Kyushu

Arita Town is well-known as being home to Arita ware, a Japanese traditional craft. A Korean potter named Sam-pyeong Yi and his colleagues discovered porcelain clay at Mt. Izumi early in the 17th century. That was when the first porcelain started being produced in Japan. Since then, porcelain production has gained momentum under the Saga Domain. The area, now called Arita Senken (literally, "a thousand houses of Arita"), thrived as the townscape developed in the valley.

The Yoshinogari Ruins, designated as a Special Historical Site, is Japan's largest moated settlement from the Yayoi period. In this spacious park, huge tumuli, Kamekambo tombs, pit dwellings, and watch towers have been restored, offering opportunities to gain first-hand experience of the Yayoi period. Here, you can also try building a fire and making comma-shaped bead.

Yoyokaku is an historic ryokan with a history of more than 120 years located in Karatsu Onsen, a hot spring resort town in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. Enjoy popular meals featuring seasonal delicacies made from local ingredients, take advantage of the health benefits of soaking in the hot spring baths, and relax in delightful rooms featuring beautiful Japanese-style architecture.

Located in the southern part of Fukuoka, Yanagawa is a castle town boasting over 400 years of history. When the castle was built, water-filled moats were also constructed throughout the town to protect the castle, which gave rise to Yanagawa’s reputation as the city of water. Today, it offers a leisurely tour that cruises down a 4-kilometer-long stretch of these moats that lasts about an hour.

Kora Taisha Shrine that boasts the largest sanctuary in Kyushu region is a popular power spot in Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture. Appreciated as the god who wards off evil spirits as well as bringing various benefits such as life extension and longevity, people visit the shrine to buy “omamori” amulets or receive a “goshuin” stamp, which is a token of a visit. Formerly a National Shrine and regarded as the most important shrine in the Chikugo region, this prestigious shrine stands on...

The Kawachi Wisteria Garden was selected as one of the “31 Most Beautiful Places in Japan” by the U.S. news channel CNN in 2015. Its main attraction is the beautiful shades of wisteria flower tunnels. The garden is privately owned by founder Masao Higuchi and his family, who have been devoting themselves to growing wisteria flowers with great care and a deep love for over 50 years.

Kaho Theater is a small playhouse that opened in 1922 in Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture, which once flourished as a coal mining town that supported Japan’s modernization. Performers including actors, singers, and rakugo comedic storytellers have entertained a great number of audiences on the wooden stage that was modeled on the architectural style of kabuki theaters of the Edo Period (1603-1868).

JR Tanushimaru Station has an adorable kappa design exterior based on the legend of the famous mythical creature in Tanushimaru, Kurume City. Inside, visit the KAPATERIA, a fun cafe serving delightful kappa-motif sweets and meals. Sit at one of the seats overlooking the platform, and enjoy the view of the huge Welcoming Kappa on the platform against the backdrop of the beautiful Minou Mountain Ranges as the trains leisurely pass by. Also, visit the information desk inside the station for the...

Seiryuan is a peaceful ryokan with a prestigious Japanese restaurant surrounded by a beautiful Japanese garden in Akizuki, a town known as the Little Kyoto located close to Fukuoka City. The garden that can be seen from the large hall and the guestrooms display painting-like, beautiful views every season. Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, you can spend a relaxing time surrounded by the calming sound of the river, which is ideal for sleep, while songbirds wake you up in the morning.

Green tea is deeply rooted in the lives of Yame City, its culture, history, and tradition. At the Tea Museum located in Hoshino village in the area known as Okuyame, you can enjoy the traditional Hon-Gyokuro green tea “Shizuku tea,” an original tea from the region. Other tea products such as Gyokuro, tea noodles, tea leaf rice, matcha ice cream, rice-cake stuffed with bean jam and steamed sweet buns are also available. Enjoy the rich and mild flavors of the tea that Hoshino village has to offer.

Tonkotsu ramen, popular for the savory pork marrow soup, is now a standard dish across Japan, but it is not so well known that Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture is its birthplace in 1937. To master tonkotsu ramen, let’s start by visiting the Kurume Ramen Yokocho!