Kyushu and Okinawa travel guide: onsen, ramen and islands

Map of Kyushu & Okinawa

Tap a prefecture for its guide.

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Prefectures in Kyushu & Okinawa

Pick a prefecture for its guide, or jump straight to a town.

Fukuoka福岡県39 places to see · 2 town guidesKyushu's gateway city of yatai food stalls and tonkotsu ramen, with Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine and the canals of Yanagawa nearby.
- Hakata Ward, Fukuoka
- Chuo Ward, Fukuoka
Saga佐賀県24 places to see · 1 town guideA small, quiet prefecture of porcelain towns like Arita and Imari, the Yutoku Inari shrine, Karatsu's coast and a famous hot air balloon festival.
- Saga City
Nagasaki長崎県35 places to see · 2 town guidesA harbour city shaped by centuries of trade with China and Europe, with Glover Garden, the Peace Park, Gunkanjima and a famous night view.
- Shinkamigoto
- Nagasaki City
Kumamoto熊本県18 places to seeCentral Kyushu of Kumamoto Castle, the vast Mount Aso caldera, the onsen town of Kurokawa and the black bear mascot Kumamon.
Oita大分県29 places to see · 1 town guideJapan's hot spring capital, with Beppu's steaming 'hells', the countryside resort of Yufuin and more onsen sources than any other prefecture.
- Oita City
Miyazaki宮崎県23 places to see · 1 town guideSunny south-eastern Kyushu of palm-lined coast, Takachiho Gorge, myth-filled shrines and chicken nanban.
- Miyazaki City
High waves warningKagoshima鹿児島県25 places to see · 1 town guideSouthern Kyushu facing the active Sakurajima volcano, with Ibusuki's sand baths, the ancient cedar forests of Yakushima and black pork.
- Kagoshima
Typhoon danger warningOkinawa沖縄県21 places to see · 1 town guideJapan's subtropical island chain, with coral beaches, the Ryukyu culture of Shuri, Churaumi Aquarium and a slower island pace.
- Naha

Taste of Kyushu & Okinawa

Foods whose names are protected in Japan. If the label carries the name, it really comes from here.

Traditional crafts of Kyushu & Okinawa

Officially recognised crafts that are still made by hand. A good place to start when you look for souvenirs.

Weather across Kyushu & Okinawa today

Today's forecast for the main cities. Tap a city for its 7-day forecast and what to wear.

Weather in all of Japan

Explore by interest

Japan Heritage stories

Local history told as a route you can follow, with the places that go with it.

Good to know

Fukuoka is the usual gateway to Kyushu, and the Kyushu Shinkansen runs south to Kagoshima.
Okinawa is reached by plane; its rainy season usually starts in May, earlier than the rest of Japan.
Typhoons can affect Okinawa and southern Kyushu from summer into autumn, so keep plans flexible.

Questions travellers ask

How do I get to Kyushu and get around?

Fukuoka is the gateway: its airport is minutes from the city by subway, and Hakata Station ends the Sanyo Shinkansen from Osaka and Hiroshima. The Kyushu Shinkansen continues south to Kumamoto and Kagoshima, and the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen serves Nagasaki. A JR Kyushu pass covers most trains on the island.

How do I get to Okinawa?

Only by air or ferry: fly to Naha from Tokyo, Osaka or Fukuoka, or directly from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, China or Singapore. Connecting flights reach Ishigaki and Miyako. On the main island, a rental car is the easiest way to get around.

What is there to see in Kyushu and Okinawa?

Hot springs in Beppu and Yufuin, Fukuoka's yatai food stalls, Nagasaki's history, Mt. Aso's caldera, Takachiho Gorge, Sakurajima volcano and Yakushima's ancient forests. Okinawa adds beaches, coral reefs and Ryukyu culture; beach season runs from about June to October.