[samurai007]

I visited Kyushu in winter (spent Christmas in Fukuoka, had real Hakata ramen from a street stand for Christmas dinner!) When I was there, the weather was generally great. Cool but not freezing cold. Some rain here and there, but not much.

If at all possible, I really suggest trying to make it to Nagasaki. It was easily one of the most interesting cities I visited in all of Japan, with numerous historical sites all over the city. Fukuoka is ok (gotta at least have the ramen there!), and there are some historical places outside Fukuoka. I passed through Beppu with hardly a pause, since I was heading to Matsuyama next and the famous 2000 year old Dogo Onsen there, and figured it would eclipse anything Beppu had to offer.