February 2026 was my first trip to Japan. I chose to visit Kumamoto because I wanted to see Japan's three great castles: Kumamoto Castle, Osaka Castle, and Nagoya Castle. I wanted to take my time visiting each one on foot and see their grandeur for myself. While walking uphill, you can see Kumamoto Castle undergoing repairs due to the Kumamoto earthquake that occurred in April 2016. According to the explanation, the stones are returned to their original positions rather than simply being used to fill any available hole. I guess this is what they call the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship!! Everyone is welcome to visit Kumamoto too, witness this historic engineering marvel, and experience its powerful impact in person!~~
Kumamoto Castle | Review by 禎禎
Other Reviews by 禎禎
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Kouri Beach
Located on Kouri Island, just across the Kouri Ohashi Bridge from Yagaji Island in Nago City, this beach features pristine white sand stretching on either side of the bridge, offering a scenic view of Kouri Ohashi Bridge itself.
This beach is located on Kouri Island. As soon as I crossed the bridge, the endless ocean and beach came into view. Being here made me feel as though I had let go of all the stress from the office. Looking at the deep blue coast and vast sky, I felt as if I had been healed. I hope you’ll like it too.
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Mihama Town Resort American Village
Mihama Town Resort American Village is a resort town located about 40 minutes by car from Naha Airport. See why the many families, couples and tourists trust this beach-side destination for the best variety of shops, eateries, natural hot springs, amusement stops and more.
When I went to Okinawa in June, I knew there would be fireworks every Saturday, so I deliberately scheduled a visit to American Village on Saturday afternoon. Although it can’t compare to a large theme park like Disney, it has the cheerful atmosphere of a Western-style amusement park. There are also lots of claw machines inside, as well as plenty of great places to eat, have fun, browse, and shop waiting for everyone to explore.
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Hokan-ji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda)
Located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, Hokan-ji is a Rinzai sect (Kennin-ji branch) temple most famous for its five-story pagoda, widely known as Yasaka no Tō. This iconic structure is one of Kyoto’s most recognizable landmarks. Legend points to the temples founding in 589 by Prince Shōtoku, with the current pagoda rebuilt in 1440 under Ashikaga Yoshinori. Designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
You can see it from Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka in Kyoto. It looks very different from what we’ve seen on TV. Seeing it in person, you’ll be amazed by its grandeur and how it stands there. It’s a very traditional Japanese-style structure, and you can see the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship in it. I highly recommend everyone take a walk around and see it.
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