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Fukuoka, Japan
Start your Kyushu adventure in vibrant Fukuoka. Explore the Tenjin and Nakasu districts, and don't miss Hakata ramen at a street-side yatai food stall. Ohori Park and Fukuoka Castle ruins offer a relaxing introduction to the island.
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Beppu, Japan
Beppu is Japan's onsen capital, famous for its 'hells' (jigoku) — colorful boiling hot spring pools perfect for sightseeing. Soak in the famous sand baths at Beppu Kaihin Sunayu on the beach. The steaming vents throughout the city create an otherworldly mountain-town atmosphere.
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Yufuin, Japan
Nestled in a mountain basin beneath Mt. Yufu, Yufuin is a charming onsen resort town with a serene, rural feel. Stroll the Yufuin Floral Village and Lake Kinrin for scenic walks, then unwind in a traditional ryokan with private open-air baths. Yufuin's misty mornings and forested hills are truly magical.
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Aso, Japan
Aso is home to one of the world's largest active volcanic calderas, Mt. Aso, with dramatic crater views (conditions permitting). Hike or drive across the vast Kusasenri grasslands and soak in the area's volcanic onsen. The surrounding caldera villages offer authentic rural Kyushu life and local beef hot pot.
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Kurokawa Onsen, Japan
Kurokawa Onsen is one of Japan's most beloved mountain onsen villages, tucked into a forested river valley. Purchase a nyuto tegata pass to hop between three different traditional bathhouses. The thatched-roof inns and stone-paved paths make this the quintessential Japanese hot spring escape.
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Nagasaki, Japan
Nagasaki is a port city with a deeply layered history, from the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum to its unique blend of Dutch and Chinese heritage in Dejima and Chinatown. Climb Mt. Inasa for one of Japan's top three night views over the harbor. Try the local specialty champon noodles and castella sponge cake.
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Unzen, Japan
Unzen sits high in the mountains of the Shimabara Peninsula, surrounded by steaming volcanic fumaroles and sulfurous hot springs. Walk the Unzen Jigoku hells trail through bubbling mud pools and then relax in the restorative mineral baths. The cool mountain air and forested peaks make it a peaceful onsen retreat.
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Kagoshima, Japan
Kagoshima, known as the 'Naples of the East,' sits dramatically across the bay from the ever-active Sakurajima volcano. Take a ferry to walk Sakurajima's lava fields and visit foot-bath stations with views of the smoking caldera. End your trip with local Satsuma cuisine, including black pork shabu-shabu and shochu tasting.