This past spring, I traveled to #Kyushu island for the first time – it’s been on my #Japan travel bucket-list for the longest time! This was a 5-day road trip where I toured small towns in different prefectures: #Fukuoka, Oita and #Kumamoto. I spent my nights in Yufuin, Aso and Hakata where you’ll come across some ryokan recommendations! With spring being the season for sakura, I’ll also be sharing some photogenic cherry blossom viewing (hanami) spots in these areas! Kyushu island is a beautiful blend of culture, food, and nature. I hope this vlog gives you a glimpse into just how stunning this island is, and why it’s worth a visit when you’re in Japan!
Places to Eat and Visit on Kyushu Island (九州)
Timestamps by Location
00:12 Ukiha (うきは) – Sakura Photo Spot! 🌸
Nagarekawa Cherry blossom Trees (流川の桜並木)
Hokke Genka Garden (法華原華庭園)
00:33 Yufuin Onsen (由布院温泉)
Sumibiyaki Keisyuan (七輪炭火焼 啓修庵)
CAFE LA RUCHE
Mameshiba Cafe (豆柴カフェ)
Hoshino Resort KAI Yufuin (界 由布院) – Hotel in Yufuin
Sankura Coffee (サンクラCoffee)
02:50 Oguni (小国)
Omiya (おうみや)
Kappa Waterfall (カッパ滝)
Oguniryo Shrine (小国両神社)
Meoto Falls (夫婦滝)
04:13 Aso (阿蘇)
Shiroyama Scenic Overlook (城山展望所)
RYOKAN MINAWA (旅館 みな和) – Ryokan Hotel in Aso
Isshingyo Sakura Tree (一心行の大桜)
ASO MILK FACTORY (阿蘇牛奶工廠)
Cafe Sakura (茶蔵カフェ)
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine (上色見熊野座神社)
Shirakawa Spring (白川水源)
Minamiaso Tea House Honten (南阿蘇ティーハウス本店)
Aso Health Farm (阿蘇健康農園)
08:16 Yame (八女)
Fukushima Hachiman Shrine (福島八幡宮)
Yabeya Konomi Honke (茶商 矢部屋 許斐本家)
MARUYASABOU (まる舎茶房)
09:35 Itoshima (糸島)
Sakurai Futamigaura’s Couple Stones (桜井二見ヶ浦 夫婦岩)
Sakurai Shrine (櫻井神社)
10:17 Hakata (博多)
Musasiza (すみ劇場 むさし坐)
Maizuru Park (舞鶴公園)
Ohori Park Japanese Garden (福岡県立大濠公園日本庭園)
_________________________
For more vlogs of Japan:
🤍 TOKYO & KAMAKURA FOOD/TRAVEL GUIDE 🇯🇵 | HIDDEN GEMS, Must-Visit Places, Local Eats and Cafes!
🤍 Trip from Tokyo to NIKKO, JAPAN | Places to Visit, What to Eat & Ryokan Stay 🇯🇵🍂
🤍 JAPAN TRAVEL VLOG 🇯🇵⛷ | Skiing in Hakuba Snow Village, Nagano ❄️
_________________________
Music
Japanese relaxing music (No Copyright) Cherry Blossoms at Night [Free BGM]
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOalDO-C7pQ
Laffey & azayaka – Picnic In The Park
– Provided by Lofi Records
– Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bvbsx-hpFc&t=419s
– Download/Stream: https://fanlink.to/Restful-Holidays
Merry-Go-Round of Life Joe Hisaishi [Music Box] (Anime Film – Howl’s Moving Castle )
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfL2DGcNpBA
Tibeauthetraveler – Cherry Tree
– Provided by Lofi Records
– Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBshEnuqMQY
– Download/Stream: https://fanlink.to/SoothingBreeze
Living Room x Otaam – Koshi
– Provided by Lofi Records
– Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksB9sNBnQb8
– Download/Stream: https://fanlink.to/MemoriesEP
_________________________
Camera
iPhone 14 Pro Max
_________________________
Edited using Final Cut
Voiceover recorded with iPhone
_________________________
Instagram: kaewvirin / absentabroad
[Music] this spring I took a 5-day getaway to explore Japan’s kushu Island for the first time where I went on a road trip around different parts of the island to experience all the various charms this island has to offer I arrived in early spring towards the end of March so all the cherry blossoms weren’t fully bloomed in certain spots yet luckily the lady at the coffee stand suggested we head over to hookit Guk Garden to view the willowing cherry blossoms which were in full bloom at the time it was so Whimsical to see up close and gave off a different feeling to the normal cherry blossoms from there it was a 1-hour drive to yufuin an enchanting Onsen town in OA perfecture I was so excited to have lunch at this Yaki niku restaurant I’ve been looking forward to the most before my trip started you can choose either the beef or chicken set and it comes with a giant mushroom and other vegetables to grill I’m usually not a big fan of mushrooms but this one tasted amazing the texture was almost meat-like without that strong mushroom scent that puts off many next we began exploring the town and undeniably one of the most iconic sites of this town is Kieran Lake surrounded by mountains be sure to stop by Cafe larouche for a scenic view over a nice cup of coffee the town itself is fun to walk around with small shops cafes and cherry blossoms along the way and another place I definitely had to visit was the shibat cafe here you’ll have to to pay an entry fee of 1,000 yen where you’ll get a free drink and 30 minutes to play with the cutest mam [Music] Shea that evening we checked in at hosino Resort caou fuin for a night and their kaiseki dinner inspired by Regional dishes and culinary methods was so indulgent I couldn’t stop eating [Music] the rooms are quite modern and have a private open air bath on the balcony that we can enjoy to our hearts content the breakfast was an array of local ingredients and the Highlight for me was definitely the Miso soup with this thick flat udon light noodle next was a compulsory coffee stop at sanura Coffee which looks out to a stunning view of Mount [Music] Yu from yufu in we then took a 1-hour drive to okuni where we had lunch at omia a Riverside Restaurant famous for their unag there is just something so satisfying about a simple bowl of unag gidong with pickles and [Music] soup after lunch we stop by kaapa waterfall for a short hike you can walk along the main stream where you’ll eventually reach the main waterfall but because it was quite slippery from the rain that day I couldn’t reach it okuni real Shrine is one of okun’s most famous shrines apparently famous for boosting Financial for Fortune the temple is surrounded by towering cedar trees giving off an enchanting feeling while you’re [Music] there there’s also a place to wash and bless your coins for good luck where the type of luck you wish for depends on the color of the string you choose to tie your coin with one of the most places of this trip was definitely meoto Falls translating to male and female The Falls are made up of two adjacent waterfalls which meet and blend to form One River thus symbolizing love and making this place frequently visited by many couples next we headed towards ASO as we got closer a Viewpoint worth visiting is the shiroyama Scenic Overlook which gives you a panoramic view of ASO [Music] Valley while you’re there be sure to to stop by their shop and buy their [Music] fruits our home for the next two nights was rang minoa a secluded and peaceful rang with a small number of rooms we picked our Yukata and headed over to the main dining hall for dinner which was another satisfying course of regional cuisine [Music] it was so healing to spend the rest of our evening here followed by a morning soak in the onen before [Music] [Music] breakfast the weather looked amazing the next day so we first headed to ishing Sakura Tre it wasn’t fully bloomed then but it would have looked so magical if we came at the right time next was also milk factory for some decent desserts before heading over to Cafe Sakura for lunch it’s a Charming restaurant in an old Japanese house overlooking the fields the cafe serves set meals and pasta with coffee and desserts I highly recommend ordering their sponge cake which was so light and Airy and paired perfectly with tea [Music] kamish Kimi Kumo imasu Shrine is tucked away in the Cypress forests at the foot of Mount asso although I visited a lot of shrines in the past to find one that blends in so seamlessly with nature was so enchanting to me take the path behind the main hall to a large sacred stone with a 10 m hole right through it local myths say that this hole was made when a demon escaped from The Rock making this rock a symbol of achieving difficult goals the next stop was shirakawa spring known as one of the 100 best spring waters in Japan due to its quality mild taste and Clarity the water can be bottled back home and is perfect for brewing tea and is also made into [Music] sake the spring itself also leads up to a peaceful Shrine that’s worth visiting [Music] being a tea lover I had to stop by Mina miaso Tea House hun to buy some gifts back home a highlight of this place is tasting some of their tea Blends while looking out at a stunning View [Music] back at the riang we had na for dinner that night and the porridge we made out of the remaining stock was so [Music] [Music] good the next day I cut back on breakfast so that I could make the most out of my strawberry picking experience at asso health farm here you pay 2,000 Yen upon entry where you can pick as many strawberries As You Like It honestly felt like a buffet and I couldn’t stop eating the Highlight though was the tomatoes which had a hint of sweetness to them we stopped for a short visit in yame for tea arriving a little too early we had some time to explore the town where we stumbled upon Fukushima hachiman Shrine established for the peace and prosperity of the Fukushima region the shrine has been with residents for over 350 years since 1661 the cherry blossoms were absolutely stunning and the shrine had a friendly sheep out guarding the [Music] place this town was beautiful and I’m honestly so glad we had time to explore it by chance [Music] Yaba Konomi is the oldest tea wholesaler in kushu this shop was recommended To Us by the owner of the tea house we planned on visiting as she also sources her tea from here and finally the maras Sao tea house was open here you have an option of having tea prepared for you or preparing the tea yourself the attention to detail in every step of the Tea Ceremony from start to finish was amazing to watch and I highly recommend those visiting kushu to give yumy some attention although it’s a small town it’s rich in culture and crafts and a place I’d love to spend a few more days at again we headed towards itoshima for the couple Stones a Scenic spot with the iconic white Tory gate and there wereare a couple rocks bound together by a sacred rope as a symbol of marriage it is part of the Sakurai Shrine located about a 5 to 10 minute driveway this healing and tranquil Shrine was established during the Edo [Music] [Music] period the cherry blossoms here are also so beautiful during this season surprisingly at the car park for dinner we had isaka at miza famous for its charcoal grilled seafood and Yakitori the ambience was Lively and seeing everything being cooked in front of you made it even better be sure to make a reservation in advance to secure a [Music] seat with the cherry blossoms at Peak we made it in time for the last last night of illuminations at mauru Park there’s something extra magical about seeing these cherry blossoms lit up like [Music] this there’s also a Japanese garden next to it in odori park that we visited on the next day with a tea house overlooking an expensive zen [Music] garden every hour or so the garden releases a sea of folk for an even more mesmerizing [Music] sight last but not least we went back to the other side of mauru Park to view the cherry blossoms once more before we had to leave the street food stalls that lined the paths made it all the more special [Music] visiting kushu Island for the first time definitely left a lasting impression on me [Music]
2 Comments
Which other place in Japan should I visit? 🤍
I lived in Osaka for four years and absolutely loved it. Miss the food and culture