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The next stop on my journey was Kumamoto. Kumamoto is situated just south-west of Oita, and is famous for its onsens, mountains… and their worldwide famous mascot Kumamon! It’s got a nice lively feel in the evenings, and the locals are very friendly.
One of the most exciting parts of my Kyushu journey was definitely the bus from Beppu to Kumamoto. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy a 5 hour long bus ride, but it was an amazing experience. The scenery is just spectacular, and as you travel higher into the mountains you’ll see snow too if you’re lucky. There are plenty of stop off points so you can take photos of Mount Aso! There was even a traditional song about the one of the routes we were taking playing onboard.
The first stop for me had to be Kumamon Square, every Kumamon fan’s paradise. As well as ample exclusive merchandise, you can also have a Kumamon latte, visit Kumamon’s office, and even meet the bear himself! At certain times of day Kumamon has a fun stage show, you can check the website for his schedule. I was lucky enough to get a hug from Kumamon, which according to the local Kumamon fans is quite rare!
The tourist sights of Kumamoto city have to be seen to be believed. Kumamoto castle is truly stunning, in the day or at night, and one of the oldest standing of its kind. It’s the proud symbol of Kumamoto. Near the castle is the Sakuranobaba Johsaien cafe and shopping area where you can pick up great omiyage (gift souvenirs) and eat some of Kumamoto’s famous dishes. Suizenji park is relaxing and beautiful – you can walk around the gardens and take in this detailed and neat Japanese gardening style. Did you know the main hill in the garden is a representation of Mount Fuji? All of these sights are accessible by a very handy tram system. With several lines going to different parts of Kumamoto city, and at only 170 yen a ride, you can’t go wrong!
Kumamoto suffered from a devastating earthquake in April last year, and are still rebuilding. Boosting tourism is a key goal for Kumamoto. This includes initiatives like introducing exciting pop culture to affected areas, like a One Piece train on some of the recently rebuilt train lines.
I was lucky enough to spend my New Year’s in Kumamoto city, and I thought I should rise to the occasion. I rented a kimono and went to the famous Kengun Shrine. It was a little further out from the centre, and is the most popular Hatsumode spot with the locals. At the shrine you can buy lucky charms for the year ahead and even get a fortune. There is also festival food, like taiyaki and yakitori, on the way to the shrine.
If you fancy a day trip, there are plenty of accessible places. Some train and bus routes out of the city are still closed from the effects of the earthquake, so be sure to check before you travel. I decided to go to a town long famous for its onsens and scenery – Kikuchi. Only an hour from Kumamoto city by bus, it’s the perfect relaxing day out for a break from the hustle and bustle, nestled in between the mountains. I would recommend walking up to the shrine from park, it was very serene and peaceful seeing the view from there.
There are six recommended onsens in Kikuchi, all within walking distance of each other! I tried out Morisansou and Seiryuusou. The staff at Morosansou were very friendly and the onsen was an older style which I really liked. At Seiryuusou you have the option of the regular onsen or private family onsens, both at very reasonable prices. The female onsen was outdoors and overlooked an amazing waterfall and river, definitely one of the best onsen views I’ve ever seen!
That concludes my trip this time, but I would love to go back to Kyushu very soon. I’d particularly love to go to Fukuoka, and Karatsu (the town that Yuri Katsuki’s hometown is based on!) on my next adventure. Thanks for reading!
■Writer：Scarlett
■SNS：@scarlettdaccha(Twitter/Imstagram)
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