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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Top Things To Do At Kumamoto Station
Welcome to Kumamoto City! JR Kumamoto Station is one of Kumamoto City’s major transportation hubs with access to local and Shinkansen trains, the City Tram, local and long-distance buses, and taxis. This post will tell you all you need to know about Kumamoto Station, plus some extra recommendati…
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Special Events in Kumamoto City: Street Art-plex, Christmas Market & Shirakawa Night Market
Kumamoto City is rich in culture and boasts a number of traditional matsuri (festivals) throughout the year, like the Great Festival of Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine in September and the Seishoko Matsuri in July. In recent years, a number of new events have sprung up throughout the city th…
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What Makes Kumamoto Ramen Special?
What’s your favorite kind of ramen? If tonkotsu is your thing, Kumamoto ramen is a must-try spin on this tasty ramen style. This post will tell you all you need to know about Kumamoto-style ramen, plus introduce a couple traditional tonkotsu ramen shops.
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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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Suizenji Jojuen: Where Traditional Japanese Arts Live On
Along with Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Jojuen Garden (sometimes called Suizenji Park) is one of the main tourist spots in Kumamoto City. The carefully manicured gardens occupy an important place in Kumamoto’s history and speak volumes of Kumamoto’s unique samurai culture.
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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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How Kumamoto Sake Changed the World
When most people think of alcohol in Japan, sake (also called nihonshu) is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But here on the island of Kyushu, a different kind of alcohol called shochu is king. Shochu is a distilled spirit commonly made from potatoes, barley,…
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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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The Kumamoto Castle Keeps Are Back Open And Better Than Ever!
It’s been a long time coming, but Kumamoto Castle is finally open and ready for visitors from all over the world! The 400-year-old fortress sustained heavy damage to its many massive stone walls, foreboding keeps, and numerous turrets in the devastating earthquakes of 2016. Full reconstruction o…
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Shop in Josaien! Recommended Kumamoto Souvenirs
You might be planning on visiting Kumamoto, in the middle of a trip or on a business trip there right now. Whoever you are, you might be looking for some souvenirs.
You may know some of the more well-known Kumamoto souvenirs, but wouldn't it be nice to bring back something that will su…
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Immerse yourself in Kumamoto Hot Springs Family Bathing Culture
Just as there are wine sommeliers, in Japan there are also qualified 'hot springs sommeliers'. This qualification is unique to Japan, a country brimming with natural hot springs in every place. This article comes to you from Kumamoto's number one onsen sommelier, Yukiko Imamura.
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Fill up on freshly picked fruits! Recommended Fruit Picking Spots in Kumamoto City
Here is a look at some recommended fruit-picking spots in Kumamoto City, where you can enjoy freshly picked fruits all year round. From strawberries in spring to pears and grapes in fall to tangerines in winter, have fun picking and eating away to your heart's content!
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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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A Feast for Both the Eyes and the Palette! Introducing Kumamoto's Excellent Sandwiches
Recently, unique sandwiches chock-full of carefully chosen ingredients have started appearing in Kumamoto, one after another. This article will introduce you to some of our most highly recommended ones.
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