Japan, the land of the rising sun, is the one of the countries that one can visit repeatedly and still find surprising and fun places to visit and things to do. Not to forget the delicious food to be found. This time we visited the Kyushu region of Japan. It was Sakura season when we were there so everything is in the lovely shade of Pink!
Here's a list of the trip highlights:
Yufuin /汤布院
This small spa town would be the highlight of our trip. Despite being touristique, it still picturesque and lovely. There are also lots of unique shops to doing your shopping. Here are some suggested stops in the town:
1. B-Speak
Ok, this is not a sight seeing spot but the roll cakes here are simply delicious. Japanese style cake fluffiness, the cakes sold out early in the day.
Website: http://www.b-speak.net
2. Shopping street
This is where all the action is. This long street is filled with boutique shops selling local products and souveniors & local snacks. There's even a Totoro shop selling all the cute Totoro souveniors. in this street, there is definitely something for everyone.
3. Lake Kirin/ 金鳞湖
At the end of the shopping street, the lake is actually a hot spring in it self. During winter season, you can see steam rising out from the lake giving it an otherworldly feel.
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine/大宰俯
Dazaifu is a small temple town located within the Fukuoka prefecture. In here, there are approximately 6,000 plum trees of 197 varieties in the vicinity of Tenmangu. The best time to view these Plum trees would be Feb/Mar.
The picture perfect streets reminds one of those lovely temple festivals in animes. Like any town with a famous temple shrine, there are lovely shops and local delicacies should right outside the road to the shrine.
More details on this webesite [here]
Beppu City/别俯市
Beppu is the city of hot springs. There are literary hundreds of hot springs littered everywhere in the town that the whole town is enshrined by mist. The locals named the major hot springs as "Hells". Not that they are scary, but that they are hot & steaming like hell in Japanese myths should be.
1. Jigokumushi-Kobo:Steam cooking Kitchen/地狱蒸
This is really fun. Basically, you pay for a set of uncooked vegetables and/or meat and you go to one of the cooking stand where steam from the hot spring will help cook the food. The DIY commando style cooking (as there's no flavorings involved), lets you taste the purest taste of vegatables and meat (they are so sweet and succulent!!). And what fun steaming your own food with hot spring! You can read more here. No cooking experience required!
Address: 5-Kumi Furomoto Beppu (along the Ideyu-zaka)
Opens everyday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m, except every 3rd Wed. of the month
2. 8 hells (Jigoku) of Beppu
The 8 hells of Beppu are major sights in the town. Some are pretty amazing, others are rather unmentionable. My picks are the Umi-JigoKu (海地狱）which is in a lovely shade of turquiose and Chinoike-Jigoku (血地狱） in red.
Kokonoe Dream Bridge/九重夢大吊橋
Kokonoe Yume Otsuribashi is the largest suspension bridge in Japan. The height of the bridge walk to bottom is about 173m high. The entire length is 390m tall.
Ok, this is definitely a tourist trap but still, it allows you to see rather wonderful views of the Narukogawa valley. If nothing, it is a good picture spot. Not to mention the delicious wild bog burger waiting for you at the other end of the bridge.