Heritage sites in Kyushu

Kyushu's historical landscape spans from ancient burial mounds to the dawn of Japan's modern era. This collection features key components of the UNESCO World Heritage 'Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution,' including pioneer shipyards, coal mines, and steelworks in Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and Fukuoka. It also highlights 'Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region,' such as Oura Cathedral and Hara Castle ruins. From the 17th-century Dutch trading post at Dejima to the sacred shrines of Munakata Taisha, these sites document the region's pivotal role in international trade and industrialization.

Kyushu Heritage Sites — Map

A

Glover Garden

Glover Garden is a park in Nagasaki, Japan, built for Thomas Blake Glover, a Scottish merchant who contributed to the modernization of…

そらみみ / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Oura Catholic Church

The Oura Church or Oura Cathedral, officially the Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan, is a Catholic minor basilica and co…

kamoseiro / CC BY 3.0

C

Fukuoka Castle

Also known as Maizuru Castle, this historic sight is situated on top of Fukusaki Hill, overlooking the city.

D

Museum Shoko Shuseikan Main Building

Completed in 1865, this former machinery factory is the oldest surviving Western-style stone building in Japan. It was a central part of the Shuseikan industrial complex established by the Satsuma Clan to manufacture cannons and steam engines.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

E

Dejima Dutch Trading Post

Dejima was a Portuguese and subsequently Dutch trading post at Nagasaki, Japan, from 1634 to 1854.

そらみみ / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Munakata Taisha Hetsu-gū

Munakata Taisha is a collection of three Shinto shrines located in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.

STA3816 / CC BY-SA 4.0

G

Kosuge Slip Dock

Known as 'Soroban Dock' for its abacus-like appearance, this 1868 facility was Japan’s first modern slip dock. It features a brick engine house and an original British-made steam winch used to haul ships for repair.

Kuma83 / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

Hara Castle

Hara Castle was a Japanese castle in Hizen Province. During the Shimabara Rebellion, rebellious peasants were besieged there.

Sakoppi / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

Terayama Charcoal Kiln

These stone ruins date back to 1858, when the Satsuma Clan constructed the kiln to produce high-quality charcoal. The fuel was essential for the iron smelting and glassmaking processes at the nearby Shuseikan industrial site.

Indiana jo / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

Sekiyoshi Sluice Gate of Yoshino Leat

Built in 1852, this sluice gate redirected water from the Inari River to the Shuseikan industrial complex. The water power drove the bellows for smelting furnaces and machinery used in cannon production.

佐賀市教育委員会 / Public domain

K

三重津海軍所跡

Established in 1858 by the Saga Clan, this site housed Japan’s first Western-style dry dock. The facility served as a naval academy and shipyard where the country’s first domestically produced steamship, the Ryofumaru, was repaired.

そらみみ / CC BY-SA 4.0

L

Onga River Pumping Station

Constructed in 1910, this red-brick pumping station was designed to supply industrial water to the Yawata Steel Works. Notable for its British-style architecture, the facility remains operational today.

藏元佑衣 / CC BY-SA 4.0

M

伊方古墳

An ancient burial mound (tumulus) located in Fukuchi, Fukuoka Prefecture. This archaeological site represents the region's early history and funerary traditions.

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