RugbyPass World Cup City guide to Kumamoto
Kumamoto is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Famous in Japan for it’s iconic ‘Kumamon’ character, a black bear with red cheeks, Kumamoto has many surprises for tourists ranging historical landmarks to beautiful landscapes where a world of adventure awaits.
Mt Aso
A place where the contrast of nature is fierce with amazing views from mountain tops and rugged land on this geothermal site. Get the adrenaline pumping with mountain biking, parachuting or horse riding on the grasslands or just enjoy the scenery with a gentle hike where cattle graze in front of the Mt. Nakadake volcano.
Kusasenri Aso
Yamabiko-go(Highway bus)
- About 2 hours from Kumamoto Station to the Aso area.
– Visiting one of the world’s largest craters in Mt. Aso and a great viewpoint of Kusasenri.
Dolphin watching (Amakusa)
About one hour from Kumamoto city. you can meet dolphins with a high probability of 98%. A boat trip that women and children can enjoy with peace of mind. You can see wild dolphins as you explore the islands of Amakusa, and swim with the cruiser to make them look lovely.
Dolphin watching Amakusa
Amakusa-go(Highway bus)
-Around 1.5 hours from Kumamoto Station to Amakusa.
- Amakusa dolphin watching and Bijin no yu – the hot spring for beauty click here.
- Amakusa dolphin watching and L’isola Terrace Amakusa click here.
Nabegataki (Waterfall)
Located in Oguni Town, Aso District on the border between Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures is the fabulous Nabegataki falls, a 10-metre high and 20-metre wide waterfall.
A short walk through the forest down a guided pathway will take you to the falls from the car park. The beautiful waterfall has many angles to admire from, including from behind the fall inside the cave.
The only way to get to Nabegataki is by car or taxi.
Nabegataki
- About 1-hour and 40 minutes by car from Kumamoto city
Hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30)
Kumamoto Castle
The city’s most famous landmark is Kumamoto Castle, a large and, in its day, extremely well fortified Japanese castle. It is considered one of the three premier castles in Japan, dating back to 1607 and was in use until 1874. Restoration on the castle is expected to be complete by 2019 after suffering Earthquake damage. Explore the vast grounds around the castle separated by moat.
Kumamoto castle
- 50 minutes by shuttle bus from Kumamoto Airport
Kato Shrine
The Kato Shrine, sitting in the grounds outside the Kumamoto Castle, is where Kato Kiyomasa, a powerful lord of Kumamoto in the late-16th and early 17th centuries, is enshrined. The Shrine is one of the best places to view the main tower of the Castle.
Kato shrine
- 50 minutes by shuttle bus from Kumamoto Airport
Sakuranobaba Johsaien Kumamoto
Sakuranobaba Johsaien is a Japanese tourism facility located next to Kumamoto Castle comprising of a mix of shops, restaurants and tourist exhibits. Grab a bite to eat on the way to the Kumamoto Castle or enjoy one of the regular Samurai shows in the square.
Josaien
- 50 minutes by shuttle bus from Kumamoto Airport
Suizenji Jojuen Garden
Suizenji Garden is a spacious, Japanese style landscape garden in Kumamoto, best enjoyed by strolling along a circular path surrounded by a peaceful pond. The pond was said to be great for producing green tea, so a purpose-built teahouse was built overlooking the Garden and was used by Lord Hosokawa Tadatoshi himself.
Visitors can experience ‘the best view in the Garden’ by sipping delicious green tea accompanied by a traditional sweet in the private teahouse by booking a seat.
Suizenji Jojuen
- 15 minutes by taxi from Kumamoto station
Kumamoto-Kagoshimachuo (Shinkansen)
The southern most city of Kyushu, Kagoshima, can be reached from Kumamoto by Shinkansen (bullet train). Operated by JR Kryushu, the Mizuho train is the fastest way to get there less than one hour, with no stops from Kumamoto to Kagashima station (Kagoshima-Chuo). The Sakura train can also be used which has more stops along the way.
Sengan-en (Gardens)
Sengan-en Garden is a Japanese-style garden on the north coast of downtown Kagoshima. From the garden, Kagoshima Bay is visible as is the volcano island of Sakurajima sitting off shore.
Sengan-en was built by one of the most power feudal clans during the Edo Period (1603-1867), the Shimazu Clan. In the centre of the gardens, the ‘Iso residence’ is the former home of the Shimazu family, which can be explored by visitors. The rooms have been preserved the way they were used in the 1890s and will take you back in time for a historical experience.
Senganen
- About a 1-hour express train trip from Kumamoto station to
Kagoshima-chuo station
- 20 minutes by taxi from Kagoshima-chuo station
Io World Kagoshima Aquarium
Located next to the Sakurajima Ferry terminal is the Io World Kagoshima Aquarium. An underwater world awaits to see all of the sea creatures found in the local Kagoshima Bay and much more.
Kagoshima Aquarium
- 15 minutes by taxi from Kagoshima-chuo station
Other recommended
KAGURA FESTIVAL (Kumamoto pref.) 2019/10/05
A kagura dancing extravaganza, with performances by a variety of troupes throughout the whole of each day.
Stalls sell food and sake for you to enjoy while you take in the incredible performances.
(700 per person of high-school age and over)
The Namino area of Aso City has a flourishing kagura dance scene. In this festival, a variety of troupes come together to show their moves on an open-air stage at Michi-no-Eki Namino Kaguraen Roadside Station. Some troupes even let you dance with them! When night falls, the performances get even more dramatic, with flaming torches lighting the stage.
For more information click here.
SENDAI?TSUNAHIKI (Kagoshima pref.) 2019/09/22
Beginning early in the morning on the festival day, over 1,500 participants tie 365 individual ropes together and spend half of the day weaving them into a single, giant rope. The main rope weighs 7 tons and is 365 meters long. Nearly 3,000 bare-chested men drag the rope in unison. The so-called oshitai (pushing squad) obstructs the opponent’s team by aggressively
ramming into it.
To book click here.
YOMITAN FESTIVAL (Okinawa pref.)
The whole of Yomitan Village comes together to put together the events of this festival, including the Akainko Grand Concert of Traditional Ryukyu Music, a concert named after a legendary figure in Ryukyu music and performed by over 300 local Ryukyu dancers and fans of traditional music, Uketsugo Yomitan no Kokoro (“Let’s Pass On the Heart of Yomitan”), a huge concert performed by local elementary and junior high school students and Shinkosen, a recreation of the ship said to have brought prosperity to the Ryukyu kingdom created with folk crafts by each residents’ association.
For more information click here.
Beer Factory Tour
SUNTORY KUMAMOTO
A tour of the beer factory is also popular. Click here for details.
Note: Reservations are required.
Rugby World Cup city guide – Kumamoto:
Comments on RugbyPass
This is short sighted from Clayton if you ask me, smacks of too much preseason planning and no adaptability. What if DMac is out for a must win match, are they still only going to bring their best first five and playmaker on late in the game? Trusting the game to someone who wasn’t even part of planning (they would have had Trask pinned in as Jacomb preseason). Perhaps if the Crusaders were better they would not have done this, but either way imo you take this opportunity to play a guy you might need starting in a final rather than having their 12th game getting comfortable coming off the bench.
1 Go to commentsThanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.
21 Go to commentsWhat a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
2 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
4 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
7 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to comments