Kyushu
Kyushu is the southern island of Japan's four main islands, known for hot springs at Beppu, volcanoes at Aso and Sakurajima, and Hakata ramen in Fukuoka.
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Kyushu is the third-largest of Japan's four main islands and the most southerly, lying southwest of Honshu across the Kanmon Straits. Its seven prefectures run from Fukuoka in the north to Kagoshima in the south, and Okinawa is usually counted separately. Fukuoka is the largest city and home to the main airport. People go for the hot springs at Beppu, the volcanoes at Aso and Sakurajima, and Nagasaki, which became the center of the Nanban trade with Portuguese traders.
Food is a major draw. Fukuoka serves Hakata ramen and motsunabe, Nagasaki is known for champon and sara udon, and Kagoshima has keihan. Plan around the rainy season, which brings very heavy rain around June and July, and the typhoons that hit the south coast in summer and autumn. The Kyushu Shinkansen links Hakata with Kagoshima-Chuo, so Fukuoka works well as a base for the rest of the island.
Kyushu in five
- Fly into FukuokaThe airport is two subway stops, about 5 minutes, from Hakata Station.Fukuoka travel guide
- Ride the Kyushu shinkansen southHakata to Kagoshima-Chuo takes about 1h20 on the fastest trains.
- Beppu for steam, Kurokawa for quietBeppu is a whole city of hot springs. Kurokawa is a small mountain village of outdoor baths, best with a night in a ryokan.Beppu travel guide
- Eat at the yatai in FukuokaOpen-air food stalls set up in the evening in Nakasu and Tenjin. Go early for a seat.Where to stay in Fukuoka
- Check the volcano before you goAso and Sakurajima are active, and crater-side access can close at short notice when activity rises. Check the Japan Meteorological Agency alert level before a viewpoint day.Kumamoto travel guide
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Kyushu, the full guide
Kumamoto
- Price band: $$
Beppu
- Price band: $$
Nagasaki
- Price band: $$
Fukuoka
Fukuoka is the largest city on Kyushu, known for yatai street food stalls, Hakata tonkotsu ramen and the stone walls of Fukuoka Castle in Ohori Park.
Need to know
- Airport
- Fukuoka (FUK), 5 min to Hakata by subway
- Getting around
- Shinkansen, JR limited express, buses to onsen towns
- Rail pass
- JR Kyushu Rail Pass, northern or all Kyushu
- Best base
- Hakata or Tenjin in Fukuoka
- Time needed
- 5–7 days for Fukuoka, one onsen town and Kumamoto
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, clear
- FebruaryPlum blossom
- MarchBlossom late
- AprilBlossom, mild
- MayMild, green
- JuneRainy season
- JulyHot, humid
- AugustHottest
- SeptemberTyphoon risk
- OctoberClear, mild
- NovemberAutumn color
- DecemberCold, ramen
Right now in Kyushu
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 68%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Fukuoka
07:39 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today19°16°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed19°15°11%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Thu22°17°90%Thursday: Rain. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Fri18°13°41%Friday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Sat13°9°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun15°8°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 2%.
Updated 05:33 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- MayHakata DontakuFukuoka, a day trip
- JulHakata Gion Yamakasa FestivalFukuoka, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Beppuby train from HakataHot spring towns and the boiling hell springs on the east coast.Read the guide
- Mount Asoby train and bus from KumamotoDescribed as Japan's largest active volcano, with a caldera about 18 by 25 km and highland scenery.Read the guide
- Nagasakiby train from HakataPort city with hidden Christian sites and the atomic bomb memorial.Read the guide
- Sakurajimaby ferry from KagoshimaAn active volcano across the bay from Kagoshima city, reached by a short ferry crossing.Read the guide
Before you go to Kyushu
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Rules for Kyushu, checked
- Check visa and entry rules for your passport on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website before you book flights.Source
- Complete the customs declaration online through Visit Japan Web before arrival, and carry the QR code or receipt when you land.Source
- Check volcanic alert levels for Aso and Sakurajima on the Japan Meteorological Agency website. Entry to crater areas can be restricted.
- Wash at the shower area before entering a hot spring bath, and check whether a swimsuit or tattoo covering is required at that bath.
Plan around Kyushu
Entry, money, rail passes and the best time to go
Read the guideFukuokaYatai, ramen and the airport that sits in the city
Read the guideBeppuSteam vents, sand baths and a city of onsen
Read the guideKumamotoThe castle city and the road to Aso's caldera
Read the guideIs the JR Pass worth it?Price Kyushu alone or as part of a loop
Read the guideTransport planningRental cars, buses and rail compared
Read the guideKyushu FAQ
Is Kyushu worth visiting after Tokyo and Kyoto?
Yes. It adds hot springs, a different food scene in Fukuoka and active volcanoes, with far fewer crowds. It suits a second trip or a loop that continues west from Hiroshima.
How many days do you need in Kyushu?
Five to seven days covers Fukuoka, one onsen town and Kumamoto with Aso. Add Nagasaki or Kagoshima if you want the full north-to-south run on the shinkansen.
Beppu or Kurokawa for onsen?
Beppu for variety: steam vents, sand baths and public bathhouses in one city. Kurokawa for quiet, with a small village of outdoor baths that works best with a night in a ryokan.
Do you need a rail pass for Kyushu?
Not always. The shinkansen between Hakata and Kagoshima is the main cost, so price your actual legs against a Kyushu pass. Buses to onsen towns often fall outside rail passes.
Can you visit Mount Aso?
Often yes, but crater-side access depends on volcanic activity and can close at short notice. Check the official alert level and the road status on the morning you go.