Our autumn road trip in Kyushu was fun! Besides the long hours of car ride which could be quite dreading for many of us, the attractions we visited showed the beauty and uniqueness of Kyushu. Out of the city zone, many attractions on this island are not stroller-friendly due to lots of steps to climb and uneven ground. Therefore, if your child is more than 3 years old and able to walk steadily with a pair of comfortable covered shoes, visiting the various prefectures of Kyushu can be fun and unforgettable for yourself and child.
Throughout these 10 days of Kyushu trip, Kayden loves almost everything about this island. Exotic nature walks, beautiful waterfalls and vast sea horizon are all attractions that he don’t get to see in Singapore. Not sure if your child will love Kyushu? Check out the below 5 things you can do with your child during the trip. Additionally, I have included 2 more itinerary items at the end of this post.
Delicious Kyushu Food
Sorry, but I am not including McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts and raw sashimi into this category. From a bowl of soupy Udon to cutely packed pastries, the food culture in Kyushu is one thing which every child could never resist. Even the packaging of snacks looks so impressive.
There is one Japanese main that made Kayden learned how to use chopsticks. Most of the time, he would go for a second serving. This Japanese main is ramen.
When comes to a bowl of hot ramen, it is not about how it looks but how delicious and flavorful it is. In fact, in a bowl of ramen, there are only noodles, thin slices of meat, a hard boiled egg, some garnishing, and soup. What makes every bowl of ramen so attractive to Kayden is the thick and savoury soup and the chewy noodles. Slurpy!
So, please include ramen for your meals in your travel itinerary.
Flying Seagulls During Ferry Ride
If we were to travel back from Nagasaki to Fukuoka by car, that might take us another 3 to 5 days of a road trip. Instead, we took a 45 minutes ferry ride to Kumamoto. We simply parked our car into the ferry and enjoyed the ride at the guest lounge.
Stepping out to the open air terrace on the upper deck, the wind is very strong and the sea view is beautiful. The real fun begins when we are watching the flying seagulls chasing our ferry.
Why? The reason is because people are feeding them with crackers! About 10 minutes before reaching Kumamoto, you will get to see fishermen catching fresh seafood with their nets.
Sun Messe Nichinan
Step into the world of Easter Island when you visit Miyazaki’s Sun Messe Nichinan in Kyushu. In this attraction, you will get to see the Nichinan coastline, Moai statues, domestic animals and insect exhibitions that will give you and your child an unforgettable memory.
Similar to a village, this attraction keeps domestic animals like turtles, donkeys, and cows in the open. Fencing them up, visitors can get close with them. Sitting in the green pasture and watching the exotic horizon will definitely make every child feel that they are living in a world of fantasy.
Do-It-Yourself Persimmon Harvesting
It’s time for the harvesting period of persimmons in Japan. Known as Japan’s popular autumn fruit, persimmon harvesting is fun for children and adults. The price for DIY persimmon harvesting in most farms is 500 Yen (about $6 SGD) for a kilogram. Each kilogram will consist of 4 persimmons.
It is very important to note that you are not allowed to forcefully pluck out the fruit off the tree. Instead, you have to gently turn the fruit in a single direction until the stem broke off.
Visit European Cottages In Yufuin Village
Visiting Yufuin Village will make many people feel like they are in a European country. This is because there are many small European look-alike cottages that sell almost everything, ranging from food to collectables. For Kayden, the most unforgettable thing for him in Yufuin Village in Oita was the Retro Motor Car Museum. There are many antique vehicles on display on the outside of the museum. If you wish to see the full collections such as Jaguar E-Type and Porsche 365, there is an entrance fee 800 Yen (about $10 SGD) per person.
There is a tourist attraction in Yufuin called the Lake Kinrinko. This is a natural landmark which is 5 minutes walk away from Yufuin Village. Do remember to enjoy some cheese tarts, pastries and snacks while exploring this village. For your information, the most popular roll cake speciality stall in Yufuin Village is B Speak which is located at the end of Yufuin Village.
Besides the above 5 things to do with your child, there are 2 more places which I would recommend you to include into your travel itinerary would be the LEGO shop in TOSU Premium Outlet and Pokemon Center in Amu Plaza Hakata. Both places are located in Fukuoka City.
