Discover Kyushu - Karatsu Kunchi Festival & Autumn Leaves

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The Karatsu Kunchi Festival is a historic festival of Karatsu, with a history going back over 400 years. The 3- day festival takes place in November around Karatsu Shrine. It involves large groups of people pulling a set of massive "Hikiyama" floats. The floats represent different areas of Karatsu, and include Asian guardian lions, kabuto helmets of legendary samurai, an orca whale, a sea bream, a dragon, and legendary character Ureshima Taro. For the first day of the festival they are pulled through the city streets, but on the second day, the energy of the crowd increases as the floats are pulled across the sand of Nishinohama Beach. This is much more difficult and so the crowd cheers louder to encourange those pulling the floats. The last day of the festival, the floats are pulled back to the shrine and the festival ends. It is one of Japan's most enduring annual festivals and a symbol of that region.

Yutoku Inari Shrine is a shrine in Kashima dedicated to Inari, the Shinto deity of prosperity, rice, and foxes. Among the thousands of Inari shrines throughout Japan, Yutoku Inari is one of the most beautiful - climbing up stone steps through rows of red shrine gates surrounded by trees feels almost like you are ascending to a different world. While on the path up to the main hall, paths diverge to other small shrines, which are each worth stopping to see. Eventually, visitors reach the Main Hall, where pilgrims and supplicants stop to pray, but the stairs continue up to the Okunoin building at the very top of the hill, where you can get a bird's eye view of the surrounding area.

Hizenya Sake is a brewery in Kashima City's Hizen Hamashuku Sake District. Using cold, delicious water from Mount Taradake, this brewery has been making their quality sake since the Edo period. Their history can be seen when touring the brewery, which is housed in an old, traditional wooden building. The brewery tour does not actually observe the production process, but there is a breakdown of the sake facilities, and a chance to taste several kinds of sake, shochu, plum wine, and even nonalcoholic amazake.

The Nagasaki Peace Park commemorates the atomic bombing of Nagasaki of August 9, 1945, which destroyed wide parts of the city and killed ten thousands of inhabitants.

The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum was established in 1996 and covers the history of the events leading up to the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945. The museum houses a display of photographs, relics, documents, along with the history of nuclear weapons and effects of the bombs. A special exhibit room in the museum was designed to provide visitors a look into the past, which consists of what the city of Nagasaki looked like just before it was destroyed. The most iconic object on display is a clock which stopped at 11:02, the exact time the bomb destroyed the city, emphasizing on how quick the city along with its inhabitants were destroyed. Another section reproduced what the city looked like right after the bombings. Clusters of glass melted together, steel rods infused with one another, along with many artifacts left by the deceased. Photographs provide a look at the side effects of radiation from those who did not pass away from the bright light of death. Next to the Atomic Bomb Museum is the Nagasaki Peace Park, which is a monument dedicated to World Peace, hoping this tragic event never happens again. Travelers can learn about the atomic bombs right at the Japanese prefecture that received it.

The Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum is a historic museum in Nagasaki. It collects and preserves exhibits related to the lives of the 26 Martyrs of Japan as recognized by the Catholic Church. At the outset of the Edo period, the practice of Christianity was banned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi who ordered these 26 men arrested, publicly torturing them before crucifying them atop a hill facing Nagasaki. In the following years, the Catholics in Japan went underground until the Meiji Restoration, when thousands of these "hidden Christians" came out of hiding. The Martyrs Museum remembers 26 early Christians in Japan who did not renounce their faith and were killed for it. The Museum is near the Twenty-Six Martyrs Monument, which commemorates their sacrifice.

Sofukuji Temple is a Zen Buddhist Temple in Nagasaki. The temple was built in 1629 by Chinese people who came to Nagasaki from Fujian Province, and it boasts a Chinese architectural style, which includes a bright red color. Two of the temple buildings - the Daippo-mon (First Peak Gate), and Daiohoden (Buddha Hall) are counted as National Treasures of Japan. The Diohoden is one of the oldest buildings in Nagasaki and contains an image of the Sakyamuni Buddha, which is one of the titles by which Buddha is known in China. There is also a building called the Masodo, which enshrines the Chinese sea goddess Mazu.

Located in the city of Nagasaki is Dejima, the former district that was once reserved for Dutch traders. During Japan’s period of isolation, the Dutch were the only ones to trade with Japan and were restricted to this district. This popular location is free for guests to explore and has plenty of shops and restaurants for travelers.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Nagasaki is the Glover Garden, a popular destination representing Japan’s trade history with foreign countries. Nagasaki was one of the earliest port cities that traded with the western world, the Glover Garden is a nice mix of Western and Japanese culture and is an important cultural location.

As a part of Catholic religion in Japan, the Oura Church is often regarded as a must-visit site. It is not only the first foreign building declared as a national treasure, but is often referenced along with the 26 martyrs who were murdered for their conversion to Catholicism despite established laws.

Kumamoto Castle is a feudal fortress in Kumamoto city. The castle itself was destroyed or damaged several times throughout the years, but today it continues to stand as a symbol of the city's endurance. Most recently, parts of the castle were destroyed during the 2016 earthquake, and parts of it are still being rebuilt. The castle is designated as an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese Government for its variety of yagura (castle turrets), such as the Uto Turret, which looks almost like a second castle keep. The keep itself is impressive to see, as is the inner palace, which was damaged during the earthquake and is being rebuilt.

Suizenji Garden is a landscape garden in Kumamoto built by the ruling Hosokawa family, completed in 1671. The garden was constructed to emulate the sights from the 53 post stations of the Old Tokaido Road. An old, scaled- down Nihonbashi (in Tokyo), a small Lake Biwa (featuring large koi fish), and even a mini Mount Fuji can be seen along the path, as well as numerous other beautiful nature scenes. Visitors to the garden can also enjoy a cup of tea at the elegant Kokin-Denju-no-Ma Teahouse, which was moved there from the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and is now open to the public.

Senganen Garden is a traditional Japanese landscape garden in Kagoshima. The garden was constructed as the personal garden of the powerful and influential Shimazu Family, who ruled Kagoshima (at that time called the Satsuma Domain), during the Edo period. The garden was constructed using the concept of borrowed scenery, which incorporates the backdrop of Mount Sakurajima. On the grounds of Senganen is an old-fashioned residence, a museum about the history of the Shimazu Clan, and a special house that was built to house foreign engineers who assisted in Japan's modernization.

The town of Chiran contained an airbase during WW2 for the pilots of Japan's Special Attack Forces; what became known in the West as "Kamikaze". Their do-or-die attacks against their enemies during the war, their terrifying effectiveness in battle, and their willingness to sacrifice all for the sake of their country became the stuff of wartime legends. However, this airbase turned Peace Museum, rather than exploring the battles and tactics of these air forces, instead details their personal lives and forgotten stories. Many of the pilots trained in Chiran flew away to the Battle of Okinawa and never returned, but this Museum remembers and humanizes them through heartrending exhibits of final letters, last wills, photographs, and other memorabilia.

The city of Chiran was a castle town during the Edo period, and today retains some of that classical atmosphere in a heritage part of the city called the Chiran Samurai District. Along both sides of narrow Bukeyashiki Street are a combination of stone walls and tall green hedges concealing the feudal mansions that housed the lord of the city's most important retainers. Entry into the houses are prohibited, but the elegant exterior can still be admired, as well as their small but picturesque strolling gardens. The samurai of the day employed professional gardeners from the castle to make these exquisite gardens and visitors can still enter and enjoy them, for a fee.

Travelers come to Ibusuki to enjoy a Sand Bath Experience, where they lay covered in heated sand that has been naturally enriched with volcanic minerals in hot spring water. This process is called "sunamushi" or sand bathing. Visitors wrap themselves in a yukata robe and lay atop the sand, after which a bathhouse attendant comes and covers them in the hot sand. Bathing in the sand for 10-20 minutes removes impurities in the body and improves circulation, and after, sand bathers are encouraged to take a dip in the hot spring baths to complete the experience. You can also listen to the relaxing sound of the ocean as you bathe.

Trek through the Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge for 2 hours on a journey that reveals the natural splendor of a lush forest of Yakusugi cedar trees. Running throughout the gorge are various hiking trails. Some are old and traditional dirt and stone trails like you would see during the Edo period, while others are more recent. While hiking these trails, keep your eyes open for the woodland scenes of incredible beauty seen in Studio Ghibli's animated film "Princess Mononoke"; one of Studio Ghibli's artists drew sections of this enchanted forest that later appeared in the anime film.

Yakusugi Land is a region of Yakushima Island set aside as a nature park for visitors to come and admire the wild Yakusugi cedar trees, which are a type of tree unique to the island. Visitors to Yakusugi Land can see some of the island's oldest and most impressive yakusugi specimens: the Buddhasugi (Buddha Cedar), the Meteosugi (Couples' Cedar), Futagosugi (Twins Cedar), and Sennensugi (Thousand-Year Cedar), among others. Near Yakusugi Land is the Kigensugi Cedar, which is one of the oldest cedar trees on the island that can be appreciated by car.

The Kigensugi Cedar is the name of an impressive Yakusugi Cedar tree on Yakusugi Island. Located near Yakusugi Land, the Kigensugi Cedar is one of the oldest cedars on the island that can be reached by car. At roughly 3000 years old, the Kigensugi sits beside a nearby roadway and can be viewed while driving by. An important point to note about the tree is that its top has already died, and has been inhabited by epiphytes - non-parasitic plants that grow out of larger plants. In this case, the Japanese rowan and Yakushima rhododendron can be seen growing on the Kigensugi.

The Seibu-Rindo Forest Path is a sightseeing road that passes through the Yakushima Island World Heritage Site. It is an excellent way for visitors to the island to see lush, untouched forests of yakusugi cedars, as well as Yakusugi white pine trees, and Gajumaru Banyan Trees. Driving the Seibu-rindo Forest Path also gives visitors the chance to see abundant wildlife in their natural habitat. Yakushima macaques and Yakushima deer foraging along the side of the road are a common sight, and people usually drive slowly, both to take their time admiring the forest, and to avoid any potential animal-related accident.

While Yakushima is most beloved for its Yakusugi Cedar forest, visitors to the island also appreciate viewing the fascinating Gajumaru Banyan Trees. Also known as the Chinese banyan, the Gajumaru on Yakushima feature aerial roots (roots growing above ground), which look like a tree trunk divided into a twisted labyrinth of intertwined growth. These captivating trees with their tangled web of tree roots, surrounded by the dense forest of sugi cedars, can seem to wandering hikers like finding an ancient guardian of the enchanted forest, or an interlocking gateway barring a mysterious forbidden door.

Takachiho Gorge is a beautiful ravine in which the Gokase River flows through. This place is known for its natural beauty and religious importance. The Takachiho Gorge features the scenic Manai-No-Taki Falls and is a popular tourist destination. Guests can view the gorge from renting a boat and rowing down the gorge itself. Another popular way to see the gorge is by walking along the trail above the cliffs to get a good view of the entire gorge.

Located within Takachio is the Amano Iwato Shrine, and is one of the most popular destinations for guests visiting the town. The town is known for the legend of the sun goddess hiding herself in a cave and thus taking the world’s sunlight with her. The Amano Iwato Shrine is near the cave where the sun goddess hid herself in the legend. This beautiful location is one of the most visited and famous destinations in Japan.

There are a few hot springs located in Beppu that are very unsafe for people to go into, but those hot springs are perfect for viewing. There are eight different hot springs that are open for the public due to how beautiful and unique they look. These eight hot springs are all located in different areas within Beppu and offer its own unique view. Some of the hot springs are blue, white, and red or have animals like crocodiles. Some of the hot springs are also a designated national special scenic spot as well.

The Eight Hells of Beppu are a set of boiling hot springs with temperatures that are definitely too high for bathing, but they are just the right temperature to enjoy in a different way: steam cooking! At the Jigokumushi Kobo Steam Cooking Center, a variety of foods can be steam cooked to perfection using steam harnessed from the Hells, which is claimed to pass on various additional health benefits. People who use the Steam Cooking Center can bring their own foods to cook, or they can purchase prepared plates of vegetables, meat, seafood, chicken, rice bowls, and more.

The Takasakiyama Monkey Park is located at the base of Mount Takasaki between the city of Beppu and Oita. This park is one of the most popular destinations for tourist visiting Kyushu and is known for being the home to over 1500 wild monkeys. Guests can watch the monkeys up close as they are fed and watch the monkeys play or relax in the sun. Guests should avoid eye contact or feeding the monkeys for their own safety.

Located at the base of the Kunisaki Peninsula, the Usa Shrine in Kyushu Island acts as the head shrine among 40,000 branches in Japan dedicated to the Shinto God of Archery and War known as Hachiman. The Divine deity is heavily associated with the legendary Emperor Ojin of Japan. Built over 1300 years ago, the Usa Shrine is a major contributing factor in the formation of the mountain worship religion, special in the area around the Kunisaki Peninsula known as Rokugo Manzan culture. The shrine consists of many structures including a treasure hall, ceremonial grounds, several ponds separated by an upper and bottom complex of the area. The main hall of Usa Shrine is designated as a National Treasure of Japan with the unique style of Hachiman zukuri architectural building style, which is applied by combining roofs of two different structures to form into one large building. Local shops provide visitors with souvenirs by the road leading up to the north entrance. The treasure hall houses cultural artifacts related to the shrine many of which are designated as national treasures. Around 150 festivals are celebrated at this shrine throughout the year including seasonal celebrations for luck and harvest. The Usa Mikoshi Festival or Summer Festival is one of the largest festivals celebrated at this location which consists of mikoshi floats attracting thousands of locals and foreign visitors to attend each year.