Kyushu & Okinawa

Travel guides for Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Kagoshima and Okinawa

Culture & Customs, Kumamoto, Kyushu & Okinawa

Kurokawa Onsen Guide: Japan’s Most Charming Riverside Hot Spring Village in Kumamoto

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Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto Prefecture is widely regarded as Japan’s most beautifully preserved hot spring village — 30 traditional ryokan lining a forested mountain valley, their lanterns reflected in the Tanoharu River, with steaming outdoor baths carved into rocky riverbanks and cedar forests. This complete guide covers how to get there, the famous nyuto tegata bath-hopping pass, where to stay, what to expect from kaiseki dining, the best seasons to visit, and everything first-time visitors need to know about this extraordinary Kyushu onsen destination.

Hidden Gems, Kyushu & Okinawa, Okinawa

Ishigaki Island Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Okinawa’s Remote Paradise

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Discover Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture — Japan’s tropical paradise with crystal-clear coral reefs, manta ray diving, traditional Yaeyama culture, and island-hopping adventures. This complete guide covers how to get there, the best beaches, snorkelling, day trips to Taketomi and Iriomote, where to eat and stay, and everything first-time visitors need to know.

Culture & Customs, Fukuoka, Kyushu & Okinawa

Dazaifu Guide: Tenmangu Shrine, Plum Blossoms and Fukuoka’s Ancient Cultural Capital

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Dazaifu is one of Kyushu’s most historically significant and beautiful destinations — home to the magnificent Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, 6,000 plum trees, the Kyushu National Museum, and the famous umegae mochi sweet. This complete guide covers how to get there from Fukuoka, what to see, where to eat, the best time to visit during plum blossom season, and practical tips for first-time visitors.

Hidden Gems, Kagoshima, Kyushu & Okinawa

Yakushima Guide: Ancient Cedar Forests, Wildlife and Japan’s Most Mystical UNESCO Island

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Yakushima is Japan’s most extraordinary UNESCO island — home to ancient cedar forests, wild deer and monkeys, sea turtle beaches, and the legendary Jomon Sugi tree, believed to be over 2,000 years old. This complete guide covers how to get there, the best hikes, wildlife encounters, where to stay and eat, and all the practical information first-time visitors need for an unforgettable trip.

Culture & Customs, Kyushu & Okinawa, Oita (Beppu Onsen)

Yufuin Travel Guide: Japan’s Most Romantic Onsen Town in Oita Prefecture

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Yufuin is Oita Prefecture’s most enchanting onsen resort town — a misty highland haven of ryokans, hot springs, and artisan shops beneath the twin peaks of Mount Yufu. This complete Yufuin travel guide covers how to get there, the best onsens and ryokans, what to eat, top attractions including Kinrin-ko Lake and Yunotsubo Kaido street, seasonal highlights, and essential practical tips for first-time visitors to this beloved Japanese escape.

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