During June holiday in 2017, many of our friends travelled to Japan too, they travelled to places like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido, so I thought that not many Singaporeans would consider Kyushu when they plan a trip to Japan. Who knows, DaDi met his ex-colleague in a restaurant, and then we met some Singaporeans on our second last day in Kyushu. So it seems that actually Kyushu has become one of the favourite places in Japan that Singaporeans would visit!
As compared to Okinawa (read our Okinawa travelogue here), Kyushu is easier to go around with public transport.
Check out our 8 tips for Japan Kyushu railway trip with children, 5 tips for taking public transport in Kyushu, and our Japan Kyushu Food Guide!
Check out our 8 tips for Japan Kyushu railway trip with children, 5 tips for taking public transport in Kyushu, and our Japan Kyushu Food Guide!
- Lunch: McDonald's at JR Hakata City
- Uminonakamichi Park
- Dinner: Ikkousha (博多一幸舎) at JR Hakata City
- Stay: Toyoko Inn Hakata-guchi Ekimae
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| Uminonakamichi Park |
Day 2 Fukuoka (福岡)
- Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class at Ippudo (一風堂) Child Kitchen
- Dazaifu (太宰府)
- Dinner: Gram Cafe & Pancakes (Tenjin)
- Stay: Toyoko Inn Hakata-guchi Ekimae
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| Cooking lesson at Child Kitchen |
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| Dazaifu |
Day 3 Fukuoka (福岡) - Kumamoto (熊本) - Fukuoka (福岡)
- Suizenji Garden (水前寺成趣園) + Yukata experience
- Sakuranobaba Johsaien (桜の馬場)
- Shimotori (下通)
- Kumamon Square
- Dinner: 魚べいヨドバシ博多店 Conveyor Belt Sushi
- JR Hakata City Roof Garden つばめの杜ひろば
- Stay: Toyoko Inn Hakata-guchi Ekimae
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| Kumamon Square |
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| JR Hakata JR City Roof Garden |
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| JR Hakata JR City Roof Garden |
Day 4 Fukuoka (福岡) - Yufuin (由布院) - Beppu (別府)
- Sightseeing train: Yufu no Mori (由布院の森)
- Hot Spring at Musouen (山のホテル夢想園)
- Lake Kinrin (金鱗湖)
- Yunotsubo Kaidou (湯の坪街道)
- Beppu
- Dinner: Bungo Chaya (豊後茶屋) at Beppu Station
- Stay: Beppu Nogamihonkan Ryokan
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| Yufuin no Mori |
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| Yufuin |
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| Musouen |
Day 5 Oita (大分)
- Sanrio Harmonyland (ハーモニーランド)
- Hiji Town Library
- Dinner: Bungo Chaya (豊後茶屋) at Beppu Station
- Stay: Beppu Nogamihonkan Ryokan
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| Sanrio Harmonyland |
Day 6 Oita (大分) - Fukuoka (福岡)
- African Safari (アフリカサファリ)
- Dinner: Yoshinoya at JR Hakata City
- Stay: Toyoko Inn Hakata-guchi Ekimae
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| African Safari |
Day 7 Fukuoka (福岡) - Mojiko (門司港) - Shimonoseki (下関) - Fukuoka (福岡)
- Mojiko (門司港)
- Karato Market (唐戸市場)
- Sightseeing train: Mojiko Retro Train Shiokaze-Go (潮風号)
- Kyushu Railway Histroy Museum
- Lunch: Ousamanotamago (王様のたまご) - Grilled curry rice
- Sightseeing train: Azo Boy! (あそぼーい！)
- Dinner: Tanya (たんや)
- Stay: Toyoko Inn Hakata-guchi Ekimae
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| Karato Market |
Day 8
- Home sweet home
Our Post Trip Reflection
Kyushu is a nice place for family travel, there are plenty of sightseeing spots, and it is considered child-friendly. As usual, our family travel focuses on experiential learning as a family. In addition to sightseeing spots, we included ramen and gyoza cooking class in our itinerary.
The Japanese locals in Kyushu, especially the elderly, are very friendly, when they saw us speaking in English, they would talk to us. It seems that they have a "conversation template" - they would ask where we are from, how old how our children are, and end off the conversation by saying that our children are "kawaii" (cute)!
Getting from Fukuoka Airport to city area is very convenient, there is shuttle bus service between the international and domestic airports, and it takes a few minutes to take subway from domestic airport to the town area. Alternatively, you can take direct bus from international airport to town area, but the traffic is quite heavy during peak hours.
Travelling around Kyushu via public transportation is not too difficult, except that there are not many trains and buses in rural areas. As compared to other family overseas trips, this trip was slightly more challenging for our children as we had to walk very fast to catch the trains or buses!
We only explored the northern part of Kyushu during this trip. If we have a chance, we would love to explore the southern part of Kyushu!
Our Japan (June 2017) Travelogue
- 8 Tips for Planning Japan Kyushu Railway Trip with Children
- Japan Travel with Children 8D7N Itinerary (Kyushu + Shimonoseki)
- 5 Tips for Taking Public Transport in Kyushu
- Japan Kyushu Food Guide
- Kyushu - Fukuoka - Uminonakamichi Seaside Park (海の中道海浜公園)
- Kyushu - Fukuoka - Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class with Ippudo Child Kitchen
- Kyushu - Fukuoka - Dazaifu Tenmangu (大宰府天満宮)
- Kyushu - Kumamoto
- Kyushu - Sightseeing Train Yufuin no Mori (ゆふいんの森)
- Kyushu - Yufuin (由布院)
- Kyushu - Oita - Beppu (別府)
- Kyushu - Oita - Sanrio Harmonyland
- Kyushu - Oita - African Safari
- Mojiko (門司港) + Shimonoseki (下関)
- Kyushu - Sightseeing Train Aso Boy! (あそぼーい!)
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Hi, thanks for sharing your itinerary. I am currently planning out mine. May I ask which ryokans/accomodations in Yufuin/Beppu did you stay at? Or do you have any recommendations?
ReplyDeleteIs it difficult to get to Harmonyland by public transport? I read somewhere that the last bus from Harmonyland to the nearest JR Station is before the night fireworks and there isn't any taxis waiting out front after the fireworks. Did u stay for the fireworks and managed to get transport back to the station? Sorry for asking so many questions. Can't seem to find much info online. Thanks a lot in advance! :)
Hi, we stayed at Nogamihonkan Ryokan at Beppu. I found it value for money, we only spent about 9900+ yen per night for our family of 2 adults and 2 children. This is so much cheaper than accommodations in Yufuin.
DeleteFor Harmonyland, we didn't get to watch the fireworks as this was not available on the day that we visited. The last bus from Harmonyland departs at 4.42pm on weekdays and 5.05pm on weekends (
http://www.oitakotsu.co.jp/bus/rosen/pdf/19371.pdf?v=0310114343), therefore it would be advisable to drive, or call a taxi.
Hi, do you recommend self drive in Kyushu? I got a 3 years old toddler, reading your post trip reflection. Public transport seem a bit of challenge for your kids.
ReplyDeleteHi, we haven't tried self-driving in Kyushu, but did self-drive in Okinawa. As an experienced driver in Singapore, I personally feel that self-driving in Japan is generally not too difficult, except in mountainous area and during winter.
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