熊本

Kumamoto is a castle city in the center of Kyushu, capital of a prefecture that runs from the Ariake Sea to the vast Aso caldera. The city rebuilt its landmark keep after the 2016 earthquakes, and the restored tower again commands the skyline as the symbol of local resilience.

Elevated walkways let you study both the repairs and the massive original stonework of Kumamoto Castle, counted among Japan's three great fortresses. Suizenji Jojuen garden reproduces the old Tokaido road in miniature, tiny Mount Fuji included, and the beloved mascot Kumamon greets you from every shopfront.

At dinner, Kumamoto ramen brings garlic-laced pork broth, and basashi, thin-sliced horse sashimi, is the specialty for the adventurous. The city makes the natural base for Mount Aso's volcanic caldera and the onsen village of Kurokawa. The shinkansen connects Kumamoto with Fukuoka and Kagoshima.