Experience mobile aesthetics: A journey on Kyushu’s 3 top sightseeing trains

▲ The Yufuin-no-Mori sightseeing train. (Photo / provided by Cola Tours, the same below)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Japan has always been a favorite travel destination for Taiwanese, and Kyushu—with its mild climate, warm hospitality, just a 2-hour flight, and an airport right next to the city—is even more beloved. With its highly developed railway system, Kyushu’s uniquely themed sightseeing trains are a must-do for visitors.

A rail journey means that getting from one attraction to another is not just about moving from point A to B—the beautiful scenery inside and outside the train windows awaits travelers’ careful appreciation. Beppu, known as the prefecture of hot springs, Kumamoto endorsed by the super-popular Kumamon, and Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Nagasaki are all popular destinations accessible via these sightseeing trains.

Oita Prefecture: “Yufuin-no-Mori”
The “Yufuin-no-Mori,” traveling from Hakata to Oita Prefecture, is the most well-known sightseeing train among both domestic and international tourists. The interior features extensive wooden decor, elegant and stylish like an antique Western shop, with an open-plan salon, warm lighting, and sleek, simple lines—making the train feel like a villa moving through the forest, gliding quietly from the bustling city into the deep mountains.

Arrive at Yufuin Onsen, Japan’s top vacation spot as voted by office ladies. Stroll through this tranquil hot spring town, and don’t miss the famous Swiss roll shop B-Speak. With charming specialty shops along the way, you’ll eventually reach Kinrin Lake, which shimmers like a fairyland dream, surrounded by white mist. It gets its name from the golden, fish-scale-like shimmer on the water’s surface during sunset. On cooler mornings, you might even catch the lake enveloped in a misty veil.

▲ Kumamoto Castle.

Kumamoto: “Aso Boy!”
Hop on the “Aso Boy!” and dive into Kumamoto’s natural embrace. With only four cars, even local Japanese travelers often struggle to get tickets. The large windows frame the magnificent views of the Aso region in Kumamoto. This train is truly a running toy: a wooden ball pit, parent-child seating with side-by-side big and small chairs, and a lounge area for both adults and children to enjoy together. Limited-edition merchandise featuring the train’s adorable mascot, the black dog “KURO,” and exclusive train bento boxes are only available on board—making it a dream train loved by families.

In Kumamoto, keep an eye out for Kumamon, Japan’s most famous mascot. Visit Kumamoto Castle, known as the Ginkgo City, to admire the ginkgo trees. Alongside Osaka Castle and Himeji Castle, Kumamoto Castle is one of Japan’s Three Great Castles. Built using beautiful curves, stone walls, and the natural terrain with unique castle-building techniques, it has been designated as a National Special Historic Site and is definitely worth a visit.

▲ Kumamoto Castle, along with Nagoya Castle and Himeji Castle, is one of Japan’s Three Great Castles, and is also called the Ginkgo City because of the many ginkgo trees planted within.

Nagasaki: “Limited Express Huis Ten Bosch”
To reach a castle, you need a fine steed. The “Limited Express Huis Ten Bosch,” painted with red and green hues and decorated with the prestigious crests of Huis Ten Bosch, departs from Hakata Station and travels to the European-style dreamland of Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki.

Huis Ten Bosch’s most famous event, “Kingdom of Light,” will this year feature Japan’s tallest light waterfall—a 66-meter cascade projected from the De Muntel Tower using high-tech projection techniques, creating a colorful waterfall pouring down, then flowing into the vast blue sea of lights in the Art Garden, creating a fantastical scene. “Begonia of Light” showcases around 1000 varieties and 15,000 begonias, including rare and new species from Japan and abroad, all blooming in competition. Whether day or night, it offers different beautiful atmospheres.

▲ Huis Ten Bosch’s most famous event, “Kingdom of Light.”

Cola Tours recommends these highlighted itineraries“Kyushu Railway Trip ~ Dual Hot Springs, Skywalk, Beppu Ropeway, Yufuin-no-Mori Train (5 days),” and “Shining Under the Stars ~ Huis Ten Bosch, Skywalk, Aso Legends, Top 100 Hot Springs (5 days).”For independent travelers, choose “Shining Fukuoka (shopping, sundries, food) ~ Japan’s No. 1 Beauty Hot Spring, JR Railway Free Travel (5 days),” which includes airfare, accommodation, and a 3-day JR Northern Kyushu Pass.