One hour and 20 minutes from Seoul. Five minutes by subway from the airport and you're at Hakata Station.
Kyushu offers some of the best value for money of any Japan trip. Rent a car in Fukuoka as your base and you can cover Yufuin, Kurokawa, and Dazaifu in just 2 nights and 3 days.
Day 1 — Fukuoka: Starting Kyushu at a Yatai
Begin your evening at the yatai (屋台, open-air food stalls) near Hakata Station. Squeeze into a counter with just 10 seats, rub shoulders with the person next to you, and dig into a bowl of Hakata ramen with a glass of shochu — that's your first taste of Kyushu.
During the day, visit Dazaifu Tenmangu (太宰府天満宮), the shrine of the god of learning, and try an umegae mochi (梅ヶ枝餅, 130 yen, ~$1) — a simple grilled rice cake with sweet red bean. Humble in appearance, but while eating one, you can feel 1,000 years of history.
Day 2 — Yufuin: Morning Mist over Lake Kinrinko
Set out early by rental car for Yufuin (由布院). Two hours on the expressway.
Arrive at Lake Kinrinko (金鱗湖) and the morning mist is still rising from the water. Weeping willows around the shore, old ryokan buildings, the peak of Mount Yufu in the distance — our CEO said this view was "the best thing about Yufuin."
Spend the night at Ryotei Tanokura ryokan. A private cottage right by Lake Kinrinko with an open-air bath facing Mount Yufu. The kaiseki dinner is flawless.
Day 3 — Kurokawa: Open-Air Baths in a Bamboo Grove
One hour by car from Yufuin brings you to Kurokawa Onsen (黒川温泉). About 30 ryokan are scattered through bamboo groves along the river.
Buy a bath-hopping pass (nyuto tegata, 入湯手形, 500 yen, ~$3) and choose any three outdoor baths to visit. Our CEO's pick: Chikurin-no-yu (竹林の湯) at Takefue (たけふえ) — an open-air bath literally set in the middle of a bamboo forest.
Rental Car Route (2 Nights 3 Days)
- Day 1: Pick up car at Fukuoka Airport → Dazaifu → Stay in Fukuoka
- Day 2: Drive to Yufuin (2 hours) → Lake Kinrinko → Stay at Yufuin ryokan
- Day 3: Kurokawa Onsen (1 hour) → Return car at Fukuoka Airport
- Rental car for 2 days:
15,000 yen ($100) including insurance
