Discovering Kyushu Island: A Hidden Gem in Japan for Singaporean Travelers

Experience the Best of Southern Japan Itinerary
Traveloka Accomodation
26 Jul 2023 - 5 min read

Kyushu Island is a popular tourist destination in Japan, renowned for its beautiful natural scenery, including mountains and hot springs. Additionally, it offers a wide variety of delicious local dishes, such as the world-famous Ichiran tonkotsu ramen. As Kyushu Island is quite large, it is essential to plan your itinerary in advance to ensure you make the most of your trip.

Where to go in Japan while going to Kyushu Island? Below are some area and activities you can use as references while in Japan.

Discovering Kyushu Island

Fukuoka City

Fukuoka Tower - Kyushu Island

Fukuoka City is the largest city on Kyushu Island and is popular for its vibrant nightlife, beautiful parks, and shopping centers. A must-visit destination for tourists is Fukuoka Tower, which offers a breathtaking view of Fukuoka City from its 234-meter height. Additionally, visitors should try Hakata-style ramen, a local specialty.

Top Attractions

1. Fukuoka Tower

Located on the seaside of Momochimana facing the Sea of Japan, Fukuoka Tower offers visitors a panoramic view of Fukuoka City and the Korean Peninsula.

2. Fukuoka Castle Ruins

Located in Maizuru Park, Fukuoka Castle Ruins was once the largest castle in Kyushu. Although now only ruins of walls and a few towers remain, many tourists still visit this site.

3. Ohori Park

Often called one of the most beautiful water parks in Japan, Ohori Park is home to many species, such as hundreds of birds and pine trees, making it an ideal location for relaxation.

Popular Cuisine

1. Hakata-style Ramen

A must-try local specialty in Fukuoka is Hakata-style ramen, a traditional Japanese dish consisting of very fine noodles topped with tonkotsu soup.

2. Fresh Seafood

Fresh seafood is one of Fukuoka's standout dishes, with popular restaurants including Haruyoshitei, Uoshin, Kaisen Sakaba Yokauo, and Isokko Shoten Hakata Branch.

Recommended Areas to Stay

Tenjin Area - Kyushu Island

1. Hakata-ku

Hakata-ku is a bustling area filled with modern malls, noodle shops, and shops, making it an ideal location for tourists.

2. Tenjin

Located riverside in Fukuoka, Tenjin is close to shopping and entertainment areas, making it a strategic location for visitors.

Nagasaki City

Nagasaki Peace Park - Kyushu Island

Nagasaki is a historical city in Japan known for its blend of Japanese and Western culture, making it a unique tourist destination. Popular attractions include Nagasaki Peace Park, Oura Church, and Glover Garden. Additionally, Nagasaki offers many delicious dishes that visitors should try.

Top Attractions

1. Nagasaki Peace Park

Built to commemorate the atomic bomb that fell on Nagasaki City in 1945, Nagasaki Peace Park consists of two parks and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, where visitors can learn about the reality of the atomic bomb.

2. Glover Garden

Glover Garden is a European-style garden located in Nagasaki, where visitors can enjoy beautiful colorful flower gardens. Located on a hill, the garden offers a direct view of the Nagasaki sea.

3. Oura Church

Oura Church is considered the oldest standing church in Japan. Visitors can visit the museum at Oura Church to learn about the history of Christianity in Japan.

Popular Cuisine

Champon - Kyushu Island

1. Champon

A must-try specialty of Nagasaki is champon, Chinese-style boiled noodles with pork, seafood, vegetables, and more. Champon broth boiled from pork bones or chicken bones makes it very tasty.

2. Castella Cake

Castella cake is a very soft Nagasaki specialty sponge cake, usually enjoyed with tea.

Recommended Areas to Stay

Dejima - Kyushu Island

1. Nagasaki Station Area

Staying in Nagasaki Station Area makes it easier for tourists to reach other places while on vacation.

2. Dejima

Dejima is an artificial island in Nagasaki, connected to Nagasaki, where many original colonial buildings can be found. There are many accommodations in this area that visitors can use as a place to stay.

Kumamoto City

Kumamoto Castle - Kyushu Island

Source: Instagram - @boe.sri

Kumamoto City is a charming city that is quite busy with tourist activity on Kyushu Island. It houses an amazing castle with beautiful views, Japanese-style Suizenji Garden with a beautiful pond, and many other attractions.

Top Attractions

1. Kumamoto Castle

Located in a strategic area in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Castle is one of the most visited tourist destinations. Within the castle grounds, there are other interesting historical and cultural sites, such as Lafcadio Hearn (also known as Koizumi Yakumo).

2. Suizenji Garden

Suizenji Garden is a very large Japanese-style landscape garden designed by Prince Hosokawa, where the Hosokawa family is buried.

3. Kumamoto City Zoo

Kumamoto City Zoo is a combination of a zoo and a park, where visitors can enjoy rare outdoor animals and beautiful plants in one location.

Popular Cuisine

1. Basashi (Horse Sashimi)

A unique specialty of Kumamoto is basashi, thinly sliced raw horse meat. This food is known as a delicacy in Japan and is a specialty of Kyushu.

2. Ikinari Dango (Sweet Potato Dumplings)

Ikinari Dango is a local specialty of Kumamoto made from sweet potatoes with anko, which has enough sweetness.

Recommended Areas to Stay

1. Kumamoto Station Area

Staying in the Kumamoto Station Area makes it easier for tourists to reach other places while on vacation.

2. Shimotori Shopping Street

Shimotori Shopping Street is the largest shopping arcade in Kumamoto and is recommended for tourists who like shopping.

Oita City

Beppu Onsen - Kyushu Island

Oita City is a popular coastal town on Kyushu Island that offers natural hot springs and delicious local dishes. There are many exciting activities to enjoy in Oita City, such as visiting Beppu Onsen, Usuki Stone Buddhas, and others.

Top Attractions

1. Beppu Onsen

Beppu Onsen is a very popular hot spring in Oita. Visitors can visit this place to relieve fatigue after traveling around Japan.

2. Usuki Stone Buddhas

The Usuki Stone Buddhas offer grandeur with Buddha statues carved into the cliffs around the Usuki area. These statues are very rare in Japan, as most of the Buddha statues in Japan are made of wood or metal.

3. Oita Prefectural Art Museum

The Oita Prefectural Art Museum contains more than 5,000 works of art on display, including shops and cafes, and greets visitors with a building exterior that resembles Oita's traditional bamboo crafts.

Popular Cuisine

1. Bungo Beef

Bungo Beef - Kyushu Island

Source: Instagram - @chinghermann

Bungo Beef is Japanese black wagyu beef popular in Oita. There are many restaurants in Oita that serve this menu, such as Zarai Oita, Bungo Steak SOMORI Beppu, Ginzantei Miyakomachi, and Sazikiza Oita Miyakomachi.

2. Toriten (Chicken Tempura)

Toriten or chicken tempura is a favorite snack in Oita, made of dough that is crispy on the outside and juicy chicken on the inside. Chicken tempura goes well with the orange ponzu sauce.

Recommended Areas to Stay

1. Beppu Onsen Area

Staying in the Beppu Onsen area makes it easier for tourists to reach other places while on vacation. This area has the largest number of volumes and springs in the world with the most onsen facilities in Japan.

2. Oita Station Area

Staying in the Oita Station area makes it easier for tourists to reach other places while on vacation.

Kyushu Island offers many exciting activities, such as visiting popular places, enjoying the beautiful scenery in the parks, or trying local specialties. Some cities that you can visit while on Kyushu Island include Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Oita.

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Each city on Kyushu Island has its charm, and exploring them can make your vacation in Japan unforgettable. To make your vacation more comfortable and easier, you can use the Traveloka application as a travel buddy, which can be used to buy flight tickets, book hotels, and make reservations for popular places.

In This Article

• Discovering Kyushu Island
• Fukuoka City
• Top Attractions
• Popular Cuisine
• Recommended Areas to Stay
• Nagasaki City
• Top Attractions
• Popular Cuisine
• Recommended Areas to Stay
• Kumamoto City
• Top Attractions
• Popular Cuisine
• Recommended Areas to Stay
• Oita City
• Top Attractions
• Popular Cuisine
• Recommended Areas to Stay
Hotels
Flights
Things to Do
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