Climb up to the 173-meter-high Skywalk in Kyushu for a panoramic view of the autumn leaves! You can also take the popular train to the red leaf hot spring town!

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With the breeze and pleasant temperatures, one of the most anticipated events can be on the agenda as fall approaches - enjoying the red leaves. Japan has always been the first choice for maple viewing, and there are many different forms of foliage viewing: alpine foliage, valley foliage, and temple foliage. ...... But have you ever thought of enjoying foliage from nearly 200 meters “up in the air”?

The Kuju Yume Grand Suspension Bridge, a “skywalk” in Kyushu, is located over the Narukawa River valley in Kuju-machi, Kyushu-gun, Oita Prefecture, and measures 390 meters in length, 173 meters in height, and 1.5 meters in width.

It is also the tallest pedestrian-only suspension bridge in Japan, with a height 27 meters higher than the 146-meter Khufu Pyramid!

Since its opening in October 2006, the Kyushu Yume Grand Suspension Bridge has been a famous tourist destination in Kyushu, and as of November 2021, the number of visitors has reached 12 million!

The scenery here is picturesque in all seasons, and in the fall, it is a famous place for red leaves, where you can enjoy the beauty of red leaves in 360 degrees from a height of 173 meters, surrounded by mountains stacked with oranges or layers of forests, which is not an exaggeration to describe it as “like a dream like a mirage”!

When you look around from the suspension bridge, you can see a continuous line of nine mountain ranges, and the “male waterfall” and “female waterfall” of the “Shocking Waterfall,” which was selected as one of the “100 Famous Waterfalls of Japan,” are beautifully displayed. The “Male Falls” and “Female Falls” of the “Shocking Falls,” which were selected as one of Japan's 100 most famous waterfalls, are also beautifully displayed.

Underneath your feet is a breathtaking view of the Naruko River valley, which is 173 meters deep. From a distance, the suspension bridge and the valley on both sides, colored red by the frosty leaves, create a beautiful picture.

The suspension bridge also overlooks a beautiful stream valley, Nine Drunken Creek, which is also a secret maple-viewing spot, and the two are not far from each other for a one-stop hit.

Nine Drunken Stream is in the Jiuzhu River Basin with cliffs stretching for about 2km on both sides, and is dotted with native forests such as maple, Japanese hemlock, and lotus trees, which are orange, yellow, and green in the fall, making it a colorful and gorgeous scene.

Yufuin, a famous hot spring resort town, is located more than half an hour away from the Otsubashi Bridge. It is located at the foot of Mt. Yufutake and has a beautiful natural environment. There are many cafes, sweet stores, and general stores in the hot spring town, and the town has a rich literary atmosphere.

As the foliage season approaches, the scenery of Yubuin transforms from verdant to orange, rendering the scene as gorgeous as an oil painting.

The scenic Golden Scale Lake is located at the end of the town's main street, and is very moving with its shimmering waves, resembling the scales of a golden fish.

In the early mornings of the fall and winter seasons, you can also enjoy the lake's dense and wonderful fog - because the lake's water temperature is higher throughout the year, it creates a fascinating sight of steam rising from the water.

Yufuin's hot springs are located in the Yufuin, Yunohira and Tsukahara districts, and there are many Japanese-style hot spring inns in the hot spring towns, each with its own flavor and distinctive quality of hot spring water.

Opened in August 2022, KAI Yubuin is situated beneath the majestic Yubu-dake on a scenic terraced field, perfectly blending in with nature.

Designed by architect Kengo Kuma, the hotel's layout takes advantage of the terraced terrain to ensure that the natural beauty of the area can be fully appreciated.

The guest room “Glow Cage House” uses the rare material “Shichijima Rushes” to make “Glow Cage Lighting”, which makes you look like a glowing firefly at night.

There is also a comfortable terrace with a great view of the terraces, where you can sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains and the countryside.

The open-air hot springs are located under a vast clear sky, surrounded by greenery and offering a magnificent view of Yufuin, and the hot spring water is soft, delicate, satiny-fresh, and very comfortable.

The food is surprisingly good, with a sumptuous kaiseki dinner that makes good use of local ingredients, or try the special menu of “shabu-shabu” - a shabu-shabu hotpot made from badger, deer, wild boar and beef in a thick broth made from snappers, which is as delicious as it gets.

When you come to Yufuin, you can also take the popular sightseeing train “Yufuin no Mori”. This train runs between Hakata and Yufuin/Beppu, and has been a favorite since its inauguration in 1989.

“Forest” is its theme, the classic emerald green train is full of natural freshness, and its agile posture is just like an elf.

Inside the compartment is also full of “forest” atmosphere, logs on the floor, printed with wood patterns of the seats, creating a forest cottage cabin-like vacation atmosphere.

The journey is set amidst lush natural scenery, with an observation room on Trains 1 and 4 offering a 360-degree panoramic view of the route.

On the train, you can enjoy a variety of delicious bento lunches and sip a glass of wine or local beer. You can also purchase popular desserts and souvenirs from the trolleys along the route, which is a lot of fun.

Beppu, the destination of Yufuin no Mori, is also a famous hot spring town. Due to its rich geothermal resources, it creates the spectacle of wisps of mist bubbling up from the ground.

Beppu Yatsuyu is a town of eight hot springs where you can experience a variety of relaxing baths such as milk baths, sand baths and mud baths.

Beppu Jigoku, located in the Tekawa and Kamegawa areas, is also very famous, and is actually a reference to the seven hot springs of different sizes and characteristics, where boiling water vapor rises up from the ground in violent churning and unpredictability, and was often feared in olden times, thus giving it its name.

These seven hot springs are the Sea Hell, Onigashibushi Jigoku, Yamajigoku, Zao Jigoku, Onigashiyama Jigoku, White Pond Jigoku, Blood Pond Jigoku, and Tatsumaki Jigoku, which are only to be viewed but not dipped in.

The most shocking is the cobalt blue Sea Hell and the blood red Blood Pool Hell.

The eastern part of Kyushu, where Oita Prefecture is located, is also home to a number of leafy spots, such as the Kikuchi Valley. This valley, located in Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, is one of the “Top 100 Famous Waters of Japan” and “Top 100 Forest Bathing Forests of Japan”.

In autumn, on both sides of the stream, orange, maple and yellow forests cascade, and the thick red leaves on the ground are like a velvet blanket, composing the splendor of autumn.

It is only a 45-minute drive from the famous Kumamoto Castle, which boasts an all-black exterior and steep, majestic walls. Back in the day, it was purpose-built to deter enemy attacks and is easily defensible.After being damaged in the 2016 earthquake, parts of it are still undergoing restoration.

A little over an hour's drive from Kikuchi Valley lies Unzen Hot Spring, a secret red-leafed hot spring town. It is located in the center of the Shimabara Peninsula, in the middle of a mountain at an elevation of 700 meters.

The “Cloud Fairy Hell” is one of the wonders of the area - in these hot springs, the rocks are exposed, hot air lingers, hot springs gush out, the volcanic vents hiss, and a hint of sulfur can be smelled, a strange sight, hence the name.

As early as 1934, the area was designated as Japan's first national park. Nowadays, Unzen Onsen Street is rich in nostalgia, with hot spring inns lined up, each with its own unique characteristics.

In the Shimabara Peninsula, you can enjoy Shimabara Castle, which has a history of 400 years and retains the style of Azuchi-Momoyama.

A five-minute walk from Shimabara Castle is the nostalgic Teppo-cho, one of the historically former samurai residential neighborhoods, where three samurai residences are still open today.

Shimabara's unique geological structure has made it a city of gushing springs, and it has been included in the “Top 100 Famous Waters of Japan”. The beautiful gushing water garden, Shikimeijo, has a unique atmosphere with beautiful koi carp swimming in the gushing water.

🤗 Unzen Miyazaki Hotel

This is a 93-year old hotel that was renovated in 2022 to welcome guests with a new look and was awarded the 2023 GOOD DESIGN Award.

The hotel is located in Unzen National Park, surrounded by mountains, so you can enjoy the beauty of the four seasons of Unzen, and the Unzen Jigoku (Unzen Hell) is right outside your door, so you can enjoy the scenery and stay at the hotel in the same place.

All rooms are facing the garden or mountains, with pleasant views, modern style, simple style and comfortable living.

The three hot springs, each with its own unique characteristics, are quiet and relaxing, and you can enjoy the charm of the red leaf hot springs in the fall.

🤗 Shirokane Onsen Shirokane no Mori

Shirogane no Mori is a lodging located in the middle of the forest, and it is also an excellent place to rest and stay on the way to Kikuchi Valley to enjoy the red leaves. The atmosphere is refreshingly peaceful, with no hustle and bustle, and the only sound is that of birds.

There are only 8 guest rooms, each with its own style of design, and all equipped with 100% Genroku-type hot springs, with the picturesque nature as the best decoration for the guest rooms.

When you stay at the hotel, you are entitled to a free use of the large bath, “Kogane-no-yu,” a golden hot spring that is as warm and moist as silk, which is also a novelty.

The restaurant “Four Seasons Farm” uses fresh ingredients from Shirokane no Mori's farm to create a banquet, and the combination of delicious flavors and the beauty of the forest creates an idyllic pastoral atmosphere.

🤗 Grand Hyatt Fukuoka

This 5-star hotel is located in the center of Fukuoka City, in Canal City Hakata, near the center of Hakata Station and Tenjin area, making it convenient for shopping, dining and sightseeing. In addition, Fukuoka Airport is only 20 minutes away by car.

The hotel has a total of 372 rooms, the design concept is “home away home”, elegant and advanced color tone, creating a home-like warmth and cozy, attentive service, people feel at home.

The restaurant and bar are stylish and offer excellent food and drink, with a delicious seafood rice bowl for breakfast and a prestigious Executive Lounge for dinner. The gym, indoor swimming pool and spa are all there to keep you entertained.

🤗 Akizuki Castle

Akizuki Castle in Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is a scenic spot known as “Little Kyoto”. It was built about 400 years ago and is designated as a historical site by Fukuoka Prefecture.

It is autumn, and the red leaves of Autumn Moon City are particularly beautiful. The black gate and the red leaves form a wonderful combination of brilliant colors. Nearby is the Japanese-style castle town, which you can visit on your way.

🤗 Komyozenji Temple

Dazaifu is one of the most popular tourist spots in Fukuoka. However, there is a quiet and less crowded place to enjoy maple in the neighborhood, which is Komyozenji Temple.

In the temple there is even a pure withered landscape garden, white sand and green stone, Zen remote, in the red leaves, there is more a kind of transcendent beauty, it is worth stopping to savor.

🤗 Columba Park

This Nagasaki sightseeing spot was once a residential area for Westerners in the 1860s, but Western-style buildings built from the end of the Tokugawa period to the Meiji era have been relocated to this area to recreate the atmosphere of the past.

The Koraba Residence is the oldest surviving wooden Western-style building in Japan, and together with the Ringo Residence and the Ault Residence, it has been designated as a World Heritage Site. From here, you can enjoy the beautiful view of Nagasaki Harbor.