Exploring Kumamoto, Japan

On January 20, 2025, we were walking around Ninomaru Park in Kumamoto Castle. Sprinklers were watering the grass in the park. Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/XnUMPDhFE6zTQikT9 The watering was part of the lawn renewal work. We learned that this kind of tedious work is necessary to maintain a large lawn. I think that this walk was a wonderful field study for us. Watering Photos A whitish soil has been spread all over the square. If you get closer, you can see that it's also sprinkled with lots of small blue granules. After researching online, I found that the small blue granules appear to be granular fertilizer. This is a fertilizer developed in the US specifically for lawns.  

Within Kumamoto Castle, there is a shrine called "Kato Shrine" that enshrines Kato Kiyomasa, the samurai who built Kumamoto Castle. This is a photo of when we visited Kato Shrine on the morning of New Year's Day 2025. There weren't that many visitors, so we were able to take our time to finish our New Year's greetings. Date: January 2, 2025 Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/4DRn6ufkCSEPN5nd6 The next photo was taken in July of last year (2024) at the same location on an ordinary day. On a normal day, it can be a much quieter visit. Date: July 11, 2024 At the entrance to the shrine, there is a place to wash your hands called a "temizuya." During the New Year, the "temizuya" at Kato Shrine was covered in flowers and was very beautiful. At the entrance to the shrine office, Kumamon, the mascot character of Kumamoto Prefecture, dressed as a samurai, was welcoming visitors. The highlight of Kato Shrine is the view of Kumamoto Castle from up close. ...

The sun is setting and the lights are on in the shops in "Johsaien", near Kumamoto Castle . This place, which is usually bustling with foreign tourists, began to thin out as darkness fell. It seemed the last customers had just left. Just before dusk, when we went to the ginkgo tree on the east side of Johsaien, a carpet of fallen leaves had finally formed. We wrote "finally" because this photo was taken on December 23rd. Has it ever happened that late for all the ginkgo leaves to fall? I don't remember much about it. I took a photo of this late leaf fall as a record. Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/62AUFg1XaLZ8vg9w6 As We walked from Josaien to Ninomaru Park at Kumamoto Castle, We saw crows gathering around a large tree at the entrance to the Ninomaru parking lot. The next moment, a flock of crows that had been resting on the branches of a tree took off. We were surprised. The photo below was taken by chance. Not only did we, but the tourists walking nearby a...

We often stop by "SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto" when we go for a walk. SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto WebSite:  https://sakuramachi-kumamoto.jp/ Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/WxjibWuYpvRvB4WF9 December is a busy month everywhere, and Sakuramachi is no exception. Before the sun went down, we went up to the rooftop Sakura Machi Garden. Here at Sakuramachi Garden, we could still enjoy the autumn leaves. There are many illuminations here. At night, these are lit, creating a very beautiful space. After sunset there is a fee to enter this place due to an event, but before that you can walk freely. Standing at the place my wife showed me, I could see Kumamoto Castle in front of me. Kumamoto Castle seen from the rooftop garden. After dark, Kumamoto Castle is lit up and its appearance changes dramatically. This area is also a popular spot for crows to gather in the evening. When the sun sets, the crows return to the mountains as if they are going off to school in groups. We often see crows retur...

Hitoyoshi Station, located in Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, is home to a railroad museum named “Mozoca Station”. The steam locomotive “SL Hitoyoshi”, which was in service until March 2024, has been on display here since November 17, 2024. Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yg2totaW5Xd7UTrm9  On weekends, my wife and I used to watch the SL Hitoyoshi from the window of our house as it ran, whistling its whistle and belching smoke. When we heard that the retired SL Hitoyoshi was now on display at a museum, we went to see it together on a trip.   The locomotive number was “58654” and it was indeed that SL Hitoyoshi. The following is a video (in Japanese) of the SL Hitoyoshi taken in September 2023, when the train was in active service. The driver's crew was very service-oriented and waved at us as we took pictures with our cameras.    The wheel looks the opposite of a modern machine combined with delicate electronic components. It is precisely because of such a rob...

In the autumn of 2024, we went to Kirishima Hot Springs Village, located 600 meters above sea level in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. In mid-November, we expected to see the leaves all over, but we were wrong. The autumn leaves were not yet in full bloom. We stayed at Komatsu, a Traditional Japanese Hotel. Hotel Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/PYWTY6hB9AduuXHS8 With only six rooms, the hot spring hotel had a relaxed atmosphere. The room was equipped with both an indoor and outdoor hot spring bath, so we could enjoy the hot spring without worrying about who or what time it was. Since the inn is located in a hot spring resort in the mountains, the cuisine consisted mainly of wild vegetables and river fish. All were delicious. And the plates used were all wonderful. We enjoyed the dinner while enjoying the plates as well. The best dish for me was the appetizer. We made a video with the hot springs and food at the hotel.