王小鈞's Reviews Page 1/28

Tochoji Temple (Fukuoka)

Tochoji Temple, located in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, is a Shingon Sect temple said to have been first opened by the famous monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi) upon his return to Japan after completing his training in the Tang Dynasty. The official name of the temple is "Tochoji Temple," which was named by Kukai with the meaning "so that esoteric Buddhism may be transmitted eastward for a long time”.

• Fukuoka
• Shrines & Temples

When visiting Hakata, besides shopping and enjoying the food, I also highly recommend visiting these two historic temples and shrines.
The most impressive feature of Tochoji Temple is the Fukuoka Daibutsu. Admission to the Great Buddha Hall is JPY 100. The 10.8-meter-tall wooden statue of Shakyamuni Buddha is solemn and magnificent, and looking up at it from close range is truly awe-inspiring. Photography is not allowed inside the hall, so you can only admire it quietly, which makes the peaceful atmosphere even more noticeable.
Behind the Great Buddha Hall is a special “Hell and Paradise Pilgrimage.” You go from a bright area into a dark passageway, with scenes of hell depicted on the walls. Walking the entire route feels very immersive.
After visiting Tochoji Temple, walk to Kushida Shrine in Hakata Gion to experience the history of Hakata’s guardian shrine and its traditional festival culture. The two attractions are not far apart, making them perfect for a leisurely visit on the same day while taking in Hakata’s historic charm.

Lake Ikeda

Located in the southeastern part of the Satsuma Peninsula, Lake Ikeda is the largest lake in Kyushu, boasting a circumference of 15 km and a depth of 233 meters. Formed over 5,000 years ago through volcanic activity, it took shape after six major eruptions in the surrounding area, eventually becoming the caldera lake it is today.

• Kagoshima
• Nature Spots

This time, I visited Kyushu's famous caldera lake. The lake is vast, surrounded by mountains and natural scenery, and looks magnificent even from a distance.
The lake was formed by a volcanic eruption about 5,700 years ago. It has a circumference of about 15 kilometers and reaches a maximum depth of 233 meters, making it one of Kyushu's most iconic lakes.
What surprised me most was that we arrived just in time for sunset. As the sun slowly set over the lake, the entire surface turned golden. It was so beautiful that I couldn't stop taking pictures.

Kushida Shrine

This head shrine is said to have been built in the 8th century. Residents in Hakata call it “Okushida san.” Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival declares the arrival of summer to the City of Hakata in July, and is dedicated to this shrine.

• Fukuoka
• Shrines & Temples

If you're traveling around Fukuoka on your own, I highly recommend adding Kushida Shrine to your itinerary!
The shrine is in central Hakata, and it's easy to walk there from Kushida Shrine Station on the subway. Afterward, you can continue on to Kawabata Shopping Arcade and Nakasu, so it's easy to combine them into one itinerary.
Kushida Shrine is an important shrine to the people of Hakata. Once you enter the grounds, it's surprisingly quiet and peaceful, even though the lively downtown area is just outside. Besides praying, it's also a nice place to stroll around and take in the shrine's details.
What caught my attention most was the enormous, ornate yamakasa float. It was even more impressive than I imagined! The intricate decorations are fascinating up close and give you a better sense of the local culture of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival.
There's also an interesting "test stone." I heard that strongmen in the past could lift it, so I decided to take the challenge myself...
The result, of course, was--**it didn't budge at all!
There's also a famous old ginkgo tree nearby, and you can see a unique zodiac direction plaque on the tower gate. Every corner has little details of traditional Japanese culture.
If you're shopping in Hakata, consider stopping by Kushida Shrine. It doesn't take much time, but it lets you experience a very different side of Hakata.

Mameda Town

Hita City, neighboring Fukuoka and Kumamoto, was a prosperous “Tenryo (directly ruled by the Shogunate)” merchant town in Edo Period. The city is still dotted by classic buildings and earthen walls, which earned the nickname “Little Kyoto in Kyushu.” Roughly a 15-minute walk from Hita train station will take you to Mameda Town, where houses of merchants still remain who were providing goods to the Shogunate during the Tenryo Era.

• Oita
• Famous Places

Mameda Town in Hita was one of my favorite places on this trip to Kyushu. It was once a tenryo, a territory directly governed by the shogunate during the Edo period, and prospered through commerce. Today, you can still see many preserved traditional buildings throughout the neighborhood, which is why it's also known as “Little Kyoto in Kyushu.”
I actually prefer quiet little places like this to popular tourist attractions.
There aren't tons of tour buses or crowds of tourists. Along the streets, you can see traditional Japanese homes, old houses, and a natural sense of everyday life. I slowly wandered the streets without any particular itinerary. Just looking at the streetscape and taking in the local atmosphere felt very relaxing.
Mameda Town is somewhere I'd like to come back and stroll around again.

Kurokawa Onsen

This hot springs village sits along the same river that waters the rice paddies between the northern mountains of Aso. The entire hot springs area is designed seamlessly with nature, with each hilltop inn and connecting halls a separate annex that attaches to the next mountain hill.

• Kumamoto
• Famous Places

Kurokawa Onsen really has the feel of a Japanese hot spring town!
The entire hot spring village is scattered throughout the valley along the Tanoharu River. Each ryokan is surrounded by forest, and although the town isn't large, it has plenty of character. Walking around feels like getting away from the city and taking a vacation in the mountains.
The most unique thing to do here is use the Nyuto Tegata hot spring pass. If you have enough time, I highly recommend buying one. You can choose three different ryokan to soak at, and experience each one's open-air baths without staying overnight. It's really fun to try different baths!
Each hot spring has its own features. Some are hidden in the woods, while others are beside the ravine. Soaking while taking in the mountain scenery creates a very relaxing atmosphere.
Kurokawa Onsen has also preserved traditional mixed-gender open-air baths, making it a very unique experience for anyone interested in traditional Japanese hot spring culture.

Kumamoto Ramen Kurotei Main Store

Kurotei, founded in 1957 in Kumamoto City, offers a continually evolving Kumamoto ramen experience. Their creamy, cloudy pork bone soup is paired with fragrant, charred garlic oil, maintaining the tradition of Kumamoto ramen while offering a one-of-a-kind taste. The pride of their soup is the use of low-fat pig's head bones, giving it a rich yet refreshing aftertaste.

• Kumamoto
• Ramen

One of Kumamoto's most famous ramen shops, the long-established Kurotei Ramen is definitely not to be missed! Kurotei's signature feature is its **rich tonkotsu broth + charred black garlic oil**. As soon as it arrives at the table, you can smell the intense garlic aroma, which is irresistibly fragrant.
This time, I ordered the signature **tonkotsu ramen + two raw egg yolks. Mixing the raw egg yolks into the piping-hot broth makes it even richer and smoother. Highly recommended if you like egg yolks! If you're not comfortable eating raw egg yolks, you can order a soft-boiled egg instead〜 There's also a version with double chashu, so meat lovers can go straight for that. The ramen itself is delicious. The broth is rich without feeling heavy, and the noodles are springy with just the right texture, without being overcooked. The charred black garlic oil on top is truly the soul of the whole bowl! The deeply roasted garlic flavor blends into the tonkotsu broth, taking the aroma to another level and making it more addictive with every bite.
Besides the ramen, the pan-fried dumplings and fried rice are also pretty good. If you're with a group, you can order them to share.

Kourantei Shimotori Main Store

Located in Shimotori, one of Kumamoto City’s main shopping arcades, Kourantei Shimotori Main Store is a long-established Chinese restaurant founded in 1934. Loved by locals and visitors alike, it’s especially known for Kumamoto’s must-try specialty, Taipien. The rich, cloudy soup is made with chicken and pork bones, topped with 100% mung bean glass noodles plus plenty of seafood and vegetables.

• Kumamoto
• Chinese Food

If you're in Kumamoto and want to try something different and local, I recommend the long-established Chinese restaurant Kourantei. Try Kumamoto's signature dish, Taipien (たいぴーえん). It looks a lot like a mixed glass noodle soup, with plenty of ingredients such as vegetables and seafood. The broth was more flavorful than I expected and not as bland as some Google reviews said. It's light yet flavorful and perfect for a bowl during your trip.

Kumamoto City Tram

Operated by the Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau, this streetcar system has long been a familiar form of public transport connecting the city center with key areas. It consists of two lines-the A Line and B Line-covering a wide range of destinations including the area around Kumamoto Castle, downtown shopping districts, Suizenji, and residential neighborhoods. For visitors, it’s an easy-to-understand and convenient way to get around the city.

• Kumamoto
• Trains & Subway

When visiting Kumamoto, I don't think you necessarily need to rent a car. There are streetcars in the city, which are very convenient for independent travelers.
The Kumamoto City Tram has the A Line and B Line, connecting many popular places such as Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Castle, the downtown shopping districts, and the Suizenji area. Just check the routes to plan where you want to go. Transportation is relatively simple, without having to constantly figure out complicated bus routes.
I also really enjoy riding the streetcar. There's no need to drive or look for parking, and sitting on the streetcar watching the Kumamoto cityscape while slowly moving along really adds to the travel atmosphere.

Aso Shrine (Kumamoto)

The master god who has created Aso, Takei Watatsu no Mikoto, and 12 of his family gods are enshrined here. As the head of Higo Province, this is ranked top over nearly 500 branch Aso Shrines nationwide. Its history goes back more than 2000 years. Its faith is fused with volcano worship that believes Mt. Aso to be a god.

• Kumamoto
• Shrines & Temples

Aso Shrine has a history of over 2,000 years and is well worth stopping by when visiting Aso.
The shrine suffered considerable damage during the Kumamoto earthquake, but after restoration, many of the buildings have been returned to their original appearance. The torii gate in particular looks truly impressive.
The weather was perfect on the day we visited. The blue sky, white clouds, and shrine buildings looked beautiful in photos, so the great weather definitely didn't go to waste. You can set aside 2 hours to take a leisurely walk around, take photos, and pray. It's a wonderful experience.

Sakuranobaba Josaien

This multipurpose culture and tourism facility serves as an outdoor recreation of a Kumamoto Castle hill at the foot the mountain. Here you’ll find Kumamoto’s local gourmet, plenty of shopping and a chance to dive into the history of Kumamoto’s history.

• Kumamoto
• Shopping Streets

Don't rush off after visiting Kumamoto Castle. Sakuranobaba Josaien at the foot of the hill is well worth visiting at the same time!
The entire complex was designed around the concept of an Edo-period castle town, with old-fashioned buildings lining both sides of the streets. Walking through it feels like you've traveled back to the Edo period. Although it isn't very large, it's fun to explore, eat snacks, and take photos along the way, and the atmosphere is quite relaxed.
My favorite area was Sakura-no-koji, which has quite a few shops featuring Kumamoto specialties. You can buy souvenirs and enjoy food and drinks as you go, including sea urchin croquettes, Jindaiko ice cream, and Kumamoto's signature horse meat dishes.
The complex also has Wakuwakuza, which introduces Kumamoto's history through interactive exhibits and is much more interesting than simply reading text. If you happen to catch a performance by the Kumamoto Castle Omotenashi Busho-tai, you can take photos with them too, making it a fun little experience unique to Kumamoto.
I think it's best to include this with a visit to Kumamoto Castle. After climbing up to the castle and learning about its history, come to Josaien to eat, look around, and buy souvenirs.