The turn of the year is holiday time in Japan. People are off work to celebrate the New Year with parties, family gatherings, culinary feasts, and hatsumode. Hatsumode is the...[ Click to read more ]
Dating back to roughly the 14th century, Yatsushiro Myoken is one of the oldest festivals in Japan. Spanning over two days, it takes places every year in Yatsushiro City in...[ Click to read more ]
Even though Japanese food is delicious, you may not want to eat it every single day. The good news is Kumamoto has a number of restaurants serving international cuisine from...[ Click to read more ]
Just beyond the borders of the city, the prefecture of Kumamoto is filled with natural beauty. Explore the mountains and forests, with shrines scattered in between, by visiting some of...[ Click to read more ]
Although sake is the most famous Japanese alcoholic beverage, in Kumamoto (and, in fact, on the entire island of Kyushu), shochu is more common. Nonetheless, Kumamoto has a strong sake...[ Click to read more ]
Halloween isn’t as big a deal in Japan as it is in the U.S., meaning you won’t see places filled with jack-o-lanterns, witches’ broomsticks, or cobweb decorations. However, Halloween has...[ Click to read more ]
If you’re a dinosaur fan, you need to pay Mifune Dinosaur Museum a visit. Located in the small town of Mifune in Kumamoto prefecture, the site was home to numerous...[ Click to read more ]
Kumamoto is one of the best spots for nightlife on Kyushu Island. In the downtown area, particularly Sakae Dori, expats can find plenty of haunts where they can enjoy a...[ Click to read more ]
Kumamoto locals love a good cup of coffee. This is great news for visitors who also want to make sure their daily caffeine is delicious. Coffee Gallery Despite being located...[ Click to read more ]
The creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, grew up in Kumamoto. After an earthquake severely damaged the city in 2016, he started a revival project in partnership with the prefecture...[ Click to read more ]