Kagoshima

Just finished a 5-day, 4-night trip to Kyushu, and this time I used the "Kyushu FunPASS All-Area 3-in-1" pass. The experience was truly excellent value for money! If you're planning a trip to Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Kumamoto, or Beppu, this e-passport is definitely worth getting. What is the Kyushu FunPASS 3-in-1? Simply put, it's an e-travel pass that can be used through a mobile app. The 3-in-1 plan includes: two must-see attractions, one selected attraction, plus various shopping coupons. It covers popular areas such as Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Kumamoto, and Oita (Beppu), allowing you to book your trip to multiple prefectures with one ticket. Why recommend the 3-in-1? Five major advantages: 1. Incredibly cost-effective, excellent value! My adult ticket cost about NT$680, and I chose two must-see attractions: "Fukuoka Tower" and "Kyushu Railway Memorial Museum," plus "teamLab Forest Fukuoka" as a selected attraction. These three items alone added up to over NT$800, making it a complete return on investment! Not to mention shopping discounts aren't even included. One user shared: "With coupons and additional discounts, it's a great deal to enjoy Kyushu," and "High value for money." 2. Super convenient e-tickets, skip the lines and enter directly. Previously, you had to spend time queuing to buy tickets at attractions. Now, just download the app on your phone, bind your serial number, and show the QR code at the venue to scan and enter. At teamLab Forest Fukuoka, I simply showed the QR code to the staff and entered, without having to queue for tickets at all. Users unanimously praised: "Queue-free ticket purchase is super easy," and "Buy and use immediately, very convenient." 3. Super flexible itinerary, no worries about last-minute changes. This is super friendly to independent travelers! You can activate the card within one year of purchase and use it within 14 days of activation. Even better, as long as you haven't booked or used any attractions, you can change the itinerary dates yourself in the app. Some bloggers shared that they bought fixed-date tickets in the past, only to lose thousands of dollars when changing their itinerary, but FunPASS doesn't have this problem at all. 4. Diverse Attractions, Suitable for Families and Couples: The 3-in-1 plan includes over 30 attractions, with popular options including: • Must-Visit Attractions (Choose 2): Fukuoka Tower, Kokura Castle, Moji Port Retro Observatory, Kyushu Railway Memorial Museum, Kanmon Strait Museum, Kumamoto Yatai Village (redeemable for a drink), etc. • Selected Attractions (Choose 1): teamLab Forest Fukuoka, Marine World Uminakamichi Aquarium, Beppu Hell Hot Spring Tour, Sadaharu Oh Baseball Museum, Yanagawa Cruise, etc. Whether you want to enjoy night views, visit an aquarium, soak in hot springs, or experience cultural attractions, you can find suitable options.

Because of the large group, hiring a car and planning your own itinerary to visit more distant attractions and hotels is really easy and convenient. They'll notify you before departure to create a LINE group, so you don't have to worry about not being able to contact the driver. Highly recommended.

후쿠오카 공항에서 픽업하지 못했으나 벳푸 Kamenoi Kitahama Bus Terminal에서 프린트한 바우처 주고 실물 티켓 수령했습니다.

In April 2026, a family trip of six people, including an 80-year-old elder, was planned. Considering the difficulty of renting large vehicles in Kagoshima, we decided to hire a private bus. The company sent a small bus with "Kagoshima Kotsu" printed on it. I looked it up online and found it's a local private transportation company, a local bus operator. The driver (Japanese, who didn't speak Chinese) met us at the hotel in a smart uniform and kindly discussed the itinerary with us. (I speak basic Japanese and even shamelessly used single Japanese words to communicate 😅) We wanted to visit Kirishima Shrine, Kirishima Onsen Market, and Takachiho Ranch, as well as restaurants near Kirishima Mythical Village Park, which I had seen online. The driver mentioned that there's a wooden bus station near Kirishima Onsen Market, which is currently the oldest preserved wooden bus station in Japan, and suggested we visit it as well. The day was sunny (high of 30 degrees Celsius). As we passed Kagoshima Airport and Ryuo Falls, the driver introduced us to the area. Upon arriving at Kizuki Station, he thoughtfully explained the surroundings (including the location of the restrooms) and quickly went inside to check train arrival times. Unfortunately, the train had just departed five minutes before we arrived… Seeing the station name "Karirikawa" reminded me of a trip I took from Hitoyoshi to Kagoshima with friends 12 years ago, where we visited this station. It was fun revisiting it. I mentioned this to the driver, who seemed a little surprised. He said fewer people take the train now, making driving more convenient and faster. After a foot bath and some souvenirs at the Kirishima Onsen Market, the driver took us to Maruo Falls, explaining that it's a hot spring waterfall, hence the absence of fish in the water. 🐟 Later, during our visit to Kirishima Shrine, our driver kindly helped us borrow a wheelchair from the shrine to make it easier for the elderly to get around. He showed us the sacred trees inside the shrine grounds with 1 yen, explaining the difference between a shrine and a temple, and mentioning that there are over 8 million shrines in Japan—more than convenience stores! 🤣🤣🤣 (I later saw a poster about shrine inspections and thought of the driver again.) At noon, the driver took us to "Kirishima Pass Tea House" for lunch. The tea house was full of locals, and the main dishes were very generous; the two young men were stuffed. The tea house had a great location with views of all the mountains of Kirishima ⛰️. The chopsticks bags were printed with the names of the mountains, a thoughtful touch. I've forgotten the driver's name, but I remember him telling a Japanese lame joke and asking me about gasoline prices in Taiwan.

We hired a car from Fuin to Fukuoka, stopping at Taisafu Tenmangu Shrine along the way. Our driver, Xiao Su, was fantastic! He's Chinese, and I bet he's been living in Japan for a long time! He introduced the shrines, history, and historical sites along the way, and even provided food recommendations like a tour guide, making our journey smooth. I'm truly grateful!