Things that make sense in Japan? We've got you covered: bathrooms, restaurant reservations, transportation, visas, phone cards and more. Isn't Japan Really Expensive? Not necessarily. Even when exchange rates were seriously not in the favor of US dollars, we found some key ways to keep expenses low. Use a business hotel : our choice has usually been Toyoko Inn , but there are several brands that are similar, such as Dormy Inn , Tokyu Stay and Daiwa Roynet . These are often a

Some tips we include in other Japan blog locations hold true for Fukuoka, including: Food courts in the basement of large department stores like Daimaru and Mitsukoshi are local experiences you shouldn't miss, and great places to find lower-cost meals and food souvenirs. Reservations are often necessary and always appreciated. If a restaurant says they are full, and you see empty seats, don't take it personally. Many restaurants plan food purchases based on reservations. If y

This is a great city for museums, shopping (including antiques!), rich history, and lovely walks. Jump to the Food recommendations here , Hotels here , and Arita day trip here . We were based near the JR station which has many malls all around it and easy transport by bus or tram everywhere in the city. If you arrive at the port (on a cruise) or are near the port, there is a bus stop very close that gives excellent instructions in English and offers an all-day pass for 600 ye

Public transit in Japan is fantastic, and we have taken at least 10 trips to Japan without needing to drive. But on our trip to Kyushu, several of the places we wanted to visit were rural and did not have much public transit (bus or train) infrastructure. Reserving a car I tried to rent a car online directly from several of the major car rental companies. Toyota, Nissan and Times (formerly Mazda rent-a-car) all wanted Japanese addresses and/or ID numbers. So I ended up renti

One of the bigger cities on Kyushu with over half a million people, Kagoshima is a nice place to spend a few days. Jump to our Food , Hotel , or Shopping sections on this page. Sengan-en This is one of the final residences and gardens used by the Shimadzu clan at the end of the Edo period and after the Meiji restoration in 1868. Both the house and gardens are spectacular. It’s easy to spend several hours here even though the gardens are relatively compact, between eating lu

On this page you can jump to sections on Kumamoto , Yakushima , Yufuin , Beppu , Takachiho (Gorge) and Mt. Aso , and Obi Castle Town in Nichinan There are separate pages for Kagoshima things to do and food , Fukuoka things to do , Food in Fukuoka , and Nagasaki To Do and Eat . Also, note that we mostly used trains and buses to get from place to place. We did, however, rent a car when going from Beppu to Takachiho to Obi Castle Town in Nichinan to Kagoshima, and then when w

Fukuoka, the capital of Fukuoka prefecture, is the biggest city on Kyushu. There’s a lot to see, do and eat. We spent a total of 5 days in Fukuoka and still didn’t see everything we wanted to. For details on restaurants in Fukuoka, check out our post " Food in Fukuoka " 1) Dazaifu Tenmangu This large temple complex and the Kyushu National Museum (below) are located in the town of Dazaifu, a suburb of Fukuoka. This temple is dedicated to learning and education so many people