It’s not just about Kumamon (the Kumamoto bear)! 9 Must-Visit Spots in Kyushu, Japan for Food, Fun & Adventure

Text & Photos /Littledraw

Beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hokkaido, and Okinawa, Kyushu is also a great choice. So what’s fun to do in Kyushu?

【Kyushu Travel Checklist】Must-Visit Attractions:

1) Pick Fresh Strawberries
In Hong Kong, buying a box of Fukuoka strawberries can easily cost over a hundred dollars, but here you can pick strawberries for an hour at the same price — basically an all-you-can-pick strawberry bonanza. It’s truly tempting. However, these farm stays are only open to visitors during the harvest season. If you’re visiting Fukuoka from December to May, don’t miss this gem — be sure to book in advance though.

2) Taste Hakata Ramen
If you're looking for delicious food, head to the Nakasu area to try the famous Hakata ramen. Canal City Hakata offers a complete range of shopping, dining, movies, and hotels, but most notably, it features a Ramen Stadium that brings together eight top ramen shops from across the country. Customers can vote for their favorite after trying them out — shops with fewer votes get eliminated, ensuring both taste and service are “top-notch.”

3) Visit Yatai (Street Stalls)
Fukuoka’s ramen is famous, and yatai (street food stalls) are also a popular attraction. Wander the streets at night and you’ll see these stalls, mostly clustered around Nakasu and Tenjin. The yatai in Nakasu line the canals — end your day with some ramen, yakitori, mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and beer. Go out with an ultra-rich and indulgent meal to wrap up your journey.

4) Meet Kumamon in Kumamoto
Kumamon fans will go wild in Kumamoto — you’ll spot the bear mascot everywhere. Kumamon plush toys even make public appearances around town, giving you the chance to “wildly capture” a snapshot with ease.

5) Soak in Hot Springs
Chikushino: The Yufuin area features a renowned ancient hot spring town with over 1,300 years of history. If you’re not staying at a ryokan, visit public bathhouses like “Hakata Yu” and “Gozen Yu” to enjoy a variety of hot springs.

Beppu: Located in central Oita Prefecture, it’s a famous hot spring destination. Beppu Hell is a tourist hot spring that draws many visitors. With its abundant hot springs, Beppu has numerous hot spring resorts. The eight major hot springs — known as the Beppu Hatto — include Myoban, Kankaiji, Shirahama, Kannawa, Sokokura, Beppu, Hamawaki, and Kamegawa, each offering different types and therapeutic benefits.

6) Visit Mount Aso
Mount Aso is the world’s largest caldera, and its central peaks — Mt. Taka, Mt. Naka, Mt. Eboshi, Mt. Kishima, and Mt. Neko — are collectively known as the “Aso Five Peaks,” offering spectacular scenery.

7) Take a Scenic Railway Tour
Take a unique railway tour around Kyushu — it’s guaranteed to be a blast.

8) Try Saga Beef
Venture away from tourist areas and explore the backstreets — it's time to “discover the story of Saga beef.” The only reason to go to Saga is to eat Saga beef. The sizzle of beef on the teppanyaki grill is simply irresistible.

9) Shop Around Tenjin & Hakata
Tenjin is Fukuoka’s busiest commercial district. If you’re a shopaholic, just exploring Tenjin alone could take two or three days. There are over ten department stores, including Daimaru, Mitsukoshi, Tenjin Iwataya Main Store, and Loft. For more affordable finds, don’t miss the Tenjin Underground Mall — the largest underground shopping street in Kyushu, spanning approximately 600 meters with over 150 shops, and connected to Tenjin Subway Station, Tenjin-Minami Station, and Nishitetsu Tenjin. You might shop till you drop.

And the Chikushi-dori area is full of cafes, restaurants, fashion boutiques, and variety stores — all great value and beloved by local youth.

Author: Littledraw
Blog:http://littledraw.blogspot.hk/
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