Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [529]
In 1868 the Meiji Restoration ended the military shōgunate’s policy of isolation, marking the birth of modern Japan. During the ensuing Meiji Era (1868–1912), rapid industrialisation caused profound social and political change.
Sadly, this historically rich region is best known for one day in history – 9 August 1945, the day Nagasaki became the last city to be decimated by an act of atomic warfare.
Climate
Kyūshū is the largest southernmost of Japan’s four main islands and enjoys a warm, subtropical climate, yet winter in the mountains frequently registers subzero temperatures and heavy snowfalls. During the rainy season the island is inundated with heavy rainfall, and the months of July and August are oppressively hot, humid and best avoided! Although some reasonable swimming beaches are on the mainland, most are polluted or overdeveloped. With the exception of some of the southwest islands, you may be disappointed if you visit the region for summer seaside escapades. Kyūshū’s dramatic volcanic landscapes and historical towns are best enjoyed in the cool of spring, when the wildflowers bloom, or in autumn, as the last of the maples turn.
Getting There & Away
AIR
Centrally located and conveniently linked by subway train, Fukuoka Airport is Japan’s third largest, servicing destinations in Asia and Japan. Smaller Ōita (Beppu), Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Miyazaki airports all have flights to Seoul, but not always daily. It’s possible to fly into Hong Kong (from Kagoshima), Shanghai (from Kagoshima, Nagasaki and Kitakyūshū) and Guangzhou (from Kitakyūshū). All of Kyūshū’s airports have limited domestic connections. There are also flights to islands off the coast of Kyūshū and to the southwest islands from Fukuoka (to Amakusa, Gotō-Fukue, Naha, Tsushima), Nagasaki (to Iki, Naha), Kumamoto (to Amakusa) and Kagoshima (to Amamioshima, Kikaijima, Naha, Tanegashima, Yakushima, Kikaijima and Tokunoshima).
BOAT
There are sea connections to Kyūshū from Honshū (Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe), Shikoku (Tokushima), Hokkaido (Muroran via Naoetsu) and Okinawa. Local ferry services operate between Kyūshū and islands off the northwest and southern coasts. A high speed ferry service shuttles between Fukuoka and Busan, in South Korea.
TRAIN
The shinkansen (bullet train) line from Tokyo and Osaka crosses to Kyūshū from Shimonoseki and ends at Hakata Station (Fukuoka).
Getting Around
Major cities in Kyūshū are connected by tokkyū (limited express) train services, and an extensive highway bus system. The Kyūshū shinkansen line between Hakata and Kagoshima is partly operational, scheduled for completion in 2011. If you can afford it, a combination of rail travel and car rental is your best option. It’s easy to drive here, and the satellite navigation systems in most rental cars, although in Japanese, don’t take long to get used to. Without a car, you’ll miss out on many of the best-preserved and least-known of the island’s diverse and most impressive landscapes.
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FUKUOKA-KEN
The northern prefecture of Fukuoka is the arrival point for most visitors to Kyūshū. The bland industrial city of Kitakyūshū (population 990,585) is northernmost, but most travellers head straight to Fukuoka.
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FUKUOKA (HAKATA )
092 / pop 1,414,420
Fukuoka is the largest city in Kyūshū and growing fast. Once two separate towns, the lordly Fukuoka castle town on the west bank of the Naka-gawa, and the common folk’s Hakata on the east, the two merged in 1889. The name Fukuoka was applied to both towns, but subsequent development has mainly been in Hakata and many residents still refer to