Indoor Activities
No one can control the weather, so if you want to escape the heat, the rain or the cold here are a selection of activities you can enjoy during your trip.
Japanese Sweets making experience at Tenmeido, Kawashiri town, Kumamoto City This is a fun and memorable wagashi making experience that anyone can enjoy ! Learn from a Japanese wagashi master with over 40 years of experience. What are 'Wagashi' ? Japanese sweets known as 'Wagashi' are not only tasty, they are ... read on
Kyushu's only traditional puppet theatre If you are interested in Japanese traditional arts you are sure to find a visit to the Seiwa Bunraku traditional puppet theatre in Yamato Town fascinating. What is Bunraku? Bunraku is the name given to Japan's traditional puppet theatre which has a history dating back ... read on
Lamune Onsen ラムネ温泉 Named after Japan's traditional fizzy drink Lamune or Ramune, this quirky soda pop spa is a hot spring that attracts onsen officianados and admirers of architecture from all over Japan. Why visit? Firstly, the onsen water itself is naturally carbonated, tiny bubbles fizzing and collecting around you ... read on
The Tomioka Castle was built in 1602 on the Tomioka Peninsula on the western reaches of Amakusa Shimoshima. The castle nicknamed the 'Lying Dragon Castle' was considered a subsidiary castle to Karatsu castle nicknamed the 'Flying Crane'. Tomioka Castle made excellent use of its natural defenses, being located on a hilly penisula ... read on
Ancient Burial Mound Museum The Kumamoto Prefectural Ancient Burial Mound museum in Yamaga celebrates the many and various decorated tumuli of Kumamoto. A tumulus is an ancient burial mound, there are approximately 200,000 of these burial mounds scattered over Japan all dating back from 400 to 700 AD. The era ... read on
Japanese cuisine is famous worldwide, so why not try cooking in Kumamoto; you can pick up some Japanese cooking techniques, meet the locals and experience making some traditional dishes: See below to see what is on offer. All the activities can be put into one of our Kumamoto City Tours. Make Your ... read on
You may be an old hand at onsens but have you ever had a cave bath? The Ryokan Yamanoyado Shinmeikan in Kurokawa has carved its baths directly out of the cliffside, the result is a very steamy, dark and womblike experience. There are female, male and a large mixed bath ... read on
Takachiho is not only famous for its gorge, it is also the creator of 'Nagashi Soumen' - 'flowing noodles' just about the most fun way to eat noodles ever! This simple and refreshing summer dish is made of super thin wheat flour noodles, plunged into ice cold water eaten with ... read on
The waters of Kikuchi Onsen hotspring resort are famed for their healing and beautifying properties. Surprisingly the onsen, also known as Waifu Onsen, was only discovered 60 years ago, the local myth states that a wise, old man called Mr Murakami was told the location of the hot spring by a white dragon in a dream. The ... read on
Sakuranobaba Jousaien This recently opened Edo style tourist spot close to the castle is based on a facsimile of a traditional castle town area. (Unfortunately Kumamoto lost most of its traditional buildings during the Seinan Civil War just after the Meiji Restoration.) The area is very touristy but quite nicely done and worth popping ... read on
The World Heritage Manda Pit, also known as the Manda Kou in Japanese, is part of the Miike Coal Mine, which was once the largest coal mine in Japan. The mine played a huge role in enabling Japan's modernisation during the Meiji era and war years, producing 10% of Japan's coal. ... read on
Located at Kusasenri, Mount Aso's vast green plateau on top of the mountains. The Aso Volcano Museum is a 3 storey concrete building with views of the steaming crater of Nakadake Volcano in the distance. The Aso Volcano Museum consists of displays relating to the formation of the Aso volcanos ... read on
The Yamaga Lantern Craft Museum, 灯籠民芸館, introduces the history and culture of the traditional craft of paper lantern making. This rare and extraodinarily delicate paperwork has been passed down since ancient times and is unique to the Yamaga area. The museum is situated in the old bank just a couple ... read on
The town of Yamaga is situated an hour's drive north of Kumamoto City. In its heyday, over a hundred years ago, Yamaga was a prosperous, bustling agricultural town and a very lively onsen retreat. In 1910 the local merchants funded the very first kabuki theatre in Kyushu and called it the Yachiyoza (the ... read on
Kumamon If you visit Kumamoto you will not fail to see a certain black bear with rosy red cheeks on everything from the buses to your toothpaste. Since his debut in 2010 Kumamon has become the ubiquitous mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture and a national favourite. The cheeky black bear with the rosy ... read on