▲ Colorful Yufuin – A fairy tale town Japanese girls voted this their favorite travel destination. It's the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki's "My Neighbor Totoro" and perfect for a relaxing getaway. Inspired by the most beautiful English countryside, you can get up close with the small animals from fairy tale books. Though not large, it's very photogenic and a great spot for photos. If you get tired from walking, you can even pet cats at a cat cafe. It's very relaxing.
▲ The entire lake is surrounded by the foothills of Mount Yufu. Strolling along the wooden boardwalk by the lake, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Mist often shrouds the lake and mountains, creating a fairyland-like atmosphere. The torii gate in the water on the right side of the lake is a hidden photo spot. The shimmering ripples resemble fish scales, and the lake is half cold water and half hot water.
▲ [Kyushu Natural Zoological Park] You can choose to book a ride on the park's loop bus at your own expense to hand-feed animals and interact with them up close; or take a tour bus to leisurely circle the zoo, enjoying a quiet and pleasant journey and experiencing the tranquility of nature.
▲ You can also see animals like giraffes, rhinos, and zebras living on the grasslands, which is a rare and unique experience in Japan. It's a highly recommended family trip in Kyushu. In the [Small Animal Interaction Zone], you can get up close with cats and dogs, experience riding miniature horses, and feed kangaroos and squirrel monkeys. Both adults and children will find it deeply therapeutic.
▲ [Beppu Hell - Umi Jigoku] Beppu is Japan's largest hot spring area by water output. When you visit Beppu, don't miss the Beppu Hell Tour, which features mysterious porcelain-blue pools. What looks like cool seawater is actually a 98-degree hot spring. The fantastic view of the spring water gushing out is breathtaking.
▲ [Beppu Hell - Kamado Jigoku] Legend has it that since ancient times, during the biannual festivals of the Kamado Hachiman Shrine, food offerings were prepared using the heat from this hell-like spring, giving rise to the name "Kamado Jigoku." The intense steam and scalding hot springs with temperatures reaching 90°C create a truly hellish spectacle.