by accident. I was trying to get from Fukuoka to Nagasaki and took the wrong train —...
Explore Kyushu
Destinations
City and area guides across all seven prefectures of Kyushu.
Things To Do
Attractions, activities, and experiences — from castle ruins to volcano hikes.
Onsen & Hot Springs
Kyushu has more hot springs than anywhere else in Japan.
Food & Drink
Tonkotsu ramen, Nagasaki champon, and Kyushu’s serious food scene.
Culture & History
Temples, shrines, castles, and the stories behind them.
Getting Around
Rail passes, buses, ferries, and how to get between places.