Beyond Fukuoka

I’ll be honest, Fukuoka isn’t my favorite city in Japan, but I do enjoy indulging in Hakata ramen on every visit, usually at Ichiran or one of the many yatai stalls scattered throughout the city.

Fukuoka may not have as many attractions as some of the more popular destinations in Japan but it is home to one of the busiest international airports in the country. This makes it a prime entryway into the island of Kyushu and a convenient base for day trips.

After you’ve had your fill of Hakata ramen, here are a few interesting places you can visit on a day trip from Fukuoka.

FUN DAY TRIPS FROM FUKUOKA

Japan’s rail system is so efficient that impossible distances in other countries are easy day trips here. To help you determine which destinations work best for your schedule, I’ve arranged them by travel time from Fukuoka’s main transportation hub – Hakata Station.

Tap on the links below to jump to any section of the guide. Estimated times are for one-way travel. The Self-drive category features destinations best visited by rental car or guided tour.

If you’re planning on exploring the Kyushu region extensively, then the Kyushu Rail Pass can be a great investment. More on that at the end of this article.

UNDER 1 HR FROM FUKUOKA

Nanzoin Temple

Estimated travel time: 30 mins

Nanzoin is one of the easiest day trip destinations from Fukuoka. Located about half an hour away by train, it’s a Buddhist Temple housing a giant bronze statue of a reclining Buddha. It’s said to be the largest bronze statue in the world, measuring an impressive 41 meters long (134.5 ft), 11 meters high (36 ft), and weighing in at nearly 300 tons.

To put those measurements in perspective, the Statue of Liberty – from its heels to the top of its head – measures about 34 meters (111.5 ft). It weighs a relatively modest 225 tons, giving you an idea of just how massive this reclining Buddha is!

Dazaifu

Estimated travel time: 45 mins

Dazaifu served as the administrative center of Kyushu for over 500 years. It facilitated diplomatic relations and was once the main point of interaction between Japan and the rest of Asia.

Dazaifu is no longer the administrative center it once was but it remains a key point of interest in Kyushu. It’s home to a number of temples and shrines, none more important than Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. It’s also where you’ll find Kyushu National Museum, a large museum that hosts collections of Japanese artifacts related to the history of Kyushu.

You can visit Dazaifu on your own, but if you’d like to go on a guided tour, then you can book one through Get Your Guide or Klook.

1-2 HRS FROM FUKUOKA

Yanagawa

Estimated travel time: 1 hr 30 mins

Yanagawa is a city in southern Fukuoka prefecture, about 56 km (34.8 miles) south of Fukuoka City. Sometimes referred to as the “city of water” or the “Venice of Kyushu”, it’s famous for its network of canals totaling about 470 km (292 miles) in length.

Built hundreds of years ago, these canals were originally used for irrigation. They’re a reminder of Yanagawa’s past as a farming village but today, they’re used to take tourists on cruises (kawakudari) using boats powered by men with long bamboo poles (donkobune).

You can easily visit Yanagawa on your own but if you prefer, you can book a guided tour through Get Your Guide or Klook. Both options include a kawakudari cruise and a lunch of steamed eel called “unagi seiro mushi”, a Yanagawa specialty.

Kumamoto Castle

Estimated travel time: 1 hr 30 mins

Kumamoto Castle is one of the most impressive castles in Japan. Striking in size and design, it’s renowned for its imposing black exterior with sloping ramparts designed to prevent ninja attacks.

Unfortunately, much of the castle has been damaged or destroyed since its original construction in 1607. Few of its original structures remain intact so much of what you see today is a modern reconstruction.

Sadly, the castle suffered considerable damage in the earthquake of 2016 so it’s currently undergoing a complete restoration. The castle’s main keep was reopened to the public in 2021 but many other parts remain closed.

You can visit Kumamoto Castle on your own using public transportation or book a guided tour through Klook (option 1 | option 2). Home to around 800 cherry trees, the castle becomes even more beautiful in spring.

Nagasaki

Estimated travel time: 1 hr 45 mins

Nagasaki is one of the most well-known destinations in Kyushu. Personally, I found it to be one of the most unique and peculiar cities I’ve visited so far in Japan.

Nagasaki has always been a prominent port city throughout its history. It was the most important port among just a handful that remained open to foreign trade during Japan’s period of isolation.

This influx of foreign traders shaped Nagasaki. Today, vestiges of foreign influence can still be seen in the city’s many Catholic churches, Western-style houses, and local dishes influenced by Chinese and Portuguese cuisine.

There’s much to see and do in Nagasaki like Gunkanjima, Mt. Inasa (pictured below), and Nagasaki Peace Park. It merits a longer stay but people pressed for time can do it as a day trip from Fukuoka.

2-3 HRS FROM FUKUOKA

Yufuin

Estimated travel time: 2 hrs 15 mins

Yufuin is an atmospheric onsen town in Oita prefecture, about 125 km (77.7 miles) southeast of Fukuoka. It’s situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, the most recognizable being the twin peaks of Mount Yufu.

I’ve been to Yufuin in February and found it to be one of the most charming towns I’ve visited thus far in Japan. It was especially beautiful during that time with its backdrop of mountains covered in snow.

Yufuin is famous for its many ryokans and hot springs, not to mention a central shopping street with boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and quirky museums. You can visit on your own or book a guided tour through Get Your Guide or Klook.

Beppu

Estimated travel time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Beppu is a much larger and more developed onsen town about 30 km (18.6 miles) east of Yufuin. It’s one of Japan’s most popular hot spring resorts, famous for its bevy of thermal baths and jigoku or hot spring “hells” (pictured below).

I love Yufuin because of its more intimate size and rural feel, but if you’re looking for a more complete onsen experience, then it may be best to go to Beppu. You’ll have a wider range of onsen experiences to choose from like hot water baths, steam baths, mud baths, and sand baths.

You can travel to Beppu on your own or book a guided tour through Get Your Guide or Klook. It’s possible to visit on a day trip but people looking for a full onsen experience may want to stay longer.

SELF-DRIVE

Kurokawa Onsen

Estimated travel time: 2 hrs 15 mins (by car)

Kurokawa Onsen is a lovely onsen town tucked away in the mountains of Kumamoto prefecture. Even smaller and more remote than Yufuin, it’s surrounded by pine trees and devoid of any large concrete hotels.

I stayed the night and had use of my ryokan’s baths, but day-trippers can use one of two public baths or engage in what’s known as rotemburo meguri or “onsen hopping”. For a small fee, you can use the baths of up to three different ryokans.

You can catch a direct bus to Kurokawa Onsen from Fukuoka but buses back are limited so you’ll need to stay the night. If you don’t have the time, then it’s best to rent a car or book a guided tour through Get Your Guide or Klook.

Like Beppu, Kurokawa Onsen is accessible on a day trip from Fukuoka but it’s best to stay the night if you’d like to have an onsen experience.

Mount Aso

Estimated travel time: 2 hrs 45 mins (by car)

Located in Kumamoto prefecture, Mount Aso is the largest active volcano in Japan and one of the largest in the world. Its caldera has a diameter of 25 km (15.5 miles) and a circumference of about 120 km (74.6 miles).

The volcano’s central cone consists of five peaks. Mt. Taka is the highest while Mt. Nakadake is the only one accessible to tourists. Its crater contains an active volcano continually emitting smoke, which may cause it to be closed off to visitors due to toxic gases and the risk of volcanic activity.

Mount Aso is challenging to get to on a day trip using public transportation so it’s best to rent a car or book a guided tour through Get Your Guide or Klook.

Takachiho

Estimated travel time: 2 hrs 45 mins (by car)

Takachiho is a town in northern Miyazaki prefecture. It’s an area steeped in Japanese mythology and renowned for its astounding natural beauty.

Takachiho’s most famous attractions include Amano Iwato Shrine and the spectacular Takachiho Gorge (pictured below). You can explore the gorge on a rental boat or via a paved path that runs along the top of the gorge.

Takachiho is about 180 km (111.8 miles) south of Fukuoka. It’s difficult to get to on a day trip using public transportation so it’s best to go by rental car or guided tour (Get Your Guide | Klook).

Tsunoshima Bridge

Estimated travel time: 2 hrs 30 mins (by car)

These last two recommendations aren’t in Kyushu but they can be paired together on the same day trip.

Tsunoshima is an island in the Sea of Japan, about 2 km (1.2 miles) off the northwest coast of Yamaguchi prefecture. Its white sand beaches make it popular with locals in the summer, but what makes it truly interesting is the bridge that connects it to the mainland.

Measuring almost 1.8 km (1.1 miles) in length, Tsunoshima Bridge is the second longest bridge in Japan. Popular with motorists, it offers a scenic drive with spectacular ocean views on either side.

Tsunoshima Bridge doesn’t offer pedestrian access so it’s best experienced by rental car or on a guided tour (Get Your Guide | Klook).

Motonosumi Inari Shrine

Estimated travel time: 2 hrs 45 mins (by car)

Torii gates at Shinto shrines are always a breathtaking sight, but perhaps none more so than at Motonosumi Inari Shrine in Yamaguchi. It’s famous for its series of 123 red torii gates going up a cliff and overlooking the Sea of Japan.

Like Tsunoshima Bridge, Motonosumi Inari Shrine isn’t as easy to get to on your own, especially on a day trip from Fukuoka. It’s best visited by rental car or on a guided tour (Get Your Guide | Klook).

KYUSHU RAIL PASS

If you plan on doing multiple consecutive day trips from Fukuoka or extensively exploring Kyushu island, then the Kyushu Rail Pass can be a great value, if you use it often enough.

The Kyushu Rail Pass will entitle you to unlimited use of JR trains in Kyushu (except the Sanyo Shinkansen) for three, five, or seven consecutive days. It comes in three versions – All Kyushu, Northern Kyushu, and Southern Kyushu. You can use the All Kyushu and Northern Kyushu versions to travel to and from Fukuoka.

If you aren’t sure if the Kyushu Rail Pass is worth it for you, then you can use a JR fare calculator to estimate how much traveling by train will cost you. If it’ll save you money, then you can purchase one in advance through Klook.

THE FINAL SAY

Fukuoka isn’t the most exciting city I’ve been to in Japan but it does make for a great base to explore Northern Kyushu. Compared to the Kansai and Kanto regions, Kyushu doesn’t get as many foreign tourists. People who’ve already done the usual tourist trail in Japan will have lots to look forward to here.

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