Hitoyoshi Craft Park Ishino Park

Just along National Route 219, the major highway connecting Kumamoto City and numerous prefectures across Kyushu, you’ll find Hitoyoshi Craft Park Ishino Park, a main stop inside the beloved roadside stop Michi-no-Eki Hitoyoshi (Roadside Station Hitoyoshi).

Inside is a full lineup of activities and fun for all ages including local specialty goods center, a spacious campground, and a playground for children. Craft-lovers will be happy to know there are as many as seven workshops to try, all highlighting unique folkcrafts that hail from Kumamoto Prefecture.

Head over to the Folk Craft Hall for a chance to try painting kijiuma (wooden pheasant-shaped toys) and hanatebako (decorative boxes), both traditional crafts of the Hitoyoshi-Kuma region. Following the outlines and filling in color is a straightforward delight that even young children can join.

A large highlight is the Blacksmith Workshop, drawing in guests looking to learn the entire process of knife-making from forging and hardening to tempering and sharpening under the guidance of skilled craftsmen. Creating your own santoku kitchen knife through this rare, hands-on experience will surely become a memorable keepsake of your time in Kumamoto.

Other activities include making pendants, straps, and glass art; crafting silver rings; creating ceramics through tatara or hand-molding methods; designing your own wooden chopsticks; and weaving bamboo crafts such as dragonflies or original baskets.