Things To Do in Kumamoto
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Kumamoto Attractions
- Landmark
Hosokawa Mansion (Kyu-Hosokawa Gyobutei)
A 10-minute walk north of Kumamoto Castle, this 300-year-old samurai mansion was built by a subsidiary member of the Hosokawa clan, Lord Gyobu, and was enlarged in the 1800s. Guided tours (often available in English) lasting 15 minutes take visitors through 24 rooms, including the… - Landmark
Kumamoto Castle
Completed in 1607, Kumamoto Castle is massive. It took 7 years to build, under the direction of Kato Kiyomasa, a great warrior who fought alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu in battle and was rewarded for his loyalty with land. The castle was built atop a hill and had two main towers, 49… - Park/Garden
Suizenji Garden (Suizenji Jojuen)
Laid out in the 1630s by Hosokawa Tadatoshi as a retreat for the tea ceremony and as the grounds of a nearby temple, Suizenji Garden took about 80 years to complete. The garden wraps itself around a cold spring-fed lake (considered particularly good for making tea). But what makes…
Kumamoto Shopping
One of Kumamoto's most famous products is its Higo Inlay or damascene, in which gold, silver, and copper are inlaid on an iron plate to form patterns of flowers, bamboo, and other designs. Originally used to adorn sword guards and armor, damascene today is used on such accessories as paperweights, jewelry, and tie clasps. Another Kumamoto product is the Yamaga lantern, made of gold paper and used during the Yamaga Lantern Festival held in August. Other local products include Amakusa pearls, pottery, knives, toys, and bamboo items.
One place to shop for Higo Inlay, pottery, tea, shochu, sake, and confections is the Display Hall of Kumamoto Products (Kumamoto-ken Bussankan), located on the ground floor of the NTT Building at 3-1 Sakura-machi (tel. 096/353-1168; daily 10am-6:30pm). It's a 1-minute walk west of the Kumamotojo-mae streetcar stop.
The Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center, near Kumamoto Castle at 3-35 Chibajo-machi (tel. 096/324-4930; Tues-Sun 9am-5pm) offers a wider selection of traditional crafts from throughout the prefecture, including Yamaga paper lanterns, Amakusa pearls, bambooware, ceramics, woodworks, toys, musical instruments, and more. It's a 5-minute walk from the Skiyakusho-mae streetcar stop or take Kumamoto Castle Loop Bus to Stop 8.
