48 Hours on the Shimabara Penninsula
About two hours south of us is a bean shaped bit of land in Nagasaki prefecture called the Shimabara Peninsula. It is anchored by Mt. Unzen rising at its center and the area boasts great onsen, hikes, and food making it a worthwhile destination for a couple of days. It’s one of our regular getaways as it’s close and we can take Gogo and sleep by the sea.
On its northwestern side the town of Obama sits by a peaceful bay. It's one of those many far flung towns in Japan that seems frozen in another era, but it has some surprisingly fabulous dining options.
Obama offers of the most unique dining experiences in Japan. In a park next to the harbor downtown, you can rent baskets to pile high with vegetables and seafood and cook them in the mineral rich steam of the natural hot spring. After a day of hiking, we sat at a picnic table facing due west towards a perfect sunset and feasted on the best crab we’ve ever had, and the best corn I’ve ever tasted outside of my native New England. I would do it all again in a heartbeat and will recommend it to anyone who will listen.
I’m so glad we live in Kyushu! I've said this countless times in the last couple of years since we bought Gogo and started vanlife-ing around this gorgeous island. I hope that in tandem with an experience in Mirukashi, you'll explore more of Kyushu’s amazing landscape and flavors. A weekend on the Shimabara Peninsula in Nagasaki Prefecture is a perfect way to extend your stay. You can find all of my favorite spots here and all over Kyushu in my Kyushu Black Book.
From luxury ryokans and destination dining to van life and mountain trails, embark on a journey through Kyushu. I'll share every great discovery with you. From eating to shopping, from hiking and soaking to sleeping, I'll give you all the intel
