72 hours around the southern gateway to Japan

Post:Que Lan,Image:Hoang Ha, Que Lan

After a 3.5-hour flight, Fukuoka – which has direct flights from Hanoi – welcomed us with the crisp coolness of a late autumn morning. Here, we were greeted by representatives from the Kyushu Provincial Tourism Promotion Agency. As we said goodbye, having been introduced beforehand by our tour guide, everyone waved in return, as Japanese people typically greet guests until their vehicle is out of sight. This was a beautiful aspect of Japanese culture, and throughout the trip, we did the same whenever we met a local.

Yufuin Village, Oita Prefecture

Our exploration began in Fukuoka, the capital and largest city of Kyushu Island. After a delicious Shabu-Shabu hot pot lunch, we visited the traditional craft village of Yufuin (in Oita Prefecture). Yufuin boasts a rich heritage of museums, old houses, shops, and cafes adorned along its main street, showcasing folk art from the late Edo period to the Meiji era. Here, visitors can witness traditional crafts such as Japanese papermaking workshops, and experience dyeing fabrics by hand, and making pottery using both manual and automated potters.

One of the most charming sights here is Lake Kinrinko, gracefully nestled beside Mount Yufu, and to the south of the lake lies a small temple. There are also several public hot spring bathing areas for tourists and locals. For me, strolling around and breathing in the fresh air is the most effective way to relax. If you're a shopaholic, you'll likely spend hours here, unable to leave without at least one small, pretty souvenir typical of the region.

If you're a shopaholic, you'll be captivated by the charming little souvenirs characteristic of the region.

Beppu, home to 2,800 hot springs.

With its mountainous terrain, including Mount Aso, Japan's most active volcano, Kyushu is famous for its hot spring resorts. A must-see attraction is Beppu, home to over 2,800 hot springs and one of the largest hot spring resorts in Japan. Among them, nine of the most unique hot springs, known as Jigoku Meguri, are irresistibly appealing to visitors, offering a firsthand glimpse of these "hells" on earth. At the entrance to the resort, baked goods or boiled eggs cooked in the hot spring steam are a wonderful treat for visitors.

Beppu, home to over 2,800 hot springs.

In Beppu, a special treat for tourists is spending the night in a traditional Japanese inn called a Ryokan, enjoying a hot spring bath (Onsen), and savoring seasonal meals in the guest room. Upon check-in, we were provided with a Yukata, the traditional Ryokan attire, and towels to prepare for the Onsen bath. According to Japanese custom, visitors are expected to wear the traditional Ryokan attire and wash themselves thoroughly before immersing themselves in the hot spring water. While this might be a bit awkward for most tourists, for the locals, it's a way to relax, socialize, and strengthen community bonds.

Only when I immersed myself in the warm, hot water, listening to the sound of the water lapping against my skin and muscles, and sweat began to bead on my forehead, did I feel ultimate relaxation. While enjoying the Japanese cuisine, the beautiful waitresses had already cleared the table and laid out the futon, surprising and delighting me when I returned to my room.

Kumamoto, a destination of castles and volcanoes.

The following morning, we continued our journey to the Aso volcanic mountain range in Kumamoto Prefecture, one of the oldest volcanic mountain ranges in the world, stretching 17km from east to west and 25km from south to north. Although Aso is no longer erupting, white smoke continues to billow from its crater, attracting many tourists who love the wonders of nature. To reach Mount Aso, visitors have three options: by car, by cable car, or on foot for exercise. If you're lucky enough to visit on a clear, fog-free day, you'll be able to see the majestic volcano billowing smoke and feel the heat from the lava flow inside its crater.

Aso Volcano

Besides Mount Aso, Kumamoto is also famous for its castle of the same name, one of the most important castles in Japan, along with Himeji and Nagoya. Kumamoto Castle was built by Lord Kiyomasa Kato, beginning in 1601 and taking seven years to complete. It has a circumference of approximately eight miles and includes a main tower, a secondary tower, 49 piers, 29 gates, and many other distinctive architectural features, such as a very steep rampart with a moat behind it (called Mushagaeshi).

Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto Prefecture

What impresses visitors most is the 13.5-meter-high stone wall, heavily guarded, with a 30.29-meter-tall watchtower. Although heavily damaged during the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, Kumamoto Castle underwent extensive restoration in 1960. In 2007, the reconstruction of Honmaru Goten Castle's interior, with its elaborately decorated rooms, restored Kumamoto to its former grandeur.

The scenery is especially spectacular at night when the castle, like a lighthouse, illuminates the entire Kumamoto region. If you visit in early April each year, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Kumamoto Park, you can enjoy a breathtaking sight and participate in cherry blossom viewing parties from morning to evening.

Shopping at Tosu Premium Outlets and Canal City

Visiting Kyushu during shopping season, you can snag designer goods at bargain prices or shop till you drop with discounts of up to 70% at Tosu Premium Outlets and Canal City. Tosu Premium Outlets is the only outlet mall in Kyushu, designed in a free-spirited California style with 150 stores showcasing global fashion brands such as Armani, Nike, Michael Kors… and Japanese brands, with frequent discounts of up to 65% for foreign visitors.

Here, you can find designer items with discounts of up to 70% at Tosu Premium Outlets and Canal City.

If you love Japanese goods, you definitely can't miss Canal City Hakata (Fukuoka Prefecture), a large shopping and entertainment complex with around 250 shops, cafes, game centers, cinemas, and more. In the middle of the canal, there's a fountain that sprays water every 30 minutes from 10 am to 10 pm daily. If you want to recharge after hours of shopping, you can go up to the 5th floor to the "Ramen Stadium," which houses 8 ramen shops offering ramen flavors from all over Japan, especially Hakata ramen.

My 72-hour exploration of Kyushu left a lasting impression on me. I dedicated my precious time to enjoying the beautiful harmony of nature, experiencing the delightful "fairy bath," and feeling the warm hospitality of the local people. See you again in Kyushu someday!

Additional information:

Kyushu is the third largest island in Japan (after Honshu and Hokkaido), comprising seven prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima.

+Transportation and travel:

Hanoi - Fukuoka: 4 flights/week by A321 aircraft on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; Ho Chi Minh City - Fukuoka: 2 flights/week by A321 aircraft on Thursdays and Sundays.

From Fukuoka Airport, it takes approximately 150km (2 hours) by bus to reach Beppu City in Oita Prefecture.

Transportation within the city: mainly taxis, but the fares are quite high and not many drivers speak English.

+Language:

English is not widely spoken in Japan, so you should go with a tour guide for assistance when needed, or carry a business card from your hotel in case you get lost.

+Money:The currency of Japan is the Yen; it's advisable to exchange Vietnamese Dong to Yen before arriving in Vietnam. The exchange rate is approximately 1 Yen ~ 200 VND, and 1 USD ~ 106 Yen. Tourists can exchange money at the airport or use credit cards when shopping at malls, but it's still recommended to prepare a certain amount of cash.

+Cuisine:Dishes you should try include: tuna (Oita Prefecture), steamed dishes from "hell" like Beppu (Oita Prefecture), Hakata Ramen (Fukuoka Prefecture), Yobuko squid (Saga Prefecture), and Kuruma-ebi (Kumamoto Prefecture). Japanese food is relatively bland, so you can bring your own dipping sauces like chili and lime to suit your taste.

Vietrantour is one of the tour operators offering trips to Kyushu, Southern Japan, with a 5-day itinerary including Fukuoka, Mount Aso, and Beppu, priced from 29.5 million VND per person, departing from Hanoi. From now until March 31, 2015, Vietrantour is giving a 2 million VND discount to the first 10 customers of each group who register for the tour.

The Thanh