Visit Kyushu
The Official Kyushu Travel Guide

At the beginning of the Edo period in 1603, the once-small island village of Usuki transformed into a prosperous city of trade under the governance of powerful feudal lords. Since then, the historical district of Usuki has retained much of its original Edo charm, garnering the distinction as one of Japan's “Top 100 Cityscapes” by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

With well-preserved samurai residences, the remains of an impressive castle fortress on top of a towering plateau, and a hillside with stone-paved roads lined with Edo-period temples and buildings, there’s no doubt why it deserves the accolade.