Sakuranobaba Josaien | Review by WANG

While traveling in Kumamoto, Kyushu, I discovered a huge complex that combines shopping, dining, and a transportation hub—SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto! This stylish mall, newly completed in recent years, feels modern and convenient from the moment you walk in.

The interior is spacious and bright, with more than 100 fashion brands, lifestyle goods stores, large drugstores, and stylish boutiques spread from the first floor to the top floor, making it a great place to browse and shop. Best of all, there is a lush rooftop garden where you can take a walk outside when you get tired of shopping and enjoy a wide, relaxing view of Kumamoto Castle in the distance.

Besides shopping, the food court and restaurants offer so many choices that it's hard to decide. Whether you want authentic local Kumamoto cuisine, popular ramen, or elegant desserts and afternoon tea, you can find it all here. It is also a large bus terminal, Sakura Machi Bus Terminal, so whether you're taking a bus to Mount Aso or traveling to and from other prefectures, the transportation convenience is unbeatable.

I highly recommend adding SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto to your itinerary when visiting Kumamoto. Whether you're dining, shopping, or transferring between transportation, this is definitely a comfortable and efficient new landmark worth visiting!

I sat down in the retro, nostalgic seating area and ordered their signature ramen with two egg yolks and chashu without hesitation. When the steaming bowl arrived, the first thing that caught my eye was the two raw egg yolks, paired with generous slices of thick-cut chashu and bright green scallions.

The soul of this bowl is the rich tonkotsu broth simmered by hand by the chef, along with Kurotei's signature black garlic oil. With the first big sip, the richness of the pork bone broth and the uniquely roasted garlic flavor of the black garlic oil blended perfectly in my mouth. It had incredible depth but was surprisingly easy to drink. After breaking the raw egg yolks and mixing them into the noodles, the thick, straight noodles soaked up the egg and rich broth, making them smooth and springy. Every bite was deeply satisfying!

I highly recommend adding Kurotei Main Store to your food list when visiting Kumamoto and trying this authentic, iconic Kumamoto ramen that has been fragrant for decades. I guarantee you'll keep thinking about it after just one taste!

This huge covered shopping arcade stretches for more than 500 meters and connects all the way through to Kamitori and Shinshigai, creating an all-weather shopping paradise where you don't have to worry about wind or rain. As soon as you enter Shimotori, both sides are lined with large department stores, drugstores, fashion shops, bookstores, chain electronics stores, and countless authentic izakayas and ramen shops. The colorful signs and lively crowds showcase the vibrant urban appeal of downtown Kumamoto.

During the day, you can leisurely shop and stock up on all kinds of Japanese drugstore products and household goods. At night, the area becomes even more beautiful and lively. The tempting aromas of charcoal-grilled skewers and local food fill the entire street. Just pick a local izakaya, walk in, order a cold drink, and enjoy some delicious Kumamoto horse sashimi or Japanese gyoza. It's incredibly relaxing.

I highly recommend adding Shimotori Shopping Arcade to your evening walking and dining list when visiting Kumamoto. Whether you're shopping or enjoying the authentic nightlife, you'll have such a good time that you won't want to return to your hotel!