[몰아보기] 일본에서 놓치면 후회하는 4일간의 구마모토 여행코스 총정리! | Full VOD

[몰아보기] 일본에서 놓치면 후회하는 4일간의 구마모토 여행코스 총정리! | Full VOD

This is Haneda Airport. I’ve taken a few days off and planned a trip to Kumamoto. In Japan, June has no holidays except for weekends, so it tends to be a rather boring time of the year. That’s exactly why people take time off and go on trips. It’s just before summer starts, so it seems like a good season for traveling, but since it’s also the start of the rainy season, planning a trip isn’t easy. It’s my first time visiting Kumamoto, which makes it even more exciting! All right, let’s go! Kumamoto is located in the center of Kyushu, where Fukuoka is also located. It’s about 870 kilometers from Tokyo, roughly a 1.5-hour flight. We’re about to arrive in Kumamoto, known as the “Land of Fire.” Why is it called the “Land of Fire”? Because Mount Aso, an active volcano, stands in Kumamoto Prefecture! I’ve arrived at Aso Kumamoto Airport. Even the airport’s name includes “Aso,” so you can imagine the influence. But that’s not all — Mt. Aso is also home to abundant, clear spring water. This spring water is essential to the lives of Kumamoto’s residents and helps create fertile land that grows delicious agricultural products. For that reason, Kumamoto is also known as the “City of Water.” There are several ways to get into the city from the airport, but I’ll be heading there directly by limousine bus. Next to the bus stop is an unmanned ticket machine. You can buy a ticket from the machine like this, or just tap your credit card when you board the bus. The limousine bus takes about 40 to 60 minutes to reach the city, and I’m going all the way to the terminal called “Sakuramachi.” I’ve arrived. This terminal is part of a large commercial complex — it’s huge! And who’s here to welcome me? It’s Kumamon. You’ve seen this cute bear character before, haven’t you? He’s the official mascot and tourism ambassador of Kumamoto Prefecture. Many cities create their own local mascots for marketing, right? There are countless local mascots across Japan. Many become popular for a while and then are quickly forgotten, but Kumamon is on another level… He continues to hold the top spot among local mascots and is beloved not only in Japan but around the world. Outside the building is Hanabata Plaza. It’s a grassy open space in front of the complex, and right now, a Taiwan Fair is being held. I looked it up — seems like this is a common place for markets and events. Sakuramachi is also connected to a covered shopping arcade, with lots of commercial buildings nearby like Tsuruya Department Store, forming a large shopping district. Over there, you can see the Sun Road Shinshigai shopping arcade. And there it is — a charming streetcar with real old-fashioned vibes. Isn’t this retro-style tram so lovely? It kind of reminds me of the streetcars in Sapporo… I booked a hotel close to Sakuramachi. It’s always more convenient to stay near downtown areas. Here’s Kumamon again! (lol) In the lobby, I saw a traditional Kumamoto toy. When you pull the string, it sticks out its tongue and flips its eyes to surprise people — it’s called “Ghost Kinta” a traditional puppet. Also, since Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the manga One Piece, is from Kumamoto, you’ll often see things related to One Piece during your trip. After dropping off my luggage at the hotel and taking a short rest, I headed back out. Ah, the streetcars are really beautiful. I stopped by the Taiwan Fair venue I passed earlier. As evening approaches, more and more people have started to gather. Even on the rooftop garden—there’s Kumamon! So cute. It seems there are quite a few Taiwanese people living in Kumamoto. That may be partly due to geographical proximity, but also perhaps because of the TSMC factory located here in Kumamoto. Now then, shall we go explore the arcade shopping street? It’s connected to other arcades too, so it’s quite a large area. One of the must-try specialties when visiting Kumamoto is horse meat. Especially raw horse meat, known as basashi, is very famous. There are so many horse meat restaurants, you’ll see their signs almost every block. Also, because Kumamoto has clean water and abundant groundwater, its sake—particularly shochu—is very well known. A glass of shochu with basashi? Ahh, perfect! Haha. Maybe that’s why people in Kumamoto are known to love their drinks. And then there’s Kumamoto ramen. Rich pork bone broth with sizzling garlic oil! One bite and you’ll be hooked—it’s addictively good! Then there’s Taipien, a dish originating from Fujian, China. It’s a soup with clear broth, filled with seafood, vegetables, and glass noodles. Also famous is the Akaushi, or “red beef,” raised in Kumamoto. You can enjoy it in a rice bowl called akaushi-don, or savor it as grilled red beef—both are must-tries. Other local specialties include karashi renkon, spicy stuffed lotus root, and hitomoji no guruguru, a dish similar to Korean green onion rolls— these local delicacies are truly amazing! Absolutely delicious! This is Shimotori Arcade, which seems to be the liveliest shopping street. And nearby, there’s a large department store. It’s Tsuruya Department Store, one of the most well-known in Kumamoto Prefecture. This is their main branch. You can even see Kumamoto Castle. Across the main street to the north is the Kamitori Arcade. There’s a shop here that claims to be the origin of Kumamoto ramen. Its soup blends pork and chicken broth, which defines Kumamoto ramen, and it’s one of the “Three Great Kumamoto Ramen Originals,” in business for over 70 years. The arcade ends here, but the shopping streets still go on for quite a distance. I strolled around, looking at everything, then started heading back the way I came. Perhaps because there are many Taiwanese people here, you also see a lot of Taiwanese restaurants. This is another shopping street, but it has a somewhat Chinese atmosphere to it. You can even see a shop specializing in aged beef, though this one is not akaushi but Kuroge wagyu—black-haired wagyu beef. Looks like they also have horse meat dishes on the menu. Wow, basashi! It really whets the appetite. This shopping street is called “Kagomachi Street.” It’s located near Kumamoto Castle and was once a gathering place for rickshaw pullers. It seems that’s where the name comes from. Oh! Is that a truck? It startled me for a second, but when I looked closely, it was just a truck advertising roasted sweet potatoes. I didn’t know roasted sweet potatoes were advertised like this! (laughs) Also, there are lots of bikers here, which you don’t see as often in Tokyo. They took some photos and then rode off again. Now then, it’s about time to head to dinner. We made a reservation at a place where you can enjoy Kumamoto’s local cuisine and basashi. I had it booked in advance. Karashi Renkon—mustard lotus root. It’s a traditional dish made by stuffing lotus root holes with mustard miso and deep-frying it. Hitomoji Guruguru. It tastes a lot like a Korean-style scallion wrap dish! (laughs) Alright, here comes the basashi platter. Horse meat is known for its clean flavor without any strong smell. This one here is the horse’s heart, called “shinzō.” The chewy texture is amazing. It goes perfectly with sesame oil. This white meat here is from the base of the mane, around the neck. It pairs excellently with shochu! Futaego is a part of the horse’s belly that has three layers of meat. You can enjoy it with ginger, garlic, or onion, depending on your preference. And shimofuri is the marbled cut with fat throughout. This meat can be taken from several parts of the horse. It tastes amazing with sweet, thick soy sauce—Kyushu-style soy sauce. The flavor matches perfectly and is absolutely delicious. Since Kumamoto is near the sea, it also has an abundance of fresh seafood. This cutlassfish, caught near the Kumamoto coast, is one example. It’s so tasty! There’s also mozuku seaweed. It has a refreshing acidity and a clean taste. This is Hinomoto Buta, a premium brand of pork from Kumamoto. It’s grilled and eaten like samgyeopsal, Korean pork belly, but instead of a metal grill, it’s cooked on a ceramic plate. Raised carefully in the clean air and water of Mt. Aso, it has no odor, and the fat is rich in flavor and aroma. That’s probably why it tastes even better! (laughs) This soup that came with the rice is dago-jiru. It’s like a Japanese-style miso soup with dumplings. In the local dialect, dumplings or “dango” are called “dago.” There’s also a stir-fried rice dish made with pickles. The balance of saltiness and spice is just right and so tasty. Since it has these “dago” dumplings, that’s why it’s called dago-jiru, right? And just like that, we fully enjoyed the first day of our trip! Today, we’re heading to Mt. Aso. First, we’ll take the streetcar to Kumamoto Station, and then go pick up the rental car we reserved. This is the streetcar stop in front of JR Kumamoto Station. The Kumamoto streetcars are nicknamed “Kumamoto Shiden.” This retro vibe is so charming! It matches perfectly with the cityscape of Kumamoto and adds a unique charm. We’ve come to the other side of the station. Even though it’s a holiday, I thought I heard children’s voices— —and there it was, an elementary school. And then I saw this Kumamon logo. Wow, Kumamon really is everywhere, isn’t he? Haha. Alright, time to pick up our rental car— —and off we go! We’re now around the Sakuramachi area. As we drive, we keep seeing the streetcars passing by like this. You really run into them quite often. If you stay here for two days, you might even see every design they have. It’s about 40 kilometers to Mount Aso, but we’ll make a quick stop at a service area along the way. This is “Michi-no-Eki Ōzu.” The guidebook says they have many local specialties here. But what surprised me even more— —was the “Biker Shrine” in one corner of the area. It seems this route is popular among motorcyclists. I’ve never seen a shrine like this before! Haha. The ema plaques have written wishes for safe travels. And inside the rest area where the local goods are displayed— —it seems like they’ve got just about everything Kumamoto is famous for. And once again, Kumamon is everywhere here too. I looked it up, and it turns out that Kumamoto Prefecture— —basically doesn’t charge any licensing fees to use Kumamon’s image. As long as it’s for promoting products or services from Kumamoto, anyone can use it for free! Maybe that kind of great policy is another reason why Kumamon is so beloved—not just because he’s cute. Now then, let’s hit the road again! It’s starting to drizzle a little. The forecast called for rain throughout our trip, but this much is still manageable. The road we’re driving on now is called the “Milk Road.” You can see wide grasslands and grazing cattle along the way, and perhaps it’s called that because it’s used to transport dairy from here. It follows the ridgeline of the Aso Outer Rim, and it’s extremely popular among people driving or touring on motorcycles, as it’s one of the best scenic routes in the area. It really is breathtaking! And now, we’ve arrived at— —the Nishiyunoura Viewpoint. This is also part of Mount Aso, which is one of the largest active volcanoes in the world, and is called a double caldera. Let me explain slowly why it’s called a double caldera. The huge hollow-like terrain created by volcanic activity— —is called a caldera, right? (We’ve moved to another nearby viewpoint.) And within that volcanic caldera, a basin has formed— —and now, as you can see, towns and farmland have spread out across it. In other words, this whole area is a caldera formed by a massive volcano. Currently, around 40,000 people live within this caldera. Isn’t that amazing? Let’s head somewhere with an even better view. This is the sunrise viewpoint at Daikanbo. Earlier, I mentioned that many people live inside this giant caldera. As time passes, magma starts to rise again within this sunken caldera. The new magma erupts once more from the center of the caldera and accumulates. As a result, new peaks and small volcanic structures are formed. That crater over there in the distance is one of them. It’s a structure where a new volcano has formed inside a larger volcano. The place where you see smoke rising is the crater of an active volcano. That’s why Mount Aso is called a “double volcano.” Due to volcanic activity, the soil here is highly acidic. It’s said that large trees have a hard time growing in such soil. That might be why only grass grows so thickly here. Now, we’ll head over to the roadside station. This is the roadside station near the Daikanbo Observatory. It seems to be one of the tourist routes. There were also some Korean people on road bikes. Amazing! Riding this distance by bicycle… There’s a walking path above this roadside station, and if you go up this trail, you’ll reach the Daikanbo Observatory. This is said to be the best viewing spot in Aso. It’s located on the elevated outer rim of the caldera like this. “Daikanbo” means “a peak with a grand panoramic view,” just as the kanji suggests. It’s written that this is the best observatory to see the magnificent caldera of Mount Aso and the “Five Peaks of Aso.” I was curious what the “Five Peaks” are, so I looked it up. It refers to five mountains rising from within the Aso caldera. The tallest one is Takadake. Then there’s Nakadake, which still has an active crater today. And also Eboshidake, Kishimadake, and Nekodake. I think the biggest mountain we can see over there is Takadake. The weather isn’t very good, so it’s hard to see clearly, but the panoramic view is incredibly refreshing. I suppose you could say it’s overwhelming. In front of this beautiful and majestic scenery, you get this mysterious feeling of confronting yourself. Especially during autumn or winter at dawn, if the conditions are right, a sea of clouds can spread across the caldera, meaning you might be able to see a stunning ocean of clouds. Since the view is open in all directions, I think it’s also the perfect place to watch the sunrise or sunset. We’ve come down into a village inside the caldera for lunch. It doesn’t really feel like we’re inside a caldera, though. There’s a famous restaurant here that serves “Akaushi-don” (Red Wagyu Beef Bowl). And this is the place. The restaurant on the left called “Imakin” is very famous, but the wait time is long. The restaurant on the right has the same menu and a high rating on Google. I decided to go with the one on the right, called “Yamaichi.” This is the restaurant known for its Akaushi-don. Pickles are self-serve, and you can take as much as you like. I piled on a generous helping of pickles (laughs). “Akaushi” is a breed of cow raised on the vast grasslands of Mount Aso in Kumamoto. They’re raised through free-range grazing. This is the beef bowl made with Akaushi, and udon noodles with Akaushi beef. Then came a bowl of “Dago-jiru” (dumpling soup) as well. Compared to other Wagyu breeds, Akaushi has less fat and more lean meat, but it’s known for being very tender. I tried it with that in mind, and it really was tender. The udon soup had a taste kind of like Korean “Tteokguk” (rice cake soup), and it was delicious, of course. I felt like Akaushi has a very strong natural beef flavor. It was delicious till the very end—I finished it all beautifully! Thank you for the meal! Now, let’s get closer to the central area of Mt. Aso. The long stretch of mountains, and the cows grazing on the grass— driving down the straight road with this view feels incredibly refreshing. As we head toward Mt. Nakadake, a magnificent grassland area comes into view. This is the “Aso Kusasenri Parking Lot.” Located here is the “Aso Volcano Museum.” It’s a comprehensive facility where you can learn about the formation of Mt. Aso— an active volcano with one of the world’s largest calderas—and its current ecosystem. This is a “volcanic bomb.” It’s a lump of lava ejected during a volcanic eruption. Depending on the properties of the magma, they can take on various shapes. And this vast grassland spreading out before us is called “Kusasenrigahama,” located at an elevation of about 1,100 meters. It’s one of the most iconic tourist spots that everyone visits when coming to Aso. It covers an area of approximately 780,000 square meters, equivalent to about 17 Tokyo Domes. With Mt. Nakadake puffing smoke in the background, horses graze peacefully in this pastoral landscape. Many tourists stop here during their drive to enjoy a walk. This one looks like it’s having a very comfortable rest… haha. The low hill standing in the center of Kusasenrigahama is said to have originally been a crater. It may look like a small peak quietly standing in the middle of a field, but it’s actually a mountain called “Komatateyama.” Here’s the panoramic view of Kusasenrigahama. Well then, shall we go see that crater? There’s also a shuttle bus service for tourists. It’s about a 10-minute drive from here, and you can visit the crater of the active volcano. We can now see the entrance to the toll road. Just beyond the entrance, there is a toll booth. Rather than a road fee, it feels more like an admission charge. Also, due to high gas emissions, you’ll be asked whether you have weak bronchial tubes or respiratory conditions. Please proceed to the crater at your own risk. You’ll drive through this desolate landscape and ascend, then park and walk to view the crater. Among the five peaks that rise within the caldera of Mt. Aso, “Nakadake” is the one still actively erupting today. You can see a Buddha statue that was built to pray for the safety of visitors. You’ll also see a few evacuation shelters. This is the “Nakadake First Crater.” It’s approximately 600 meters in diameter, 130 meters deep, and has a circumference of about 4 kilometers. It’s said that its eruption cycle repeats roughly every 15 to 20 years. Seeing the large volcanic bombs embedded all over the area, you can imagine just how powerful the eruption must have been. If an eruption suddenly began, we would have to evacuate to a place like this. It’s scary, isn’t it? Graffiti in a place like this… Even in Hangul… (As a Korean, I feel ashamed.) I had never seen an active volcano like this before, so it’s quite moving. It looks like we still have time to visit one more place, so we’ll head to a famous spring. About 25 minutes by car. Shirakawa Spring. It’s been selected by the Ministry of the Environment as one of Japan’s Top 100 Famous Waters, and is known for its excellent water quality and clarity. It’s said that rain falling in the Aso caldera seeps into the ground over many years, and springs up again here. According to one source, it takes about 10,000 years for the caldera’s water to reach this point. Now, the precious spring water filtered over 10,000 years flows here. It says that 60 tons of water gush out every minute. This is the very source of the spring water—Shirakawa Spring. It maintains a constant water temperature of 14°C year-round, even in summer or winter, and since it’s drinkable and you can take it home, I gave it a try myself. Kumamoto has many such springs, and it’s said that all the tap water here comes from underground sources. The spring is connected to Shirakawa Yoshimi Shrine, which enshrines the water deity, and further inside, there’s a spot where the water springs out. You can see the clear water gushing out right before your eyes. The water flows in one direction where you can drink or collect it, and the other direction flows outward through a water channel. This shrine that houses the water deity… doesn’t it feel mystical? By collecting fresh water and witnessing the start of a river, you can feel the harmony of Aso’s nature, history, and water worship— I think it’s a place that brings emotional and spiritual healing. Well, it’s about time to head back. Kumamoto City is said to be virtually the only city in Japan that supplies its tap water entirely from underground sources. It’s like getting mineral water just by turning on the tap. We returned the rental car and arrived at Kumamoto Station. Isn’t the station pretty big? It’s a historic station that opened in 1891, but it was rebuilt in 2011 when the Kyushu Shinkansen line opened. The creator of One Piece is from this area, so you see a lot of One Piece artwork here. It’s a complex facility with shopping, a movie theater, and a hotel, and it has a similar vibe to Sakuramachi, which also has a bus terminal. But Sakuramachi is larger in scale and more crowded. If you think about access to tourist spots and shopping streets, Sakuramachi is definitely more convenient. We’re taking the streetcar from in front of Kumamoto Station to Sakuramachi. This charming streetcar really has a nostalgic vibe. With the clickety-clack of the tracks, I was just getting into the mood—and we’ve already arrived. If you plan to use the streetcar often, getting a free pass might be more efficient. The basic one-way fare is 180 yen, and a one-day pass costs 500 yen. Alright then, let’s head out for a meal. Shall we try another Kumamoto specialty today? That would be grilled Akaushi beef. Akaushi is a breed of domestic Wagyu raised mainly in Kumamoto Prefecture, and it looks quite similar to Korean Hanwoo beef. Thinly sliced beef tongue— the menu even called it a “house specialty!” Here we have loin and short rib. And this is offal. Today’s special cut—misuji (chuck flap tail). Skirt steak marinated in sauce. So, we got a set of four kinds of Akaushi beef and today’s special cuts. To briefly explain about Akaushi, a Kumamoto specialty— remember the cows we saw grazing on Mount Aso earlier today? They’re raised on the vast grasslands of the Aso region. The cattle are raised in conditions close to natural grazing, so they experience less stress, and they grow up healthy with clean water, fresh air, and wide-open pastures. Akaushi is also a type of Wagyu, so… Some people might imagine it to be fatty and tender, but unlike other Wagyu, it’s said to have relatively low fat content. When grilled quickly, a savory aroma and juicy flavor spread through your mouth, and because it’s not overly fatty, it doesn’t feel heavy and has a satisfying chew. If you leave Kumamoto without eating Akaushi, you might feel like your trip is missing something. That’s it for today’s adventure~ The rain is still falling today. We left the hotel slowly and relaxed. It may be raining, but this trip is important, so we still have to go out and explore. First, we came for lunch. It’s a restaurant called “Kourantei.” We’re going to try a unique Japanese-style Chinese dish you can only find in Kumamoto: Taipien. Taipien originally came from Fujian Province in China, but in Japan, it took root only in Kumamoto and became completely established as a local specialty. We ordered the basic Taipien, as well as a version that includes summer vegetables. It was introduced to Kumamoto in the late Meiji era, and since duck eggs were hard to come by at the time, they used fried eggs instead, and replaced the traditional dumpling wrappers with glass noodles, which eventually led to the current Kumamoto-style Taipien. It originally resembled more of a soup dish, but over time it evolved into something more like a noodle dish. It’s really light yet delicious, with a taste that’s reminiscent of a seafood champon, but cleaner and more delicate— another incredible dish unique to Kumamoto! Come to think of it, we haven’t tried Kumamoto ramen yet… The rain seems to be coming down harder now, but since we planned to visit Kumamoto Castle, we’ll stick to the schedule and go check it out. At the entrance to the Kumamoto Castle ruins, you’ll see a statue of Kato Kiyomasa. He’s a very famous military commander in Japanese history, and he also has historical ties to Korea. He is said to have designed and constructed Kumamoto Castle himself. You can still see parts of the stone walls that have collapsed, as the castle suffered significant damage in the 2016 earthquake. Restoration work is still ongoing, and it’s said it will take 20 to 30 years to complete. It seems the damage was even worse than expected. Except for the main keep, the rest of the castle is still under repair, but the restoration process is open to the public for viewing in detail. When it comes to the three greatest castles in Japan—based on historical value and beauty— Osaka Castle, Osaka Castle, Nagoya Castle, Osaka Castle, Nagoya Castle, and Himeji Castle are usually named, but in terms of originality in design and architecture, Kumamoto Castle sometimes replaces Himeji Castle on the list. It’s Kato Kiyomasa’s masterpiece, and it boasts one of the highest levels of defensive design— but natural disasters like earthquakes are beyond anyone’s control. That building you see over there is the main keep of Kumamoto Castle. It’s the central structure of the castle, the symbol of the castle, and its final line of defense. The castle is known for its two distinct styles of stone wall construction. This is the “Honmaru Goten,” the most prestigious room used by the feudal lord. It’s the highest-ranking room in the castle. There’s a dark passage beneath the building, and even the formal entrance is located underground, showing how much emphasis was placed on defense. We’ve arrived at the square in front of the main keep. The lower part of the stone walls is gently sloped, but the incline becomes much steeper as you go higher, a design intended to make it harder for enemies to climb. It really looks like a fortress. Kumamoto Castle was completed in 1607 by Kato Kiyomasa. Using his experience from the Imjin War, he applied advanced techniques in castle construction, turning Kumamoto Castle into an impregnable fortress. It’s a painful history for Korea, but that war prompted Joseon to implement reforms and strengthen its defenses. That aside, Kiyomasa developed a strong interest in architecture during the invasion, and he found Korean roof tiles to be superior in both shape and durability. It’s said that he brought Korean tile ends back to Japan, and used them in parts of Kumamoto Castle. He also reportedly brought Korean craftsmen and engineers as prisoners, and had them work on Japanese castle construction and civil engineering projects. The castle is not only visually beautiful, but also a masterpiece of construction techniques. There are windows tilted intentionally to deflect arrows, tatami mats made from taro stalks so they could be eaten in emergencies, and hallways that bend in complex ways to block enemy intrusion. (Even the toilets protruding from the stone walls are worth seeing.) Separate from the invasion of Korea, Kiyomasa is revered in Kumamoto as “Lord Kiyomasa” for stabilizing the lives of commoners through flood control, urban development, and agricultural promotion. To continue the story — after Kiyomasa’s death, the Hosokawa family became the new lords of the Kumamoto Domain, but with the Meiji Restoration and the abolition of the feudal system, they also lost their status. Afterward, samurai opposed to the government’s policies rose in rebellion, and during this period of upheaval, Kumamoto Castle faced many hardships. During the Satsuma Rebellion, the castle was destroyed by fire, and it was rebuilt in 1960 using reinforced concrete. However, a massive earthquake in 2016 caused extensive damage again. Currently, the main keep has been restored and is open to the public. While I was explaining, we ended up reaching the top-floor observation deck. The first floor of the castle represents the Kato era, the second floor the Hosokawa era, and the third and fourth floors exhibit the modern era. This top floor is an observation space offering a panoramic view of Kumamoto City. During wartime, this top floor likely served as a lookout post. During the Imjin War (the Bunroku and Keichō campaigns), Kato Kiyomasa joined the invasion of Korea under orders from Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He was one of the military commanders who participated in the campaign against Korea. Because of that, he is generally viewed in a negative light in Korea. However, in Japan, he is sometimes respected as a capable military leader. This is Kumamoto Castle, which he built. As we come down from the castle, there is a tourist complex near the entrance called Sakuranobaba Josaien. “Sakuranobaba” means “pasture of cherry blossoms,” and it’s combined with “Josaien,” meaning “a town that decorates the castle.” The area is designed to resemble a town from the Edo period. It’s a fun place where you can experience traditional Japanese townscapes. I also walked around the whole area, Kumamoto ramen, horse sashimi, Aka beef rice bowls, and Taipien. There were also many crafts and souvenirs. Maybe because of the weather, it felt a little less crowded today. The rain seems to be letting up a bit—thank goodness! Would it be okay to call this area the “old town” of Kumamoto? I’m thinking of taking a walk through Nakatōjinmachi, a district where old storehouses and traditional buildings still remain. You can really feel the atmosphere of Kumamoto’s old castle town here. The Meijū Bridge over the river behind this stylish red building— was created by a stonemason from Kumamoto named Hashimoto Kangorō, who also designed Tokyo’s famous Nihonbashi and Nijūbashi. Here in Nakatōjinmachi, traditional wooden merchant houses with storehouse architecture still remain. It’s a neighborhood that really captures the atmosphere of old Kumamoto. What you see here—Roots Purely— is a renovated historical house. It has been transformed into a commercial facility featuring organic groceries, clothing, and a restaurant. Doesn’t it have such a creative and artistic vibe? Now, this wooden building here—what was the purpose of the brick wall? It used to be a store that handled oil, and to prevent fires from spreading, they built this wall to keep fire from reaching the neighboring house. Seeing that it’s still standing today, it seems the wall served its purpose well. The cafes inside these old houses also have such a nice atmosphere. And then my eyes caught a spring water spot. This spring is called “water of the castle town.” You really get a sense that this is a “city of water”! Just above it is Meihachi Bridge, another work by that famous stonemason. As someone who loves walking through towns, exploring Nakatōjinmachi was truly a joyful experience for me. I returned to the hotel for a short rest, and then headed out again to have dinner. I heard there was a yatai (food stall) street nearby, so I came to a place called “Kumamoto Yatai Village.” As you can see, you can enjoy various types of shochu from different regions for just one coin, so it’s a perfect place to casually have a drink and enjoy the yatai atmosphere. Since it’s still early, there aren’t many people here yet. After wandering around indecisively, I finally chose a place and entered an izakaya with outdoor seating. Of course, you can eat Kumamoto cuisine in Tokyo too, but it’s when you eat local specialties while traveling that you really taste the real thing. So, I ordered an assorted plate of horse sashimi. And this is pickled gourd. It’s pickled hyotan (gourd)—very light and refreshing. This is yukhoe made with horse meat. Horse sashimi goes perfectly with Kyushu soy sauce, which is rich and slightly sweet. The horse meat doesn’t have a strong odor and has a chewy texture, so it feels very different from other meats and easy to eat. Of course, for those who aren’t used to raw meat, it might be a bit of a challenge, but once you try it, a whole new world of flavors might open up to you. If you ever come to Kumamoto, I highly recommend trying it. The yukhoe also just melts in your mouth. Since I live in Japan, this is a domestic trip for me, but I’m going to fully enjoy Kumamoto’s local specialties while I’m here! (laughs) Among the horse sashimi cuts, the lean meat was so good that I ordered more, and it goes perfectly with Kumamoto shochu. Then I also tried a croquette made with horse meat. The croquette—wow, it’s delicious. It’s filled with chunks of horse meat inside mashed potatoes. This is definitely a rare delicacy! (laughs) Maybe I was craving some carbs, but I suddenly wanted ramen. No, actually—I wanted to try Kumamoto ramen. So I stopped by “Kokutei,” one of Kumamoto’s top three ramen shops. Among Kyushu ramen, it has a unique personality. Kumamoto ramen, along with Hakata ramen, represents Kyushu ramen. Its base is pork bone broth, but it’s often blended with chicken stock, which makes the soup mild and less pungent. While savoring this regional ramen flavor, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal! The final day of the trip. Today, too, it’s drizzling. But the rainy scenery isn’t so bad either. (laughs) I’ve checked out, and now I’m heading to the airport. I’m walking through the underground passage of Sakuramachi, heading to the bus terminal. The terminal is well organized, and I was able to find the boarding area without getting lost. Our trip to Kumamoto happened to fall during the rainy season, so we spent more than half of our journey in the rain, but the beautiful natural scenery and delicious food made it a very enjoyable and fulfilling trip. The fact that it was our first time in Kumamoto probably helped, too~ We’ve arrived at the airport. On the opposite side of the domestic arrivals area, there’s an international arrivals area, but it looks like the shopping and restaurant areas are shared, even if the entrances are separate. Since we only got to try one of the top three ramen spots in Kumamoto, I really want to taste another one as well. Ajisen Ramen. Ajisen Ramen is known for its signature “Senmi oil,” a brown soup oil. It’s said to enhance the richness and flavor of the tonkotsu broth, creating a fragrant and savory pork-based soup. It’s really delicious. Was I just hungry? I wonder why it tasted so incredibly good… Now I’m waiting in the lounge with a glass of beer. That Ajisen Ramen was so tasty that I’ve started getting really curious about the last of the three famous ramen. There are a lot of instant ramen products sold at the airport, but of course, eating it locally tastes so much better. Kumamoto, with its clean water and beautiful mountains! From active volcanoes to delicious local dishes, horse sashimi, and ramen, this journey filled with nature and tradition comes to a close, and I head home with a strong desire to visit again someday. Thank you so much for watching until the very end! Thank you very much for watching until the very end!

🍱 자연, 전통, 맛의 조화! 규슈 구마모토에서의 3박 4일 여유로운 여행기입니다.
#일본여행브이로그 #구마모토자유여행 #일본시골여행

📍 1일차 – 시내 탐방과 먹방 시작!
– 도쿄 하네다공항 → 구마모토공항 도착
– 구마모토 시내 ‘사쿠라마치’ 도착, 호텔 체크인
– 하나바타광장 구경 & 아케이드 상점가 산책
– 바사시(말고기회)와 향토 요리로 저녁

📍 2일차 – 아소산 대자연 렌터카 여행
– 노면전차 → 구마모토역, 렌터카 픽업
– 오토바이 신사, 로컬 특산물 휴게소 방문
– 밀크로드 드라이브 🌿
– 아소산 전망대에서 절경 감상
– 현지 인기 맛집에서 아카우시덮밥과 우동
– 화산 박물관, 드넓은 초원 산책
– 화산 분화구 근처 탐방
– 맑고 차가운 시라카와수원에서 생수 체험
– 렌터카 반납 → 구마모토 시내 복귀
– 아카우시 야키니쿠로 저녁

📍 3일차 – 성과 전통 거리, 로컬 먹방
– 구마모토 명물 국물요리 ‘타이피엔’으로 점심
– 일본 3대 성, 구마모토성 관람
– 전통 가옥이 남아 있는 구시가지 산책
– 바사시, 말고기 요리로 저녁 만찬
– 구마모토 3대 라멘 맛집 방문

📍　4일차 – 마지막까지 맛있게!
– 공항으로 이동 → 마지막 라멘으로 마무리

🎥 구마모토 여행을 계획 중이라면,
이 영상 하나로 코스, 음식, 숨은 명소까지 모두 정리해드려요.

📌 타임라인 (영상 하이라이트)
00:00 인트로
00:48 구마모토로 출발
02:04 아소 쿠마모토 공항도착
03:07 사쿠라마치 버스 터미널
06:23 하나바타 광장
07:17 아케이드 상점가 둘러보기
12:11 바사시와 향토요리 맛보기
15:10 노면전차를 타고 구마모토역으로
17:13 휴게소 오츠
18:42 밀크로드
19:37 니시유노우라엔치 전망대
20:13 아소 스카이라인 전망대
21:14 다이칸보 일출 뷰 스폿
24:06 다이칸보 절경
26:35 아카우시돈 점심
30:08 광대한 푸른 초원 ‘쿠사센리 가하마’
32:58 웅장한 아소산 제1화구
35:54 분당 60톤의 물이 흘러나오는 ‘시라카와 수원’
40:51 구마모토역에서 노면 전차 타보기
42:50 구마모토 명물 아카우시 불고기 맛보기
45:29 구마모토 별미 ‘타이피엔’ 맛보기
48:22 일본 3대 성, 구마모토성 구경하기
54:50 특산물이 모두 한자리에! ‘사쿠라노바바 조사이엔’
56:02 옛가옥이 즐비한 ‘나카토진마치’ 동네 산책
59:19 구마모토 포장마차 거리
1:00:00 말고기와 바사시로 저녁 식사 @아마켄 3
1:02:40 꼭 먹어봐야 할 구마모토 라면 ‘쿠로테이’
1:04:07 이제 공항으로, 사쿠라마치 버스터미널
1:05:27 공항에서 마지막 구마모토 라멘 ‘아지센 공항점’

🍽 추천 맛집
Nana (Japanese Cuisine)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fxQ4Kp3YLwmKx7EWA
Meshino Yamaichi (Akaushidon)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/AcbcSY6HxuKkA2p5A
Cutca (Akaushi)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fBWHsuHhw8iVeDzv7
Korantei | Shimotōri (Taipien)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LmF2da16Wu5ej1Ti7
AMAKEN3
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LH5SW9WVS6yzospM6
Kokutei| Shimotōri (Kumamoto Ramen)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5TwnYNm8jxeRbPVn9
Ajisen x Keika Ramen | Aso Kumamoto Airport (Kumamoto Ramen)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WkuzPGpt4A7pZBP3A

🧳 구마모토 여행 팁
렌터카는 구마모토역에서 수령하면 동선이 깔끔해요
아소산은 오전에 가면 날씨 확률이 좋아요!
수원지에서 생수 마시는 경험, 꼭 해보세요 💧

💬 여러분의 구마모토 꿀팁도 댓글로 공유해주세요!

📷 촬영 장비
카메라: Nikon Z6III
렌즈: 탐론 28-75mm F2.8
보조 촬영: 아이폰 13

🎥 다른 여행 브이로그도 보러 오세요!
👉 도쿄 여행: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyI8QXTALJCpIG2pAiieLNd16_4XI7wrf
👉 오사카 여행: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyI8QXTALJCoTH7tZZhtDV2fQBlgzobDk
👉 오키나와 여행: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyI8QXTALJCr44TOXdOJ_OqWcmVjl6345
👉 일본 추천 여행지: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyI8QXTALJCqvs-Y8jC5gYqJlRrnlu_tm
👉 대만 여행: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyI8QXTALJCoEgcPnbbBSnG8IcsCsEsGl
👉 프랑스 여행: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyI8QXTALJCr9NhuVC5YijSeQGfYhebir
👉 태국 방콕 여행: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyI8QXTALJCpGEDuKGcPupGGTaL4EY4n8
👉 이탈리아 여행: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyI8QXTALJCrvuBAaDXZ2Jzr7dGVB5NnC

🎵 BGM 정보
사용 음악: Artlist 음원
가입 링크: https://artlist.io/LEE-3783075
(△ 링크를 통해 가입하면 추가 2개월 무료 혜택을 받을 수 있어요!)

😊 구독과 좋아요는 더 좋은 콘텐츠를 위한 힘이 됩니다 🙌
여행지 추천, 질문은 댓글로 남겨주세요!

#구마모토여행 #일본렌터카여행 #구마모토맛집 #일본먹방 #일본자연여행 #일본성탐방 #일본시골마을 #일본전통거리 #바사시 #아카우시 #구마모토라멘