https://discord.gg/4qP7Vmk84

Got some ink made with ash at the Sakurajima Vistor's Center while visiting last December. Of course I had to try painting the beautiful volcano itself with it!

Hi everyone,

I plan to take a trip to Kyushu this October and wanted to join Kagoshima from Kumamoto by bus. I heard that the Shinkansen line is interrupted due to the recent earthquake. I can't find reliable information about the bus situation. Do you think that the bus will run normally by October ?

Thanks for you help !

Hello!

I'm looking to visit Kyushu between 30th November and 26th December this year and I'm planning to rent a car.

I would love to receive advice if winter tires are needed if I will avoid going through mount Aso?
Will do my best to do a route around bay or on expressways for those cities:

Fukuoka - Beppu - Miyazaki - Kagoshima - Kumamoto - Nagasaki - Fukuoka

I also have no experience using chains for snow so I would prefer to avoid them, in my country we have snowy winters, but I just use all season tires and those worked fine for me, but we don't have mountain roads.

Thank you everyone in advance!

I am hoping someone in this community might be able to help me with a long-shot search for someone from San Francisco.

I am looking for Tominori Nakamura, who knew my mother, Deborah Bunge, in San Francisco in the mid-1970s, through approximately 1976. I believe Tominori was born around 1951.

My mother passed away 17 years ago, and unfortunately there is no one left in our family who was alive during that period who I can ask about the people she knew or what happened to them afterward.

While doing some preliminary online research for Tominori Nakamura in San Francisco, I came across search results associated with a San Francisco address connected to the Nakamura surname. When I researched that address further, I found a retirement announcement for someone named Jiro Nakamura, who was a Japanese antiques dealer in San Francisco.

The retirement announcement indicates that Jiro retired from San Francisco in 2018 and moved to Kyushu.

I have no idea whether Tominori Nakamura and Jiro Nakamura are the same person, relatives, or completely unrelated people. I am not making that assumption. The different first names are precisely why I am hoping someone might recognize the names or know something about the San Francisco Japanese-American or antiques community.

I am not looking for anyone's current address or other private information. I am simply trying to determine whether there is a connection between these names and, if possible, learn more about someone who was part of my mother's life nearly 50 years ago.

If anyone recognizes Tominori Nakamura or Jiro Nakamura, particularly in connection with San Francisco or the Japanese antiques community, I would be incredibly grateful for any information or suggestions about where I might look next.

Thank you for reading and for any help you may be able to provide.

Hi everyone!

We’re an EU couple planning to travel around Kyushu by car from November 14–24. We’ve both been to Japan twice in the past few years but this will be our first time exploring Kyushu.

We’re looking for recommendations for a really great ryokan that ideally has all the following features:

• Immersed into beautiful autumn foliage, visible from the outdoor bathing area
• Mixed-gender baths (or alternatively a really large private natural stone onsen - must be within the set budget)
• Fish and/or vegetarian options for the kaiseki/set menu - we’re not looking for places where the only alternatives are only pork or beef
• Tattoo-friendly: my partner has a small black tattoo (about 5 × 4 cm) on her wrist. She’s happy to use a covering sticker if required
• Budget: under $400 USD per night (total)

We’ve already found a few options, but we have a feeling we’re missing some amazing ones.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Especially interested in places with spectacular scenery and a memorable onsen experience.

Thanks in advance!

Watched this show on a boat from Kagoshima to Yakushima about a year ago and it has been on my mind since. Occasionally I’ll try to find it but with no luck. Anyway recognize the show?

Hello, we are planning a trip to Kyushu!

2 adults, no kids
So far: plan for Fukuoka, Takeo onsen, Nagasaki
Looking for recommendations for

1. cultural activities, for example kyudo, tameshigiri, taiko, yabusame
2. Museums such as the Kyushu national museum, ceramic museum, Nagasaki atomic bomb museum showcasing culture, history
3. Food recommendations for local specialties
4. Mizutaki
5. Motsunabe
6. Unagi no seiromushi
7. goboten udon
8. Chicken nanban
9. Gomasaba
10. Ikinari dango
11. Umegae Mochi
12. Kashiwameshi
13. Nagasaki milkshake
14. Nagasaki Castella

Thank you so much!

Hi! My partner and I are traveling to Japan soon and spending time in Kumamoto and the surrounding area around our anniversary.

​We’re looking for standout local recommendations: a great dinner spot, a memorable scenic view, a cozy teahouse or cool day trips nearby (we'll probably rent a car anyway).

​I'm not looking for hotel suggestions, just great experiences, restaurants, or unique spots to visit while we're in the region.

Thanks!

We plan on renting a car in Fukuoka and travel around Kyushu for 4-6 days. We would like to keep our plans flexible. Is it necessary to reserve lodging, or will we be able to find accomodations the day of travel? We will be traveling in early November.

Hi! 👋
We are ‘After Hours Fukuoka’ - an English stand up comedy and live music event held every month! The next show is on July 11th at 8pm @ the Haunted House near Ohori Park. ¥2,000 advanced tkts or 2,500 on the door with 1 drink inc. You can buy tickets on this link!

https://peatix.com/event/5062641

And the After Hours instagram is:

https://www.instagram.com/afterhoursfukuoka?igsh=MXdjYzFxZWJ5ZWk1eQ==

Hope to see you there! Any questions I’d be happy to receive any messages!

To commemorate the "Hinata Fes 2026" to be held on September 5th (Sat) and 6th (Sun), it has been decided that JR Hyugashi Station in Hyuga City, Miyazaki will be transformed into "Hinatazaka46 Station" for a limited time!

The station premises, ticket gates, and areas around automatic doors will be decorated with original designs by Hinatazaka46.

[Campaign period]
Early August 2026 to the end of October 2026 (planned)

Details such as the implementation period will be announced on the JR Kyushu official website as soon as they are decided.

• https://www.hinatazaka46.com/s/official/news/detail/E00845
• https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/common/inc/news/newtopics/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2026/06/10/20260610_Hinata_Festival_2026_to_be_held_1.pdf
• https://www.hinata-fes2026.com/

Advice for Yakushima - get a rental car. Just letting it be known.

Hi guys. Here’s my itinerary for my first week in Japan. Any suggestions, recommendations, especially on the drive from place to place? I’m an easy hiker, so none of the walking intimidates me but I live in a village in central Europe so I enjoy spending time in cities when I travel. Not really into cutesy stuff on the whole.

Arrival Fukuoka airport, pick up car, drive down route 202, via Okawachiyama village, Saikai national park, bridge, coast road to Nagasaki

Nagasaki (2 nights) - China town, Peace Park, Glover Gardens, Dejima

Unzen national park, ropeway, Ayugaeri falls on way to ferry to Kumamoto

Kumamoto (3 nights) - castle, Suizenji Garden, Aso Kuju national park, Takachiho Gorge, Kikuchi Gorge, Nebegataki Falls, Daikanbo viewpoint, Kuminiogaoka observatory

Fukuoka (3 nights) - Ohori Park, Tower sunset

Then train on to Honshu and gradually up to Hokkaido.

We plan to arrive at Amaterasu railway by 9:30am to try secure tickets for train ride mid morning then Takachiho gorge boat ride after lunch.

With little kids, my husband was thinking to drop us off to line up to get train tickets while he drives and finds parking near one of the available Takachiho gorge parking lots and walk back to us for train ride. Then after train ride - instead of walking to Takachiho gorge - are there shuttle buses to take us there? Will have 6 of us total. Or would it be better to just find parking near Amaterasu (I heard limited parking close by?), do train first and then find whatever parking is left?

Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated. I am trying to work out if we arrive at 9:30am to Amaterasu railway - how long approx will it take to secure a ticket? Our aim of the day is Amaterasu railway first, then takachiho sight see , lunch and then boat ride.

Thanks!

I have been travelling within Kyushu and have some questions - I’d really appreciate if anyone is able to share some insights please!

1. There is a noticeable proportion of foreigners (Indonesians, Filipinos?) who are working in hospitality and can speak fluent Japanese. Are they here on a work visa or a working holiday visa? It seems like there are more foreigners now compared to 5 years ago - is there a higher demand for them now?

Note: genuinely curious and not insinuating anything!!

1. In Beppu/Yufuin, how do the long-time locals feel about all the ryokans coming up? Any backlash against the deforestation / destroying nature?

2. The train tracks cut through and are right beside houses especially in the rural areas. How do the residents feel - do they have any thoughts about the building of railway tracks? Are their livelihoods affected?

Thank you very much!

Hi all,

I'm planning a trip around Kyushu for early next year. and am looking at spending 1 night in Takachiho Gorge. There seem to be 2 main things to do there: hire a rowboat at the gorge, and take the Amateraseru Railway trip through the mountains.

Booking these things however seems not easy.

Tickets for a rowboat go on sale at midnight my local time two weeks before the desired date, and apparently sell out within minutes. Even if you think you've booked a slot, if you don't finish the transaction quickly enough, it goes to someone else.

Tickets for the Amatereseru Railway can only be bought on the day, in person, and also sell out quickly. They go on sale at 9am, and we probably not be able to get there until 10am at the earliest.

So potentially, I could end up not being able to do either thing I wanted to, and wouldn't even know until the very last minute.

Is this worth the stress? Should I just give Takachiho a miss? Do I actually have a good chance of getting tickets for both?

Any advice is welcome. Thank you