Southern Kyushu
K
agoshima to the south, Kumamoto
in the centre and Miyazaki to the
east... there is much to uncover
during a tour around these three
prefectures on Kyushu, the most
southerly of Japan’s four main islands.
From majestic mountains to scenic
sea views, there are contrasts aplenty,
which means it’s a great place to travel
to. Why not head there for a few days
in between World Cup games?
Here’s a highlight from each of the
three prefectures. Kagoshima includes
the subtropical island of Yakushima,
which was designated a Natural
World Heritage Site in 1993. Some
of Japan’s oldest living trees are
contained in the island’s extensive
cedar forest, with a few thought
to be more than 7,000 years old.
The park is perfect for hiking,with Shiratani Unsuikyo a favourite
spot. It was the ‘enchanted forest’
feel of Yakushima that inspired film
director Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess
Mononoke animation.
Mount Aso, in the Kumamoto
Prefecture, is the largest active volcano
in Japan and has one of the world’s
largest calderas, with a circumference
of more than 100km. The crater isaccessible to tourists, providing there is
no risk to visitors due to bad weather or
volcanic activity. If the crater is closed
off, there is still much to see in the
surrounding area, like the views from
Daikanbo Peak and Kusasenri prairie.
In the Miyazaki Prefecture you’ll find
Aoshima Island (left). It’s off the coast of
Miyazaki City and is connected to the
mainland by a bridge. White beaches
surround a subtropical jungle featuring
200 different species of plants.
Walk 1.5km around Aoshima’s
beaches. Then head to the centre
of the island to visit Aoshima Jinja,
a colourful shrine in the jungle that is
said to bring luck to married couples.
Over the following pages we
highlight more of the top attractions
on the three prefectures, so you
can start planning your adventure.RW PromotionTravel
Take a trip around the varied landscapes of central and southern Kyushu
Enchanted forest
The island of Yakushima