Japan is smaller than the US state of California. But, beware, this size can be deceptive to travellers…
While many of the country’s most impressive attractions are concentrated in central Honshu – between Kyoto and Tokyo, more or less – you do yourself a huge disservice by not exploring the periphery of the Land of the Rising Sun, particularly its southern one.
With vast, dramatic landscapes and dramatically fewer tourists than the rest of the country – some places are all but deserted – Japan’s south is in some ways its most authentic region, and certainly the least explored. Whether you see these underrated reaches of Southern Japan as part of an Intrepid tour, or build them into your own itinerary, I promise you won’t regret leaving Honshu behind for a bit. It will be your Japan holiday highlight, trust us.
Here’s why Southern Japan is worth adding to your bucket list, and which spots really are a must-experience when there.
Trace Shikoku’s pilgrimage trail
Colloquially, the main tourist draw to Shikoku – the smallest of Japan’s four main islands – is its 88-temple pilgrimage trail, which has been attracting the faithful – both Buddhists and ecotourists – for centuries. You don’t have to do the entire trail in order to make the trip over the Great Naruto Bridge from Osaka worth it, however, even though I’m the first to admit leaving Osaka behind is hard. I mean, who wants to depart the city that gave the world takoyaki octopus fritters?
One of my favorite shrines in all of Shikoku, Kotohira Gu, is located within easy day trip distance of Takamatsu city, on the island’s north shore near the popular Konpira Onsen hot spring. Sprawled over a hillside with towering trees (TIP: in spring, many of them burst out into pink and white sakura cherry blossoms!) and architecture that dates back to the first or 12th century (depending on who you ask), Kotohira Gu provides enlightenment and exercise. Yes, reaching the inner shrine requires you to scale more than 1,300 steps!
Tantalize your tastebuds like never before
Whether or not you make it as far south as Shikoku and Kyushu, one thing that surprises travellers who get off Japan’s main tourist trail is just how diverse Japanese cuisine is. I mean, there’s never a bad time for sushi, but I don’t know what my life would be like without crispy okonomiyaki pancakes, or delectable tonkatsu pork cutlet.
No matter your culinary persuasion, both Shikoku and Kyushu offer oh so many options to satiate your hunger. My favorite dish on offer in Shikoku is the udon soup, which pairs tender beef with the thick wheat-flour noodles you find in and around the city of Marugame.
Discover a different sort of Japanese city
Nagasaki is one of dozens of cities throughout Kyushu and Shikoku that present a side of urban Japan you won’t find in massive agglomerations like Tokyo and Osaka. For Nagasaki’s part, it offers one of the best ‘night view’ spots in all of Japan, in addition to the unique (and, of course, devastating) history related to the atomic bomb the U.S. dropped on it during World War II.
Shikoku is smaller than Kyushu, but is home to a great range of small-to-medium sized cities just waiting to be discovered. Whether you visit the hilltop castle and soak in one of the oldest bath houses in Japan in Matsuyama, or visit the Edo period gardens in Takamatsu, you’ll vastly increase your Japan travel street cred by getting to know its premier southern cities.
Read more: Everything I wish I knew before going to Japan
Relax in the ‘onsen capital’ of Japan
Located in the Oita Prefecture on Kyushu, Beppu is known as the ‘city of steam’ and for good reason. The southern city is famous for its variety of onsens (hot springs), so you’ll quite literally see steam rising everywhere because the whole city sits on top of geothermal activity.
While there, it’s worth a visit to Jigoku, where you can explore brightly coloured steaming pools and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also find warm sand, mud and steam baths throughout Beppu. Soaking in an onsen is a quintessential Japanese experience and a relaxing way to get to know the daily culture in an intimate way.
Read more: A non-nudist’s guide to using a Japanese onsen
The bottom line
While secondary and tertiary destinations within many countries often deserve the lower rankings they enjoy on people’s bucket lists, this is not the case in Japan.
The southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku are every bit as worthy of your time and attention as Kyoto and Tokyo, and maybe even more so. Whether you undertake the complex task of planning your own trip here, or take a show-stopping tour with an awesome company (wink, wink), a dive into Japan’s deep south pays major dividends…
Tempted to pay this lesser-known region a visit? Check out Intrepid’s small-group adventures in Japan
