Explore Western Kumamoto City: Mt. Kinpo, Reigando Cave, and Endless Orange Orchards
While Kumamoto’s downtown area is rather compact, the city itself is enormous. The mountainous western part of the city is a great place to explore by car or taxi.
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Kumamoto Castle Nowadays, Vol. 3
It’s been almost 7 years since the devastating earthquakes of April 2016, and Kumamoto Castle is slowly but surely being rebuilt. Now that visitors are allowed back in the beautifully restored main keep, the focus has shifted to the long process of rebuilding Kumamoto’s many stone walls and turr…
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Higo no Budo - The Martial Arts of Kumamoto
The samurai is one of the most famous aspects of Japanese culture and still informs a lot of modern Japan. Kumamoto, as a castle town, had a strong samurai presence. Much of Kumamoto’s samurai tradition started during the rule of Kato Kiyomasa in the beginning of the 17th century. Thi…
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Places to Find, Make, and Buy Great Pottery in Kumamoto City
Kyushu is famed throughout the world for its ceramics. Although Arita ware from neighboring Saga Prefecture tends to get the most attention, Kumamoto also has a long history of unique and beautiful ceramics. Traditional styles like Shodai and Koda wares originated in Kumamoto, and the Amakusa re…
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Great Breakfast Spots in Kumamoto City
For foreign visitors to Japan, it can be hard to find places that can offer a tasty meal early in the morning. Here are a couple spots offering breakfast in Kumamoto that are worth a visit.
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Pose With A Life-Sized Luffy From the Manga One Piece!
Kumamoto City is a must-visit spot for any diehard fan of the manga One Piece! Starting with the unveiling of a statue of the main character Monkey D. Luffy in 2018 in front of the Kumamoto Prefectural Offices, a total of 9 statues of the members of the One Piece Straw H…
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A Look Behind the Scenes at How Manga is Made – Coamix’s Manga Lab
Are you a casual manga fan who wants to see how your favorite manga gets made? Or are you a budding artist looking to see the tools the pros use and talk with pro mangaka and editors? Come check out the Coamix Manga Lab in downtown Kumamoto City for a look at both the manga-making process and so…
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The Secret Spot for the Best View of Kumamoto Castle
Now that the interior of Kumamoto Castle is open, visitors can climb all the way to the top of the keep and take pictures of Kumamoto City.
But what do you do if you want a picture of Kumamoto Castle from high up? It may not be the first place you’d think of, but the 14th f…
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All Kinds of Heaven in a Cone – Josaien’s Soft Serve Ice Cream Fair
Nothing beats the oppressive Kumamoto heat and humidity like a cold, creamy cone-full of ice cream! Every year from March to November, around 10 of the shops in the Josaien shopping area at the foot of Kumamoto Castle cooperate to provide visitors with over 30 different …
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Kumamoto is a Melon-Producing Area!
In Kumamoto City, melons are produced in northern Ueki town and the southern Tomiai area. In the period before the rainy season, when the temperature difference between day and night is great, melons with a high degree of sweetness are grown. Kumamoto's Higo Green melon is characterized by its f…
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Go and See Chopper, the Ship Doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates!
As part of the Kumamoto Revival Project’s Straw Hat Pirates Hinokuni edition , a statue of Chopper from One Piece, the popular manga series drawn by Kumamoto native Eiichiro Oda, has been installed at Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens.
Chopper is the ship doctor for the St…
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"SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto" is finally open!
SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto will have its grand opening on September 14.
Connected with the city, connected with people
Connect with the city, connect with people, connect with things and things!
As the catchphrase suggests, the facility is a…
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Enjoy Kumamoto Gourmet at Home
Gohan no Tomo is a brand of furikake (a flavored topping of sprinkles for rice) developed in the Taisho era (1912-26). Featuring the same simple taste that one never tires of, this topping has been loved by people in Kumamoto for over 100 years. Over 40% of this furikake is made with carefully …
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Infiltrate Kumamoto Castle's Tenshukaku!
Kumamoto Castle sustained extensive damage from the Kumamoto Earthquake that occured in 2016. On Monday, April 26, 2021, the Third Stage of the Grand Unveiling was scheduled to start! Now that the reconstruction of the Tenshukaku, or main castle tower, is finished, visitors can go inside. I…
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Recommended Dishes Chosen by Kumamoto Bloggers
Go a little way down the Shinshigai Shopping Street of Kumamoto's city center, and you'll find Katsuretsu-Tei. Any Kumamoto native is sure to know this popular pork cutlet eatery (the name of the place and its kanji characters being a play on words, since for the Japanese word for this dish, Ka…
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Udon Noodle Shop Chosen by Kumamoto Bloggers
Located in Kumamoto City's Kita Ward, Udon Dining Minori is recommended by those who know their udon shops! While the menu at this place boasts a wide variety of dishes, the most famous among them is the Yaki Cheese Curry Udon. The udon noodles proudly prepared by the owner are served with a ri…
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Kumamoto Castle Nowadays, Vol. 2
The Niyo-no Ishigaki, or two-faced stone wall, is a popular tourist spot, built with stone from two different eras. Compare the characteristics of the ways these stone walls were built to learn about the technological revolutions of the time. From the special observation path built to let v…
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Kumamoto Castle Nowadays, Vol. 1
In April of 2016, two earthquakes were recorded with a Shindo of 7, the maximum measurement on a scale of seismic intensity. Major damage was sustained at nationally recognized important cultural properties at Kumamoto Castle, such as Uto Yagura turret, Tenshukaku main tower, and the stone walls…
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Kumamoto Watermelons, the Most Shipped in Japan
The season for Kumamoto suika (watermelon) runs from March through June. Located in the northern part of Kumamoto City, Ueki-machi is a town with such a large production volume that the famous Ueki no Suika brand is known throughout Japan. Compared to other large, round …
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Kumamoto City’s New Landmark - All About The Sakura Machi Kumamoto Shopping Center & Bus Terminal
Sakura Machi Kumamoto is a combination bus terminal, shopping center, hotel, and event hall located in the heart of downtown Kumamoto. The building was completed in 2019 and is a great place to go shopping and get a bite to eat. Inside you’ll find Misumi Store (Kumamoto’s only A…
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