Enjoy the Rainy Season! Indoor Spots in Kyushu

• [Fukuoka Prefecture] Kyushu National Museum (Dazaifu City)
• [Saga Prefecture] Saga Prefectural Space Scienceland "Yumeginga" (Takeo City)
• [Nagasaki Prefecture] Hirado Castle (Hirado City)
• [Kumamoto Prefecture] Yachiyoza Theater (Yamaga City)
• [Oita Prefecture] Beppu Kannawa Jigoku Onsen Museum (Beppu City)
• [Miyazaki Prefecture] Kijo Picture Book Village (Kijo Town)
• [Kagoshima Prefecture] Io World Kagoshima Aquarium (Kagoshima City)
• 💡 One-Point Advice Before Heading Out

[Fukuoka Prefecture] Kyushu National Museum (Dazaifu City)

Based on the concept of "understanding the formation of Japanese culture from an Asian historical perspective," this is Japan's fourth national museum, introducing the development of Japanese culture from the Paleolithic period to the late Tokugawa period. It houses numerous Important Cultural Properties, including Kano Masanobu's "Zhou Maoshu Appreciating Lotuses" (a National Treasure). The Cultural Exchange Exhibition on the 4th floor dynamically rotates 30 to 50 cultural properties each month, constantly displaying 800 to 900 pieces of precious materials. On the 1st floor, the free, hands-on exhibition room "Ajippa" introduces traditional costumes, daily necessities, and toys from various Asian countries in a market-stall format, offering creative ways to experience history and culture with all five senses.

[Saga Prefecture] Saga Prefectural Space Scienceland "Yumeginga" (Takeo City)

With the theme "Discover Earth and Saga from Space, Discover Earth and Space from Saga," this comprehensive science museum stimulates children's intellectual curiosity. The interior consists of three areas—the "Saga Discovery Zone," "Earth Discovery Zone," and "Space Discovery Zone"—along with a state-of-the-art planetarium and astronomical observatory. In addition to programs for observing the sun and daytime planets, the museum regularly hosts stargazing events every Saturday night, where visitors can view the night sky through authentic telescopes guided by expert staff. Furthermore, it features a wide variety of hands-on workshops, such as fish-feeding experiences at the "Yumeginga Aquarium," which recreates the ecosystem of Saga's rivers.

[Nagasaki Prefecture] Hirado Castle (Hirado City)

Built using the "Yamaga-ryu" (Yamaga style), a style extremely rare nationwide for castle architecture, this famous castle stands as the symbol of Hirado. Following the completion of the "Great Heisei Renovation" in April 2021, the interior exhibits were completely renewed along with repairs to the exterior and interior walls. Utilizing the latest digital art, it has transformed into an advanced facility where you can experience Hirado's rich history with an amusement-like feel. In addition to historical highlights such as the castle tower, turrets, stone walls, and Kameoka Shrine, the top-floor observatory offers a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Hirado Strait. Unique features, such as a remote photography system to commemorate your visit, also enjoy great popularity.

[Kumamoto Prefecture] Yachiyoza Theater (Yamaga City)

Constructed in Meiji 43 (1910) and designated as a National Important Cultural Property, this historic, active playhouse retains its original charm. While boasting a traditional, atmospheric Japanese appearance, it uniquely incorporates Western construction methods of the time into the timber framework above the pillars. Featuring a powerful revolving stage using German-made rails and a hanamichi (runway), it is a precious historical structure that passes down the style of Edo-period Kabuki theaters to the present day. On days without performances, visitors can tour the interior thoroughly. Furthermore, diagonally across the street lies the "Yume-Kozora" archives, a repurposed storehouse built in Meiji 20. It displays over 150 actual stage props, brilliant costumes, and tour plaques used at Yachiyoza, allowing visitors to feel the romance of Yamaga's golden past.

[Oita Prefecture] Beppu Kannawa Jigoku Onsen Museum (Beppu City)

Embodying the theme "Making Hot Springs Even More Lovable," this academic entertainment museum delivers intellectual excitement. The interior consists of four sophisticated sections where visitors can easily learn the mechanism of how rainwater transforms into authentic hot spring water over a span of decades, using projection mapping and immersive theater videos. You can trace the process of how a place once feared and avoided as a "hell" (jigoku) was transformed through human endeavor into the valuable Beppu Onsen we know today. The courtyard, where geothermal steam rises dramatically, along with the cafe and shop, are free spaces where anyone can stop by to relax.

[Miyazaki Prefecture] Kijo Picture Book Village (Kijo Town)

Tucked away quietly in the lush forests of Kijo Town, this cultural center uses picture books to soothe the five senses. Spread across a vast site of approximately 24,000 square meters, it features the "Mori no Ehonkan" (Forest Picture Book Hall), which holds a colorful collection of picture books gathered from around the world, alongside wooden cafes and lodging cottages. It also hosts exhibits of precious original picture book artwork, offering a luxurious time surrounded by stories. Visitors can consult with the shop's book advisor to find their perfect volume. At the "Mizu no Stage" (Water Stage), events such as nature-integrated concerts and moonlit storytelling sessions are held. Spending the night in a cottage listening to the sound of rain while immersing yourself in picture books is highly recommended.

[Kagoshima Prefecture] Io World Kagoshima Aquarium (Kagoshima City)

Boasting a wonderful location with a direct view of the majestic Sakurajima, this aquarium exhibits approximately 10,000 marine creatures across 800 species, focusing primarily on the marine life of Kagoshima. The biggest highlight is the breathtaking "Kuroshio Large Tank," where the world's largest fish, the whale shark, along with schools of bonito, swim gracefully right before your eyes. In addition, the museum features endless sights such as the beautiful "Seas of the Nansei Islands" with living coral, the mysterious "Jellyfish Corridor," and the globally rare "Sea Slug Laboratory." Visitors can access multilingual explanations and fun videos on their smartphones via QR codes inside the building, and in the free-entry outdoor waterway area, you can observe dolphins swimming freely under the open sky up close.

💡 One-Point Advice Before Heading Out

*Please note that the information listed for each facility, including opening hours, fees, and event details, may change depending on the season or circumstances. Additionally, special events such as "night openings" may be held during specific periods. Please check the official website of each facility in advance for detailed and updated schedules before visiting.