I prefer this mountain over Kuju and I went on Saturday February 21st after a storm on Thursday. The sunny weather made the now slushy and there was only one lift running so the line was a bit crowded. It was ¥4,300 for a 4 hour pass and just the skis and poles were ¥2,500 to rent (since I brought my own boots, helmet, goggles, gloves). Of course, you can rent everything including winter clothes. The choices of skis to rent were not great and the skis I was given were not great at carving. I forgot to tell the staff that I was an advanced skier and thus when I would try and do certain motions, my skis would pop off in an instant. This mountain is perfect for beginners and people who want to practice before hitting bigger mountains to the north. The groom isn’t too steep and the lift staff are very on top of things. For the more experienced skiers and snowboarders, this mountain doesn’t have too much to offer besides the groom filled with slow beginners, a mogul training area and some ramps/boxes for the brave hearted.

My January 2025 visit to this resort was a unique experience. Access involves parking in a lower lot and taking a 15-20 minute shuttle ride up a very narrow, winding mountain road. Once at the resort, you purchase lift tickets and, if needed, get fitted for ski boots downstairs before heading up to the ski area to pick up your skis. The service was excellent. The snow during my visit was a mix of natural and man-made, and only intermediate and advanced runs were open. Beginners should consider booking a ski instructor or heading to the more beginner friendly runs at Kuju resort. It's important to note that the resort website may not be up-to-date, so checking recent reviews is advisable to confirm operating status. A definite plus is the availability of 4-hour lift tickets at a significantly lower price than Kuju Resort. This came in clutch as I came here from Nagasaki via car ferry that morning. The resort food was also a highlight, especially the delicious chicken namban. Be aware that the resort closes early than normal.

Nice track and beautyfull view from the top mountain resort

Original snow, nice place for ski.

Beautifull place for snowboard and ski in South japan ❄🇯🇵

Beautiful place. Nice weather.

(Translated by Google) Although it was early summer seasonally, I was able to pass by because it was on the mountain climbing route. Visited on April 30th as a hiking trail and as a parking base for May 3rd. Is it open in winter? I'm sorry, but I don't know. There were maintenance workers and heavy equipment in the office and on the slopes, so it may only be available during the winter. The scenery can be said to be spectacular. (Original) 季節的には初夏ですが、登山ルート上にある為、通行させて頂きました。4/30に登山縦走と5/3登山駐車拠点として訪問。冬季営業しているか？はすみませんが不明。事務所とゲレンデには整備員、重機など居られましたので当然冬季限定かもしれません。景色の方は絶景と言えるでしょう。

A must-visit natural wonder in Kyushu — perfect for families and photo lovers! Takachiho Gorge is one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited in Japan. The walking path along the gorge is well maintained, making it a great experience for both adults and kids. You can enjoy stunning views of the cliffs, waterfalls, and lush greenery from multiple angles — it’s very photogenic, even from the ground level! The boat ride is definitely a bonus highlight, offering a unique view of the famous Manai Falls from the water. However, it’s quite hard to make an advance reservation, and same-day tickets can have a waiting time of up to 4 hours. If you want to try the boats, arrive early in the morning (around opening time) to secure a slot. For parking, I highly recommend Takachiho-kyo Dai San Ohashi Parking Lot (高千穂峡第3大橋駐車場). It’s free and provides a scenic walk to the gorge area — a perfect warm-up before you start exploring. Overall, this place is absolutely worth the trip — peaceful, scenic, and family-friendly. Even if you skip the boats, walking through the gorge and taking in the views is an unforgettable experience.

Do you like rivers? Do you like valleys? Do you like getting away from the big city? Do you like feeling secluded? This place is beautiful. It's not just the boat ride, there is so much to see. There are shrines, waterfalls, restaurants, etc. all in the area. The walk to boat's is a bit far so anticipate a good 20 minute walk. You can't actually row too far in the boats so don't worry, it's very safe and suitable for little children. Also, remember, TAKE A DEEP BREATH. smell the air. It's what real air smells like. :)

Chan Brothers Tour – 23 November 2025 After a delightful lunch at Aoshima Garden Dining, we continued our journey to explore the serene beauty of this region. The atmosphere was calm and refreshing, with gentle breezes carrying the scent of nature. Our next stop was a picturesque gorge, where the scenery unfolded like a painting—lush greenery, rugged cliffs, and the soothing sound of cascading water. We spent time near the little waterfalls, enjoying the tranquil rhythm of nature and even tried a bit of baiting along the clear streams. It was a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure, a reminder of how simple moments in nature can create lasting memories.

What an absolute wonder! One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen with my eyes. It's surreal to see it in real life and pictures just don't do this place justice. It is quite crowded with tourists but it's worth it. As usual if you get in early you'll beat most of the crowd. There's places to sit and enjoy food near the gorge which has a beautiful seating area with a pond and some huge fish. And I can't believe this was all free! Do yourself a favour if you're travelling through Japan you need to hire a car to really take in the beauty of this country. Half the fun is getting to the destination and being amazed by the scenery.

Beautiful. Feels like a step into a fantasy world. Lots of boats bumping into each other, so that doesn't look like much fun. And I'm inclined to believe that the view is better from up top too. And it's free, except for the parking. Also, the weather can be so unpredictable (in November). I wouldn't want to be booked/paid and be 'forced' to go when it's pouring with rain. Yesterday was miserable; today wonderful. Finding parking is a challenge. See my review where we parked.

Gorgeous place to visit. definitely will want a car to get there. if you don’t get a rental boat, don’t stress you can still admire the gorge without it. super pretty views. couple cute shops and places to eat. definitely recommend for a day trip if you can; i spent around 2-2.5 hours there and stayed in the area for the Kagura

Gorgeous! We missed out on the boats but honestly didn’t even feel like we needed it. Some of the most unique rock structures and a stunning gorge. We visited in autumn which seems to be the best time to see it with the maple leaves raining into the gorge with some great photo ops from the bridge overlooking the waterfall. The koi and chozame in the ponds are huge too!

Wonderful water fall

(Translated by Google) We took a boat ride and looked at Manai Falls from below. It was very impressive. You can make advance reservations from one week in advance. Boat reservations are mandatory during busy seasons. (Original) ボートに乗って真名井の滝を下から眺めました。大迫力でした。 1週間前から事前予約できます。繁忙期にはボート予約は必須です。

(Translated by Google) The first group from 7:30 in the busy season. I checked with the hotel the day before and heard that it would be full by around 7:40, so I went around 7:05, but it was full. I was underestimating Golden Week 5/5... orz😭 When the parking lot is full, the next parking lot you are directed to is the last place from the Manai Falls side of Takachiho Gorge (the second Araragi parking lot?), so you will have a hard time parking there. So even if you go early in the busy season, if it is crowded, it is better to give up and walk. It was difficult because it was the first time in decades to row a boat. 😅 I rowed and my family told me to go right or left, but I realized that I should row the way my family told me to just before returning to the pier. It's good to have an image of rowing a boat beforehand. 😆 However, there were other guests, so some boats ran aground and some went in the wrong direction, so it didn't go as I expected. 😆 However, you can see the waterfall up close, which is a different experience from seeing it from afar, so I recommend it. It was Golden Week, so the whole family managed to make a reservation as soon as reservations opened, but if you want to ride it for sure, I think it's better to go outside of peak season. 😅 It's 5,000 yen for 30 minutes during peak season, so it's a bit shabby. 😂 However, I think it's the cost of maintaining this environment, so yes! I'd be happy to go‼️🥰 (Original) 繁忙期の730からの第1陣。 前日までにホテルで確認し、740くらいには満車らしい、と聞いていて705くらいには行ったのですが満車でした。GW5/5を舐めてました…。orz😭 満車時に次に誘導される次の駐車場は高千穂峡の散策で言うと真名井の滝側からの最後の場所（第2あららぎ駐車場？）なので停めると大変な目に遭います。 なので繁忙期は早めに行っても混んでたら、潔く諦めて徒歩で向かう方が良いです。 ボートは何十年ぶり？で大変でした。😅 自分が漕いで、家人が右だ左だ言いますが、ほぼ船着場に戻る直前に家人の言う方のパドルを漕げば良いと気付きました。 ボート漕ぎの事前イメージはあると良いです。😆 ただ他の客も居ますので、座礁するボート、あらぬ方向に行くボートもあり、思った様には進みません。😆 ただ、滝を間近に見れるので、それはそれで遠くから見るのとは違う体験は出来るのでオススメです。 GWだったので、家族総出で予約開始とともにどうにか予約出来ましたが、確実に乗りたい場合は、繁忙期以外が良いと思います。😅 繁忙期は30分5000円なのでボロいですよね〜。😂 とは言え、この環境を維持するためのコストと思いますので、ハイ！喜んで‼️🥰

Must see place.

(Translated by Google) It's beautiful and worth a visit. You should also take a boat ride. The atmosphere on the boat is wonderful. The only downside is that parking at P3 and P4 is incredibly far. It's a tiring walk. Allow 30-40 minutes for the walk. (Original) สวยนะ คุ้มที่จะมา ควรพายเรือด้วย บรรยากาศในเรือคือดีมาก เสียอย่างเดียว ที่จอดรถ P3 P4 คือโครตไกลลลล เดินโครตเหนื่อย เผื่อเวลาไว้เลย 30-40 นาที สำหรับเดินไป

(Translated by Google) From the bus parking lot next to Zipang Charcoal Grilled Meat Jelly, it's about a 30-minute walk one way to the canyon entrance. The scenery along the way is very beautiful. If elderly people have difficulty going up and down the slopes, they can take a taxi (700 yen one way). However, if possible, it's recommended to walk. The autumn leaves are already in bloom, and you can enjoy the canyon views along the way. (Original) 從Zipang 炭火焼肉ジパング旁巴士停車場往(峽谷入口)走，單趟約半小時，一路風景非常漂亮，如果有長者膝蓋沒辦法上下坡，也可以搭計程車(單趟700円) 但可以的話，還是建議盡量自己走，目前已有紅葉，一路也可以看峽谷

(Translated by Google) There are a lot of Chinese people. It's hard to find a parking space. (Original) 中国人多し。 駐車場もなかなか空きません。

Forbidden to tattoo foreigners. For local rules reasons …. Whatever that means Got EV charger! #timetowakeupjpn

I go to this onsen quite often. The water is great. Nice outdoor baths over looking the river. The sauna they have is good. And the cold water bath is super deep! One of the hot water baths is also really deep!

Great outside and inside facility. I go regularly and feel great. It is not tattoo friendly, but covering small tattoos doesn’t seem to bother anyone.

Nice indoor, outdoor bath and sauna. Good quality water which leaves your skin soft and your body relaxed.

Water temperature is just perfect 👌. The rooms are a bit small though. Family bath is 2300 yen.

足湯は無料♪ Lucky( ^-^)ノ∠※。.:*:・'°☆

(Translated by Google) The scenery is very nice, and the forest scenery changes with the seasons, which is very relaxing. The menu at the restaurant is plentiful and delicious, and there is also a well-stocked store selling souvenirs and locally produced foods. I wondered why there was a roadside station in such a place, but Japan's tallest stone steps are relatively close by, and it seemed like there were many tourists, not just locals, who were driving or touring. The hot spring was also very pleasant, but I felt that it was a little small considering the large site. It was a bit disappointing that there were so many customers. (Original) 景観がとても良く、季節によって森の景色もかわりとても安らぎます。食堂のメニューも豊富で美味しく、土産物や地産地消の食料品などの売り場も充実してました。こんな所に道の駅が、、と思いますが、日本一の石段が比較的近くにあり、地元民だけでなく、ドライブやツーリングなど観光客も多そうな感じでした。温泉もとても気持ちよかったですが、広い敷地の割にやや温泉は狭かったかなという印象でした。お客さんも多いのでそこはちょっと残念でした。

A beautiful and well-maintained Japanese garden, offering a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. The landscape is carefully designed, featuring a large pond, traditional tea houses, and a miniature representation of the Tokaido road, including a small Mt. Fuji. The garden reflects the beauty of Japanese aesthetics, with seasonal flowers adding to its charm. The entrance fee is 400 yen as of March 2025. A great spot to take a relaxing stroll, enjoy and admire the harmony of nature. Enjoy 😎🙏🧘🧘‍♀️

Visited on a rainy morning so enjoyed a quieter atmosphere with fewer tourists. A lovely Japanese garden with two shrines and many stores inside, but not that different from otherJapanese gardens if you had visited them elsewhere.

A very nice and quite beautiful park overall. The scenery is lovely and it’s a pleasant place to walk around, but it does feel a bit small for the 400 yen entrance fee. It’s also a shame to see some buildings inside that are run-down or closed — they clearly have a lot of potential if restored. Still, it’s an enjoyable visit, just not as impressive as it could be.

I went here to relax after a long day. It’s a quiet park with lots of benches around the lake. There aren’t many people around. There’s a shrine inside and some small torii gates. The lake has a lot of fish as well. I saw many cherry trees, so this park must be even more beautiful during cherry blossom season. Entrance fee for adult is 400yen.

A very well-preserved garden. You can also enjoy the “water of longevity” inside the shrine in the garden.

It is a place you would like to enjoy, quiet. Not too many people, enjoy the peace and meditation. But for some people maybe boring, but it is only 10-15 minutes by tram, it worth to go in my opinion.

A beautiful garden with a shrine inside. It was very quiet with few visitors on a weekday, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy the views

We had a fun visit at this adorable zoo! The variety of animals was just right, with highlights including cute alpacas and a number of bears. But the real entertainment was the pig race - hilarious and entertaining! The animal show was also super cute and engaging. Overall, a fun visit to a zoo that's perfect for families with kids.

The place is slightly rundown for this ticket price, there isn’t a huge variety of animals but it’s got some cute events like the pig race.

When approaching, the entry building looks nice and modern, but after entry into the zoo territory most buildings look old and worn down. Many of the animals you are not supposed to touch are placed in ways where they are easy to reach out to and pet, we didn’t do that but we have seen other people do exactly that. A lot of things and activities require additional payment on site and the payment methods are often very confusing. Some of the animals like the bears are kept in pretty dirty and uncared for enclosures. Those same bears and some of other animals look sick, unfed and dirty. The animals actually allowed to touch and pet are afraid and annoyed by people visiting, for those same animals there are no workers to control how the visitors act with the animals, that caused a lot of those animals to be treated badly by other visitors right in front of our eyes. Some of the animals don’t look as bad as the others, but that doesn’t make the overall experience any better. When we have visited the zoo it was cloudy, but in sunny weather there is no place to hide from the sun and heat. The only beautiful thing was the recreation of a traditional Japanese Pagoda in the middle of an artificial pond. Don’t ever visit this zoo, all you do is pay them money for this terrible experience! Instead visit the hiking trails around the volcano, they are much more interesting and really worth your time!

The enclosures at Aso Cuddly Dominion Park are not suitable for the animals. The bears have far too little space, and the entire area is gray and concrete with no greenery at all. Overall, all the animals look neither healthy nor happy. Additionally, the petting experience is likely not always comfortable for the animals.

The state at which the bears are caged in, are pretty much inhumane. The cages are way too small, and the animals pretty much all look like they have lost all hope in life.. Mostly pacing up and down in their prison cell and some are frantically chewing on the cage bars.. I regret going...

Many animals to pet! The only reason is not 5 stars is because when you go to pet the bears you think you will get a little cub. They brought one really large cub, not small cuddly. It was heavy and constantly eating. It was half the size of the adults and it wasn't what you expected 🙃 still it was cool. I just think when you pay to pet the animal you should have a choice if you don't want to pet a big one and prefer a smaller one. My daughter went there excited and then she was terrified. Not ready for that. They will take photos for you but there were tears in every photo. 😢 So there was that. They have a nice selection of animals. And a show where they have birds of flight where they allow part of the audience to participate. That was fun. No photos allowed there, though, so just in memory. Lovely grounds and so nice to feed pet and interact with so many animals. Thank you for the nice experience. I recommend for families and anyone. Enjoy 😉 😘

Nice place to pay a visit with family! Cool zoo for kids. There is a helicopter tour service here for the Aso volcano, I personally recommend to take it a tour. Personal recommend: ★ ★ ★ Family-friendly: ★ ★ ★ Date for couples: ★ ★ Parking lot: ◯ Services/meals/products/design: ★ ★ Period for stay: 2-3 hours Charge: 6000 yen Baby room/accessible toilet: ◯ Cleanness: ★ ★ the toilet is really poor and not clean

I came here in the evening after visiting the castle. It is obviously built for tourists so prices can be a bit higher here. But also you will be able to find unique food like horse meat here, and also omiyage from the Kumamoto region. Was not crowded because I arrived quite late.

The food here is low quality and expensive. It is better to come here after having a meal at the nearby mall's food court. Definition of a tourist trap. But you can still enjoy the scenery and old aesthetic without buying any food. The Kumamoto Castle ticketing area is here too, you can buy tickets and ticket packages for the castle and museums. This area feels too commercialized, lacking many of the traditional feeling. You can also print a Kumamoto Castle coin with engraving for 630 yen

Not a big area. Mainly restaurants. One gift shop. Walking around here takes 10 mins unless you go for the VR or wearing costumes to walk around and take pictures. Enjoy the ancient feel with the architectural style.

Sakura-no-baba Josaien, a lively castle town square at the foot of Kumamoto Castle, where visitors can enjoy local cuisine, traditional crafts, and cultural performances.

One of nice spots to visit when you are visiting Kumamoto Castle, it is near the castle, and close to bus stop that will take you back to the town. Here, there are lots of local shops and restaurants.

Visited in July 2025 Back in the day, the site was a stable for the troops stationed in the castle. But now the days of horse transportation is long gone and it has been repurposed as a tourist center. The Wakuwakuza museum is inside the complex as well. Due to the absence of any real food courts or shopping centers nearby and around the castle area (the city's major shopping arcade is 500+ meters away), the price of the foods here are way more expensive, borderline tourist trap level even. That being said, there are some items I found interesting. For instance, there is one stall that sells anything horse meat, from croquette, sausage on skewer, and even sushi. Forgot to ask whether the latter is grilled or raw horse meat on sushi rice (seems to be on the former). Another sells some Kumamon-shaped cake with some filling. AFAIK there's one shuttle bus running between the place and Kumamoto Station.

This place could get busy at times, specially on weekend where there are many tourists but it is still tolerable. The place is nice and has different stores that offer food and drinks. I particularly love the matcha store there. Offers great variety of food and has available seats on the side. Local sellers are welcoming and very kind. At times, there are presentations in the morning and afternoon, I am not so sure about the schedule and if it is something seasonal. I believe local sellers are used to meeting foreigners and despite the fact that most of them dont speak English, they still try to be patient and warm. I have not tried the restaurants there but will try my best to visit it next time. Added some photos at night

The castle is quite beautiful, but so is many other castles around Japan. While the constructed elevated walkway does take away from the historic look and feel, it does however give a different vantage point to the ground path. There are still many spots where the earthquake damage is “preserved”. The tourist facilities are very well laid out and most staff can speak basic English, and restaurant and snacks stalls are a bit expensive but reasonable for a tourist spot. Worth a visit if you are already coming to Kumamoto, but I wouldn’t bother travelling long distance just to see the castle.

Kumamoto Castle looks beautiful from the outside and the reconstruction after the 2016 earthquake is impressive. Inside it feels modern, more like a museum about the castle than a place showing how it once looked. There are no traditional rooms or old interiors like in Himeji. There’s also a separate Castle Museum but it can be skipped since the main castle already explains most of the history and the rebuilding process. Great to see from the outside, but not the old Japan vibe I expected.

Admission fee 800yen for castle only. There is an app called the KumaCastle which they encouraged you to download. Very easy to use. U can use the app to scan the QR code in each station for a more thorough briefing. Learnt that this castle got affected by the earthquake on 2016 and restoration is still in progress. Looking at how they went on to preserve something so worthy of the effort is heartwarming. Not boring. It’s educational and it’s informative for both adults and kids.

Visiting Kumamoto Castle was one of the most peaceful and moving experiences of my trip to Japan. As I walked toward the castle, the grand black-and-white towers rose above the trees, standing proudly against the sky. Even from a distance, I could feel the strength and spirit of the place. Inside the castle grounds, time seemed to slow down. The stone walls, carefully rebuilt after the earthquake, carry stories of courage and endurance. I found myself pausing often—just to breathe in the quiet air and imagine what life was like centuries ago. It’s amazing how a place that has faced so much destruction can still stand with such dignity and grace. Walking along the pathways lined with old trees, I felt surrounded by both history and hope. The sunlight filtering through the leaves gave the whole place a warm glow, and for a moment, I felt completely at peace. There was no rush, no noise—only the soft sounds of the wind and my own footsteps. Kumamoto Castle reminded me that beauty often comes from strength, and peace can exist even after hardship. I left the castle feeling calm, inspired, and deeply grateful. It is more than just a historic site—it is a symbol of resilience and quiet power. If you ever visit Kumamoto, take time to stand still within those walls and let the spirit of the castle speak to you.

A very well preserved historical monument, and very cleverly and sensitively remodelled to include visual and static exhibits, including modern amenities like walking paths and ramps, and elevators and toilets. Becoming a user friendly and accessible place for everyone. The visual displays and video documentary present very detailed historical and rehabilitation backgrounds, making the visit very interesting and educational.

As the billboards make me believe, construction will carry on until the 2030s. Or even 2050s as another sign seems to say. While renovations are not a bad thing, I feel they could have been made less impactful for visitors. Even just walking around the castle is annoying. I am so glad that Kumamoto is only a stopover and we didn't come here for the castle. The late afternoon light, just before sunset, was quite lovely though. And the lights at night (from our hotel room) are nice too. (Last admission is 4pm, if you want to get inside.)

Very well-organised and easy to navigate. The staff, ticketing, and crowd flow were all managed smoothly, making the visit comfortable even with many visitors. The castle grounds are impressive and the restoration work is beautifully done. Worth a visit!

Located near the castle, this shrine is a peaceful and historically significant site, dedicated to Katō Kiyomasa, the samurai lord who built Kumamoto Castle in the early 17th century. It’s a quiet place to take a break from the crowds and enjoy a bit of history and culture. The atmosphere is serene, and the shrine grounds are well maintained. A good place to visit if you're already exploring the castle area.

a very wonderful shrine. vibrant color, beautiful trees, also offer a very special view of kumamoto castle. if you are luckier, you could observe the weeding ceremony being hold upstairs for the japanese. the tori gate and the tree is gorgeous

Kumamoto Castle was not open, but you can have a close look at this shrine nearby. It also has several Kumamoto bears.

Visited in 2.4.2025. Amazing view of Kumamoto castle from here. It sells cute Omamori and some beautiful golden plate of Kumamoto Castle. Super cute Kumamon in Samurai outfit. Toilet is clean.

A beautiful, quiet shrine with a view of Kumamoto Castle. It takes a bit of time to reach because of the ongoing renovations around the castle.

Nice and quiet place but maybe less attraction places have better photo spots for Kumamoto castle

Has a beautiful view of the castle, cherry blossoms leading up to it, and is available to visit during the evening as well for a good view of the illuminated castle. The shrine itself is also beautiful and they have nice goshuin.

Beautiful place and you can take time to just pause and breathe in the fresh air. There paragliding too.

Very windy here, great view though! Can’t believe volcano eruption is so powerful you can see the whole bowl shaped leveling caused by it

Most magnificent view in Kumamoto prefecture. I visited lots of national parks all over the world but this view is definitely comparable to them. If you come here in the early morning, you can enjoy a different atmosphere which I also liked.

The view from there and the driving way was just amazing! Super windy so prepare a but warmer clothes Parking was free It seemed some (or entire) area closes at 17:00

Beautiful natural scene . Highly recommend

Went for a stop on the way from Beppu to Kumamoto. Crowded during the weekends. Beautiful scenery on clear, sunny days. Must try the soft cream inside the store.

Worlds’ second largest caldera which was emerged due to the eruption of mount Aso (Volcano) 300,000years ago. 25km long and 18km wide.

Visited in late June 2025. Easy to find and big free parking. Need to buy tickets to cross bridge. 500yen per person. I didn’t want to go cross the bridge so I didn’t buy the tickets. I could only provide the car park and the shop there for your information.

Plenty of parking available with staff guiding you for efficiency. The bridge itself is narrow and if you’re a bit afraid of heights, the bridge does a slight sway near the ends of the bridge but you will be fine! The views were amazing I definitely recommend checking it out. There’s no real need to go all the way over as there’s nothing really on the other side. Before crossing the bridge, if you time it right, there should be a staff member who will take a photo for you and they will give a version for free and a clearer larger photo for a price.

Came on Sunday and it was raining. The tickets cost 5k yen each. Don a plastic over self and we braved that light rain and walked on the bridge. U can feel the suspension swing on the bridge. Beautiful scenery

If you are looking for a mix of adventure and breathtaking scenery, Kokonoe Suspension Bridge in Oita Prefecture is one for the books. It is indeed an incredible feat of engineering and yes, a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists. The bridge offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape—lush greenery during the spring and summer seasons and vibrant hues during the fall. I went there three times already, but the view never gets old. Crossing the bridge can be a challenge for those who are afraid of heights and can also be a bit daunting during the windy days when it swings. Nevertheless, it’s a worthwhile visit for nature enthusiasts and thrill-seekers. And yes... the burgers... I went there for the burgers, too. Don't forget to try one when you go there.

Very impressive pedestrian suspension bridge with fantastic views of the gorge & waterfalls. It is the highest of its kind in Japan. There are steps down to the waterfalls for a closer view and Onsen water foot baths at one end of the bridge. Overall a must-see if you’re in the area.

The view from this bridge is gorgeous. We visited this bridge with light rain but that's okay. The place is well-operated and taken good care of. The ticket is 500 yen per person. There're also toilets and souvenir shop. We recommended the local fruit gummy and drinking yoghurt from Yamanami Farm.

It's a calm and clean place that is famous for a picnic with family and friends. You can even see the snowy mountains at April.

Beppu Station (別府駅, Beppu-eki) is a passenger railway station located in the city of Beppu, Ōita Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu. A small station but convenient. Give you laidback vibes with surrounding areas and the view.

Accessible and convenient manned station with a taxi stand right outside and public toilets. Equipped with elevators and escalators so even if you have heavy luggage you won't struggle. The seaside exit leads you to the public hand bath.

Arrived at Beppu Station. A nice wall display inviting visitor when you step into the exit (entering the city). A hand washing station is available right outside the station.

Beppu Station is a train, bus, and taxi interchange in the city of Beppu. Compared to other city stations Beppu Station is quite small, though it's still very sizeable. The station is home to a Family Mart, shops, cafes, a tourist and a information area. Beppu Station also has a public bathroom you can use. When I caught the train here, I was able to redeem my JR Kyushu Rail pass and get a ticket on the iconic Limited Express Sonic train to Hakata, Fukuoka. The staff were so friendly and helpful, and we were able to communicate well. They also helped me to understand where my seat was, and where I could put my oversized luggage. Beppu Station is a great train station. Whether you're entering or leaving the great city of Beppu, you'll find everything you need here. Plus with the bus links, you'll be able to get to or from here with ease. Also for the eki stamp hunters out there, you can find Beppu's stamp in the ticket office next to the desks.

"It appeared that there were many overseas travelers at Beppu Station. I heard foreign languages from the countries where I had spent several years, and it was a nostalgic moment. I also enjoyed watching several limited express trains running in Kyushu. I had a chance to see the 'Aso Boy' for the first time. I hope the station will attract more travelers and provide memorable experiences for their travels from Japan and overseas".

Much smaller than other stations so easier to fi d where you need to go.

Cafe, food, coffee and reasonably priced souvenirs.

A Serene Weekend Escape Nestled in the peaceful countryside, Nabegataki Falls offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. I visited on a weekend, making the almost two-hour drive from Kumamoto City—a journey that, though a little long, felt like part of the adventure itself. The winding roads and scenic views along the way gradually melted away any lingering stress, setting the tone for what was to come. Upon arriving, I was immediately taken in by the sense of calm that surrounded the falls. The sound of cascading water mixed gently with the occasional laughter of visitors, both locals and tourists alike, creating a soft, joyful background without overwhelming the tranquility. Despite being a weekend, it wasn't crowded, allowing plenty of quiet moments to just sit, breathe, and soak in the beauty. The falls themselves are magical—you can even walk behind the curtain of water, feeling the cool mist on your skin. It’s an incredibly refreshing experience, almost like stepping into a hidden world. And with an entrance fee of just ¥300, it’s an accessible gem for anyone seeking a peaceful retreat into nature. If you're looking for a spot to unwind and reconnect with nature in Kumamoto Prefecture, Nabegataki Falls is well worth the drive.

Stunning location, apart from a steep decent the entire adventure is well paved and walking sticks are available at the entrance. You can descend into the waterfall area, the scenery is stunning and so picturesque. You can walk behind the waterfall but you may get dropped on. You can paddle your feet in the water at the base of the waterfall or I. The stream that follows. So many hidden beauty spots, even just up the path from the waterfall is a gentle stream with dragonflies dancing above. Well worth a visit and as 2 adults and one child we only paid ¥1200 which is £6. Little shop at the entrance and vending machines offer a choice of refreshments

One of the rare waterfall that you can walk behind the waterfall. A UNESCO site. Highly recommended to visit

Really cool waterfall and easy hike (more like a walk). Plenty of parking spaces, but the road to the area is verrrrry narrow in some sections.

Amazing waterfall. When we visited it was during the week so it wasn't too busy and we could get some good photos. The walk down is not difficult but has many stairs. It takes only about 5 mins to reach the falls from the car park. I would highly recommend visiting!

It’s closing to the Aso area, you could reach it easily when you were driving around Aso. The park is closed after 4:30pm, no highway is nearby, please make sure you have enough time to go if you decide to go after lunch. Quite a lot of visitors even weekdays, the parking was full while we were arrived at 4:00pm. The waterfall was amazing, clean and beautiful. The best time to come at morning during sunny day, you might catch the wonderful light through the trees.

Easy hike down. This waterfall is a must visit, you can trek behind the falls. Follow me on ig @shauneeie for more travel and food!

Beautiful autumn colours! Nice place to walk. There are lots of cafes and food joints at the nearby Yufuin Floral village and the surroundings. Very popular place.

Stay a night if you are aiming for that picturesque morning mist shot. I highly recommend going around the lake, not only to enjoy the clear waters and the koi fishes swimming near the surface. You can get various angles of the lake, and also get away from the throngs of people. I "caught" a visitor resting on a ledge above the small stream next to 下ん湯。 The crowd dissipates as I was halfway across the lake and I bumped into less than 5 people upon visiting Tenso Shrine and the public toilet that the signs around the lake directed you to. Yes, so if your aim was to find the public toilet from the signs, just walk in from the right side.

This is the main tourist attraction in the area. It’s about a 20min walk from the station straight towards the mountains then a right turn. Some of the cool cafes around the lake are not open on certain days so be careful. It is surprisingly much smaller than expected. There are fish and a small shrine but heavily crowded by tourists groups and visitors. There are tons of shops and food stands along the way. Most of which seem like tourist traps. we tried a couple food stalls and the food was subpar to the pictures on their marketing. Overall it’s fine but nothing amazing since. We had a much better time at our osen 👌

Great location for a picturesque shot. Can be crowded at times, but circling around the lake to the shrine may allow for a quieter escapade. If you manage to stay in Yufuin over the night, there's opportunities to visit as well, and it is absolutely tranquil then.

Lake Kinrin is in the pretty town of Yufuin with Mount Yufu as a stunning backdrop. We were there on Japan’s National Kimono Day & hired Kimono from Felice, run by a very friendly & welcome lady. She kitted us out & dressed us in traditional costumes of our choice, including hair adornment & footwear. It cost ¥6000 for the day.

Cozy little lake with great views and cafes nearby. Very lovely to walk around, admire the views, sketch and look at the herons and cormorants fish.

It’s fine - it’s a lake with a few interesting Japanese buildings nearby. A Tori gate in the water. It’d be adorable if 1000s of tourists don’t descend on this place like locusts. It’s very sad. They swarm the area, walking all over the grass and damaging everything off path. They’re all hogging the fences between the water and the path, trying to get that Instagram post with water birds in the background. Don’t come to the city just for this. You’ll be disappointed.

Start by taking a queue number at the reception. Then line up to select your order from the machines. Make payment there. Wait till your number is called by the reception prior to handing your meal tickets to them. This will be followed by getting timers from them and collecting your food. Followed the number indicated to head to the steamer area. Staff will hand you protective gear to insert the food into the steamer. When the timer rings, head back to collect the food. Extra costs for different types of sauces. Yuzu pepper sauce tasted good. Free seating. Credit card allowed. Free parking

Awesome unique experience. Glad i was there with few people, so when i arrived i was able.to order immediately. To my rush, i ordered a meal for 2 :( Steamed foods are fresh and taste good. My only critique is that eventhough i don't order meal with shrimp. It tasted and smells like shrimp. But overall i had fun experience here

Food was ok but the waiting time was long. First, you get a queue number. Then you order you food on the ticket machine. And you wait for you queue to be called. While purchasing the food, you need to purchase the mandatory basket for steaming 🤔. When your number is called, you present your food tickets and collect your food. Then proceed to the steam counters to have your food steam for 15 mins. Limited parking lots available and there isn't any paid parking nearby. For the novelty of steaming your own food, ok la. Otherwise, there's better food options around the area. 😉

That sounds like such a unique and fun dining experience! A restaurant where you can steam your own food using hot spring water is definitely something special. It combines the joy of cooking with the excitement of trying something new. The process of ordering from ahř⁶ vending machine, collecting your food, and then steaming it yourself adds a personal touch to the meal

Came on Sunday and parking was difficult. We made many turns and finally saw some people leaving the parking. We had to take a number which is 90mins wait. With that, we can order our meals and wait for our turn to collect food for steaming. I find the food alright. Prawns seemed over cooked.

Enjoyed this place where you can steam your own food with the geothermal steam from the hot spring. Just purchase the meal coupons (I ordered set 2 and 17) and a ¥40 steaming fee coupon from the vending machine and get a number from the reception. When your number is called, pass your meal coupons to the counter and they will prepare the ingredients for you. It’s free-seating so after securing your seat, you bring your tray of ingredients to the steaming area according to the number on the timer provided. There, the staff will guide you through the process of wearing thick gloves and steaming your food for about 15 mins. They provide salt and ponzu as complimentary condiments but if you prefer other condiments like sesame sauce, you’ll need to add additional ¥200 per sauce.

Love the steamed food here despite expecting the place to be gimmicky & mid, experience is definitely fun & interesting for visitors. Would definitely recommend to anyone coming to try their cheese fondue (16)!

It was a fascinating experience to explore various types of onsen all located within a nearby area. Each hot spring showcased unique characteristics—from mineral composition and water temperature to design and ambiance. Although the site is designated for observation and not for commercial use, it offers a rare opportunity to study and appreciate the natural and cultural richness of Japan’s onsen tradition. I was especially excited to learn about the geological factors that influence the formation of these hot springs and their reputed health benefits. This visit deepened my appreciation for the science and heritage behind Japan’s bathing culture. The parking was free of cost.

There are 7 hells in total - 5 clustered together and 2 a bit farther away. Each has its own unique character and a separate entrance. At the main hell you can either buy a ticket for all 7, a ticket for the 5 adjacent ones, or pay individually. We chose the third option. After nearly an hour at the first/main hell, the kids picked the alligator hell next. Visiting 2 hells felt more than enough for us 🤷‍♂️.

Pretty incredible and fascinating place! You can explore all 7 on a day, just need to take the bus between 2 sites. The combined ticket is good value if you can do all 7. The information desk has very friendly and helpful staff, good English too. One star less because of the conditions of the crocodiles and fishes... We enjoyed all the jigoku, had fun collecting stamps!

This was a total unexpected and super nice experience in Beppu. We did a road trip thru Kyushu and had a brief stop in Beppu and visit the seven hills, very nice and interesting place. If have time it’s interesting to visit

It was a wonderfull experience, visited 5 hells but couldn't manage to go to other two as these were far away. Package for all seven hells consted me 2200 yen from Beppu Station Tourist Information. Out of these five hells the first and fourth hells were so fascinating showcasung beautiful water and huge crocodiles. Only problem was heavy traffic from Beppu Station to the place and vice versa.

I was only able to visit Umi Jigoku since I had limited time. There were a lot of people but the place was big as to no overcrowding. I liked the onsens with steam, it was very different and enjoyable at the same time.

If coming in on a cruise get tickets at the port tourist information. If you are already there go to the left side of the main entrance and purchase tickets for all of the springs, which basically skips the long queue. The springs are worth checking out at least once.

The colour is very pretty! Has a large selection on their omiyage (gifts). I recommend going to this place. You get to see water lily garden, and the red hell. There's also greenhouse, but it's just very small section.

A short bus ride (20 mins, bus 41) from Beppu Station is Umi Jigoku hot springs. Too hot to swim and they describe it as “hell” as resembling what hell might be like. Lots of tourists and a good gift shop. Walk up to the Shrine and enjoy the green environment and ponds with water lillies.

Only this onsen is worth visiting in Beppu. The blue colour and steaming is stunning m. The place is well maintained and has a nice walking path around the pond. Honestly, the other hells are quite similar and not really worth the time, just go visit this one is enough.

One of our main itinerary points for this Japan-trip. Fascinating to see from our hotel balcony; awesome to see up close. A place I could gladly sit for hours and just soak up the scenery (sight, sound, smell). My only gripe is that there isn't any information (colour, temperature, minerals, ph-level, etc). But then again, there isn't one in Japanese either. Arrive early, beat the crowds. Free parking. Don't forget the red hell, which is also in this compound.

Of the three jigoku that we saw this was my favourite. Two beautiful springs to view but more importantly the hot foot bath, which fixed my very sore feet. We paid at each venue, as three was enough for us. If you are only doing one this might be the best. No lines, went straight in.

If on a time crunch in Beppu and need to choose between “Hells” to visit, I suggest this one. It has the largest Tiffany blue pool of the ones we visited. Has a stall selling small steamed cakes and a cafe on site serving light bites including the popular steamed pudding. In hindsight, would’ve sat down to have the steamed pudding here as the area is much wider with more seating thus tourists are spread further apart as compared to Kamado Jigoku. Beautiful pool and a nice foot bath with many available spaces to sit. Small towels are on sale in the gift shop on site for 300¥.

During our Fukuoka tour with Gogoday Travel, we visited Umi Jigoku as a backup stop and it turned out to be a wonderful surprise. The site is beautifully serene, featuring soothing blue hot springs that create a peaceful atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed the tranquil foot bath, which was both relaxing and refreshing after a day of sightseeing. The area is well maintained and offers great photo opportunities. Helen, our guide, provided insightful information about the site, adding to the overall experience. Umi Jigoku is highly recommended as a calm and unique destination worth visiting.

Nice fruits and vegetables with fair price. There are different kinds of みかん🍊for guests to have a try

Good place to stop and walk around

(Translated by Google) Other roadside stations are often open before closing time, but this one is closed if you arrive before opening time, so make sure to go after it opens. There are many small snack shops lined up, making it a fun place to visit during long holidays. There's also an area selling Kumamoto souvenirs, and Oguri Chaya, which serves meals and snacks. I had a chestnut and vanilla mixed soft serve there. It was refreshingly sweet and delicious. (Original) 他の道の駅は開店時間前でも割と開いていたりしますが、こちらは時間前に行ったら 開店していないので開店後に行って下さい。 小さな軽食店が軒を連ねていて連休中などは楽しいんじゃないでしょうか。 熊本のお土産品を集めた売り場や、お食事所と軽食を扱っている小栗茶屋もあります。 そちらで栗とバニラのミックスソフトをいただきました。 爽やかな甘さで美味しかったです。

(Translated by Google) We've changed our Satoyama cuisine "Dago Soup" to the up-and-coming "Akagyu" beef! Oguri's chestnut soft serve is also delicious here! ♡ '25/4/5 (Sat) ♏ Here! A suggestion. Menu improvement!! Change "Dago Soup" to "Jumbo Dago Soup" This will make the extra portion and serving size worth the 750 yen, making it a truly "Masimasi" (extra extra) menu! ♏ Mixing is a gamble!? It's effective for softening the strong flavor of the original ingredients (e.g., wasabi soft serve). However, if the ingredients are lightly seasoned, the vanilla (milk) ingredients can dilute the umami of both the ingredients and the soft serve, resulting in a mutually unsatisfactory outcome. In this case, the vanilla and chestnut flavors complement each other without compromising each other's individuality, creating a beautiful melody that I think is worthy of applause. *Since roadside station Kahoku Ogurigo is open 24 hours a day, please understand that meals, photography, etc. will be available during the trial run (preview) period on Wednesday, April 2nd. Today, you will only be able to stop by to get your stamp book filled. 🗾Kyushu & Okinawa Stamp Rally📙008 🚗Saturday, April 5, 2025 🕙9:52 PM ◀️Wednesday, April 2, 2025 🕞3:07 PM (📷️①) 🍦Vanilla & Chestnut Mix Soft Serve 450 yen [Petit Cafe Oguri no Ki] (📷️②) 🥩Mini Akagyudon Set Meal 1,600 yen 🥢Dago Soup Substitute 750 yen [Akagyu Shokudo Yokayoka] (📷️③) (^o^)／Stamp Book Stamping •••4/5 (📷️④) 🧑‍✈️Thank you very much to all our customers who used the service from "Roadside Station Asahishi, Asahishi Village Community Center, Ltd." Thank you for riding the Roadside Station Kyushu Fukukuma Line today. This service is a spring special train, visiting roadside stations in Kumamoto and Fukuoka prefectures for two days only. We will now move from Kumamoto to Fukuoka. We hope you will continue your ride and enjoy the ride. Our next stop is Tachibana Roadside Station. ♏« Roadside Station Tour: My Rules #8 »♏ ★★★Analog Collection Edition★★★ 🚗　ーPART 1 Clear Fileー 🚗 In a world where we can collect, manage, and view all kinds of data on our smartphones, I'm a staunch analog lover. Roadside station merchandise? The nine areas are color-coded (Kyushu and Okinawa are red), and the clear folders are organized by prefecture. Brochures, stamps, receipts, meal tickets, chopstick wrappers, shopping bags, wrapping paper, and more from the roadside stations I visited are carefully arranged and pasted into them. My goal is to create a bookshelf reminiscent of a library. (Original) 里山料理“だご汁”から、新進気鋭“あか牛” に衣替え！ここで味わってこその、小栗の マロンソフトもよかよか♡ ’25/４/５(土) ♏ハイ！提案です。メニューの改善です!! ”だご汁変更“→”ジャンボだご汁に変更“ これなら、増量も器も750円も納得の、 マシマシ(増し増し)メニューに変身だぁ!? ♏ミックスは博打!?元の素材の強味を 緩和させる為には有効(わさびソフト等) だが、素材の味付けが薄味の場合には、 バニラ(牛乳)成分が素材と自身の旨味も 薄めてしまい、共倒れ状態になる事も。 今回の場合は、バニラとマロンが互いの 個性を損なう事無く、旨味を尊重しあい 美しい旋律を完成させた、拍手喝采の 至極のミックスソフトだと想います。 ※『道の駅鹿北 小栗郷』は、24時間 スタンプ押印が可能なので、食事•撮影 等は試運転(下見)期間の４月２日(水)に 行い、本日はスタンプブック押印のみ の立ち寄りになっている事に、御理解 及び御了承をお願い致します。 🗾九州•沖縄 スタンプラリー📙008 🚗2025年４月５日(土) 🕙21時52分 ◀️2025年４月２日(水) 🕞15時07分 (📷️①) 🍦バニラ＆マロンミックスソフト 450円 【ぷちかふぇ おぐりの樹】(📷️②) 🥩ミニあか牛丼定食 1,600円 🥢だご汁変更 750円 【あか牛食堂 よかよか】(📷️③) (^o^)／スタンプブック押印•••4/5(📷️④) 🧑‍✈️『道の駅旭志 有限会社旭志村ふれあい センター』から御利用のお客様、大変 お疲れ様でございました。 本日は、「道の駅•九州 福熊線」御乗車 頂きまして、誠に有難うございます。 なお今回の運行は、春の臨時列車として 「熊本県」及び「福岡県」の道の駅を、 ２日間限定で訪問しております。道の駅 巡りは、これより熊本県から福岡県へと 移動して参ります。この後も引き続き 御乗車されてお楽しみ頂ければ幸いです。 次の停車駅は、『道の駅•たちばな』です。 ♏« 道の駅 巡り My ルール その８ »♏ ★★★アナログ•コレクション編★★★ 🚗　ーPART 1　クリアファイルー　🚗 スマホであらゆるデータを収集•管理• 閲覧が出来る現し世に、私は逆らう位の アナログ派である。道の駅グッズ？を ９つのエリア毎に色分け(九州•沖縄は赤) した県別のクリアファイルに、訪れた 道の駅のパンフレット,スタンプ,レシート ,食券,箸袋,レジ袋,包装紙等をバランス 良く配置して貼り付けています。図書館 の様な本棚の完成を目指しています。

(Translated by Google) 11/10/25 069 This was a long roadside station along Route 325. The parking lot was zoned. The restroom building was clean and had washlet toilets. There didn't seem to be any trash cans. The store was closed, so it's unclear what the store was like. (Original) 25/11/10 069 325号線沿いに有る横に長い道の駅でした。駐車場はゾーン分けされていました。トイレ棟はウオシュレットトイレで綺麗でした。ゴミ箱は無いようでした。店舗は時間外の為不明です。

(Translated by Google) The Akagyu beef bowl 🐃 looks delicious 🥸 This time of year, they also have chestnut parfaits and soft serve ice cream 🍦 😊 (Original) あか牛牛丼🐃美味しそうです🥸 この時期は栗を使ったパフェやソフトクリーム🍦もありました😊

(Translated by Google) October and November are chestnut season, so this roadside station is filled with chestnuts. There is also an abundance of other fruits, such as persimmons and mandarin oranges. (Original) 10～11月は栗のシーズンなので、この道の駅は栗づくしとなります。他にも渋柿やみかんなど果物が豊富になります。

I visited on the 8/11/24 and not much autumn foliage to be seen. Apparently the autumn foliage in Japan was delayed in 2024 by roughly a month. That being said I would suggest visiting from at least the 3rd week of November to see the autumn foliage. Other than the autumn foliage it's still a lovely place with tourist shops and a nice walk or two near the river.

Visited on November 11, 2023. Not sure if the autumn colors had not arrived or were gone, there was not much autumn to see though the small shops alongside the road are quite lovely.

I think it’s beautiful place in Autumn 🍂. I went there on spring on that time it’s only pretty geen. If you plan to travel there it’s better on September or October.

Beautiful, especially middle of november. Quite a lot of tourists, try to arrive early. We ate boar soup (shishi nabe) and deer on a stick (shika kushi). Lovely photo spot. Get in and out before 11.30am if you can.

It was alright if you’re passing by you can stop but nothing amazing in my opinion

Beautiful site of autumn leaves.

A good but tiny place to see the rocks. Park at the public one and walk for 10 minutes

Worth coming for the little stores that carries crafted goods. There are also stores that sold sake bottles.

This is like Kyoto that hasn’t been discovered yet. A quaint little heritage town that hasn’t gotten its fame, but the simplicity of its style has huge potentials in future growths.

Good for visit 1-2 hours.

It's a small market but has enough shops to look around and shop. It was interesting to watch traditional drum performance which was unexpected. It's quite a long performance but end of that, you can join the session that allows you to participate to play the drum under the performance team's instruction which I missed out.

We went here for the festival with lanterns on November 11, 2023. The evening is not typical on most days and I believe shops are closed at 5-6 pm. However, the street is a heritage area though the town is not well known.

It's not so crowded during weekdays. Most of the shops are selling souvenirs.

Nice old shopping street. Lots of shops selling wooden clog shoes. The Sui cheesecake roll is really good too!

It’s a unique experience, a small village in the middle of the mountains, all houses basically dedicated to the craft, you see then drying the products outside and the shops are inside their homes. Such a local feel, the price range is reasonable with some going cheaper and some more pricey. They got a small free local museum, all the stuff inside is in Japanese though but nice enough to look at. The parking lot by the museum isn’t the biggest, it was quite empty when I got there around 9:30 am but completely full when I left around 11 am. Guess it depends on season and weather but it doesn’t seem like there are any other parking spots around so I suggest arriving earlier if you’re driving :))

We went on a rainy day so we only went to two shops, but the potteries are so nice, we bought some beautiful tea cups. The shops are unattended and you need to ring the bell if you want to buy. They are professional craftsmen busy working in the workshops, not professional customer service employees, so don't be a jerk going in.

Am a potter hence wanted to visit this place to possibly make some ceramics or buy some unique pieces. However, there were probably only 4-5 shops that were opened, with many store owners being quite nonchalant and products were limited. Not as wide of a range as one would’ve expected. Interesting to still see how they pound the yellow clay using the force of the water. Love the cute (and only food store) soba and udon shop!

When art, tradition, and nature seamlessly fuse, the resulting uniqueness establishes an identity of its own. Originality can't be replicated nor transferred; it exclusively resides within the soul of the creator. This is what it is.

A village dedicated to pottery. Serene and tranquil, located in the middle of mountain and forest. Really nice walking in the village and admiring all the pottery items.

Caught bus from bus station worth doing for scenery and the really interesting story of the pottery village and how it’s made. Needless to say we purchased some pottery which is very reasonably priced.

Beautiful, quiet and a great range of high quality traditional pottery. Items are mostly 1000yen and up (each). If you know what you are interested in and need a beautiful addition to your tableware, you will find it here. Spend just under 10000yen on 5 items.

The show about Indigo was well curated. The gardens are well maintained.

There's a huge fountain in the center of the yard. Quiet and peachful just watching the beautiful yard and flower garden. The art museum is not very big, but the exhibition is quite good and them change themes from time to time, so there's always something new to see. Lovely place.

Mr.Obana, His "Chikugo River Series" (his masterpiece), "Sea Series" featuring the sea of Kunitachi Peninsula, "Music Series" in which he attempted to visualize sound, and "Red Series" in which he stripped down the form to the minimum are just a few of the highlights. Highly recommended.

The exhibition was not so impressive, but i could easily understand this museum plays an important role in the city.

Good museum, would be better with signage to parking which is shared with community center. Also no water fountain in building.

Lovely place to enjoy the well-kept garden and landscaping, the art museum and the library. The only problem is the limited parking space AND the dangerous turn you need to make to get in and out (library side parking).

This is a small museum located in Ishibashi Culture Center area. When I visited there, museum displayed Seiji Togo's works. Park like setting is very nice,

The most convenient soccer stadium in Japan, apparently, sand home ground of the Sagantosu soccer team. Definitely come and watch a game. I don't know if it happens for every game but there was a great festival in the neighboring park. Great atmosphere and activities for kids. Looking forward to the next game. Come and support Sagantosu!

Amazing experience for a soccer fan

GOOD

Good

Ok

good

Nice atmosphere.

Beautiful and big shrine. Lots of Omamori to choose from. They also have a goshuin stamp.

Historical place. Beautiful. Mesmerising.

beautiful

(Translated by Google) I stopped by Kotozaki Hachiman Shrine while passing by. It was a Hachiman Shrine filled with a very refreshing energy. Even though it was a weekday, there were many people visiting. The wind chimes scattered here and there were refreshing. (Original) 通りすがりに立ち寄らせて頂きました。琴崎八幡宮。とても清々しい氣に満ちた八幡宮でした。平日にも関わらず多くの方が参拝されていました。処々にある風鈴が清々しい。

Amazing shrine, really beautiful The whole walk around the shrine took us around 20 minutes

(Translated by Google) It's a shrine that really gives you a sense of nature. There are several free parking spaces nearby. I had business in Ube, so I visited because of the Wind Chime Festival. What impressed me the most was the variety of charms. They were all priced at 1,000 yen, and there was a wide selection, from cute to cool and sophisticated. (Original) 自然を感じる神社でした。無料駐車場も、近くに幾つもありました。 宇部に用事があったので、風鈴まつりとの事で伺いしました。 1番感心したのは、お守りの種類。大体千円設定で可愛いのから、かっこいいの、渋いのまで沢山ありました。

(Translated by Google) July 25, 2020 This shrine is popular for its many amulets, and is said to have the largest amulet sales volume in Japan. They offer almost any blessing, including love, career, sports, health, and more. The bus service goes directly to the entrance, and parking is easy to find for those driving by, with ample spaces. (Original) 25/07/30 有很多御守而受歡迎的神社，據說有日本最多的御守販賣，基本上想保佑的東西這邊都有，感情，事業，運動，健康以及其他不少。 公車直達門口，自駕停車場很好找，停車位也不少。

The Kanmon Strait is very pleasant on a sunny day. It's a historic site where significant events took place, and arriving there felt very moving. If you're passing through by bicycle, there's a small fee of 20 yen.

It is a transit from South Korea to Japan and vice versa, named kannmon strait. The surrounding looks wow.If you passing in night then it looks more good. The colour of lights catch your eyes. Plenty hotels are there. It's a lifetime experience. If anyone get chance then don't missed out. Kannmon Bridge also looking very good from my ship.

My ancestors put their mark on history here.

(Translated by Google) The weather was not good, it was snowing and raining, and walking across both sides of the Taiwan Strait made everything seem unreal. (Original) 天候不佳，下著雪雨，徒步穿越兩岸，一切都顯得不夠真實

(Translated by Google) Not to mention the spectacular scenery! In Japanese history! This strait is also the stage for various events! That's amazing! I wonder if Shimonoseki City and Kitakyushu City can't collect toll tax from foreign ships? (Original) 圧巻の景色風景もさる事ながら！ 日本の歴史上！様々出来事の舞台でもあるこの海峡！素晴らしいですね！ 下関市と北九州市で外国船舶から通行税を徴収できないのかなぁ？

(Translated by Google) The scenery is amazing! There are not only bridges but also tunnels that can be accessed on foot or by bicycle. Despite the scenery and hot history (the downfall of the Heike clan, Ganryu Island, the end of the Edo period), I get the impression that tourism resources are not being utilized effectively. There aren't many tourists (you can usually park in the free parking lot right away. Is Mojiko Retro only more famous?). (Original) 景色が最高! 橋だけでなくトンネルもあり、徒歩や自転車でも通行可能。 景色や熱い歴史（平家滅亡、巌流島、幕末）がある割に観光資源が有効に生かされていない印象。観光客は少ない（無料駐車場も大体すぐ止められる。門司港レトロのみの方が有名？)。

(Translated by Google) I walked from Shimonoseki through the tunnel to Moji, but it was quite a distance. I had planned to take the Retro Line to Moji, but it is closed from December to March and there is only one bus per hour. It is essential to check the public transportation schedule in an unfamiliar place. (Original) 下関から歩いてトンネルを通って門司まで歩きましたが結構な距離でした。門司側はレトロラインでの移動を予定していたのですけど12月から3月までは営業してないしバスは1時間に1本。知らない土地での公共交通機関の運行スケジュール確認は必須ですね。

Kanmon Bridge is a bridge connecting Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture. It opened on November 14, 1973, and is 1,068m long, and the height of the bridge is 61m from sea level. There are rest areas with good views on the north and south sides of the bridge.

If you are driving pass the bridge, would highly recommend to stop and enjoy the scenery land amazing architecture of the bridge. The stop area was located at Fukuoka prefecture side. Free parking are provided and there are also a restaurant to stop by.

A very beautiful place as well as surroundings. The authority always take of this places which is praiseworthy indeed.

suspension bridge that spans the Kanmon Strait, connecting the cities of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture and Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The bridge is a prominent landmark in the region and is widely regarded as one of the most impressive bridges in Japan. The bridge is approximately 1.2 kilometers long and stands at a height of 47 meters above the water. The view from the bridge is stunning, with the sparkling blue waters of the Kanmon Strait stretching out in all directions. On a clear day, you can even see as far as the island of Tsushima in the distance. One of the best ways to experience the Kanmon Bridge is by taking a leisurely drive across it. The road is smooth and well-maintained, and there are plenty of pull-off areas where you can stop and take in the view. There's also a pedestrian walkway on the bridge, which is a great option if you want to take your time and really soak in the scenery. Another popular way to experience the Kanmon Bridge is by taking a boat tour that passes underneath it. This is a great way to get a different perspective on the bridge and really appreciate its scale and grandeur. Overall, I would highly recommend a visit to the Kanmon Bridge if you're in the Fukuoka or Yamaguchi area. It's a beautiful and impressive structure that's definitely worth seeing in person

Although the weather was not really good, but the bridge is still beautiful and amazing.

Breathtaking views from Mekari parking bay. There's an observation deck. Lovely views, even during winter! We visited on 9 December.

went through under the bridge 4:00 AM on a ferry

Akama Jingu is a beautiful shrine is located on the stunning Kanmon Straits. The shrine is dedicated to the child emperor Antoku and other warriors who fell during the battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. The location also provides many other historical locations to explore near by and offers beautiful water front views, and restaurants.

Not many people seem to know the true charm of Akama at night. It may not shine as brightly as shrines in bigger cities, but here in Shimonoseki, there's a quiet, subtle beauty that lingers like a faint scent on the breeze. Under the dark sky, it glows with a deep red hue—soft, yet captivating. There’s no need for noise or lights. Just the sound of the sea breeze brushing past, and the stillness that gently wraps around you. As I strolled through the night, passing by this small yet majestic shrine, I found myself completely at peace— a rare moment to quietly walk, breathe, and simply think. I hope you, too, get to experience that kind of night.

A red-white shrine located close to the sea. The architecture is quite unique. The red & white contrasting color makes a pale pink sakura flower more beautiful. The sea view from the shrine is also stunning.

I visited the jingu at around 1pm, 8 May 2025. There were only a few visitors in the jingu, but there were some construction projects ongoing at that time. The complex is free to enter, and the buildings are brightly coloured in a traditional red hue. There is information about the history of the jingu, its relationship with Antoku Tenno and Hoichi the Earless.

Came to this jinja after a short ferry ride from the Kyushu/Mojikou Port side to the Honshu/Yamaguchi side of the beautiful Kanmon Straits. It's about a 10-15 minute walk from the Karato ferry landing dock. Beautiful red and white structures and s pretty cute of the Kanmonkyo Bridge as you head back towards the street. No fee to enter our to look around, but a gift shop awaits to separate you and your funds. We went on a weekday during the late morning/early afternoon. A nice stop if you are in the area. Recommended!

The shrine is kinda quite shiny and fabulous to us. It is nice to stop by and enjoy the beauty of shrine architecture and decoration.

Great Shinto shrine in Japan. This shrine has sacred atmosphere. Vivid colored shrine buildings are impressive!