WANG's Reviews Page 10/14

I sat down in the retro, nostalgic seating area and ordered their signature ramen with two egg yolks and chashu without hesitation. When the steaming bowl arrived, the first thing that caught my eye was the two raw egg yolks, paired with generous slices of thick-cut chashu and bright green scallions.
The soul of this bowl is the rich tonkotsu broth simmered by hand by the chef, along with Kurotei's signature black garlic oil. With the first big sip, the richness of the pork bone broth and the uniquely roasted garlic flavor of the black garlic oil blended perfectly in my mouth. It had incredible depth but was surprisingly easy to drink. After breaking the raw egg yolks and mixing them into the noodles, the thick, straight noodles soaked up the egg and rich broth, making them smooth and springy. Every bite was deeply satisfying!
I highly recommend adding Kurotei Main Store to your food list when visiting Kumamoto and trying this authentic, iconic Kumamoto ramen that has been fragrant for decades. I guarantee you'll keep thinking about it after just one taste!

This huge covered shopping arcade stretches for more than 500 meters and connects all the way through to Kamitori and Shinshigai, creating an all-weather shopping paradise where you don't have to worry about wind or rain. As soon as you enter Shimotori, both sides are lined with large department stores, drugstores, fashion shops, bookstores, chain electronics stores, and countless authentic izakayas and ramen shops. The colorful signs and lively crowds showcase the vibrant urban appeal of downtown Kumamoto.
During the day, you can leisurely shop and stock up on all kinds of Japanese drugstore products and household goods. At night, the area becomes even more beautiful and lively. The tempting aromas of charcoal-grilled skewers and local food fill the entire street. Just pick a local izakaya, walk in, order a cold drink, and enjoy some delicious Kumamoto horse sashimi or Japanese gyoza. It's incredibly relaxing.
I highly recommend adding Shimotori Shopping Arcade to your evening walking and dining list when visiting Kumamoto. Whether you're shopping or enjoying the authentic nightlife, you'll have such a good time that you won't want to return to your hotel!

As soon as you enter Josaien, the traditional Edo-style buildings make you feel as if you've instantly traveled back in time. The site is mainly divided into two areas. The livelier Wakuwakuza offers immersive historical experiences that provide a deeper understanding of Kumamoto Castle's past and local culture, while Sakuranokoji on the other side brings together nearly 20 long-established shops representing Kumamoto's local cuisine and specialty souvenirs.
As soon as you reach Sakuranokoji, the tempting aromas of local snacks fill the air. Whether it's freshly grilled Akaushi beef rice bowls, fragrant horse meat dishes, rich local Kumamoto ramen, or a variety of elegant wagashi and frozen treats, every shop makes you want to go in and try something. There is also a comprehensive selection of souvenirs, from popular sweets to limited-edition keepsakes, making it an easy and comfortable place to browse.
I highly recommend adding Sakuranobaba Josaien to your itinerary before or after visiting Kumamoto Castle. Not only can you enjoy authentic Kumamoto cuisine, but you can also buy plenty of distinctive souvenirs. It's definitely a must-visit place for great food, shopping, and photos!

When traveling to Kumamoto in Kyushu this time, I couldn't miss Kumamon Square, home base of the world's busiest and incredibly popular mascot! As soon as I reached the entrance and saw all the fans and the adorable manager cutouts, I instantly felt like a kid again, and my excitement went through the roof.
This isn't just Kumamon's official office, but also a shrine for fans from around the world. Inside, besides the warm and cute office desk area, the most irresistible part is the huge selection of exclusive Kumamon merchandise all around! From plush toys in all kinds of designs, stationery, and household goods to exclusive souvenirs available only here, everything was so cute that I wanted to put it all in my shopping basket.
If you time your visit right, you may even be lucky enough to attend the manager's meet-and-greet, the Kuma Stage. Watching Kumamon sway his round body while showing off surprisingly nimble, funny dance moves and interacting with the audience was almost unbearably cute. The laughter and cheers from adults and children hardly stopped.
I highly recommend adding Kumamon Square to your itinerary when visiting Kumamoto so you can experience this super-cute manager's unique charm in person. You're guaranteed to be in a good mood for the rest of the day!

On this trip to Kumamoto in Kyushu, I finally got to see Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan's three great castles, in person! As soon as I reached the castle grounds, I was overwhelmed by the massive, imposing black-and-white stone walls known as musha-gaeshi. Their curves are both beautiful and steep, and just standing beneath them, you can feel their powerful historical presence as defenses.
Although the castle suffered severe damage in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, after years of careful and persistent restoration, the main keep has now been perfectly restored to its former regal appearance. Inside the exhibition hall, historical artifacts and models are presented in a very modern and vivid way, telling in detail about the castle-building ingenuity of Kato Kiyomasa and its other successive lords, as well as the turbulent history of this renowned castle.
After making the tough climb to the observation deck on the top floor, the entire Kumamoto cityscape and the distant mountains suddenly spread out before me. The view was incredibly expansive. Besides the main keep, the restored large wooden historic buildings nearby, such as Sukiyamaru Niyou-no-Tsubo, are just as intricately crafted and give off an authentic Edo-period atmosphere.
I highly recommend putting Kumamoto Castle on your must-visit list when traveling to Kumamoto in Kyushu. Whether you come to see the magnificent black castle architecture or experience the resilience local people have shown in the face of disaster, it will definitely be a moving journey through history and culture!

Driving all the way up from the foot of the mountain along the winding Mt. Aso scenic road, the view outside gradually changed from dense green forest to a desolate volcanic lava plateau with a rugged beauty. When I reached the volcanic plaza at the summit, I could already see plumes of white smoke with a strong sulfur smell constantly rising from the Nakadake crater in the distance.
Looking down from the observation deck, the huge crater contained a surreal, dreamlike blue-green volcanic lake. Together with the occasional bursts of steam and rumbling sounds, it really felt like standing on the surface of another planet. The visual impact was incredibly powerful! Since Nakadake is an active volcano, be sure to check the official website for that day's volcanic gas alert level and access status before heading up. If you're lucky enough to visit on a day when it's open, standing close to the crater's edge and looking down into this eye of the earth is an unforgettable experience.
I highly recommend adding the Aso Nakadake Crater to your itinerary when taking a road trip through Kyushu and experiencing this magnificent natural wonder that feels truly alive and breathing!

The biggest advantage of this location is its excellent location, right on a corner of bustling Kokusai-dori Street (near Kencho-mae Station), so you can stop in anytime during your shopping trip and stock up. As soon as you walk in, the spacious, bright, neat, and comfortable interior feels completely different from the typical traditional drugstore packed with people. The aisles are very wide, so browsing with a shopping basket or cart doesn't feel cramped at all.

This information center is in an incredibly convenient location, right on Kokusai-dori, so you can stop in for help anytime while shopping. As soon as you enter, the friendly and professional staff (some counters even offer multilingual or Chinese-language assistance) warmly welcome you. They provide detailed bus schedules and sightseeing guides, and can also answer all kinds of questions about getting around the city, renting a car, or the day's weather and events.
For independent travelers, this is an extremely useful place to prepare before heading out and a reassuring haven. The walls often feature information about limited-time events known mostly to locals, maps of lesser-known dining spots, and even useful discount coupons for some facilities. I highly recommend stopping by the tourist information center when visiting Naha, especially if you've just arrived downtown or need to adjust your itinerary. Pick up a map and ask the local experts for their personal recommendations—it will definitely make the rest of your Okinawa trip smoother and bring more pleasant surprises!

Naha Kokusai-dori Shopping Street is an extremely popular shopping paradise known as Okinawa's “Miracle Mile”! The moment you step onto this straight street, which stretches for nearly two kilometers, you'll see souvenir shops, drugstores, izakayas, and trendy clothing stores lining both sides. Colorful signs mix with lively music, filling the air with a strong tropical vacation atmosphere.
Along Kokusai-dori, you'll find souvenir shops everywhere selling Okinawa-exclusive brown sugar cookies, purple sweet potato tarts, awamori, and adorable shisa merchandise. Every few steps, you can sample a different souvenir snack, making it hard to resist filling up your shopping basket. If you get tired from shopping, just duck into an authentic izakaya, order an ice-cold Orion beer, and enjoy it with freshly stir-fried goya champuru or grilled Ishigaki beef. It's one of life's great pleasures.
I especially recommend also stopping by the nearby Makishi Public Market, with its down-to-earth local atmosphere, or strolling through Heiwa-dori Shopping Street and Tsuboya-dori, both filled with retro Showa-era charm. You can discover even more handmade crafts and affordable food. Whether you want to go on a souvenir shopping spree or experience Okinawa's liveliest nightlife, Kokusai-dori is definitely a must-visit destination that never disappoints!

During my trip to Okinawa, I planned an itinerary full of awe-inspiring sights and local flavor, visiting one of the area's most iconic large theme parks, Okinawa World. Gyokusendo Cave in particular, hailed as one of the greatest wonders of the East, truly left me speechless at nature's incredible craftsmanship!
The moment I entered Gyokusendo Cave and descended into the underground limestone cavern, the temperature around me immediately became cool and comfortable. This five-kilometer-long underground cave was sculpted by nature over 300,000 years, and about one kilometer is currently open to visitors. Along the walkway, thousands upon thousands of oddly shaped stalactites and stalagmites surrounded me overhead and on all sides, along with underground rivers. Illuminated by lights, they looked mysterious and magnificent. The most breathtaking area was the “Dragon God Pond,” where the mirror-like water reflected massive limestone columns. It was so beautiful that it looked like a scene from a sci-fi movie.
After finishing the underground tour and returning above ground, the atmosphere of the entire park instantly shifted to one rich in traditional Ryukyuan culture. In the quaint village of traditional Ryukyuan houses, you can not only enjoy spectacular traditional Eisa drum and lion dance performances, but also try various local crafts.
I highly recommend adding Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave to your must-visit list when traveling to Okinawa. Whether you're seeing the magnificent natural wonders underground or experiencing the rich Ryukyuan culture, you're sure to come away with incredibly vivid and wonderful memories of the entire trip!