The island of Kyushu is a subtropical mix of Japanese tradition, rural culture and vibrant city life. It’s one of Japan’s four main islands, lying in the far south of the country, around a six-hour train from Tokyo. Few travellers make the journey down from the capital though, which means Kyushu still retains its traditional charm, where you can explore the temples, mountains and valleys with very few other travellers in sight.
But Kyushu is a large island – one that would take you weeks (even months) to see in full. Instead, it would be better to pick a section of the island to explore. North-west Kyushu is a great choice – easy to access from the main hub of Fukuoka, but wildly diverse: an area of forested mountains and white-sand beaches, quaint Dutch villages and Hidden Christian World Heritage Sites. The region is made up of the prefectures of Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Saga – each place worth visiting for their food, cultural heritage and spectacular scenery.
Read on for our ultimate guide to travelling the north-west of Kyushu...