Review of a 5-day, 4-night trip to Kitakyushu at 25 years old

Budget: ~15,000 THB for a solo trip to heal my heart at 25 ✈️ That year, life wasn’t going well. I lost my job for the first time 💼, my health was poor 🏥, I had a heartbreak from a 3-year relationship 💔, failed an exam 📚, and lost my grandmother 🤍. So, I booked a ticket to Japan alone. Not because I was ready, but because I wanted to heal myself. Stayed mainly in Fukuoka. Used the JR North Kyushu Rail Pass to explore Northern Kyushu so much that the staff asked, "Are you really following this plan?" But I said, "Ikimashou!" 🚆 🌊 Day 1 – Sea & Torii Gate in the Water 📍 Fukuoka Tower Momochi area, giving off Greek vibes 🤍💙 In the evening, visited ⛩️ Sakurai Futamigaura The sunset was stunning... But the bus service ended 🥲 Stranded by the sea, I met a kind taxi driver who refunded me 1,000 yen 🚕 Started the trip with a lesson that there are still good people in the world. 🌋 Day 2 – Aso & Castle ⛰️ Mount Aso Strong winds and vast grasslands. 🏯 Stopped by Kumamoto Castle The castle was truly magnificent. ⚔️ Day 3 – Hita → Bungo Mori → Yufuin → Beppu, Otaku Style 📍 Hita Followed the trail of Attack on Titan. 🚉 Bungo-Mori Station A quiet, old station that felt like a scene from the movie Suzume. 🌸 Stopped by Yufuin, very Ghibli-like vibes. In the evening, arrived at ♨️ Beppu The night view was stunning, and I found an abandoned phone booth. I called God and cried my heart out. Felt so relieved that I went back to pray and vent some more. 😂 🤖 Day 4 – Beppu → Gundam → Airport Bus Stop Morning stroll in Beppu, very relaxing. Highlight: 🔥 Beppu Hells Red 🔴 and blue 🔵 hot springs. Beautiful like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Returned to Fukuoka. Visited Gundam at 🛍️ LaLaport Fukuoka It was huge and super cool 🤖✨ Planned to sleep at the airport since my flight was at 6 AM. But… the airport was under renovation. Sleeping inside wasn’t allowed 😭 Ended up sleeping at the bus stop outside the airport with a group of foreign travelers. From strangers, we became friends overnight 😂 This trip was truly unforgettable. 💰 Summary of Expenses ✈️ Round-trip ticket: ~6,000 THB 🏨 Accommodation: ~2,000 THB 🚆 JR 4-day pass: ~2,200 THB 🚊 1-day Fukuoka pass: 650 yen 🍜 Food for the trip: ~3,000 THB Total: ~15,000 THB ✨ What I gained beyond money Saw the sea, stood before a volcano, followed anime trails, saw red and blue hot springs, met kind people, slept at a bus stop with new friends, And learned that... No matter how broken life gets, we can always keep traveling 🤍🌅