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
The Healing Forest Kikuchi Valley, known as Kikuchi Keikoku 菊地渓谷 in Japanese is renowned as one of Japan’s 44 ‘Shinrin Yoku’ or ‘Forest Bathing’ sites. The Japanese developed Forest bathing in the 1980s, the idea being to boost your health and well being by engaging with nature using all five senses, luxuriating in the sights, sounds and
Shirakawa Source Also known as the Shirakawa Suigen 白川水源 in Japanese, this is the most well-known of a cluster of mineral water springs that bubble up in the southern part of the Aso region called ‘Minami Aso’. Famed as one of the top 100 springs in Japan many people gather here to bottle the spring water, scoops and funnels are
SItuated within an easy walk of the castle, the Kumamoto Traditional Crafts Center (Kumamoto Kougeikan) celebrates and promotes Kumamoto’s unique range of traditional crafts. The crafts you can see range from intricately designed black and gold pieces of Higo inlay to modern and traditional glassware and pottery, traditional toys, razor sharp cooking knives, washi paper, tatami placemats, indigo died
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Suizenji Gardens Also known as Suizenji Jojuen Park, these beautiful gardens are situated in the east of the city, a 15 minute tram ride from the city center. Suizenji Jojuen is a very popular destination for both Japanese and international tourists, however, on a weekday it is possible to have the park mostly to yourself sharing
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 »
Recently granted World Heritage Status the Misumi West Port (Misumi Nishi Kou) in Uto, at the entrance to the islands of Amakusa is an interesting stop off if you are journeying south. The port is situated around 90 minutes drive from Kumamoto City. The Misumi West Port was built at the start of the Meiji era
Kumamoto castle suffered severe damage in the earthquakes of April 14th and 16th, it is currently closed to visitors. The mighty and impenetrable Kumamoto Castle has dominated and protected the city of Kumamoto for over 400 years. Recently ranked the top Japanese Castle to visit on Trip Advisor, Kumamoto Jo has long held the title of being
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
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