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Tatsuda Shizen-kōen (; Tatsuda Nature Park; off Map; 344-6753; 4-610 Kurokami; admission ¥200; 8.30am-4.30pm, closed 29–31 Dec) contains ancient trees, bamboo groves and temple ruins. To get here, take a Kusushiro Saisen line bus from Kumamoto Kōtsū bus centre, get off at Tatsuda Shizen Kōen Iriguchi stop (¥190, 15 minutes) and walk 10 minutes.

Festivals & Events

Takigi Nō () Traditional performances at Suizenji-kōen are performed by torchlight on the first Saturday in August (from 6pm), usually in Kumamoto-jō.

Hi-no-kuni Matsuri (; Land of Fire Festival) Lights up Kumamoto with fireworks and dancing in mid-August.

Autumn festival From mid-October to early November Kumamoto-jō has its grand festival, with taiko drumming and cultural events.

Sleeping

BUDGET

Suizen-ji Youth Hostel (Map; 371-9193; fax 371-9218; 1-2-20 Hakuzan; dm member/nonmember ¥3045/3645; ) This clean five-room hostel, five minutes’ walk from JR Shin-Suizen-ji Station, has a 10pm curfew.

Youth PIA Kumamoto (Kumamoto Seinen-kaikan) (Map; 381-6221; fax 382-2715; 3-17-15 Suizenji; dm HI member ¥3045, nonmember ¥3600-4800; ) Ten minutes’ walk from JR Shin-Suizen-ji Station, dorms and private rooms are available with an 11pm curfew.

Minshuku Kajita (Map; /fax 353-1546; 1-2-7 Shinmachi; s/d ¥4000/7200; ) This small private inn with shared bathroom is clean and quiet. Look for the ‘Minshuku’ sign in English.

Toyoko Inn Karashima Kō-en (Map; 322-1045; fax 322-2045; 1-24 Kouyaima-machi; s/d ¥5145/7700; ) Cheap and cheerful, two tram stops from the castle and a few minutes’ walk from the bus station.

MIDRANGE & TOP END

JR Kyūshū Hotel Kumamoto (Map; 354-8000; www.jrhotelgroup.com/eng/hotel/eng150.htm; 3-15-15 Kasuga; s/tw ¥6900/12,600; ) Adjacent to JR Kumamoto Station; stop here if you have luggage and aren’t staying long.

Kumamoto Kōtsū Centre Hotel (Map; 326-8828; www.kyusanko.co.jp/hotel, in Japanese; 3-10 Sakuramachi; s/d/tr from ¥7500/16,000/19,500; ) A refurbished business hotel in a good location with excellent special rates online, if you can read Japanese. Rooms with LAN cable internet available.

Kumamoto Castle Hotel (Map; 326-3311; fax 326-3324; 4-2 Jōtō-machi; s/d/tw from ¥9345/17,850/16,800; Japanese-style r ¥31,500; ) Overlooking the castle, this upmarket hotel has formal service. Beautiful flower arrangements and artworks in the foyer make it popular with wedding parties. Make sure to request a castle-view room. Rooms have LAN cable internet facilities.

Maruko Hotel (Map; 353-1241; 11-10 Kamidōri-machi; s/tw with 2 meals from ¥12,600/19,600) A central, Japanese-style inn with a rooftop o-furo and good views. Look for the English sign inside the covered arcade.

Richmond Hotel Kumamoto Shinshigai (Map; 312-3511; 6-16 Shinshigai; s/d/tw from ¥13,000/19,000/23,000; ) You can’t beat the location, price and standard of this new hotel located in the heart of it all, with great-looking rooms with excellent amenities.

Hotel Nikko Kumamoto (Map; 211-1111; www.nikko-kumamoto.co.jp/english/en_index.html; 2-1 Kamitori-chō; s/d/tw from ¥17,325/43,890/31,185; ) Kumamoto’s premier hotel is adjacent to the Contemporary Art Museum. Rooms are spacious and comfortable with big bathrooms, high ceilings and city views, but way overpriced. LAN cable internet access is available.

Eating

Adventurous diners may want to try a bite of basashi (raw horsemeat), karashi-renkon (fried lotus root with mustard) or Higo-gyū (Higo beef). Sometimes whale meat is also served; this may be featured on the menu as kujira (), the Japanese word for whale.

Kōran-tei (Map; 352-7177; 5-26 Ansei-machi; meals from ¥735; lunch & dinner) In the Shimotōri arcade, opposite Daiei, this massive restaurant has an endless menu with a hi-mawari (changes daily) lunch special for ¥750.

Ramen Komurasaki (Map; 325-8972; 8-16 Kamidōri; meals from ¥900; lunch & dinner) This popular and fast rāmen joint is opposite Higo Bank in the arcade. Start with a plate of tender gyōza (¥400), then tuck