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Sakuranobaba Josaien

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Sakuranobaba Josaien

A recreated Castletown streetscape full of Kumamoto’s best food and shopping.

4.17 5

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This multipurpose culture and tourism facility serves as an outdoor recreation of a Kumamoto Castle hill at the foot the mountain. Here you’ll find Kumamoto’s local gourmet, plenty of shopping and a chance to dive into the history of Kumamoto’s history.

At Cherryblossom Alley you’ll find 20 restaurants and shops featuring plenty of local Kumamoto delicacies like Aso Akagyu beef, Basashi and extremely fresh seafood dishes from Amakusa. From Ikinari Dango, Horse meet Menchi Katsu, Uni Korroke, Jintaiko Softserve and more to try. You can also pick up some local Kumamoto regional snacks, like Mustard Lotus Root, Kuma Shochu and more.

Wakuwakuza History and Cultural Experience is home to a number of Kumamoto Castle and town experiences to try. Inside you’ll find a remarkable recreation of Kumamoto Castle showing how it was in the Edo Period, as it was destroyed in the Kumamoto Earthquakes in stunning VR and an explanation to review the sights near Kumamoto Castle. The devastation and rebuilding of Kumamoto Castle is available to view via projection mapping, showing the effect of the Kumamoto earthquakes with sight and sound. On the second floor you’ll find showcases of Kumamoto’s history shown by movie and diorama. From hands on activities to endless attractions, there’s the chance to ride in a traditional cart or try on full-on ninja garb and more.

The riverfront air boasts a special Kumamoto castle samurai group performance that starts at 11:30am.

Highlights

  • Recreation of the Castletown streetscapes.
  • Plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants along Cherryblossom Alley.
  • At Wakuwakuza History and Cultural Experience you’ll find out more about Kumamoto Castle’s history and culture, and even have a chance to learn how the castle was devastated in the Kumamoto Earthquakes and rebuilt afterwards.
  • A general tourism information area is available with tips about Kumamoto City and Prefecture’s best destinations.

Photos

  • Packed with plenty of shops where you can try all of Kumamoto’s best regional eats at reasonable prices.

    Packed with plenty of shops where you can try all of Kumamoto’s best regional eats at reasonable prices.

  • Corner of the recreated castle town streets that sits at the foot of Kumamoto Castle.

    Corner of the recreated castle town streets that sits at the foot of Kumamoto Castle.

  • Wakuwakuza History and Cultural Experience.

    Wakuwakuza History and Cultural Experience.

  • Projection mapping of the destruction and rebuilding of Kumamoto Castle.

    Projection mapping of the destruction and rebuilding of Kumamoto Castle.

  • Famous spot to catch the cherryblossoms in spring.

    Famous spot to catch the cherryblossoms in spring.

Reviews

5

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • 周黛西
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    On the way up to Kato Shrine, you'll pass through a lively place—Sakuranobaba Josaien. This area is bustling with people. Many restaurants are scattered throughout, including famous local Kumamoto cuisine and branches of long-established traditional shops, allowing visitors to sample authentic horse sashimi, mustard-stuffed lotus root, and all kinds of local specialties in one place. The “Jindaiko Ice Cream” is made by Kumamoto's well-known confectionery shop Okashi no Kobai, combining the local specialty “Homare no Jindaiko” with rich milk to create soft-serve ice cream. I watched the staff skillfully cut the Jindaiko into small pieces and put them into the machine. Before long, a cold soft-serve cone appeared, blending a milky aroma with smooth red bean paste and soft, chewy mochi. It was sweet and smooth, perfect for a hot summer day.
    In the center of Josaien is a covered outdoor stage. From time to time, several performers dressed as samurai, known as the “Kumamoto Castle Hospitality Warlords,” weave through the crowd and kindly pose for photos with visitors. What left a strong impression on me was a charming “town girl” who spoke fluent Chinese and had a delightful conversation with some travelers who were also from Taiwan. At the Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza, visitors can explore the history of Kumamoto Castle through virtual reality tours and projection mapping experiences, take part in activities depicting everyday life during the Edo period and the lives of high-ranking officials and nobles, and uncover the secrets behind the castle's construction.
    Sakuranobaba Josaien has a fantastical feeling where past and present intersect, along with a nostalgic sense of traveling through time. It's a great place for the whole family to come and join the fun.

  • KEIKO
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    Sakuranobaba Josaien is a shopping street below Kumamoto Castle. You can buy Kumamoto souvenirs there, and there are also restaurants and food stalls. Samurai also perform for visitors at scheduled times. After visiting Kumamoto Castle, you can come down and stroll around.

  • 王小鈞
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    Don't rush off after visiting Kumamoto Castle. Sakuranobaba Josaien at the foot of the hill is well worth visiting at the same time!
    The entire complex was designed around the concept of an Edo-period castle town, with old-fashioned buildings lining both sides of the streets. Walking through it feels like you've traveled back to the Edo period. Although it isn't very large, it's fun to explore, eat snacks, and take photos along the way, and the atmosphere is quite relaxed.
    My favorite area was Sakura-no-koji, which has quite a few shops featuring Kumamoto specialties. You can buy souvenirs and enjoy food and drinks as you go, including sea urchin croquettes, Jindaiko ice cream, and Kumamoto's signature horse meat dishes.
    The complex also has Wakuwakuza, which introduces Kumamoto's history through interactive exhibits and is much more interesting than simply reading text. If you happen to catch a performance by the Kumamoto Castle Omotenashi Busho-tai, you can take photos with them too, making it a fun little experience unique to Kumamoto.
    I think it's best to include this with a visit to Kumamoto Castle. After climbing up to the castle and learning about its history, come to Josaien to eat, look around, and buy souvenirs.

  • 謝美鳳
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    They recreated the old castle town style there. The wooden buildings and tile roofs really make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s a great spot for photos with a lot of character.

  • 陳佳祐
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    Kumamoto Castle is still under restoration, so I just explored the nearby shopping street and tried some local Kumamoto food.

Details

Name in Japanese
桜の馬場 城彩苑
Postal Code
860-0008
Address
1-1 Ninomaru, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto
Telephone
Cherryblossom Alley: 096-288-5577
Wakuwakuza History and Experience: 096-223-5600
Closed
Cherryblossom Alley: always open.
Wakuwakuza History and Experience: End of Year
Business Hours
Shops: 9am to 7:00pm (until 6:00pm from Dec. to Feb.),
Restaurants: 11:00am to 7:00pm (until 8:00pm on weekends and day prior to national holidays. Reservation required for nighttime use.)
Wakuwakuza History and Experience: 9:00am to 5:30am (entry permitted until 5:00pm)
Admission
Free to stroll.
Wakuwakuza History and Experience: Adults: 300yen, Elementary/Middle-School Students: 100yen (Available by two-building pass bundled with Kumamoto Castle: Adults for 850yen, Elemengary/Middle-School Students for 300yen)
Access
1) From JR Kumamoto Station take the city electric car to Kumamoto-jo/Shiyakusho-mae and walk for 7 min.
2) From JR Kumamoto Station, Take the Kumamoto Castle Loop Bus and get off at Sakuranobaba Joisaien to arrive.
Credit Cards
Available in select places only. ※All shops along Cherryblossom Alley accept credit cards. (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, Discover, UnionPay)
Official Website
Official Website (English)
Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Hokuriku Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa