Kumamoto Castle is really big. You should set aside at least 1.5 hours to walk around and visit the castle keep. It's a must-see attraction in Kumamoto, with cherry blossoms in spring and fall foliage in autumn. Samurai also occasionally appear near the castle, and visitors can take commemorative photos with them.
Kumamoto Castle | Review by KEIKO
Other Reviews by KEIKO
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Kusasenri
Mount Eboshi is one of the 5 peaks found in the center of Mount Aso. Here you’ll find Kusasenri, the breathtakingly vast, emerald green grasslands that expand northwards. Many textbook writings, as well as classical poets and song writers have immortalized its beauty in their works, making Kusasenri one of the most iconic images that people know when thinking of Mount Aso.
Kusasenri is a stunning volcanic grassland with an extremely magnificent landscape, where you can see horses and an active volcano giving off smoke. The café and gelato there are very popular with visitors. It's also convenient for resting and dining.
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Daikanbo
Mount Aso is the volcanic area and 5 peaks along the large caldera that was created as the result of 4 large eruptions some 270,000 to 90,000 years ago. Here, inside this world’s largest caldera and volcanic area you’ll find a train line running through the three local municipalities of Aso, Takamori and Minamiaso, towards the 50,000 people who live there.
Daikanbo has a large observation deck where you can look out over the entire Aso landscape. It takes a little while to walk from the shop to the observation deck. I recommend the walk only if you're in good physical condition; otherwise, you can just rest by the shop. At the observation deck, I saw many locals practicing parasailing.
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Suizenji Jojuen Garden
It is a stroll garden with spring water that Tadatoshi, the first lord of the Hosokawa clan, created after building a teahouse here where subsoil water from the Aso Mountains gushed forth. Tsunatoshi, the third lord of the Hosokawa clan, later created a large-scale garden that was named "Jojuen" after a poem by Tao Yuanming.
Suizenji is a very large Edo-period stroll garden. It gets especially crowded with visitors during cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons, and it's a great place to take photos in a kimono. The little ducks in the pond are really super cute.
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