A Fukuoka Local’s Ultimate Kyushu Travel Guide for Walkers: Discover Hidden Gems Beyond the Crowds

Kyushu is full of natural beauty, charming towns, and hidden gems. From Fukuoka’s compact city life to Yame’s green tea fields, Itoshima’s coastline, and Beppu’s volcanic onsen, this guide by a Fukuoka local will help you skip the crowds and experience the real Japan.

Tables of Contents

1.Fukuoka

1.1.Yame

1.2.Atago Otojiro Inari Shrine and Atago Shrine

1.3.Atago Iwaiya

1.4.Itoshima

1.5.Mataichi Salt Maker "Tottan"

1.6.Sakurai Futamigaura

1.7.Mount Hōman

1.8.Kuma-chan Ramen

2.Saga

2.1.Imari Okawachiyama

3.Beppu - Oita Prefecture

3.1.Mount Yufu

3.2.Cafe - BYCA

3.3.Cafe SHU

4.Recommended Spots

1.Fukuoka: The Ideal Starting Point for an Authentic Kyushu Travel Experience

福岡県

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©Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association

Most travelers begin their Kyushu journey in Fukuoka, the region’s hub with the largest international airport.

While Tokyo often steals the spotlight, Fukuoka has a huge advantage — its size. It’s a perfectly balanced city: big enough to offer plenty of things to see and do, yet compact enough to explore with ease.

You can get around by subway, train, bus, shared bikes, or simply on foot. Best of all, the transport system is straightforward and stress-free, unlike the often overwhelming networks of Tokyo.

1.1.Yame

八女

If you’re a green tea lover, a trip to Yame is well worth it.

From central Fukuoka (Tenjin), you’ll need to take a train and then a bus.

From the Yame central bus stop, it’s about a 1.5 km walk to the green tea field observatory — not too difficult, and actually quite enjoyable.

Along the way, we loved strolling past traditional Japanese houses, which made the journey feel just as rewarding as the destination.

Don't forget to stop by JA Fukuoka Yame Tea Direct Sales Shop “Isshin-an” for Yame Tea Ice Cream.

As you get closer to the green tea fields, the path becomes a bit steep, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

1.2.Atago Otojiro Inari Shrine and Atago Shrine

愛宕音次郎稲荷神社・愛宕神社

They’re much smaller than Dazaifu Tenmangū, but far quieter — and honestly, that sense of calm makes them feel even more special.

The climb up is fairly steep, but think of it as a bonus workout with a rewarding view at the top.

This area is lined with maple trees, making it a beautiful spot to enjoy the vibrant autumn colors alongside the striking torii gates of the shrine.

Also, You can enjoy the view of Fukuoka tower and Genkai Sea from Atago Shrine.

1.3.Atago Iwaiya

愛宕岩井屋

Enjoy tea and Japanese sweets at Atago Iwaiya after taking in the views of Fukuoka from the observation deck near Atago Shrine.

Atago Iwaiya offers a wide selection of reasonably priced, authentic Japanese light meals like mochi, manju, and dango.

The cafe features a traditional Japanese interior. Please be mindful of the peaceful atmosphere and keep your voice down.

Located on a hill, the cafe is generally quiet, especially during weekday late afternoon hours.

1.4.Itoshima

糸島

If the weather is good, I highly recommend taking a day trip to Itoshima (糸島) by bike.

You can easily rent one at the Itoshima Information Center, conveniently located right next to the train station.

There are only limited bikes available so I would recommend you to make reservations ahead here.

There are many spots to visit in Itoshima. Most popular stops are ""Mataichi Salt Maker Tottan (またいちの塩 とったん）" - Salt Making Factory and Sakurai Futamigaura (桜井二見浦).

1.5.Mataichi Salt Maker "Tottan"

またいちの塩 とったん

https://mataichi.info/tottan/

It’s definitely touristy and can get quite busy, but this salt-making factory is famous for one thing: their homemade custard pudding infused with their own salt.

This pudding has been a local sensation for years — a true Fukuoka legend, and one that still lives up to the hype.

There are a couple of observatory decks where you can enjoy the view, but be extra careful — they aren’t very well protected.

1.6.Sakurai Futamigaura

桜井二見ヶ浦

One of the most iconic spots in Fukuoka, this location sits at the northern tip of Itoshima. It’s smart to plan your bike trip so that this can be your turnaround point for heading back.

Around the summer solstice in June, the sunset sinking between the two “Meoto Iwa” (Wedded Rocks) creates a truly mystical scene.

Don’t be surprised to see a line of people waiting to snap a photo with the rocks in the background.

1.7.Mount Hōman

宝満山

Fukuoka is not known for high mountains but Mount Homan (830m) is a solid hike which does not require you to wake up super early or travel 2 hours to get to.

Since hiking trails start from Dazaifu Tenmangu (太宰府天満宮), I usually visit both locations in one trip, but note that the route involves a lengthy walk on a concrete road.

The well-maintained trail is mostly continuous stairs to the summit and easy to follow.

A first-aid box was installed on the trail.

1.8.Hakata Ramen Spot - our recommendation

Kuma-chan Ramen

博多くまちゃんらぁめん

This place gets a big thumbs-up from my Polish wife—consider that the ultimate seal of approval!

Sorry, no ramen pics this time… we were too busy slurping it down before remembering the camera.

2.Saga Prefecture

佐賀県

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A day trip to Saga from Fukuoka is easy, and there are a few hidden gems worth visiting — spots that aren’t mainstream… yet.

2.1.Imari Okawachiyama

伊万里大川内山

If you’re fascinated by beautiful Japanese porcelain, you’ve probably heard of Imari Ōkawachiyama.

Nestled near the mountains of Saga Prefecture, Ōkawachiyama is a peaceful artisan village where craftsmen have been shaping porcelain for over 400 years.

I really enjoyed walking the quiet, scenic streets of this village with traditional Japanese houses.

The highlight of this village for me was a small, peaceful shrine perched atop the hill. You do need to climb quite a few stairs, but it’s completely worth it.

Nestled into the hill itself, almost like a hidden cave, the shrine radiates a sense of nature and spiritual energy. Being up there, I truly felt a deep sense of calm and serenity.

How to Get There

Okawachiyama is located around six kilometers from Imari Station and takes around 15 minutes to reach by car. There is a direct bus from Imari station to Okawachiyama every 2 hours.

3.Beppu - Oita Prefecture

別府市 - 大分県

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Beppu is one of Japan’s most famous onsen (hot spring) towns. It has among the largest numbers of hot spring sources and the greatest hot spring water output in the country.

What I also love about Beppu is its setting—nestled right at the foot of volcanic mountains, with a striking view that makes the city feel even more special.

There are public foot bath spots where you can relax and warm your feet.

3.1.Mount Yufu (1,583m)

由布岳

Technically, Mount Yufu is closer to another onsen town called Yufuin (湯布院), but it’s easy to reach by bus or car from Beppu.

With its iconic cone shape, often compared to Mount Fuji, Mount Yufu is a popular hiking destination featuring two distinct peaks.

We didn’t have enough time to hike on this trip, but even admiring the mountain from the base made the one-hour bus ride completely worthwhile.

Be aware that buses to this area are limited, so it’s best to plan your trip carefully. In winter, it can get especially cold up here, so make sure you’re prepared.

You can find the bus time table here.

How to Get There

You can reach the mountain by train and then bus.

Yufuin Station is served by the Kudai Main Line, which has limited express services to Hakata and Beppu. Take the bus for 20 minutes from Yufuin Station and get off at Yufu-tozan-guchi.

3.2.Cafe - BYCA

If you’re a true coffee nerd like me, BYCA will not disappoint.

This cozy café was created inside a beautifully renovated 160-year-old traditional Japanese house.

The moment I opened the door, I was greeted by the rich aroma of freshly roasted beans. I even spotted the owner carefully hand-sorting each bean before roasting — a rare sight that shows just how much passion goes into every cup.

The staff were warm and welcoming, which made the experience even better.

On top of that, the set of hand-drip specialty coffee paired with homemade cake was an incredible deal — both delicious and reasonably priced.

3.3.Cafe SHU

Are you the type who tries to multitask, only to end up finishing nothing? At Café SHU, you can finally succeed — at least when it comes to enjoying a foot bath while sipping coffee or a light Japanese meal.

Located on the ground floor of Hotel SHU, the café offers outdoor seating where you can soak your feet in warm water as you relax. located on the ground floor or the hotel SHU. It has the outside seats with foot bath and you can even enjoy watching a movie here.

4.RECOMMENDED SPOTS

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