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Kurokawa onsen

Yamanoyado Cave Bath 山の宿 新明館

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 available. However you may get […]

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Nagashi Soumen 流しそうめん

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 a very tasty dipping sauce

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Kikuchi Onsen 菊池温泉

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 hot springs are mainly situated in

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Takachiho Boating 高千穂峡ボート

One of the most popular activities to do in Takachiho Gorge is to rent out a rowing boat and experience the gorge from the water. Boats cost 4,000 or 5,000 Yen and seat 3 people or 4 if there is a small child, the boats are rented out for 30 minutes,  which is just long enough to row to the

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arao sights theme park Kumamoto

Mitsui Greenland 三井グリーンランド

One of the largest theme parks on the island of Kyushu, Mitsui Greenland dominates the small city of Arao an hour’s drive north of Kumamoto. Here’s what the experts from Theme Park Review have to say about it: Mitsui Greenland offers something for just about everybody on one big piece of sprawling, sun-baked real estate

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Suzume Jigoku Springs すずめ地獄

After the hot spring heaven of Kurokawa why not take a trip to Hell? Sparrow Hell – or Suzume Jigoku in Japanese. This is a cold water volcanic sulphur spring, the gas is so powerful it can kill sparrows and even tanuki and fox have been found killed by the fumes…. humans are fine though

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Ama No Yasukawara Cave 天安河原

Ama No Yasukawara Cave From the Ama No Iwato Shrine take a 10-minute walk along the Iwato River, past many delicious looking icecream stalls,  descend a steepish path over a simple, arched bridge into the river valley, follow the river path for a few minutes and rounding a corner you will suddenly come to a vast cavern by the river. This

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Takachiho Gorge 高千穂峡

Just over the border into Miyazaki Prefecture, the romantic Takachiho Gorge winds its way through the sleepy town of Takachiho. The gorge was formed from the pyroclastic flow of the Aso volcanos, when sudden cooling led to dramatic columnar formations and sheer cliffs that rise above the river between 80 to 100 m high. At the

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kumamoto city

Sakuranobaba Jousaien 桜の馬場 城彩苑

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 in if you are hungry

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