Top Reasons to Go to Kyushu

Diverse cities: Fukuoka has vibrant nightlife, Nagasaki exudes old-world charm, Kumamoto's castle dominates the city, and Kagoshima's palm trees calm travelers.

Gastronomy: Find the sought-after Hakata ramen in Fukuoka. Nagasaki has chanpon (seafood and vegetable noodle soup), and Kagoshima haskurobuta tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet).

Volcanoes and hot springs: Mt. Aso is notoriously active, as is Sakura-jima, across the bay from Kagoshima. Hot springs are found throughout Kyushu.

Getting into the wild: With its lava flows, outlying islands, rugged mountains, and national parks, Kyushu is an adventurer's dream. Most trails require only good shoes, water, and some time.

Remote access: Bullet trains now extend all the way to Kagoshima, and in another hour, you can be on the hot sand of Ibusuki's beaches.