Explore Kumamoto

Indoor Activities

Japanese Sweets Making Experience

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 also beautiful to look […]

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Seiwa Bunrakumura – traditional puppet theatre

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 over 300 years.  Also known

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Ramune Onsen ラムネ温泉 – the Soda Pop Spa

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 as you bathe, the carbonation

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Tomioka Castle 富岡城跡

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 surrounded by the sea and

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ancient burial mounds

Kumamoto Ancient Burial Mound Museum 熊本県立装飾古墳館

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 when these tumulus were built

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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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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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