Kyushu Island, home of Seven Stars

Japan

Minami-satsuma Kagoshima

Calendar of Luxury Train Journeys

Contents

Kyushu
- About Kyushu Island
- Seven Stars in Kyushu

Kyushu

About Kyushu Island

Kyushu is an island found south west of the larger island of Honshu. Kyushu benefits from centuries of civilization and has historic treasures, modern cities and natural beauty.

Useful visitor information here, from the Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization.

There are seven prefectures (or provinces) in Kyushu.

Fukuoka

Saga

Saga Prefecture is the home of 400-yr old Arita Porcelain. Arita has many potters. Late April to early May every year there is a ceramics fair. The 2 day journey on Seven Stars in Kysuhu includes a trip to Arita and an optional excursion to a famous kiln.

Nagasaki

Kumamoto

Oita

Miyazaki

Kagoshima

Kyushu is mountainous with Japan's most active volcano, Mt Aso at 1,591 metres (5,220 ft). There are numerous areas of hot springs. The most famous are in Beppu, on the east shore, and around Mt. Aso, in central Kyushu.

The island is separated from Honshu by the Kanmon Straits.

Parts of Kyushu have a subtropical climate, particularly Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures.

Major agricultural products are rice, tea, tobacco, sweet potatoes, and soy; silk is also widely produced.

Kyushu is noted for various types of porcelain, including Arita, Imari, Satsuma, and Karatsu. The Seven Stars in Kyushu luxury train has examples of the work of Kakiemon Kiln, Arita, Saga prefecture.

Heavy industry is concentrated in the north around Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, and Oita and includes chemicals, automobiles, semiconductors, and metal processing.

Kyushu is joined to Honshu Island by the Kanmon Tunnels, which carry the Sanyō Shinkansen and regular trains of the Kyushu Railway Company, as well as other traffic. The Kanmon Bridge also connects the island with Honshu. Railways on the island are operated by theKyushu Railway Company, and Nishitetsu Railway.

Seven Stars in Kyushu

The different carriages of the Seven Stars in Kyushu luxury train are named after the seven prefectures of Kyushu. The inspiration for their interior decoration comes from the art and culture of these areas.

There are close contacts with the communities of each prefecture.