Amakusa, is located in a southern part of Kumamoto, and consists of Shimo-jima,Kami-jima and many other islands varied in size.   Connecting the islands of Amakusa with the inland of Kumamoto via the Uto Peninsula are Amakusa Gokyo or Amakusa Five Bridge.     Amakusa cruise You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Amakusa from the sea on a cruise.           Dolphins watching cruise Approximately 300 wild Dolphins live in the sea between the Shimabara Peninsula and Amakusa. The dolphin watching cruises have become increasingly popular for all ages, especially because it is possible to see the dolphins so close that you could almost touch them.      

Amakusa cruise…の続きを読む

  The Church is a Pilgrimage site and is the oldest Catholic Church in Amakusa and was one of the first churches built right after the ban on Christianity was lifted. The Romanesque-style architecture and the chalky white structure was rebuilt in 1933 by a French missionary priest named Father Garnier using his own money and contributions from local Christians living in the area.    

Oe Cathedral Amakusa…の続きを読む

  Amakusa Gokyo or Amakusa five bridges, is a general term for five bridges which connects  from Misumi at the Udo peninsula to the Oyano island, the Nagaura island, Ikejima, Maejima, and Amakusa Kamishima, was built in 1966. The area on the National road route 266 called as the Pearl Line.      Panoramic View    First Bridge     Second Bridge      Third Bridge     Fourth Bridge       Fifth Bridge    

Amakusa Gokyo…の続きを読む

                     The festival is held on the first Sunday of March. Kyokusui-no-en is a Japanese traditional ceremony held at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine on the first Sunday of March, a purification ceremony on a winding stream, is performed by ladies and gentlemen in a ceremonial court robe under the plum blossoms in full-bloom.      After the Tobiume-no-mai dance by shrine maidens, Kyokusui-no-En Festival begins. Vermilion-lacquered cups full of sake are set afloat down the stream.      Before the cups reach each of the participants sitting along the stream, they have to make up a Japanese poem called waka, and write it down on a strip of fancy paper. When the cups reach the participants, they drink the sake and hand the paper strip and cup over to an attendant.     The ceremony has its origin in a historical fact that Ono-no-Yoshifuru, an elder brother of a noted-calligrapher Ono-no-Tofu, held a ceremony to appease the soul of Michizane Sugawara and to beguile tedious hours in a rural life.        

Kyokusui-no-en at Dazaifu Shrine…の続きを読む

  Kyushu National Museum was opened in 2005 in Dazaifu-city next to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, as Japan’s fourth national museum after Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara. Dazaifu is the place where played important role as an administrative center and a center for trade with China and Korea since 1300 years ago, therefore the concept of the museum is decided “Interpreting the formation of Japanese culture from the perspective of Asian history”.    

Kyushu National Museum…の続きを読む

  Nita pass is one of the best scenic spot in Unzen. At any time of the year the natural scenery of Nita Pass in Unzen is magnificent. Azaleas, green leaves, brilliant autumnal tints of maples and silver frost represent each season of the year.      Azalea in Spring  Autumn leaves  Frost in Winter   The ropeway take you slowly from Nita Pass to Mt. Myoken at a highest of 1300 meters, from the observation point of Mt. Myoken, you can get a 360 degree panorama view which encompasses not only the Ariake Sea and Amakusa Island but the smoke the crater Mt.Aso.      

Nita pass…の続きを読む