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Areial view of Kirishima National Park
North Kyushu
Nagasaki is Kyushu’s best-known city, made
infamous on 9th August 1945 as the site of the
second atomic bomb. The understated Peace
Park and museum are a likely point of interest for
every visitor, but Nagasaki’s topography mercifully
protected the city from being totally destroyed
and today it is a vibrant, forward-looking place.
The blend of western and Japanese architecture
at the Glover Gardens and the foreign enclave of
Dejima show what living conditions were like for
those original Dutch residents, and the story of
Nagasaki’s secret Christians displays a darker side
of Japan. Travelling across Ariake Bay to
Kumamoto brings you to one of the country’s
finest castles, with its excellent museum and
panoramic views. A short drive from here into
Kyushu’s wild interior is the vast and stunning
spread of the world’s largest caldera, with volcanic
Nagasaki Peace Park
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Mount Aso smouldering in the centre. To the
north-east of the Aso-Kuju National Park, the hot
spring resorts of Kurokawa and Yufuin offer a
tranquil and relaxing break from sightseeing.
OKONOYU RYOKAN, KUROKAWA
The Okunoyu ryokan is located in the famous
Kurokawa valley and receives its copious supply of
geothermal waters from the active volcano Kuju,
on which it sits. The ryokan is set in lush grounds,
adjacent to the Kurokawa River. Just off the main
street in Kurokawa, this ryokan’s surroundings
make it one of the most attractive in the valley.
Rooms are traditionally minimalist and the food
is sumptuous ryokan cuisine.
South Kyushu
For those with an interest in Kyushu’s turbulent
history, the warm and friendly city of Kagoshima
is a good place to visit. Birthplace of the famous
rebel Saigo Takamori, the city played a key role in
the Meiji Restoration and the subsequent Satsuma
Rebellion. Kagoshima boasts many historical sites
and one of the best gardens in Kyushu at Suizenji.
In the middle of the bay, Sakurajima, one of the
world’s most active volcanoes, spews out smoke
and ash with ominous frequency. Just an hour’s
drive from the city brings you to the heart of
Kirishima National Park, where you can hike
through the inspiring scenery before relaxing in
one of the many onsen resorts that dot the area.
Entrance to the Okunoyu Ryokan
Yakushima Island
One-fifth of Yakushima island is registered as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are as
many as six mountain peaks over 1,800 metres
high, including Miyanoura-dake, which at 1,935
metres above sea level is the highest mountain
in Kyushu and what gives the island its alternative
name of ‘Alps of the Ocean’ The island is said
to have one of the world’s highest precipitation
rates, with the heaviest rainfall in spring and
summer. The main draw is the Shiratani Unsuikyo
Ravine forest, which is home to the abundant
Yaku-sugi cedar trees which gave the island its
UNESCO listing in 1994. Some of the cedars are
said to date back more than 5,000 years and have
been given individual names, such as the oldest
cedar, the Jomon-sugi.