29 Best Sights in Kyushu, Japan

This garden contains an impressive assortment of 19th-century Western houses. Greco-Roman porticoes and arches, wooden verandas, and other random elements of European architecture adorn the structures, which are often crowned with Japanese-style roofs. The main attraction is the 1863 mansion of Thomas Glover, a prominent Scottish merchant who introduced steam locomotives and industrial coal mining to Japan. Escalators whisk you up the steep hillside to the gardens, where you can admire the views of Nagasaki and the harbor.

The towering, ominous castle was completed in 1607, having been designed and built by Kiyomasa Kato (1562–1611), the area's feudal lord or daimyo. Gracefully curved, white-edged roofs rest atop the mysterious black keep. Look for slanted windows perfect for unleashing rock falls, one of many clever features to prevent intrusion. The top floor of the reconstructed castle commands an excellent view of Kumamoto, and exhibits include samurai weapons and armor arrayed to evoke images of the fearless warriors charging into battle. Kumamoto Castle was damaged by the earthquakes in April 2016. The restoration of the Tenshukaku Tower was completed in 2021, with other reconstruction continuing. Elevated views of the castle can be seen from the Kumamoto Castle Hotel and City Hall.

A dark but deeply spiritual place, this huge cave faces onto a small river. According to the local legends, the gods gathered here to figure out how to get Amaterasu out of her cave. Although not a Shinto practice, visitors now pile stones on top of each other to leave their wishes, with little stone piles creating an otherworldly atmosphere.

This shrine is located near the cave where the sun goddess Amaterasu hid until Ame-no-Uzume managed to lure her out. If you apply at the entrance, a Shinto priest will take you into the sacred precinct from where you can look across the valley towards the cave.

From Yufuin Station, take a five-minute taxi ride north to Kuuso-no-Mori, a hamlet in the forest that is home to a community of art galleries along the foot of Mt. Yufu. The Artejio Museum is a small modern art museum with a musical theme and minimalist vibe. The second floor has a library with books on art and music. Close by is the excellent Sansou Murata ryokan, the Yutaka Isozaki Gallery, and several cafés.

The Aso Volcano Museum on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the building is showing its age, and only a small percentage of the exhibits have English descriptions. However, the video presentation in the five-screen multipurpose hall has subtitles and is an interesting introduction to vulcanology and the various giant calderas around the world. On the first floor a new visitors center and café has a lot of fascinating information in English and Japanese. The museum and visitor center is beside the Kusasenri parking lot and rest area.

This bright-red shrine was built in 1893 by the Chinese residents of Nagasaki. The small Historical Museum of China displays artifacts on loan from Beijing's Palace Museum of Historical Treasures and National Museum of Chinese History.

When the government deported foreigners from Japan in the mid-17th century, Dutch traders were the only Westerners allowed to remain—but they were relegated to, and confined on, this artificial island in Nagasaki Harbor. Here you can see a 450-year-old mix of Dutch housing styles that is popular among Japanese tourists.

This cobblestone incline is a good place to wander on the way to Chinatown and Glover Garden. Dutch residents built the wooden houses here in the late 19th century. Many become shops and tearooms in summer. To get here, follow the street on the southeastern side of the Confucius Shrine.

This small island of Hashima, 12 miles southwest from the Nagasaki Port, was a coal mine with bleak concrete apartment blocks for 5,000 workers. From the sea, the industrial development made the island appear like a giant battleship. In 1974, when the mine closed, the entire island was abandoned. From April 2009 the island became open to the public. Yamasa Shipping offers Gunkanjima Landing & Cruise twice-daily at 9 and 1. Gunkanjima was featured in the James Bond movie Skyfall, where it appeared as the headquarters of Bond's nemesis Raoul Silva.

This laid-back seaside resort is at the southern tip of the Satsuma Peninsula and may provide your one chance to try a therapeutic hot-sand bath. At the Sand Bath Hall "SARAKU", you buy your ticket and rent a yukata, or cotton robe—the small towel is yours to keep—on the second floor of the main hall. In the locker room you change into your robe before heading to the beach. Stand in line and wait for an assistant to call you over. You'll be buried in hot, mildly sulfur-smelling sand. Aside from providing a powerful dose of joint-penetrating heat, the stimulating, sweaty experience is guaranteed to cleanse your pores and soften your skin.

The original shrine was established in the 6th century, but the present imposing structure was built under the patronage of the Shimazu clan in 1715. Wonderfully appointed and occupying an incredible setting, it has views as far away as Sakura-jima. The shrine, well worth a visit, is dedicated to Ninigi-no-mikoto, the legendary god who landed on the peak of Takachiho-no-mine nearby.

During summer, in this bowl-shaped meadow you'll find cows and horses grazing around a marshy pond on the lush grass. In early March the old grasses are burned, leaving the landscape looking desolate, but it allows fresh and tasty green grass to vigorously grow back. Depending on volcanic conditions, and if you have time, hike along an easy trail that goes 5½ km (3½ miles) around the base of Kijima-dake. It takes an hour or so, and provides excellent views of the otherworldly terrain. You could also march the 3 km (2 miles) straight across the rugged lava plain to the foot of Naka-dake. For several other trails in the area, pick up the "Aso Trekking Route Map" at the information center in JR Aso Station. In summer it is possible to sit on a horse and be led for a slow walk around the grassy meadow. It is a popular option for those who have never ridden a horse before.

In winter, steam rises from the surface of this small thermal lake on the east end of town. Take a relaxing 10-minute stroll around the lake, before you sample the various cake and coffee sets at the local cafés.

One of Japan's famous romantic night views, the Mt. Inasa Observation Platform provides panoramic views of Nagasaki City, the local mountains and the coastline. Accessible by the 1-km (½-mile) Nagasaki Ropeway with departures every 15 minutes.

This mountain is said to be where the goddess Amaterasu's grandson descended to Earth to establish the Japanese imperial family. Trouble is, the distant town of Takachiho also claims that honor. The dispute has never been settled, either legally or spiritually. Mt. Takachiho is at the southern end of the Kirishima range, and a hike to the summit takes about three hours. On a clear day you can see the surrounding mountains in Kirishima National Park. Due to volcanic activity, particularly of Shinmoe-dake, some trails may be closed. Ask ahead of time at the Takachiho-gawara Visitor Center.

The spiral staircase of this museum takes you down into a dark, thought-provoking collection of video loops, dioramas, and exhibits that demonstrate the devastating effects of the bomb detonated in Nagasaki. English audio tours are available, though what you see is already a lot to handle. The continuous, unblinking film footage is absolutely nauseating at several points, and a melted and blasted wall clock, as surreal as any Dalí painting, sears its way into your consciousness.

For many visitors, the smoldering crater of Mt. Aso's Naka-dake is the highlight of a visit to the Aso-Kuju National Park. Inside the crater, a churning ash-gray lake bubbles and spits scalding, reeking steam. The Nakadake cable car was closed following an eruption for 2016. A shuttle bus from the parking area to the crater runs when there is limited volcanic activity, but this service was halted after the October 2021 eruption. If rumbling turns to shaking, and steam and smoke turn to sizable ash fall, there are bunker-like concrete shelters located across the area.

The lake in this park was once part of an impressive moat surrounding Fukuoka's castle. A leisurely 2-km (1-mile) path follows its perimeter. In early April the pink-and-white flowers of the park's 2,600 cherry trees present a dazzling display. Within the park is the Fukuoka City Art Museum ( www.fukuoka-art-museum.jp), which houses a few notable works by Dalí, Miró, Chagall, and Warhol. It reopened after a major renewal in March 2019. Across from it is a traditional Japanese garden. Stop for a quick bite or a luxurious meal at Boathouse Ohori Park on the edge of the lake.

This church below the entrance to Glover Garden survived the bomb that leveled much of the city. It was constructed in 1865 to commemorate the death of 26 Christians crucified in 1597, victims of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's gruesome message of religious intolerance. It's the oldest Gothic-style building in Japan.

Nagasaki's Peace Park was built on the grounds of an old prison that was destroyed in the atomic blast. In the middle is a large statue of a godlike man sitting with one arm stretched to the sky and one to the land. A short distance down the hill, Hypocenter Koen marks the bomb's hypocenter. A solitary pillar was erected to mark the exact epicenter. Curiously little distance separates the pillar from anything else. In contrast to the looming Hiroshima Bomb Dome, when you come upon this spot you might not immediately recognize its significance.

Sakurajima is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Visible from Kagoshima City, across Kinko Bay, it is spews thick plumes of ash and smoke almost daily. The last big eruption was in 1955, but the far side of the cone sometimes lets loose with explosive belching that lights the night sky red and covers the island of Sakurajima in a blanket of ash. There are scattered lodgings and hot springs at the base of the volcano, as well as winding paths up to old lava plateaus with great views over the crater or back toward town. There are usually four ferries per hour from Kagoshima City to the Sakurajima. The one-way adult fare for the 10- to 15-minute trip is ¥200.

The monk Eisai (1141–1215) returned from a long stint in China to introduce Zen Buddhism to Japan and planted the first tea-bush seeds. Nowadays most tea is grown in other regions such as Shizuoka, but you can still buy the green tea from this region, with its legendary hue and flavor, in stores as far away as Tokyo. Eisai also established Shofukuji Temple, Japan's first Zen temple, which the inscription on the main gate by Emperor Gotoba commemorates. In Zen tradition, the grounds and structure reflect the calm, austere nature of this deeply meditative philosophy. The bronze bell in the belfry was designated an Important Cultural Property.

Created in the mid-17th century, the garden was originally part of the sprawling villa of the ruling Hosokawa family. The garden is dotted with impeccably trimmed bushes and trees. Beside a pond surrounded by a network of stone bridges, an undulating knoll of lush green grass represents Japan—there's even a Mt. Fuji-like cone. For a few hundred yen you can sit on the tatami of the Kokindenju teahouse, sip green tea, and quietly contemplate the gardens. Also on the grounds is Izumi Jinja (Izumi Shrine), which houses the tombs of several eminent Hosokawa clan members.

One of Kyushu's most famous sights, this photogenic narrow gorge has several small waterfalls cascading into the Gokase River. You can walk along a hiking path at the edge or rent a rowboat from the riverside jetty below the parking lot (from ¥4,000).

The shrine is surrounded by a grove of old cedars. A pair of trees, that stand side by side, are known as the Wedded Cedars. A sacred shimenawa (twisted straw rope) hangs between the two trees. The presence of this romantic tree couple has made the shrine popular with those praying from match-making. Kagura is an ancient ritual dance to give thanks to the gods that has been performed since ancient times. These days it is performed throughout the night in homes between December and January. An excellent one-hour performance can be seen nightly at 8 pm at Kagura Hozonkan, on the grounds of Takachiho Shrine.

The most important Hachiman shrine in Japan is about an hour from Yufuin and makes an easy day trip, Usa Jingu has lovely ponds dotted with lotus plants. Allot an hour to see the shrine and stroll the expansive grounds. There was a long tradition in Japan of building temples and shrines in the same precinct (abolished in the Meiji period), and this is said to be the first place to do so.

A short walk from the train station, this neighborhood is a long shopping street lined with traditional Japanese wooden buildings. You can wander in and out of artsy craft shops and souvenir stalls, or relax in one of the many coffee shops or tearooms. The southwestern end of the street is known as Yunotsubokiado, the north-eastern end of the street is called Takemoto Street.

Artist Yutaka Isozaki is happy to show visitors his varied artwork in various media, including pottery, paintings, and photography. You can buy small cards with inspirational messages and illustrations such as persimmons and wildflowers that make original souvenirs. Isozaki-san is now in his 70s but is always excited to meet new visitors.