Maybe you are familiar with Hakata Tonkotsu ramen, one of signature dish from Fukuoka.
Well, actually there are many types of Ramen in Japan. One of them is fish based broth made from Katsuo.
In Japan, a city that popular with Katsuo (bonito) is Makurazaki city.
Makurazaki city is a city that is Located in southern Japan, to be precise it is located in Kagoshima’s prefecture.
That is why, Katsuo ramen is also popular to be signature dish from this city.
One of restaurants that is serving Katsuo ramen is Daitoku. This restaurant is located 6 minutes by walking from Makurazaki station.
So if you try to find hidden Japanese food, this restaurant can be your choices.
Things to be noted, the serving time is quite long. If you come in winter, dont forget to wear winter Jacket, since there are alot of people want to eat here so the queue is more than 15 minutes in lunch time.
So in the part one, I recommend the readers to consider take a trip to Kagoshima if you dont want to trap in Japan tourism activities around Tokyo.
Once you arrived at Kagoshima chuo station, you will see the scenery of Sakurajima.
Kagoshima city aquarium is located around 40 minutes by walking from Kagoshima chuo. If you are the explorer, I think walking is not a bad choice.
You also can try to ride Kagoshima city tram (that is one of unique points because only some cities in Japan has tram) by walking from Kagoshima chuo eki for 4 minutes and take the tram from Takamibashi station, then get off at Shiyakusho mae Station.
The cost to take tram is around one dollar (170 ¥)
Enjoy your trip!
Sakurajima mostly “coughing” its ashes everyday To enter the aquarium, you need to pay around 10 dollar (1500¥)This aquarium ticket can be your souvenir when return back to your country
Hi readers!
It has been a while I did not update this website.
How are you? Have you considered your trip to Japan?
As you already realized, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto are the cities that is quite popular by international tourists.
Flight tickets from abroad to this area is quite expensive.
In that situation, I would like to recommend you to explore another destination in Japan.
Have you heard about Kagoshima?
Kagoshima is a prefecture that is located in southern Kyushu.
The prefecture is popular with their fresh and delicious food and alcohol.
In the past, James Bond -007 movies “you only live twice” recorded some scene in one of the city in this prefecture.
The problem is how to reach this area?
To enjoy Kyushu, I recommend you to book tickets flight by using Singapore airlines.
Ticket to Kyushu Island via Fukuoka is quite affordable (around 600 dollar).
After you arrived at Fukuoka international airport, you can continue your Journey by using Bus or Shinkansen (using JR Kyushu Pass) to various prefectures in Kyushu.
Since in this post I mentioned about Kagoshima, in case you have JR pass Kyushu, you can ride Shinkansen for around one half hours from Hakata station to Kagoshima Chuo station. Once you arrived at that station, you will see the beautiful Sakurajima.
Okay then, you have been in Kagoshima, then what you can do?
Various list you can do depending on which season you come. Generally you can enjoy
1. Kagoshima aquarium
2. Eating Shirakuma Kakigori
3. Enjoying Swirling Somen Nagasi
4. Sand bath Sauna / Onsen
5. Enjoying Mud Onsen
6. Enjoying spectacular Onsen with beautiful views
And many more. Things to be noted, this prefecture is not over crowded like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto. If you like the to know Japan hidden gems this is the good place.
I will write part 2 article about some activities in Kagoshima.
While waiting my post, you can enjoy to check my social media reporting about interesting place in the world.
have you purchased the ticket for traveling in Japan?
I heard that the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024 is a good time to visit Japan because the value of Japanese yen toward USD is still low.
So if you get bored to just traveling around Tokyo, why dont to try to have a trip to Kyushu Island?
I am not sure it is easy to fine Unagi or eel in your origin country.
or have you try to eat unagi in your life?
if you never eat Unagi in your life, or if you are an Unagi Lover, I recommend you to visit this restaurant.
Sueyoshi is a shop that located in the down town of Kagoshima. To be précised it is around Tenmonkan.
But things I need to remind you, if you want to come here, please dont come in empty stomach, because probably there will be along line in front of the shop.
But trust me the taste of the eel in this shop is realy really delicious.
So, I just did exploration to the west Fukuoka. There is a popular tourist attraction, called Futamigaura (or Sakurai Futamigaura or Chikuzen Futamigaura).
Sakurai Futamigaura in Itoshima City (Fukuoka perfecture), has been selected as one of Japan’s top 100 sunset views and Japan’s top 100 beaches, is famous for its two huge married couple rocks that connected by shimenawa ropes and the torii gate that stands above them.
To access this place, from Tenjin or Hakata, you need to take subway/train to Kyudaigakentoshi station (budget 530 yen (from Hakata)) . After that you need to take Showa bus from Kyudaigakkentoshi to Futamigaura bus stop (budget 730 yen). From 3 to 4 bus stops before futamigaura, there are some food stalls. If you are interested with those foods, you can stop there and continue to go to Futamigaura by walking.
If you are interested to visit this place, I recommend you to come with your parner and close to sunset time. You gonna feel romantic ambiance.
Don’t forget to try the ice cream that available at the shop nearby.
Finally, after almost 2 years, Japan is opening its border.
Bunches of people start to consider having a trip to Japan.
Some of you maybe already booked a flight ticket to Japan, but still not booked the hotel yet.
After this pandemic, maybe the traveling references inside this country gonna be different.
So, what should you prepare?
I hope this article can be the answer to your worry.
This is the summary of my experience guiding 2 visitors to Japan after this pandemic.
First question: Where/ what is the recommended accommodation?
You can use Airbnb apps if you visit Japan with more than 2 people (e.g Family trips) or book a hotel from booking.com if you travel solo to Japan.
Let’s say that you are going to have 2 week’s trip to Japan.
Average the accommodation that you can book in a day is around 7000 yen. (well, maybe there are some cheaper accommodations, but you should consider that the covid19 is still not finished yet. considering an accommodation that supports covid prevention will be good for your own shake. I think backpacker tips are not a good idea for the current situation.
How about the food? is it better to find a hotel that provides breakfast or not?
Based on my experience, in the current situation, the hotel needs to follow covid rules. even if u try to wake up in the morning, u gonna have to wait in the queue because a lot of people also wanna eat but need to follow covid rules. So, I suggest you buy your own food in a convenience store. or if you choose to use Airbnb, cooking your own food is highly recommended.
How much does the meal cost in Japan?
You can prepare a budget for 1000 yen/meal.
How much does transportation cost in Japan?
Wow if u decide to use an UBER taxi, it’s quite pricey, but convenient, especially if you do a family trip (because it is not based on per person but based on distance). Let’s say a trip from Fukuoka international airport to Hakata, you gonna spend 1470 yen for this trip. But if you ride Subway, it will be priced at 300 yen per person.
So that is the basic cost per person that you need if you want to travel to Japan.
Hotel = 7000 yen
Meal = 3000 Yen
Transportation = 600 yen(return, if you use train)
One-day budget : total = 10600 yen
For two weeks, you need: 148,400 yen
This calculation can be applied all over Japan, and of course, u can adjust this budget template based on your own pocket.
TheExplorer 