Kyushu

The Kyushu region is the 3^rd largest of the islands that make up Japan and is home of the early beginnings of Japanese civilization. Kyushu is therefore an area that is rich in history but also has modern cities and beautiful nature. In total there are seven prefectures in the Kyushu region, they are Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima.

The top destinations for travelers in Kyushu, broken down by prefecture, are:

• Fukuoka Prefecture:
  • Fukuoka – the largest city in Kyushu and an historic harbour city.
  • Dazaifu – this small city was established in the 7^th century and was the administrative center of Kyushu for more than 500 years. With this history major temples and shrines can be found throughout the city
• Saga Prefecture:
  • Yoshinogari Historical Park – an archaeological site with artifacts from the Yayoi Period (300 BC to 300 AD)
  • Arita and Imari – these areas are best known for their pottery, and where porcelain was first produced in Japan 400 years ago
  • Takeo Onsen – a hot spring town rumoured to has a history of onsens dating back 1300 years
• Nagasaki Prefecture:
  • Nagasaki – a major port city for Japan as it is one of the closest ports to the Asian mainland. Nagasaki is also historically known for the atomic bomb dropped on the city on August 9^th, 1945. The Nagasaki Peace Park commemorates this tragic event.
• Kumamoto Prefecture:
  • Kumamoto – the capital of Kumamoto Prefecture and home to Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Garden
  • Aso – An active volcano
  • Kurokawa Onsen – a beautiful onsen town in Japan just 20km north of Mount Aso
• Oita Prefecture:
  • Beppu – one of Japan’s top hot spring resorts with baths of all types (hot water, mud, sand, and steam). Also, home to Takasakiyama Monkey Park, a monkey reserve at the base of Mount Takasaki
• Miyazaki Prefecture:
  • Takachiho – a town in norther Miyazaki Prefecture with deep roots in Japanese mythology. This town also has Takachiho Gorge created by volcanic blasts with a 17-meter-high waterfall dropping into the Gokase River.
  • Udo Shrine – set in a cave on the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean, this shrine is dedicated to Yamasachihiko, the father of Emperor Jimmu, the mythical first emperor of Japan.
• Kagoshima Prefecture:
  • Yakushima – a subtropical island off the southern coast of Kyushu. A vast cedar forest that contains some of Japan’s oldest living trees.