A pilgrimage to Kumamon Square in Kumamoto! As soon as you enter, you’re welcomed by an adorable statue of Director Kumamon at the entrance. His shiny black body and signature red cheeks are incredibly charming. Inside, you can see the director’s office, along with plenty of exclusive Kumamon merchandise and special sweets. If you’re lucky and time your visit well, you can even see Director Kumamon perform in person. It’s a popular photo spot that you definitely shouldn’t miss on an independent trip to Kumamoto!
Kumamon Square | Review by Ming Yu
Other Reviews by Ming Yu
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Yufuin Floral Village
A compact theme park that recreates the streetscapes of the Cotswolds region in the UK, known as a filming location for the movie “Harry Potter,” with a magical, fairytale-like atmosphere that feels like you’ve stepped into a storybook. Inside the park, beautiful plants bloom throughout the seasons, and paths lined with stone cottages continue on, with plenty of photo spots scattered throughout.
Visiting Yufuin Floral Village in Yufuin, Oita Prefecture, you’ll find charming yellow cottages and a European fairytale-style countryside atmosphere!
The unique shops lining both sides of the street display all kinds of popular anime and picture-book merchandise, including beautifully made plush toys, bags, and keychains featuring classic Studio Ghibli characters from My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service. There’s also a dedicated Moomin shop selling a variety of cute bags, umbrellas, clothing, and accessories. Strolling and shopping through streets that feel like a fairytale world makes this an extremely popular photo and shopping spot that you definitely shouldn’t miss when visiting Yufuin!
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Takachiho Gorge
Takachiho Gorge is a narrow v-shaped chasm made over thousands of years by the Gokase River’s erosion of Mt. Aso’s volcanic rock. This spectacular place is surrounded by cliffs that average 80 meters in height (reaching up to 100 meters) and extend along for 7 kilometers. Takachiho Gorge has been designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.
Visiting the famous natural wonder of Takachiho Gorge in Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture, you can witness the breathtaking columnar-jointed gorge and spectacular waterfalls in person!
The swift, clear Gokase River runs between towering volcanic lava cliffs, while the famous Manai Falls cascades from above directly into the emerald-green gorge. Walking along the trail beside the gorge, you can look down on the relaxing scene of small rowboats passing between the waterfall and cliffs. Renting a rowboat yourself is also highly recommended, letting you experience the spray from the waterfall up close and take in the grandeur of the V-shaped gorge. Filled with a mythical atmosphere and abundant negative ions, this nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument is something you absolutely shouldn’t miss when visiting Miyazaki in Kyushu!
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Aoshima Shrine
Aoshima is a small island of 1.5km in circumference, which is connected with a 150m-long bridge to the main island. The whole island is Aoshima Shrine’s ground. As a holy island, no one was allowed to visit here. The whole premises are covered with areca trees and other sub-tropical plants in a very Miyazaki-like tropical scenery.
Aoshima Shrine, located along Miyazaki Prefecture’s Nichinan Coast, uniquely sits on the small island of Aoshima, surrounded by the natural wonder known as the Devil’s Washboard! Inside the shrine, you can see the chozuya purification pavilion, which has a deeply sacred atmosphere and allows worshippers to wash their hands and purify themselves before entering the sacred grounds. The vivid vermilion main hall looks even more striking against the blue sky and surrounding tropical plants. Aoshima Shrine is famous for prayers for good relationships, matchmaking, and safe travel by land and sea. The grounds are also filled with prayer plaques and a variety of distinctive charms, making it an extremely popular matchmaking shrine and photo spot that you shouldn’t miss when visiting Miyazaki!
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