Fukuoka & Kagoshima

These coastal cities are a little off the beaten path for most tourists. If you’re traveling to the southern part of ‘mainland’ Japan and want to see some of the most active volcanos in the country, plan a stop in these 2 cities.

Most Recent Visit

April 2025

How to Get Here

Train or private vehicle will be the best way to access these cities.

Trip Length

We spent 2 nights in each city, primarily due to our late arrival into the city. 1-2 days in each of these locations gives you a good taste of their unique offerings.

Where to Stay

There are a range of lodging options around the country. For a budget experience, try a capsule hotel where you have a small ‘cube’ to sleep in and shared common areas. For a classic cultural experience, stay at a ryokan. Ryokans are traditional inns that offer a unique cultural experience, featuring tatami rooms, kaiseki meals, and typically hot spring baths. Ryokans were slightly more expensive during the time we visited but we plan to try one on our next visit. And of course, hotels ranging from budget to luxury are available. Staying true to our mid-range budget style, we chose ‘chain’ hotels that were located near the train stations (3–10-minute walks). While the rooms and beds were on the small side, we spent so little time in the rooms it wasn’t a problem for us. If you’re the type of traveler that likes to spend some time in the room decompressing or relaxing, you may want to look at more luxurious options. We paid anywhere from $59-$144/night USD (in 2025) and stayed at various Hotel Mystays, Sotetsu Fresa Inns, and APA Hotels (all booked through our Expedia travel agent site).

In Fukuoka, we stayed at APA Hotel & Resort Hakata Ekihigashi, a 5-minute walk to the train station. In Kagoshima, we stayed at JR Kyushu Hotel Kagoshima which was essentially above the train station.