Kyushu Travel Guide: Visiting the Hidden Gems of Japan

Kyushu is the third largest island in Japan and home to some of the nation's most stunning natural landscapes and cities. Despite its truly incredible potential as a tourist hub, the island remains unpopular among international tourists, which makes finding an English travel guide even more challenging—and inspiring me to share my personal experience of exploring Kyushu.

Due to Kyushu's vast landscape, you should start planning your itinerary by making smart decisions about where to enter and where to stay. Don't randomly choose your point of entry and accommodation. Stay close to public transport stations, especially if you're exploring different cities in Northern and Southern Kyushu.

If you’re only staying for a month or less, choosing only one region is highly recommended. In this guide, I will only focus on navigating around Northern Kyushu. Since Fukuoka is the largest city on the region, we decided to stay there the longest.

Most guides in Fukuoka suggest travelers to stay overnight in Tenjin, as you can easily access the famous yatai stalls and izakayas from there. However, if you're planning an all-out trip exploring several attractions, there's no better option than staying near Hakata Station.

JR Hakata Station

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Hakata Station is the main train station in Kyushu. Besides connecting you to several destinations in and out the island, the station also has plenty of malls where you can shop and eat.

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It only takes approximately a 15-minute bus ride to reach JR Hakata Station from Fukuoka Airport, and it won't cost you much. The bus fare is only 270 JPY (2 USD). Given how ideal it is to stay close to the station, the area is surrounded by luxury hotels that may be out of the budget.

So, how do you make this trip convenient and affordable? The key is always booking in advance, around 3 to 6 months before your flight. To avoid the risk of flight cancellation, book accommodations with free cancellation until at least up to a month before your stay.

During our trip, we stayed at Rakuten STAY Hakata Station North. We booked the apartment for five people, which featured two double beds and a single bed. An overnight stay cost us only 115 USD. The apartment had a fully equipped kitchen, which helped us save more money on food.

Rakuten STAY

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A family-friendly and affordable stay less than a 15-minute walk from JR Hakata Station and Hakata Bus Terminal.

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I also recommend this place because it has the most relaxing Japanese bathroom with a tub and shower, and a separate toilet room. It is definitely the perfect place to rest after a long day of walking along the streets of Kyushu.

We also stayed in an accommodation even closer to Hakata Station. If you're looking for a cheaper option and only traveling with friends or acquaintances, consider booking at N33 Hakata Sta Riverside. 

N.33 Hakata St. River Side

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An affordable accommodation within a short walk from JR Hakata Station and Hakata Bus Terminal. Ideal for young solo travelers and small groups.

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In terms of location, this is more convenient. It also has cozy beds and an aesthetic layout. However, you won't get to live your dream Japanese bathroom experience here, as the bathrooms are too small, similar to what you see in airplanes. I still recommend it because of the price and location.

If want something more budget-friendly, consider staying at Toyoko Inn Hakata Ekimae Gion. Besides its cheap rates and convenient location, it offers complimentary breakfast. 

TOYOKO INN hakata ekimae gion

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Of course, a part of deciding to stay near JR Hakata Station is that you’ve purchased a JR pass. By this point, if you haven't booked a rail pass, click below to see the price details of the passes available in Kyushu.

JR Kyushu Rail Pass

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We also planned to visit areas outside Kyushu, so instead of purchasing the regular JR Northern Kyushu Pass, we bought the 7-day Sanyo-San'in Northern Kyushu Pass—a rail pass that includes trips to both the Northern Kyushu and Sanyo-San'in areas. It covers trips to famous attractions, including Shimonoseki, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka, and more.

JR Sanyo-San in-Northern Kyushu Area Pass

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With the upcoming price increase of JR Lines, it is no longer cost-effective to purchase the rail pass. Don't worry! You’ll still get to see the best of Kyushu without it as long as you stay in Hakata Station, which is right next to Hakata Bus Terminal.

Hakata Bus Terminal

@marycrisostomo

If you're not in a hurry and want a more affordable transportation option than the JR Lines, book at Hakata Bus Terminal. It offers various trips that will take you to the best attractions in Kyushu and limited trips outside the island, including Shinjuku and Hiroshima.

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If you plan to depart outside Kyushu, Hakata Bus Terminal also offers trips to Shinjuku and Hiroshima.

KYUSHU TRAVEL ITINERARY

We limited our itinerary to visiting the cities and nature attractions that caught our attention the most during our research. I will soon create a more comprehensive guide to help you explore all the sites we've visited. For now, check out the itinerary below to see how we made the most of our rail pass.

Whether purchasing a JR Kyushu Pass or not, don't start your trip with a tiring itinerary. Instead, explore only the areas within the city where you've booked your accommodation. In our case, we explored Fukuoka on our first day. Before leaving Hakata Station to visit our first stop, we picked up our rail passes at the ticket office and booked our train tickets to get a reserved seat.

Note: Our 7-day Sanyo-San'in Northern Kyushu Pass started on the second day of our travel, as majority of our planned destinations on the first day did not require the use of a JR Pass.

Day 1: Fukuoka

- Nanzo-in Temple

- Kushida-jinja Shrine

- Kawabatadori Shopping Arcade

- Canal City 

- Tenjin Underground Mall

- Amu Plaza Hakata

- Hakata Hankyu 

- Kitte Hakata

Fukuoka

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Fukuoka houses several Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. You can find many around Hakata and Tenjin. If you want to see Japan's biggest reclining Buddha statue, visit Nanzo-in Temple. Furthermore, the city offers plenty of shopping malls, izakayas, and yatai stalls. If you're on a budget, find the food markets inside Amu Plaza Hakata, Hakata Hankyu, and Kitte Hakata instead of buying at convenience stores. You'll get a great deal there!

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Day 2: Nagasaki 

- Sofukuji Temple

- Nagasaki Peace Park

- Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

- Nagasaki Peace Statue

- Chinatown

- Meganebashi Bridge

- Fuchi Shrine

- Mt. Inasayama Observatory

Nagasaki

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You'll be surprised by what awaits you in Nagasaki. However, exploring this city would be challenging. Download the Japan Official Travel App to make your travel less stressful. Some bus stops are not yet updated, so research well before heading here. Despite the hassle, I assure you that you won't regret it. If you can stay for at least two days, don't hesitate to do so.

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Day 3: Yufuin

- Ride Yufuin no Mori Express Train (covered by JR Pass, reserve seats in advance)

- Yunotsubo Street

- Yufuin Floral Village

- Kinrin Lake

Yufuin, Oita

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Yufuin presents a magical view of Mount Yufu. If you find yourself amidst an exhaustive travel streak across Kyushu, a trip to Yufuin could be your rest day. Your only task here is to appreciate everything you see. I recommend staying overnight to have time bathing in an onsen.

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Day 4: Kumamoto

- Kumamoto Station

- Kumamoto Castle 

- Sakuranobaba Josaien

Kumamoto

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Kumamoto has vast natural landscapes that are difficult to reach without a car. If you ever visit this place, renting a private vehicle is the easiest option to explore the natural attractions in the area. During our visit, we only visited Kumamoto Castle and Sakuranobaba Josaien. Entering the museum inside the castle is quite an experience. Also, shopping at Kumamoto Station is a must, as prices of food and clothing are cheaper there.

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Day 5-7: Hiroshima

Including Hiroshima in your Northern Kyushu itinerary is ideal. In most countries, there are no direct flights to Hiroshima. Therefore, every visit to Japan requires a transfer to Hiroshima.

We tried to transfer from Kyoto to Hiroshima a few years ago, but it is quite far from Kyoto Station. Going to Hiroshima is closer from Hakata Station. You can also take a bus ride from Hakata Bus Terminal to Hiroshima if you're not in a hurry.

- Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)

- Okonomimura (an entire hall filled with Okonomiyaki shops)

- Shimada Suisan (Oyster restaurant near Miyajimaguchi Station)

- Miyajima Island, Itsukushima Shrine (stay here for at least two night

- Daishoin Temple

- Miyajima Ropeway

Hiroshima

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Hiroshima is one of Japan's most underrated gems. If you're a food lover, never miss the opportunity to experience Hiroshima's okonomiyaki and oysters.

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Day 8: Shimonoseki and Fukuoka

Before heading back to Hakata Station, don't forget to explore Shimonoseki to taste some of the best seafood in Japan. Head directly to Karato Market via bus. You can easily find a bus going directly to the market when you arrive at Shimonoseki Station.  

- Karato Fish Market

- Shimonoseki Municipal Aquarium Kaikyokan

Shimonoseki

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Shimonoseki is a famous destination for seafood lovers. It also features several European-style buildings and is known as a transportation hub.

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Start your shopping spree in Fukuoka. You can find several amazing shops and gadget stores surrounding Hakata Station.

Day 8-9: Fukuoka 

Wrap up your itinerary by saving the best spots in Fukuoka near the end of your travel. Visit Hakata Bus Terminal to know your options.

- Dazaifu

- Itoshima (Sakurai Shrine Futamigaura Torii)

- Marinoa City 

Day 10: Hakata Station

End your trip by navigating around Hakata Station. If you think you've explored it enough during your previous stays, you're probably wrong. Exploring it keeps on getting better every day. Find the cheapest restaurants and markets inside the three malls connected to the station so you'll know where to go on your next visit.

Our itinerary before arriving in Kyushu was packed with numerous destinations, which turned out to be a mistake. When you plan your trip, be sure to limit the number of destinations, as navigating Kyushu isn't as easy as in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, where attractions are just a few steps away from each other or a short train ride away. 

I'll be sharing more details about our Kyushu trip soon. If you find this guide helpful, don't hesitate to subscribe and give a tip!