Nagasaki Lantern Festival
An annual festival in Nagasaki held on Chinese new year. The festival has been started to
celebrate a new year by Chinese who lived in Nagasaki, and it became the Nagasaki’s festival
since 1994. More than 10 thousand lanterns are decorated at China town during the festival.
 |
 |
 |
Kokura Gion Daiko (小倉祇園太鼓）
 |
Kokura Gion Daiko is a summer festivals in which the main attraction is the playing the drums. In 1958 the event was designated as an intangible folk cultural asset of Fukuoka prefecture. in July. |
 |
A prominent feature of the festival are the dashi (decorated cart) parades through the town，carrying two drums，one at the front of the cart and one at the rear，with four drummers beating the Taiko in time to gongs called jangara, and reciting the phrase Yassa Yare Yare. |
 |
The highlights of the Festival which you should not miss are the Taiko Performing Contest held at Kokura Castle on July 16th; and the Taiko Performing Parade held at Komonji-dori street on Sunday of the third week in July. |
Japanese Castle
Long ago Japan was divided into many small provinces. The lords of each province fought to take
each other’s territory. Castles were built by the lords to show off their power and control their provinces.
They were both residences and military bases. They were made of wood, but used various defensive
devices for protection. For example, moats were built around some castles.
Additionally, many castles were built on plateaus or hills. The slopes were then steepened, making
them difficult for enemies to climb. In some castles the grounds from the gate to main building were
designed like a maze to confuse enemies.
The main castle building is usually in the center and is called the Tensyukaku (Castle tower).
They are tall and magnificent structure. The loads and their immediate servants lived in the Tensyukaku.
Castles in Kyushu
 |
The Castle located within a walking distance of JR Kokura Stations. Hosokawa Tadaoki commenced the construction of Kokura Castle in 1602 and spent 7 years to completed it. The castle had a five fold and six layered Castle tower and it was built in the architectural style called “Kara-zukuri”. Then, it served as a residence of the Ogasawara clan. |
 |
Karatsu Castle is called Dancing Crane Castle. The Castle, which stands beside Karatsu Bay, is unusual in that the stonework rises directly out of the water, using the ocean as a natural moat. It resembles the figure of a bird with its wings spread wide as there is a pine grove extending left to right and because its donjon is thought to look like the head of a crane. |
 |
Located in Shimabara-city and was built in 1625 by the feudal load Matsukura Shigemasa, who was regarded as a master of castle building. The castle, which took 7 years to complete, is also known as “Moritake Castle”. It was an almost rectangular flatland castle built in the Renkaku-style. |
 |
The Castle is one of the three great castles and one of the 100 best places in Japan to view cherry blossoms. Due to the Earthquakes in 2016, the Castle have heavy damages and many of Castle buildings were destroyed. After that the restoration activities are being performed as fast as possible.
|
Home Tailor-made tours Study tours Christian Pilgrimage tours Golf tour Kyushu tour packages
Nature in Kyushu
Kyushu has rich landscapes including nature and diverse cultures including food cultures.
And also, Kyushu is known as ‘Onsen island’ and there are many Onsen resorts to stop into
while you’re travelling around.
Hiraodai Karst Plateau & Caves in Kitakyushu
 |
One of the three largest Karst Plateau in Japan. It is located in south eastern part of Kitakyushu-city. At altitudes between 400 and 600 meters above sea level and stretching 6 km from north to south and 2 km from east to west. |
 |
The height of the mountain is 622 meters from sea level. At the top you are presented with a magnificent and spectacular view of Kitakyushu. Three Major Night View of Japan from Mount Sarakura to be experienced. The beautiful night view is created by combination of industrial zones and rich nature areas. |
Sakurai Futamigaura in Itoshima
 |
A beautiful sunset scenic spot at Genkai Sea in Itoshima, the place is selected as Japan’s 100 scenic beauty sunset beach. Located in Genkai Quasi-National Park. The married rock is connected by the large Shimenawa with 30 metre length and 1 ton weight. Male rock is 11.8 metre high and Female rock is 11.2 metre height. |
 |
The most largest basalt cave in Japan located consist of octagon and hexagon columnar joints. The entrance of the cave is 64 metre high and 10 metre width and the depth is 90 metre. It is designated as one of three major Basalt caves in Japan. |
 |
Unzen is a gentle Onsen resort situated in the Unzen National Park. The Resort area was originally developed for foreigners as a place close to Nagasaki-city. It is started receiving foreign tourists around the year 1900 when Kaempfer and Siebold introduced the city to Europe and China. |
 |
Approximately 300 wild Dolphins live in the sea between the Shimabara Peninsula and Amakusa. The dolphin watching cruises have become increasingly popular for all ages, especially because it is possible to see the dolphins so close that you could almost touch them. |
 |
Soaring 1375 metres into the sky, Mount Tsurumi is a breath taking mountain overlooking Beppu that offers some decent hiking, rare flora and outstanding vistas. Visitors can take a ropeway 800 metres up and revel in being surrounded by acres of rolling greenery. |
 |
One of the must visit tourist destination in Kyushu. The world’s largest caldera and the active volcano give a lot of excitements. And numerous unforgettable experiences in the rural area can be made including Onsen, variety of sports and local cuisines. |
 |
A narrow chasm cut through the rock by the Gokase River. The nearly sheer cliffs lining the gorge are made of slow forming volcanic basalt columns which resemble the scales of a dragon where the stone twisted and flowed as it formed. |
 |
Spectacle art collection of exposed Rocks created by raging wave. Hyuga is a bay city, facing the Hyuga nada Sea. The whole area along Cape Hyuga- misaki with its many exposed rocks is designated as the Nippo-Kaigan Quasi-National Park. |
 |
An active volcano with three peaks, Kita-dake, Naka-dake and still active Minami-dake. Formerly an island, it became connected with the Osumi Peninsula in 1914 when lava from its summit closed the channel between the two.
|
Home Tailor-made tours Study tours Christian Pilgrimage tours Golf tour Kyushu tour packages
Wasshoi Million Summer Festival
Wasshoi Million Summer Festival is one of the festivals representing Kyushu and started in 1988
to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the formation of the city and has more than one and half
million spectators every year.
On the first day (Saturday)，after the opening ceremony parade, festivals representing each of the
One of the greatest highlights is the firework display，this spectacular show marks the finale of the festival.
・Direction : A 15 min. walk from JR Kokura Station
Home Tailor-made tours Study tours Christian Pilgrimage tours Golf tour Kyushu tour packages
Hakata Dontaku Festival
Hakata Dontaku Festival, the name Dontaku is a corruption of the Dutch word
Zontag, meaning Sunday.
The festival is said to have started as a New Year parade of merchants going
to the local lord’s residence to celebrate. It is held on May 3 and 4 in Hakata,
Fukuoka-city.
About 30,000 of local townspeople take part, and its attractions include the
traditional Matsuribayashi parade, a fancy-dress parade and a shamoji band.
gods Fuku-no-Kami, Ebisu and Daikoku, on horseback.
It is believed in Fukuoka that babies carried under the kasahoko will grow up strong
and healthy.
spatulas used for serving rice.
Tamaseseri / wooden ball catching festival
at Hakozaki Shrine in Fukuoka-city, including a traditional form of fortune-telling.
Several hundred men wearing lion cloths compete on piggy-back in
two teams, the “sea” team and the “land” team team, for possession of
a wooden ball.
If the sea team wins, a bountiful fishing catch is predicted for the year;
if the land team wins a rich harvest is predicted.
Hojoya
It has a history of over 1000 years.
Hundred of doves and carp will be released on September 18 in reverence
of all living things, a solemn mikoshi (shrine) procession take place
on the 12th.
Most visitors are usually happy just to amble about, doing little more than
munch on grilled food, gulp cold beer and amuse themselves with
traditional sugar-cutting or goldfish catching games.
slice of old-time festivities in Fukuoka.
Home Tailor-made tours Study tours Christian Pilgrimage tours Golf tour Kyushu tour packages
Sumo
wrestlers in the round ring called Dohyo.
into touching the ground with anything other than the sole of feet,
there are 48 wining techniques.
Japanese cuisines and local delicacies
One of our most proud things in Kyushu is Japanese cuisines and local delicacies. You can enjoy
many different local dishes using fresh and unique ingredients in various places during your travel.
Food stalls “Yatai” is one thing to enjoy in Fukuoka. Despite a decline in recent year,
there are said to be more than 160. The food stalls have all kind of food, but you have
to try Hakata ramen, usually made with white soup from pork bone and thin noodles.
 |
 |
 |
Ramen Stadium
Ramen Stadium isn’t really a stadium as the name suggests, but a food court on the fifth floor
of Canal City’s Cinema Building. It carries not one, but eight famous ramen stalls that serves
different ramen styles from across Japan. Ramen Stadium has eight ramen stalls with ramen
from Hakata, Kurume, and as far as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Sapporo.
|
|
 |
 |
Mizutaki
It is a local cuisine in Fukuoka. izutaki (boil in water) describes, this is a hot pot dish made
with chopped chickens, negi, and a variety of vegetables put in a pot of water and boiled,
then dipped in ponzu sauce.
 |
 |
 |
Yaki curry
Yaki curry latterly means baked curry and is local cuisine in Moji which is curry with rice
topped with cheese and/or egg heated in oven. The melted cheese and soft-boiled egg
combine with the spicy curry to enhance its flavor even more.
 |
 |
 |
Tanga Yatai
At night time, food stalls called Yatai open in the square in front of Tanga Market.
Here you can try delicious oden (a stew made from various ingredients) and ramen.
 |
 |
 |
Seafood restaurant at Keya area
Featured seafood restaurant, Isonoya. Special seafood dish used fresh fishes caught in the
Genkai Sea can be enjoyed.
 |
 |
 |
Itoshima oyster growing up in the rich nature of mountain and sea. There are many Oyster
Barbecue Huts at five fishing harbours. The huts only open during the season, from end of
October to March or April.
|
|
|
|
Ichirano-no mori, Hakata Ramen
Ichiran is an authentic tonkotsu ramen or pork born soup ramen restaurant, established in 1960.
The ramen producing factory can be visited and various type of ramen can be enjoyed at
Ichiran-no-mori.
 |
 |
 |
Yanagawa is the birthplace of Steamed Eel that has more than 300 years history. There are many
restaurants which have their long history and each restaurants have been keeping the traditional
source and brand value.
|
|
|
|
Yanagawa is facing to Ariake Sea where many fresh and unique fishes are caught. Japanese
cuisines using local delicacies is also recommended.
|
|
|
|
Authentic Japanese restaurant, Shirakabe
The chef who makes that cuisines also has experienced the imperial family’s cook.
The restaurant Shirakabe is in the former merchant’s building constructed in 1928. Japanese
cuisines using best local ingredients that vary by season can be enjoyed.
 |
 |
 |
Shogetsu, Eel restanrant
Chilugo region is one of the famous place for Eel cuisines along with Yanagawa. Shogetu is the
renown Eel restaurant located in Asakura along the Chikugo river side and established 70 years ago.
 |
 |
 |
Featured Japanese restaurant Ginnoka in Yame
The restaurant Ginnoka uses Japanese old style house built 100 years ago, and located next
to the Sake brewery Kitaya. The restaurant opened in 2014 and serving Japanese cuisines
which is compatible with Sake using local abundant ingredients such as vegetables, fruits and
fresh river and sea fishes.
 |
 |
 |
Famous for fresh Squid, transparent in body and firm in texture. The squid has a sweetness that melt
upon the tongue. In the finely crafted style of sashimi known as Ikezukuri, the flesh of still-living
seafood is served.
 |
 |
 |
Saga beef is esteemed as one of the best Wagyu beef brands in Japan. The cattle used for our
meats are fattened in adherence to the regulations of the Japan Agriculture Co-operative, and
we use only Japanese black cattle registered with their cattle traceability system.
 |
 |
 |
Takezaki crab is the local specialty of Tara, and is well-known for its rich flavor. Takezaki crabs are
available almost year around. From summer into fall the male crabs are delicious, with the females
and their eggs most delicious during the autumn and winter. You could even try one of each.
 |
 |
 |
Nagasaki Wharf in Nagasaki-city
Elegant international & domestic tourist harbour. Made up of around 20 unique shops and
restaurants lined up at the water front, offering various choices such Japanese, Western,
and Italian cuisine, to beauty salons, outdoor shops and more.
 |
 |
 |
Nagasaki China town at shinchi is one of the big three china town in Japan. There are about 50
Chinese restaurants and many Chinese sundries shops in there.
 |
 |
|
local delicacy food, Guzoni
Guzoni is said to created during the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637. When Christians were fought
under the leadership of Amakusa Shiro, they brought various ingredients such as rice cake, fishes
and vegetables, and made a stew. This is the origin of Guzoni.
 |
 |
 |
Indian restaurant, TAJ MAHAL in Shimabara
 |
 |
 |
Obama Chanpon
It is a local cuisine in Obama Onsen resort, made of noodles, seafood, and vegetables. The feature
of the restaurant in Obama Onsen serving everything from any Japanese style including Susi and
Chanpon. Shrimp are found in abundance along the beaches near the Onsen, and a special soup
is made from them.
 |
 |
 |
Enjoy Aso beef and local cuisines. The restaurant uses the old private house with thatched roof
built more than 200 years ago. Bake the meat and local ingredients with charcoal at a Japanese
traditional style fire place.
|
|
|
|
Aso Akaushi beef rice bowl
Aso Akaushi laterally means red beef that is unique in that it has a higher proportion of red meat
with just the right amount of fat, combined with great taste, tenderness and healthiness. Aso Akaushi
beer rice bowl is a local cuisine in Aso consisting of a bowl of rice put in a mildly sweet sauce and
topped with Akaushi beef and egg.
 |
 |
 |
Seiro-mushi is prepared with large bamboo baskets in front of diners.
Featured by the enriched flavor with warmth and fragrance of the cypress basket (seiro).
Live the lively, hot spring steam-like, “Jigoku steams” (literally hell’s steams) dishes right in
front of you with the traditional local taste of Beppu, Oita-prefecture.
 |
 |
 |
Yufumabushi in Yufuin
Yufumabushi is a local cuisine which serves really nice BUNGO Beef. But surprisingly, the way
they serve beef is not BBQ or SUKIYAKI style that are seen in most cases, but “Yufumabushi
” style which we rarely see for beef dish.
 |
 |
 |
Jigoku Mushi kobo
Jigoku Mushi, literally “hell-steaming” is a unique cooking method found in Beppu. The ingredients
such as vegetables, seafood and meals are cooked using the steam from natural hot spring.
You can operate the steam cookers all by yourself and you can cook whatever you want.
 |
 |
 |
local specialty cuisines in Oita-prefecture
Bungo Beef, Seki Aji & Seki Saba, mackerels, Oita fugu, blowfish
|
|
|
|
Somen nagashi in Takachiho
Somen is a kind of noodle which is made by wheat and is usually eaten by dipping style.
Somen nagashi is the way of eating Somen with waterslide traditionally made by bamboo
like as video below. Nagashi means flowing.
 |
 |
 |
Makurazaki Osakana Center
 |
 |
 |
The unique Somen noodle nagashi in Tosenkyo ravine in Kaimon open throughout the
year serving cold Somen noodle that swim in the revolving container.
 |
 |
 |
Home Tailor-made tours Study tours Christian Pilgrimage tours Golf tour Kyushu tour packages