There are many places in Kyushu where you can enjoy the charms of Japan to the fullest.
Historically, each prefecture was a different country, so each has its own dialect and culture that has been formed. For example, Nagasaki Prefecture has a special background as it was once a trading port with foreign countries and Christianity was spread there, while Kagoshima Prefecture has many isolated islands where you can enjoy the beautiful nature such as Yakushima. Each prefecture also has cheap and delicious Kyushu gourmet food, and you can have experiences that you cannot have in other prefectures. As you can see, Kyushu has its own unique characteristics that make it a very popular tourist destination. Let’s take a closer look at the attractions of Kyushu.
Kyushu is one of the islands that compose the Japanese archipelago, along with Hokkaido, Honshu, and Shikoku, and is located in the southwestern part of the Japan. Kyushu is a region consisting of seven prefectures: Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. However, there may be some people who have a question here because “Kyu” means nine literally in Japanese.
Why is it called “Kyushu” when there are only seven prefectures? The reason is the history that the Kyushu region has followed. Originally, Kyushu had nine clans until the end of the samurai era, and the name originally came from China, where it was customary to divide the country into nine regions and rule them. Before the current Kyushu was formed, it existed as nine clans as follows.
Chikuzen Province
Chikugo Province
Hizen Province
Higo Province
Buzen Province
Bungo Province
Hyuga Province
Osumi Province
Satsuma Province
After the end of the Edo period (1603-1868) and the beginning of the Meiji period (1868-1912), the Meiji government abolished the clan system in 1871 and established prefectures to replace the previous clan system. As a result, the nine clans that existed until then were reborn as seven prefectures.
The actual divisions are as follows
・Fukuoka Prefecture – Chikuzen Province, Chikugo Province, and part of Buzen Province
・Saga Prefecture – Eastern part of Hizen Province
・Nagasaki Prefecture – Western part of Hizen Province
・Oita Prefecture – part of Buzen Province, Bungo Province
・Kumamoto Prefecture – Higo Province
・Miyazaki Prefecture – Hyuga Province
・Kagoshima Prefecture – Osumi Province, Satsuma Province
These old names still exist as the names of districts, towns and villages of addresses, so if you are interested in Japanese history, you may be able to feel the history through place names.
Fukuoka Prefecture is located in the northernmost part of Kyushu, and the prefectural capital is Fukuoka City. The most popular gourmet food in Fukuoka Prefecture is Hakata Ramen and Mentaiko (spicy cod roe). Hakata Ramen is a ramen based on pork bone soup（tonkotsu soup) and straight thin noodles, and is characterized by its cloudy white soup. Fukuoka City also has the Hakata Museum of Food and Culture, Haku Haku, where you can learn not only about mentaiko, but also about the history and culture of Hakata, and experience making your own mentaiko. On the other hand, Dazaifu City also has a famous shrine called “Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine”. Sugawara no Michizane, a court scholar of the Heian period is enshrined as the god of learning, and many worshippers from all over the country visit the shrine to pray for success in their school exams.
Oita Prefecture is located in the upper right corner of Kyushu, and its capital is Oita City. Beppu Onsen and Yufuin Onsen are very famous. There are hundreds of hot springs all over the city. If you want to enjoy hot springs in an attractive, nature-rich environment as an adult traveler, Yufuin is the place for you. If you want to enjoy various types of hot springs, such as hand and foot baths, and enjoy the energetic and lively atmosphere of the city, Beppu is the place for you.
Saga Prefecture is located in the upper left corner of Kyushu, and the prefectural capital is Saga City. When it comes to Saga Prefecture, the Kyushu gourmet food that you absolutely cannot miss is Yobuko squid. It is the home of squid, and you can eat very fresh and delicious squid. Squid sashimi is generally recognized as being white in color, but Yobuko’s squid is transparent because it is so fresh. Also famous as tourist attractions are the Yoshinogari Ruins, a site from the Yayoi period, and the Yutoku Inari Shrine, one of the three major inari shrines in Japan. The Yoshinogari Ruins is a place where you can see and experience the life of ancient people, and the huge ritual hall will give you a mystical atmosphere.
Nagasaki Prefecture is located in the westernmost part of the leftmost part of Kyushu, and its prefectural capital is Nagasaki City. Nagasaki Prefecture has long been a place of trade with foreign countries. During the Warring States period, Francisco de Xavier, a Jesuit, landed in the area to spread Christianity, and the city flourished as a Christian town. Even during the period of national isolation, Nagasaki Prefecture was the only contact point with foreign countries. Because of this history, Nagasaki Prefecture is known for its Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park that recreates the Dutch townscape. It is also a good idea to take a look at Gunkanjima, a city that flourished from the Meiji era to the Showa era and is now in ruins.
Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the middle of Kyushu, and the capital of the prefecture is Kumamoto City. The famous character “Kumamon” is from Kumamoto Prefecture. In the Yatsushiro area, you can get adorable Kumamon goods. As a tourist attraction, there is Kumamoto Castle, which was built by the warlord Kiyomasa Kato. Kumamoto Castle is also the site where the drama of Kiyomasa Kato, Musashi Miyamoto, and other samurai who made their mark on history occured, filled with upheaval and prosperity. It is also a great place to enjoy Mount Aso. Aso, where a huge caldera has been formed and where you can enjoy a breathtaking view. It is a good idea to make it part of your driving route to enjoy the magnificent nature. However, due to the volcanic activity of Mount Aso, please check the latest information before you visit.
Miyazaki Prefecture is located in the lower right corner of Kyushu, and its prefectural capital is Miyazaki City. Its most famous specialty is the “mango. Mangoes have an image of being produced in hot countries such as Southeast Asia, but they are also produced in Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan, and the “Miyazaki mango,” with its rich sweetness, is sold as a luxury fruit. Miyazaki is also famous for Aoshima, a mysterious island where the entire island is said to be a spiritual power spot, and Takachiho Gorge, a mysterious place where you can enjoy fantastic scenery that you will never forget once you see it. At Takachiho Gorge, there is an activity which you can enjoy riding on a rowing boat, looking at the waterfalls closely in the fantastic scenery, and soaking up the negative ions with your whole body, which will help you heal from your daily stress.
Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southernmost tip of Kyushu, and the prefectural capital is Kagoshima City. The specialty of the Kagoshima is shochu. Shochu was originally drunk only in areas such as Satsuma, but since around 1970, it has spread throughout Japan and is a representative of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is also a good idea to get away from the real world on Yakushima and take a break in the forest surrounded by deep trees. Sakurajima, an active volcano, is also a good place to visit when you are in Kagoshima. At Sakurajima, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Kagoshima from the Yunohira Observatory, or soak in the 100-meter-long footbath at Sakurajima yougan nagisa park, and enjoy a relaxing view of the sea. Furthermore, Takamori Saigo, who was active at the end of the Edo period, was from the Satsuma clan (Kagoshima Prefecture). He lived a life of ups and downs during the turbulent times, but always devoted himself to “the good of the world and the good of people.
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Geographical location and history of Kyushu
Kyushu is one of the islands that compose the Japanese archipelago, along with Hokkaido, Honshu, and Shikoku, and is located in the southwestern part of the Japan. Kyushu is a region consisting of seven prefectures: Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. However, there may be some people who have a question here because “Kyu” means nine literally in Japanese.
Why is it called “Kyushu” when there are only seven prefectures? The reason is the history that the Kyushu region has followed. Originally, Kyushu had nine clans until the end of the samurai era, and the name originally came from China, where it was customary to divide the country into nine regions and rule them. Before the current Kyushu was formed, it existed as nine clans as follows.
Chikuzen Province
Chikugo Province
Hizen Province
Higo Province
Buzen Province
Bungo Province
Hyuga Province
Osumi Province
Satsuma Province
After the end of the Edo period (1603-1868) and the beginning of the Meiji period (1868-1912), the Meiji government abolished the clan system in 1871 and established prefectures to replace the previous clan system. As a result, the nine clans that existed until then were reborn as seven prefectures.
The actual divisions are as follows
・Fukuoka Prefecture – Chikuzen Province, Chikugo Province, and part of Buzen Province
・Saga Prefecture – Eastern part of Hizen Province
・Nagasaki Prefecture – Western part of Hizen Province
・Oita Prefecture – part of Buzen Province, Bungo Province
・Kumamoto Prefecture – Higo Province
・Miyazaki Prefecture – Hyuga Province
・Kagoshima Prefecture – Osumi Province, Satsuma Province
These old names still exist as the names of districts, towns and villages of addresses, so if you are interested in Japanese history, you may be able to feel the history through place names.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka Prefecture is located in the northernmost part of Kyushu, and the prefectural capital is Fukuoka City. The most popular gourmet food in Fukuoka Prefecture is Hakata Ramen and Mentaiko (spicy cod roe). Hakata Ramen is a ramen based on pork bone soup（tonkotsu soup) and straight thin noodles, and is characterized by its cloudy white soup. Fukuoka City also has the Hakata Museum of Food and Culture, Haku Haku, where you can learn not only about mentaiko, but also about the history and culture of Hakata, and experience making your own mentaiko. On the other hand, Dazaifu City also has a famous shrine called “Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine”. Sugawara no Michizane, a court scholar of the Heian period is enshrined as the god of learning, and many worshippers from all over the country visit the shrine to pray for success in their school exams.
What is ramen that is very popular in Japan?
Oita
Oita Prefecture is located in the upper right corner of Kyushu, and its capital is Oita City. Beppu Onsen and Yufuin Onsen are very famous. There are hundreds of hot springs all over the city. If you want to enjoy hot springs in an attractive, nature-rich environment as an adult traveler, Yufuin is the place for you. If you want to enjoy various types of hot springs, such as hand and foot baths, and enjoy the energetic and lively atmosphere of the city, Beppu is the place for you.
Saga
Saga Prefecture is located in the upper left corner of Kyushu, and the prefectural capital is Saga City. When it comes to Saga Prefecture, the Kyushu gourmet food that you absolutely cannot miss is Yobuko squid. It is the home of squid, and you can eat very fresh and delicious squid. Squid sashimi is generally recognized as being white in color, but Yobuko’s squid is transparent because it is so fresh. Also famous as tourist attractions are the Yoshinogari Ruins, a site from the Yayoi period, and the Yutoku Inari Shrine, one of the three major inari shrines in Japan. The Yoshinogari Ruins is a place where you can see and experience the life of ancient people, and the huge ritual hall will give you a mystical atmosphere.
Nagasaki
Nagasaki Prefecture is located in the westernmost part of the leftmost part of Kyushu, and its prefectural capital is Nagasaki City. Nagasaki Prefecture has long been a place of trade with foreign countries. During the Warring States period, Francisco de Xavier, a Jesuit, landed in the area to spread Christianity, and the city flourished as a Christian town. Even during the period of national isolation, Nagasaki Prefecture was the only contact point with foreign countries. Because of this history, Nagasaki Prefecture is known for its Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park that recreates the Dutch townscape. It is also a good idea to take a look at Gunkanjima, a city that flourished from the Meiji era to the Showa era and is now in ruins.
Kumamoto
Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the middle of Kyushu, and the capital of the prefecture is Kumamoto City. The famous character “Kumamon” is from Kumamoto Prefecture. In the Yatsushiro area, you can get adorable Kumamon goods. As a tourist attraction, there is Kumamoto Castle, which was built by the warlord Kiyomasa Kato. Kumamoto Castle is also the site where the drama of Kiyomasa Kato, Musashi Miyamoto, and other samurai who made their mark on history occured, filled with upheaval and prosperity. It is also a great place to enjoy Mount Aso. Aso, where a huge caldera has been formed and where you can enjoy a breathtaking view. It is a good idea to make it part of your driving route to enjoy the magnificent nature. However, due to the volcanic activity of Mount Aso, please check the latest information before you visit.
Miyazaki
Miyazaki Prefecture is located in the lower right corner of Kyushu, and its prefectural capital is Miyazaki City. Its most famous specialty is the “mango. Mangoes have an image of being produced in hot countries such as Southeast Asia, but they are also produced in Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan, and the “Miyazaki mango,” with its rich sweetness, is sold as a luxury fruit. Miyazaki is also famous for Aoshima, a mysterious island where the entire island is said to be a spiritual power spot, and Takachiho Gorge, a mysterious place where you can enjoy fantastic scenery that you will never forget once you see it. At Takachiho Gorge, there is an activity which you can enjoy riding on a rowing boat, looking at the waterfalls closely in the fantastic scenery, and soaking up the negative ions with your whole body, which will help you heal from your daily stress.
Kagoshima
Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southernmost tip of Kyushu, and the prefectural capital is Kagoshima City. The specialty of the Kagoshima is shochu. Shochu was originally drunk only in areas such as Satsuma, but since around 1970, it has spread throughout Japan and is a representative of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is also a good idea to get away from the real world on Yakushima and take a break in the forest surrounded by deep trees. Sakurajima, an active volcano, is also a good place to visit when you are in Kagoshima. At Sakurajima, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Kagoshima from the Yunohira Observatory, or soak in the 100-meter-long footbath at Sakurajima yougan nagisa park, and enjoy a relaxing view of the sea. Furthermore, Takamori Saigo, who was active at the end of the Edo period, was from the Satsuma clan (Kagoshima Prefecture). He lived a life of ups and downs during the turbulent times, but always devoted himself to “the good of the world and the good of people.
