Sakurano-baba Josaien
Josaien is located in Sakurano-baba, at the foot of Kumamoto Castle, one of
Japan’s three greatest castles. It is a popular tourist attraction designed to
enhance the appeal of the old castle town, conveying the rich food, history,
and cultural traditions of Kumamoto City, the region’s most iconic symbol.
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Suizenji-koen Park
Designed to replicate the beautiful scenery of Japan, this refined, Momoyama-style
strolling garden represents the 53 stations of the Tokaido Road, including a
miniature Mt. Fuji. The garden’s fresh springs release clean, cold water that flows
from Mt. Aso via underground currents. In 1632,
Hosokawa Tadatoshi, the first Lord of the Kumamoto Domain, began its construction
as a tea retreat and built a temple here called Suizenji. This beautiful garden evolved
during the reigns of the fourth and fifth lords, taking about 80 years in total to complete.
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Shimo-tori Shopping Street
As the largest shopping arcade in Kumamoto Prefecture, this area serves
as the center of fashion and entertainment. The streets are lined with major
department stores and stylish boutiques, alongside a vibrant dining scene
where cafes and restaurants serving authentic local cuisine are open from
day to night.
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This 511-meter-long shopping arcade features a width of 15 meters.
The street also serves as a vibrant venue for perfo.rmances by street
musicians and exhibitions by various organizations.
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Kumamoto City Tram
The most convenient public transportation for traveling around Kumamoto
City is the tram system. There are two lines, the A-Line and the B-Line,
which share most of their stops. Popular destinations served by both lines
include Suizenji Jojuen Garden, Kumamoto Castle, Shimotori Shopping
Street, and the Sakura Machi Bus Terminal.
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Kumamoto Castle
It is one of Japan’s three greatest castles, along with Nagoya Castle.
The current castle was built in 1601 by the great military commander Kiyomasa
Kato and took seven years to complete. The massive 980,000-square-meter
premises are dotted with many memorable sights, including castle keeps,
turrets, gate turrets, castle gates, and long fences.
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This castle is particularly famous for its beautiful, curving stone walls called
“Musha-gaeshi,” which were designed to repel invading enemies. These walls are
designated as a National Historic Site, and 12 buildings, along with the Uto-yagura
turret, are registered as Important Cultural Properties. Although the 2016
earthquakes caused heavy damage and destroyed several structures, restoration
work has been progressing at an incredible pace ever since.
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Kumamoto Castle after the Earthquakes as of Jan. 13, 2021
Five years have passed since the Earthquakes on April 14, 2016.
Now the restoration activities are being performed as fast as possible.
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Your equiry can be sent by selecting the Enquiry Form link below.
You can also contact us by e-mail at info@japan-kyushu-tourist.com
And we would love to chat about your travel plans on the phone as well,
please ring our office a call in English Tel : +81-93-521-8897
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