Forget JB, Kulai is a more interesting getaway with plenty of things to do like exploring an IG-worthy village or an old-school cafe!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Johor Bahru. But having been there so many times and doing the same old activities, it can get pretty boring. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover a new getaway less than an hour from the JB checkpoint!
Introducing Kulai, a quaint town with many Instagrammable spots and cosy cafes. It also has a sizeable Hakka Chinese population and is therefore famous for authentic Hakka food like lei cha (thunder tea rice).
Kulai can be done on a day trip from JB and here are some interesting things you can do there ✨
Read also: Family-friendly Johor Bahru Guide — 17 Things to Do, Eat and See in JB Beyond Legoland
1) Snap photos at Kelapa Sawit Wall Art

Relive your childhood by exploring the Kelapa Sawit Wall Art, a long stretch of nostalgic art murals drawn by locals to revitalise the area and attract tourists.

We had fun snapping photos with familiar characters like Snow White and Totoro. There’s even a giant lei cha bowl — a nod to the Hakka culture in Kulai!
While exploring the area, take note not to disturb the residents there as the artworks are painted on the walls of actual houses 🤫
Opening hours: 24hrs
How to get there: 20min drive from AEON Mall Kulai (Google Maps)
2) Hide away at Rainforest Tree House

Rainforest Tree House is literally tucked away in a “jungle”, so we suggest driving here as it may be hard to get a taxi back to civilisation. Although it’s further out from the city, you’ll get to enjoy a peaceful and tranquil getaway surrounded by nature.

Visitors are required to purchase at least one drink or food at the cafe, with items like coffee, toast, and spaghetti. Also look out for the adorable resident cat hanging around here too 😺
Besides the cafe, there are actual tree houses where you can stay overnight! Amenities such as mattresses, blankets and even bathrooms are provided. After a good night’s rest, explore the area and hike 20 minutes to the nearby Gunung Pulai Waterfall.
Opening hours: 9AM – 3:30PM (Tue – Thu), 8AM – 4:30PM (Fri, Sun), 8AM – 9PM (closed between 4:30PM – 6PM on Sat), closed on Mon
How to get there: 26min drive from Johor Premium Outlets (Google Maps)
3) Explore the quirky Putuo Village

Located in a bamboo forest on the outskirts of Kulai, Putuo Village spans 43 acres and consists of a Bodhi Sanctuary and Purple Bamboo Valley. The Bodhi Sanctuary houses Southeast Asia’s largest indoor statue of Zhunti Bodhisattva!

Purple Bamboo Valley has multiple photo spots to upgrade your IG feed, like a rainbow road, giant inflatable pandas and doors that look like the ones from Monsters, Inc.!

Some attractions even have interactive elements like this giant swing! Trust us, you’ll need at least an hour here to cover all the spots without rushing.
Entrance fee: RM5/pax (Malaysians), RM10/pax (Foreigners)
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM
How to get there: 20min drive from AEON Mall Kulai (Google Maps)
4) Hike up Gunung Pulai

Photo credit: @nana_aaron17 via Instagram
Get your hiking gear on and conquer Kulai’s 654m-tall Gunung Pulai! For beginners, opt for the short hike — turn left at the fork near the main gate and walk 20 minutes to a small waterfall.

Photo credit: @iceice_travel via Instagram
For those who prefer a bit of adventure, take the route up the mountain peak. It’s 2 hours one-way and promises scenic views such as this one of the Blue Lake (pictured above). After you’re done, rest up at the Rainforest Tree House Cafe, which is only a 5-minute walk from the Gunung Pulai main gate.
Opening hours: 24hrs
How to get there: 30min drive from Johor Premium Outlets (Google Maps)
5) Try authentic Hakka food at Kedai Makanan Hakka Sawit

To get a taste of authentic Hakka food, head to Kedai Makanan Hakka Sawit. It serves a variety of dishes at super affordable prices, starting from RM2 or ~S$0.60!
The main highlight here is the lei cha or thunder tea rice (RM7.50), which consists of different types of veggies, tofu, nuts and rice mixed in a bowl. Then, pour green tea soup over the dish and enjoy~

Even though I wasn’t a huge fan of veggies, the ingredients blended nicely and it tasted refreshing. Other items to try include braised pork rice (RM7.50), fried pork (RM6.50), and stuffed tofu (RM2).
Opening hours: 8AM – 2PM, closed on Mon
How to get there: 1min walk from Kelapa Sawit Wall Art (Google Maps)
6) Relax at the old-school Cafe Jufei

Cafe Jufei is like a trip down memory lane for those born before the 2000s. Think: Film cameras, stacks of physical books, and memorabilia from famous celebrities like Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung and Taiwanese boy band Xiao Hu Dui (Little Tigers).

Chill and unwind over drinks or desserts such as hand-drip V60 (RM18), chocolate (RM11), floral tea (RM10), and cheesecake (RM10). Don’t forget to take plenty of photos for the mmrs too.
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM, closed on Mon
How to get there: 13min drive from Putuo Village (Google Maps)
7) Shop till you drop at Johor Premium Outlets

Here’s one for the shopaholics — Johor Premium Outlets has over 100 stores with atas brands like Gucci, Coach, and Burberry having various discounts.

Don’t worry, they have more affordable stores too like Cotton On and Common Sense. At the latter shop, we scored two Disney-themed shirts with the second one at half-price! The total was RM88.50 instead of RM118. So we ended up saving RM29.50 or S$8.80 🤑
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM (varies for different shops)
How to get there: 7min drive from AEON Mall Kulai (Google Maps)
Read also: 3D2N JB Itinerary — Mount Austin, Kulai, JB Sentral
Getting to Kulai

For me, Kulai was truly a hidden gem where I found the cosiest cafe and explored a colourful village — without the crowds! And if you’re wondering how to get there, here are some ways:
Car: You can drive to Kulai from Singapore, it’s less than an hour’s ride away from JB checkpoint (depending on traffic). For those who don’t own a car, you can also rent one from Klook! There are multiple locations where you can pick it up, like Johor Bahru City Square or KSL City Mall. It’s quite affordable too, it only cost us ~S$49/day for a compact car (sits up to 4 pax) on our last trip there.
Private charter: Alternatively, get a car charter within JB (from ~S$139/car) if you prefer not to drive. With options for one-way, two-way or full-day (10 hours), choose whichever suits your itinerary! Just let your driver know where to go.
Redeem 5% OFF Klook car rentals/charters for use later, up to 5x. Just enter code <THETRAVELINTERNKLOOK> at checkout. New users get 10% OFF their first booking. T&C’s apply!

Grab: Grab is also a convenient option which isn’t too expensive. Rides range from ~S$15 to ~S$20 for a one-way trip from JB checkpoint to Kulai.
Train: YES, it’s possible to reach Kulai via train. Although, there’s no direct train from Singapore so you’ll have to get to JB Sentral station first. Then, it’s a 45-minute intercity train ride to Kulai. There are four train timings daily — 8:30am, 2:40pm, 6:05pm and 8:25pm. Tickets are priced at RM11 (~S$3) for one-way, and remember to book them online in advance to secure seats!
Bus: From JB Sentral Bus Terminal, take myBAS T30 to Kulai Terminal. There are multiple buses a day but be prepared for a long journey as it takes around an hour to reach. On the bright side, it’s the cheapest transport option at only RM4.20/pax (~S$1.30).
Read also: 3D2N JB Itinerary — Mount Austin, Kulai, JB Sentral
Did we miss out on any other interesting things to do in Kulai? Let us know in the comments below!