Kumamoto.guru

28/09/2022

Kumamoto recently released a video (with English subtitles) on the making of the One Piece bronze statues. Check out the post on kumamoto.guru for more info!

28/08/2022

Nishiki Secret Base Museum in Nishiki in southern Kumamoto Prefecture

I had the chance to visit this secret naval base in the town of Nishiki a couple days ago. After doing a number of translations about it without actually having visited, I was glad to be able to see the exhibits and tunnels first-hand and learn about life in Kyushu during WWII.

Check out my in-depth article on our website (https://kumamoto.guru) to learn more about what you can see at the museum and to learn why the Japanese Navy built a secret base so far from the sea smack dab in the middle of Kyushu.

28/08/2022

Finally! New York-style pizza in downtown Kumamoto!

Pizza Yankee is scheduled to open in October on the corner where the Natas donut shop used to be (along Kagomachi-dori Street just past Tsutaya).

26/08/2022

Kyushu's only bungee jump location: Bungy Japan Itsuki Bungy!

Located in the quiet valley village of Itsuki in the Hitoyoshi-Kuma region in southern Kumamoto Prefecture, Itsuki Bungy lets jumpers leap from a bridge 66 meters above the beautiful Kawabe River.

Covid has affected the operating hours, so be sure to make a reservation ahead of time. One jump costs 15,000 yen, with discounts for additional jumps. You can also reserve the jump for an hour for 50,000 yen and jump as many times as you'd like!

Itsuki doesn't have a train station, so driving is the only option. It takes about 1.5 hours from Kumamoto City and about 40 minutes from Hitoyoshi.

While you're in the area, check out Keiryu Villa Itsuki, a beautiful new set of bungalows offering overnight stays and afternoon barbecues. You can also rent a kayak to explore the Kawabe River. You can also just bring your bathing suit and hop in the perennially cold river for some quick respite from the summer heat!

#渓流ヴィラ五木

15/08/2022

I checked out the new Jinbe statue in Uto the other day, it's huge!

The statue is located at the Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park along the coast of the Ariake Sea. It takes about 45 minutes by car from downtown Kumamoto City and is quite a pleasant drive through farmland if you avoid Route 3.

The park is also where you'll find the Nagabeta Sea Road, a length of road that stretches directly out into the Ariake Sea and is only accessible at low tide. The park was quite busy when I visited, and there was a line about 10 people deep to take pictures of the statue.

Be sure to stop by if you're on your way to Amakusa! The view over the sea is great, and if the weather cooperates, you can get great views of Mt. Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture on the opposite side of the sea!

08/08/2022

Kumamoto is a city with a rich history and unique culture, famed for both the enormous Kumamoto Castle and its delicious cuisine. Downtown, you'll find fantastic food at rea*onable prices, great shopping spots, plenty of hole-in-the-wall bars and ramen shops, and impressive cultural attractions like the aforementioned castle. This guide will tell you all you need to know to make your visit to Kumamoto City a great one....

All you need to know to make the most of your visit to Kumamoto City, including major sightseeing spots, great places to eat, shop and more!

17/10/2021

The next One Piece has been unveiled!

Nico Robin has made her grand appearance on the grounds of the Kumamoto Earthquake Museum, which itself is the site of the former A*o Campus of Tokai University in Minamia*o, Kumamoto Prefecture.

There is still ongoing construction around the museum so road access can sometimes be different than on Google. The museum closes at 5PM.

The final originally planned statue to be unveiled is Zoro in Ozu. The date is still a secret, but it should be before March 2022.

*o

07/10/2021

Shiraito Falls⛲️
This little-known spot is just a bit over half-an-hour outside Kumamoto City. While not particularly tall, the high volume of water rushing over is impressively loud. Shiraito makes a perfect quick stop for the family or solo travelers and is located pretty close to Rakunoh Mother's A*o Milk Bokujyo 🐮

The waterfall is especially active right after a good rain 🌧 in the A*o area.
lab is located nearby and offers an excellent variety of locally grown teas 🍵 to drink and take home, plus some really tasty sweets!

31/08/2021

A*o Sanjo Terminal on top of Mt. A*o Volcano now open!

After a period of uncertainty about what would happen on top of Mt. A*o after removal of the ropeway, the new A*o Sanjo Terminal is now open for business. The terminal acts a bus transfer station, where visitors can take a bus from A*o Station and hop on the shuttle bus that takes visitors to the Nakadake Crater.

Free parking is also located nearby. If you wish to drive up to the crater, it costs 800 yen per normal car and 600 yen per kei (light) car. You can also walk to the crater from the free lower parking area, which takes around 15 minutes.

Following the Kumamoto Earthquakes, a large visitor center was planned for construction right next to the crater, but continued volcanic activity prevented progress. Volcanic activity has subsided recently, and both the A*o Sanjo Terminal and crater viewing areas are open to visitors.

*o *o

30/08/2021

Nami's statue is finally unveiled!

As part of the ongoing statue series in Kumamoto Prefecture, a new statue of Nami was revealed at Moe no Sato in Nishihara, Kumamoto Prefecture on July 31st, 2021.

The final two statues of Robin and Zoro are planned to be unveiled by the end of the year. There was also a surprise announcement by the governor at the ceremony for Nami's statue: Jinbe is also getting his own statue! The location has yet to be released, but we'll keep you posted here and on https://kumamoto.guru.

19/08/2021

The 36+3 Sightseeing Train The 36+3 D&S train is JR Kyushu's newest sightseeing train. Launched in 2020, the 36+3 (pronounced "sanju-roku plus san") is all about Kyushu. The train makes a circuit around Kyushu each week over five different routes, each route highlighting a specific region of Kyushu. The name "36+3," while rather unwieldy, refers to Kyushu being the 36th biggest island in the world....

Check out Kyushu's new rea*onably priced luxury liner! Find out what makes the 36+3 super-special and see elegantly designed interior!

13/08/2021

Great Views of Mt. Unzen on a Classy, Jazzy Train - The A-Train Sightseeing Train

The A-Train Sightseeing Train The A-Train (A-Ressha de Ikou in Japanese) gets its name from the jazz song “Take the A-Train” made famous by Duke Ellington. The train connects Kumamoto with the islands of Amakusa, which might be where the train gets its A from. The design of the train, done by Ei...