Follow This Kyushu Itinerary and Discover the Region’s Most Intriguing Historical SitesNagasaki / Saga / Fukuoka / Kumamoto

For many years, Hashima Island, otherwise known as Gunkanjima Island, was home to a vibrant community of coal miners. Today, this mysterious island is completely abandoned. When you think of an abandoned island, Japan may not be the first place that springs to mind, especially when you consider the rich cultural traditions that flourish on the archipelago. Yet, with this captivating ghost island, Japan provides the perfect place for visitors keen to uncover a mystery. Located off the coast of Nagasaki, it is in fact one of 1,407 uninhabited islands in the region. This eerie place is made up predominantly of large concrete structures that once housed the island’s residents, coal miners who settled the island after Mitsubishi founded a settlement there. Astonishingly, around 5,300 people were living on this small sliver of land in 1960, and although the local coal mines closed in 1974, there were still close to 3000 people living on the island in 1970. In 2015, this forgotten island was named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Visitors to Takeo Onsen are greeted by a vast vermilion red tower gate. Built in 1915, it has since been designated a National Important Cultural Property and provides a small glimpse into the treasures that lie behind it. Japanese onsen are a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, who maximize the health benefits of hot springs in Japan to improve blood circulation and purify the skin. In fact, Takeo Onsen has alkaline water that has a high moisture-retaining effect that makes your skin smooth. However, by and large, most people visit Takeo Onsen for another reason, relaxation. Choose from a range of bathing options including private baths and take part in a unique cultural tradition that has stood the test of time. Takeo Onsen Motoyu is the oldest structure still operating as an onsen and was once the private bathing spot of Lord Takeo, a member of the gentry from the Edo era (1603–1867).

Traditional Japanese villages come in all shapes and sizes, but Yanagawa is unique in every way. Described as Kyushu’s Venice, Yanagawa is one of the prettiest villages in Japan, a traditional Japanese town with more than 900 kilometers of internal waterways fed by the nearby Chikugo River and lined with serene willow trees. Today, visitors to the town can enjoy a relaxing boat ride along the canals that once would have been used for trade. Hop on board a traditional flat-bottomed boat known as a donkobune, and enjoy a relaxing cruise, propelled by boatmen in traditional attire who steer the boats using the great poles. Don’t leave without sampling the local specialty, unagi, eel caught nearby with a rich, flavorful taste. If you arrive in the town in early spring, don’t miss the traditional boat procession of the Ohina-sama Water Parade.

Located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Nabegataki Falls is truly spectacular. Japanese forests are often punctuated by streams and rivers and the area around Nabegataki Waterfall benefits from both a rich, verdant woodland environment providing some of the best hiking in Japan, and a perfectly formed rocky ridge from which the waterfall emerges. Despite being just 10 meters high, the falls are a healthy 20 meters wide, so the effect of the water gushing down in a perfect sheet is mesmerizing. Step away from the falls and back into the forest and the view is breathtaking. The rolling river hits the pool below creating a misty blanket that, when mixed with the dappled light through the leaves, makes the whole scene seem almost otherworldly. If you come to the falls during the week or early on weekends, you may find that you are part of just a handful of people experiencing this natural wonder. Note that Nabegataki Falls will be closed for construction until the end of March 2024, with a possible extension. Please check in advance for updates.