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 …
Read on
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…
Read on
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,…
Read on
Ride Around Kumamoto City in Style on the Kumamoto Tram
The Kumamoto City Tram helps thousands of people navigate Kumamoto City each day. It’s cheap (flat rate of ¥180 for adults, ¥90 for kids), super easy to use, and is a great way to see the city.
Read on
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…
Read on
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.
Read on
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…
Read on
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.
Read on
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…
Read on
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…
Read on
Get Up Close and Personal with Kumamon at Kumamon Square!
Kumamon Square is your chance to see Kumamon! Located right next to the Suidocho tram stop on the first floor of the Tetoria Kumamoto Building, Kumamon Square features all kinds of Kumamon-related merchandise, snacks, and memorabilia. Kumamon himself makes live appearances on the Kumamon Square …
Read on
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…
Read on
Kumamoto Food Stall Village
URL: https://kumamoto-yataimura.com/
The Kumamoto Food Stall Village is a narrow alleyway lined with 18 small yatai (food stalls) offering a variety of tasty dishes. The food s…
Read on
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.
Read on
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…
Read on
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…
Read on
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.
Read on
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…
Read on
A Vestige of Westernization: The Janes Residence, Built for an Educational Pioneer
The late 19th century marked a period of profound social and political upheaval in Japan. Rapid colonization throughout Asia by Western countries left Japan feeling vulnerable and with an urgent need to modernize. This sentiment led to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when feudal rule of Japan und…
Read on
Art Both Classical & Modern, Western & Japanese: the Shimada Museum of Art / Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto / Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art
Kumamoto City is not only a treasure trove of historical sites like Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Jojuen Garden, and Reigando Cave, but also a vibrant hub of artistic expression. Much of Kumamoto’s historical art culture is influenced by the Hosokawa family, a samurai family that ruled over Kumamoto…
Read on
