Getting Oriented in Kyushu

Kyushu lies west and south of Tokyo, with Fukuoka in the north, Nagasaki on the west coast, and the central city of Kumamoto. Aso-san, Takachiho, and Kagoshima make good side trips. Ibusuki is famous for its hot-sand baths.

• Fukuoka. Dining, shopping, and nightlife.
• Yufuin. Hot-springs resort beneath the Yufu-dake mountain.
• Nagasaki. You'll see the spirit of entrepreneurship that helped the city revive after World War II.
• Kumamoto and Takachiho. Kumamoto's 17th-century castle and the Suizen-ji Joju-en garden are highlights, plus spiritual retreat Takachiho.
• Aso-san (Mt. Aso). Aso National Park has five volcanic peaks inside the world's largest caldera.
• Kagoshima. Hot-sand baths and beaches are found along the southern reaches of the prefecture.
• Kirishima-yaku Kokuritsu Koen. This national park is one of the most sacred places in the country.