Rent a Bicycle What better way to explore the city and beyond than by renting a bicycle for a day. Kumamoto City is a great place to cycle around with wide pavements and very few slopes. You can reach Suizenji Park or Tatsuda Nature Park from the city center within a leisurely 30 minute bike ride or head […]
Sightsee by bicycle Read More »
Experience the old town of Yamaga in the traditional way with a handpulled rickshaw ride. The 20 minute course costs 1500 Yen per person. Maximum 2 people. Yamaga Rickshaw Rides can be booked up to the day before and take place between 09:00 and 17:00 Rickshaw rides are available all year round except for the New
Yamaga Rickshaw Ride Read More »
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 of minutes walk down the
Yamaga Lantern Museum 山鹿灯籠民芸館 Read More »
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 Eternal Place). This theatre born
Aso Paragliding How about taking to the air during your Aso trip? Paragliding is a wonderful way to enjoy the panorama of Aso’s nature and get some fresh air and adrenaline. The experience is family friendly and can be booked from Elementary School (age 6) and upwards. Though certain weight limits apply. Solo flights are possible for people
The title Mount Aso Volcano is a little misleading as the whole central mountain range within the Aso caldera is comprised of volcanos, fortunately only one is still active. Mt. Nakadake – Mount Aso’s active volcano Nakadake long worshipped as a powerful god, the active volcano at the center of Mount Aso is a rarity, not only does
Nakadake Mount Aso’s active volcano Read More »
Upper Ezu Lake is just 30 minutes from the heart of the city and 10 minutes walk from Suizenji Park. It’s a wonderful place to just hang out and relax or have a picnic but if you fancy doing something a little more active renting a rowing boat or a character pedalo can also be a
Boating on Ezu Lake Read More »
Blazing torches light the sky and in the darkness a multitude of flaming reed straw ropes are swung around in an exciting spectacle to welcome the kami of Aso Shrine. The dramatic Hifuri-shinji festival takes place in mid March in the grounds of Aso Shrine. The holy ritual has been designated as one of Japan’s Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties. This ancient ritual’s
Hifuri-Shinji Festival Read More »
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 red cheeks is found everywhere
Imagine yourself standing on the rim of the largest inhabited volcanic caldera in the world, gazing down through the clouds at the patchwork of fields below. Across the vast expanse the peaceful form of a giant sleeping buddha with a smoking belly button formed by the silhouette of five huge volcanic peaks. Welcome to Mount
