Sightseeing in Kyushu is a trip to Japanese history and hot springs! What are the recommended spots?

The Kyushu area where tourists from overseas are increasing in recent years. It is attracting attention as a tourist spot alongside Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hokkaido.

Here, while unraveling the charm of Kyushu with the history of Japan, we introduce the highlights of each of the seven prefectures of Kyushu and the places you want to visit for sightseeing. Please use this as a reference when planning your trip to Kyushu or when communicating the charm of Kyushu overseas.

Kyushu is actually 7 prefectures in "Kyushu"! why! ??

Although it is called "Kyushu", there are only seven prefectures in the Kyushu area. Why is it called Kyushu instead of "Seven States"? Let's take a look at the historical role of Kyushu in Japan and an overview of the seven prefectures of Kyushu.

Surprisingly deep history of Kyushu

Surrounded by the sea, the Kyushu region has long been deeply involved with Asian countries such as China and the Korean Peninsula. It is said that Yamatai country, which appears in the Wei Shi Yajinden, was also in Kyushu, and it is also in Kyushu that there are lands such as Hyuga and Takachiho that are deeply connected to Japanese mythology.

In modern times, it also served as a window for the cultures of European countries such as Dejima in Nagasaki and Christianity.

Was there nine provinces of Japan until the early Meiji era?

Currently, Kyushu has seven prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima, but this is because the abandoned feudal clan was relocated to seven prefectures. In fact, until the early Meiji era, it was divided into nine countries such as "Chikuzen," "Chikugo," "Satsuma," and "Osumi."What is called "Kyushu" is a remnant of this nine-country era.

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Prefectures belonging to Kyushu and their characteristics

Let's introduce the features and highlights of the seven prefectures in Kyushu.

Fukuoka Prefecture

Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, which is also the gateway to Kyushu, has the largest population in Kyushu. It is famous that gourmet foods such as Hakata ramen, mentaiko, and motsunabe are popular, and many of you may know Hakata Gion Yamakasa and Dazaifu Tenmangu, which are the representative festivals of Hakata.

Saga Prefecture

In Saga Prefecture, located in the northwest of Kyushu, you can enjoy Japanese culture such as Arita porcelain and Yoshinogari ruins. Ureshino Onsen is one of the three hot springs with beautiful skin in Japan, and is also famous as a hot spring resort.

Kumamoto Prefecture

Kumamoto Prefecture, which is familiar with "Kumamon", is known for its spectacular natural scenery such as Mt. Aso and the Five Bridges of Amakusa. Gourmet dishes that make the most of the ingredients, such as horse meat dishes and Ikinari dango, are also popular.

Nagasaki Prefecture

Nagasaki Prefecture, which was once the window for connecting foreign cultures, is also known as a port town, and you can enjoy beautiful buildings such as exotic Western-style buildings and Gothic churches. Nagasaki Prefecture also has Gunkanjima (Hashima), where the closed coal mining city remains.

Oita Prefecture

Oita Prefecture, which is located on the east side of Fukuoka and has famous hot springs of various sizes such as Beppu and Yufuin, is also called "Onsen Prefecture". In addition to visiting famous hot springs, you can also enjoy seafood and toriten.

Miyazaki prefecture

Miyazaki Prefecture, located in the southeastern part of Kyushu, is popular for mysterious sightseeing spots such as Takachiho Gorge and Udo Shrine, where you can feel a deep connection with Japanese mythology. It is also known as a famous mango producing area.

Kagoshima prefecture

Kagoshima Prefecture, which is located at the southernmost tip of Kyushu and is also known as the volcano "Sakurajima," is also a city that produced many great men at the end of the Edo period. It is also the birthplace of the shaved ice "Shirokuma" and is famous for its black pork dishes.

Recommended spots where you can enjoy hot springs and night views while sightseeing in Kyushu!

Among the sightseeing spots that you can enjoy in Kyushu, we will pick up and introduce the places where you can enjoy the night view and hot springs.

Sightseeing spots and recommended spots in Kyushu where you can enjoy the night view

"Inasayama" in Nagasaki Prefecture is one of the most beautiful night views in Japan. You can get a panoramic view of Nagasaki by car during the day and by car at night. Similarly, Nagasaki's theme park "Huis Ten Bosch" is also a spot with beautiful illumination at night. At "Mojiko Retro" in Fukuoka, you can enjoy the retro cityscape of the Taisho era and the night view of the harbor.

Sightseeing spots and recommended spots in Kyushu where you can enjoy hot springs

Speaking of hot springs, you cannot miss the "Beppu Onsen" and "Yufuin" in Oita Prefecture. Beppu boasts the largest number of hot springs and the largest amount of hot springs in Japan, and you can enjoy various spring qualities. For a slightly unusual hot spring, Ibusuki Onsen in Kagoshima is also recommended. The "sand bath" buried in the sand warms up to the core of the body.

Historical facilities and buildings you want to visit for sightseeing in Kyushu

When sightseeing in Kyushu, you also want to visit tourist facilities that convey the history of Japan. Some of the recommended historical facilities and structures include:

Yoshinogari Ruins

The Yoshinogari Ruins, located in Kanzaki District, Saga Prefecture, are valuable ruins that retain the pit dwellings of the Jomon period. There is also a vast Yoshinogari Park in the vicinity, making it a spot where you can enjoy nature, history, and culture at the same time, such as farming experiences.

Peace Memorial Park

Like Hiroshima, Nagasaki, where the atomic bomb was dropped, has a Peace Memorial Park. One of the must-visit places to remember the history and sorrow of the war, such as the Peace Statue, which means the threat and peace of the atomic bomb, and the Fountain of Peace.

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Hashima (Gunkanjima)

Hashima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture, commonly known as "Gunkanjima," is a place where the once prosperous coal mining city still remains. The ruined buildings scattered throughout the island will give you a valuable experience of the prosperity of the past and the passage of time.

Kumamoto Castle

Kumamoto Castle, built by Kiyomasa Kato, is one of the most famous castles in Japan as well as in Kyushu. Although the castle tower and stone walls were damaged by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, the appearance of black plaster has a strong presence even from a distance, and it has become a symbol of earthquake reconstruction.

Summary

There are currently seven prefectures in the Kyushu area, but it is called "Kyushu" because there were nine countries in the past. Kyushu, which has a deep connection with Japanese mythology and has a history of prospering as a window for foreign cultures, has many attractions such as hot springs, night views, and historic buildings. Why don't you enjoy your trip to Kyushu by referring to the contents introduced this time?

This article is a partial re-edit of the article published in Nihongo Biyori by KARUTA.
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