Setouchi Area Pass | Review by 周黛西

Kamitori, Kumamoto City Central Shopping Arcade

This shopping arcade is 600 meters long and 11 meters wide, with Ipe wood decking laid down the center of the walkway for a gentle, comfortable stroll. Surrounded by cultural attractions such as Kumamoto Castle, the Prefectural Museum of Art, the Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center, and the Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto, it is a popular stop for visitors exploring Kumamoto.

• Kumamoto
• Shopping Streets

On our first night in Kumamoto, we stayed at Onyado Nono. Kamitori Shopping Arcade was right next door, bustling with people and full of energy. There were all kinds of food, izakayas, drugstores, and fresh fruit and vegetable shops (how could we miss the sweet, juicy peaches and grapes this season? 🤤)
From City Hall, where Kamitori and Shimotori meet, you can see Kumamoto Castle in the distance. Its warm lights symbolize the resilient, gentle yet strong spirit of this city.

Yachiyoza

Yamaga is a town that flourished due to its distribution via water canals along the Kikuchi River, and as a hot springs resort during the Edo Period. A successful businessman at the time used these same resources to build Yachiyoza, a large style playhouse in 1910.

• Kumamoto
• Museums

I had barely finished seeing the belugas before flying to Fukuoka. My first stop on this return trip to Kyushu was Yamaga, a hot spring town full of Edo-period charm.
Yamaga is in northern Kumamoto Prefecture and is known for its hot springs, lantern festival, and century-old kabuki theater, Yachiyoza. Yachiyoza is not only a cultural symbol of Yamaga but also one of Japan's valuable examples of wooden theater architecture, renowned for its unique wooden structure and beautiful Japanese architectural style.
The theater retains many traditional features, including a revolving stage, rising platforms, brass chandeliers, box seating, and ceiling advertisements... I sat here for a long time, breathing in the scent of the wooden building. Closing my eyes, I could feel the theater's rise and fall over the years. Today, it hosts not only theatrical performances but also other cultural events. Across the street, Yume Kogura, converted from a white-walled storehouse, displays valuable items such as stage props and costumes.
The afternoon sun was hidden behind the clouds as I strolled leisurely through the streets and soaked my feet with Kumamon. Nice〜

Kotohira Grand Hotel, Sakura no Sho

Located near the approach to Kotohiragu Shrine, Kotohira Grand Hotel is very convenient for sightseeing. First, check out the hot spring baths that sooth your body from the fatigue after visiting the shrine. At the open-air bath overlooking the shrine, you’ll have an opportunity to relax in the beautiful scenery, a landscape that changes with each season.

• Kagawa
• Hotels

"Sakura no Sho" at Kotohira Grand Hotel is located beside the 22nd step of the approach to Kotohiragu Shrine. Walk down the hotel stairs and you’re right by the marine museum and the shopping street along the approach.
The front desk staff included a Taiwanese employee who gave us a warm welcome and helpful explanations. This time we booked one night with one meal and stayed in a Japanese-Western style room. As soon as we entered, we were impressed by how clean, tidy, comfortable, and bright it was. The view from the window was even more beautiful, like a natural painting right in front of us. If you’re heading to Kotohiragu Shrine, the hotel also offers free bamboo walking sticks to borrow at the entrance.
Dinner was Japanese cuisine, and the staff took great care of us. The food looked beautiful, smelled amazing, and tasted great too. It was a feast for both the camera and our appetites 😋
The open-air hot spring was wonderful. At night, the women’s bath had a "rose bath" filled with colorful roses. It made me feel pampered like a royal consort, relaxing in a luxurious, fragrant bath and washing away all my fatigue... Feels so good~