Dear all, I had just completed updating my travel blog on my Kyushu trip last year. Most travelers head to the big cities like Kyoto and Tokyo, but IMHO Kyushu is a hidden gem waiting to be uncovered. Hopefully my blog will get you interested in visiting this part of Japan. Please feel free to comment and critic!
http://www.travelathousandmiles.com/kyushu/

styrx, great Kyushu blog, thanks for sharing! I was in Kyushu last spring and also visited Beppu, Yufuin, and Nagasaki among other places. I stayed in the Iyotomi in Yufuin as well. I really enjoyed Kyushu!

Very good report and lovely photographs. Enjoyed reading it as I will be going there very soon.
How was the weather?
I love shopping and always like to find out if you were able to purchase something truly unique in this area.
Have a great day.

Styrx: I'm a former "resident" of Beppu, Kyushu...I went back on a return visit after a lapse of 60 years! and I described it in this thread. I will also post some pix of both my 2007 re-visit and my "residency" in 1946-1948, right after the war.

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...e-in-beppu.cfm

stuart tower

nice report thanks!

Aloha!

@Mara, what a coincidence you also stayed at Iyotomi!  We were stuffed to the fullest there. Amazing Japanese hospitality and cuisine even though we didn't speak Japanese.
@ileen, we were there during august so the temperature was pretty much like 30 degree during the day, when are you leaving for your trip? Fukuoka has gotten many big shopping centre, but if you are into mostly handicrafts, yufuin has gotten a lot of quaint artist shops that may be interesting to you.
@tower 'Sir', my utmost respect to you and your life story. It must have been an emotional trip going back to beppu after so many years?

great report, thanks...

what was the inn costs?

styrx:
Beppu in 2007 in 1946-48:

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/BeppuEventTwo#

You're very much correct that Kyushu is often overlooked in the stampede for Kyoto. But you just went to Canal City and the Dome? You missed out on the best of Fukuoka City. Ohori Park is very nice as well as Nishi Park nearby, plus the Fukuoka Tower offers a great view and there are many temples in the Gion Area.
Have a look at:

http://www.thejapanfaq.com/fukpic.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/fukuoka/

I hope you can see more next time.

styrx:

If you'll notice the only duplicate pic is of the Beppu Railroad Station. I didn't have time to visit the "hells"..the only thing I remember from 60 years ago is that the "hells" of Beppu were off limits to us young troops and were fllthy from neglect caused by the war. The streets of Beppu ran with open sewer water in 1946..now Beppu is a handsome little city. Change sometimes works well..and it did in Japan for sure.


stu

Thanks for the trip report.
My wife and I will be tracing some of your steps in May
Any advice on the connecting bus route to Kurokawa?
Early ticket purchase or frequency of that route?
Great to get a look at the spots we'll be going to.

Bookmarking as am currently planning Kyushu trip. Shall sit back and enjoy reading the report this evening.

Thanks for the nice blog. Could you please share how much the ryokans and onsens cost? We're thinking of going to Kyushu in March. Thanks!

Ok..........each time I read a blog about Japan I regret not being born there. It's just too wonderful. My friends each year invite me to go see them so eventually I saved money, bought the ticket at a good price on flysky.ro and I don't have to reject their invites anymore. Japan <3 \ ^ o ^ / <3