5 min read

A Spontaneous Summer in Kyushu: fukuoaka, Kitakyushu & Kumamoto

This summer, I took another solo and totally unplanned tripkind of like my journey to Kagawa. Maybe it’s because no one really gets me (lol), so I just decided to travel alone again. No real schedule, no stress, just vibes.

The destination this time: Kyushu starting from Fukuoka, up to Kitakyushu, then down to Kumamoto, and eventually to Kagoshima. But let’s save Kagoshima for the next post.

The Night Before – From Office Desk to Airport Bench

The trip began on Friday, July 18. Right after work, I rushed from my office in Saitama to Narita Airport. My flight was at 5:00 AM the next morning, so I had no choice but to spend the night at the airport. It wasn’t exactly glamorous, but hey, it’s part of the solo adventure package.

I was tired, but excited. I knew this trip had no structure, just the idea of meeting a friend in Kagoshima at the end. Everything else? Freestyle.

That night at the airport, I met a guy whose flight to Osaka got canceled. I helped him look up other flights, and we ended up talking for a while.

Later, I met another guy on the same flight as me to Fukuoka. He was kind and friendly, and just like that, I made a new Japanese friend. Half-awake, I switched between guessing words and helping out, but it turned into a fun chat. It was a great way to start a trip speaking Japanese with strangers in an empty airport at 1 AM.

Welcome to fukuoka – And Then Immediately Gone

I landed in fukuoaka early in the morning. First mission: throw my luggage into a locker at Hakata Station. Traveling light always feels better.

Without wasting time, I hopped on a Shinkansen to Kitakyushu.

Kitakyushu – Castles, Bridges, and Good Weather

The Shinkansen was fast, and the weather in Kitakyushu was surprisingly goods lightly cloudy, a bit of rain, but not too hot. Honestly, perfect for walking.

I visited Kokura Castle, one of the area’s most iconic landmarks. The view from the grounds was peaceful, with the river flowing nearby and lots of greenery. I went inside the castle, bought an omamori (I’m slowly collecting these), and took my time enjoying the quiet atmosphere.

After that, I wandered along the riverside and eventually reached the Wakato Bridge. The view there was amazingone of those places where you just want to sit for a while and do nothing.

I had lunch nearby, and by mid-afternoon, I was on my way back to fukuoaka.

Fukuoaka Nights – Towers, Rain, and Street Food

Once I returned to fukuoaka, I checked into my dorm-style hostel. It was lively people from all over the world staying there. Before the night fully kicked in, I headed out to fukuoaka Tower.

Next stop: Nakasu. The area was full of lights, food stalls, and the sound of people laughing and eating under umbrellas. I grabbed some street food and a cold beer from one of the stalls. It started to rain a little, but in a good way. The drizzle gave everything a soft glow. Somehow it felt cinematic.

Later, I went downtown for a warm bowl of udon, then picked up a few more drinks and returned to the hostel. That’s when the real fun started.

International Dorm Party – 2AM Chats and Beer

The hostel common area turned into an accidental party. There were travelers from Korea, Japan, the U.S., Russia, and methe only Khmer guy in the room. We shared drinks, travel stories, and random jokes in mixed languages.

We drank until 2:00 AM before finally crashing into bed. It was one of those nights where nobody planned to hang outbut somehow, it just happened.

Kumamoto – Hot, but Worth It

The next morning, I took the Shinkansen from Hakata to Kumamoto. The heat hit me immediately Kumamoto was hot. Like, seriously summer level hot.

But I had missions to complete. First stop: the Luffy statue in the city centerpart of a project to honor the One Piece creator from Kumamoto. I’m not a big fan, but I had to see it.

Then, I headed to Kumamoto Castle. It was huge, beautiful, and full of history. I picked up another omamori I don’t even know why I keep buying them, but they feel like a tiny piece of each place I visit.

In the evening, I found myself at a local bar againyes, drinking again. I don’t know why I always end up drinking on these trips, but maybe that’s part of the fun.

Later that night, I caught the train to Kagoshima, ready to visit my friendand start the second half of this Kyushu adventure.

Wrapping Up the First Half of Kyushu

This part of the trip fukuoaka, Kitakyushu, and Kumamoto was everything I wanted: unplanned, relaxed, and full of little moments that made it feel real. No schedule. No pressure. Just me, the road, and wherever the next train took me.

(To be continued in Part 2: Kagoshima)