FLY TO JAPAN FUKUOKA

Fukuoka Model Course

Arriving in Japan via Fukuoka? Here's a four-day model itinerary that you can use to plan your trip and make the most out of what Kyushu, the southwesternmost region of the country, has to offer!

Day 1: Nagasaki

Huis Ten Bosch

About two hours away from Fukuoka Airport by bus, Huis Ten Bosch in Sasebo, Nagasaki is an ideal place to start your trip. Spend a day at this expansive Dutch-themed amusement park complete with tall windmills, colorful tulips, and life-size replicas of Dutch structures! On winter nights, the park also hosts a fantastic illumination that features over 13 million bright lights you wouldn’t want to miss.

Oura Cathedral

*The posting of the picture above was approved by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki

While you're still in Nagasaki, drop by what is considered to be Japan's oldest existing wooden church, Oura Cathedral. Admire the French Gothic architectural style and the stained glass windows of this Catholic church, which is also known as "The Church of 26 Martyrs." Fun fact: In 1933, the church was designated as a National Treasure.

Day 2: Fukuoka

Uminonakamichi Seaside Park

Kick off day 2 at Uminonakamichi Seaside Park in Fukuoka, a large national park with a total area of about 300 hectares. Here you can enjoy seemingly endless fields of seasonal flowers throughout the year, including cherry blossoms, tulips, nemophila, roses, and hydrangeas. They also have a facility called the Animal Forest, where you can interact with lovable animals like squirrel monkeys, capybaras, and kangaroos. If you want, you can also choose to bike your way around the park via its 12-kilometer cycling course.

“Yatai” Food Stalls

As it gets darker, head to one (or a few) of the hundreds of “yatai” stalls, or open-air food stalls, scattered across the city of Fukuoka. Satisfy your appetite with a variety of food such as yakitori or grilled skewers and oden, which are best paired with alcoholic beverages. You can also find the local specialty Hakata ramen, composed of thin ramen noodles and pork bone-based soup, at one of these places. Yatai stalls are usually open for business from 6 PM to 2 AM, so you have ample time to grab a quick bite or two.

Day 3: Oita

Beppu Hatto

After two exhausting days of exploration, set some time aside just for soaking and relaxing at one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan. Literally meaning "Eight Hot Springs," Beppu Hatto is a collection of eight onsen towns throughout the city. Apart from the traditional hot spring that you are probably familiar with, there are also sand baths, steam baths, and mud baths here. So whether you want to bathe in water or mud, Beppu has got you covered!

Day 4: Kagoshima

Yakushima Island

And on your final day, venture out into nature and take a ferry to the subtropical island of Yakushima, located off the southern coast of Kyushu. Famously known for its wildlife and cedar forests, Yakushima is home to many cedar trees that are over 1,000 years old. Don’t forget to see the Jomon cedar, which is estimated to be more than 2,000 years old, as well as the heart-shaped Wilson Stump. A hike through the forests of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is surely an amazing way to bring your trip to completion!