Shrines, museums, parks, and the spots in between, with the access details worked out.
A memorial park near the Nagasaki hypocentre, built around the great bronze Peace Statue and peace monuments donated by nations around the world.
NagasakiSeven vividly coloured hot springs in Beppu – from a cobalt-blue pool to a blood-red pond — too hot to bathe in, but spectacular to see.
Beppu · OitaBuilt in 1601 by the Shimazu clan, this castle was notably small by design, with only its moat, walls, and the recently reconstructed Otemon Gate remaining.
KagoshimaObi Castle, ruled by the Ito clan for centuries, was completely refurbished in the late 1970s along with its surrounding castle town.
Nichinan · MiyazakiKumamoto Castle, known as the Black Castle, features impressive stone walls and architecture and now welcomes visitors following its complete restoration after earthquake damage.
KumamotoOriginally built in the late sixteenth century to control highway crossroads, Saga Castle served as the Saga Domain's residence and was reconstructed in 1989.
SagaOpened in 2005 on the site of an Edo-period magistrate's office, this museum explores Nagasaki's distinctive history as Japan's historical gateway to overseas exchange.
NagasakiLocated on an island in central Fukuoka, Nakasu is celebrated for its vibrant nightlife, entertainment venues, and traditional yatai street food stalls.
FukuokaThis shrine enshrines Amaterasu Omikami and Toyoukebime, along with five other Shinto deities including Ninigi-no-Mikoto and Ame-no-Tajikarao.
Miyakonojo · MiyazakiA Kagoshima museum chronicling the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when the Satsuma-Chōshū Alliance restored imperial rule and transformed Japan.
KagoshimaA regional revitalization initiative in the hometown of Attack on Titan creator Hajime Isayama, featuring two museums dedicated to the manga series.
Hita · OitaA wooden replica of a 14th-century castle built in 1985 that now serves as a museum displaying artifacts and historical information.
Aya · MiyazakiTakasakiyama hosts wild Japanese monkeys in natural habitat, with over 1,000 individuals as of 2020, earning it recognition as the birthplace of monkey science in Japan.
OitaTsuma Shrine is dedicated to Konohanasakuya-hime, whose name is believed to reflect her role as the spouse of Ninigi no Mikoto in Japanese mythology.
Saito · MiyazakiPublic park in Saga Prefecture with ornamental gardens, cherry blossoms, walking trails, and recreation facilities for families visiting the area.
SagaFestival route in Fukuoka that transforms into Japan's largest Golden Week celebration, drawing two million visitors for the Hakata Dontaku parade.
FukuokaSubtropical island with ancient cedar forests and moss-covered landscapes that inspired Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, designated Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Yakushima · KagoshimaA venerable shrine dating over 2,000 years, Aso Shrine honors the grandson of Emperor Jimmu and fuses Shinto practice with worship of Mount Aso's sacred volcanic crater.
Aso · Kumamoto
