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.
Mt. Kinpo
Mt. Kinpo is the large mountain that forms the western backdrop for Kumamoto Castle.
Driving is the easiest way to get to Mt. Kinpo. On the way up, you’ll come to the lower parking area for the mountain.
Take the one-way road to the right. After you’ve driven around the mountain, you’ll come upon another parking area.
Park here and take the stairs leading up into the woods. You’ll soon reach the top, where you’ll find a shrine and two lookout decks facing east and west. On clear days, you can see Aso in the east and Mt. Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture to the west.
Reigando Cave
Reigando is a cave where legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi spent his final years meditating and writing the Book of Five Rings. The approach to the cave lies just past Unganzenji Temple to the northwest of Mt. Kinpo.
Just past the temple building, you’ll find a hillside covered with hundreds of small statues. These are the Gohyaku Rakan (“the 500 disciples”), carved so that each one is unique.
Past the statues, take the steps up to the cave entrance and you’ll see a huge boulder This is supposedly where Miyamoto Musashi would come to meditate.
Reigando Cave
https://kumamoto-guide.jp/en/spots/detail/274
Address: Unganzenji Temple, 589 Hirayama, Matsuo, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto
Yuhoen Fruits Land
Western Kumamoto City is famous for its produce. Yuhoen Fruits Land is one of Kumamoto’s most popular pick-your-own farms, offering a variety of produce throughout the year. Check their website to see what is currently available.
Check out this article for a list of other PYO farms in Kumamoto!
I also stopped at the new UFO Café at Yuhoen for a bowl of spicy UPO noodles and a delicious strawberry cream puff.
Yuhoen Fruits Land
Address: 1144 Take, Kawachi-machi, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto City
