|
Originally Posted by mrwunrfl
(Post 17643251)
>> Yarimikan, in Kurokawa Onsen! It gets confusing!
apparently so Yup, definitely confusing! |
Japan Journey/KumamotoKumamoto
When I first planned the trip, I thought we’d stay here for 3 nights, but I was advised by someone who lives there that there really isn’t enough to do in that amount of time. 2 nights turned out to be just right. The city is a large train hub which made it good for us to stop here. It wasn’t my favorite stop, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. We stayed at Hotel Nikko Kumamoto with a fantastic view of the castle. The room was comfortable and service was very good, with a small breakfast room with a decent buffet. It’s well-regarded and very convenient. When we arrived by bus, I wasn’t sure where we were supposed to get off - but all of a sudden, there it was, and the bus stopped right by the entrance! A Guide and a Garden We met up with Tai, a volunteer guide. Japan has a wonderful system of volunteer guides in many of the cities through different organizations. Most of them are retirees. Tai was a civil servant and, at 83, is the oldest guide we’ve met so far! He had a great deal of enthusiasm for sharing his city. We visited the Suizenji Jojuen, the traditional Japanese garden begun in 1632 by the local lord. It’s a lovely garden and the pond is fed by spring water from Mt. Aso. We passed a small antique shop just outside the entrance to the garden, where I saw a wonderful collection of Kokeshi dolls (a traditional toy, though not typical of Kyushu). Of course, I had to get one (and only one). I bought the smallest one sitting in the front as it was the lightest to carry. Kumamoto castle Constructed in 1607, Kumamoto castle was once a premier castle along with Matsumoto and Himeji, with large castle grounds and a variety of buildings, although it had undergone many restorations over the the years and few, if any, buildings remain intact. In 2016, the castle suffered significant damage due to a major earthquake, and only reopened to the public in 2021 for visits. It’s expected to take 28 years to fully restore the castle. We enjoyed our walk with Tai, and his knowledge and passion made the experience more meaningful. He talked about how he hadn’t had a particular interest in the castle until he started volunteering, but it became important for him to convey the history to visitors. And so he learned. |
|
Suizenji Jojuen
A small but lovely park https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0103eacec.jpeg Kumamoto, Kumamoto's famous mascot at the entrance to the garden https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a007f7e5b.jpeg The Kokeshi dolls - I bought the smallest one here. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e6af75d74.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e58c07b3a.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d9b320776.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...602136158.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2ddf3fde6.jpeg |
Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle suffered serious damage in the earthquakes of 2016. Many roof tiles fell, foundations were damaged, walls crumbled and entire structures collapsed. Five years later, in 2021, the interior of the castle's main keep was reopened to the public, but several other parts of the grounds, including the castle palace, remain off-limit. Major repair works are expected to continue on the castle grounds until around 2042. We really enjoyed our time with Tai, whose energy was impressive! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d4f4b272d.jpeg on our way by tram! https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...55e629bae.jpeg Kato Kiyomasa, builder of the castle. He’s sitting on a tiger, dressed in battle armor and wearing a nagaeboshi helmet. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a3a0792ad.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...155abc77a.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...20da7f90f.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...4115af33a.jpeg Tai the tour guide! https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1ab216d89.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...28a005436.jpeg Mini-shrine! https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f92793aa3.jpeg The interior of the castle is devoted to a range of historic exhibitions, but I particularly liked these illustrations of folk tales https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3536a82da.jpeg The interior of the castle is devoted to a range of historic exhibitions, but I particularly liked these illustrations of folk tales https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8aab92020.jpeg The interior of the castle is devoted to a range of historic exhibitions, but I particularly liked these illustrations of folk tales https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6630b7300.jpeg View from the castle https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...13ee19cc8.jpeg View from the castle https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...85f8dc96d.jpeg |
That's a really tall and pointy helmet! I guess they didn't have to worry about running under any power lines.... but with tree branches you'd have to be really careful.
|
Great photos. That garden was closed when I was there. Pretty sure I stayed at the same hotel. Got a good walk-up rate and checked in by delightful and pretty Sayuri.
|
I’ll do my best to return to this in a month or so when I’ve recuperated from my surgery!
|
All the best to your surgery and have a speedy recovery.
|
Good luck and hope all goes well for your surgery. You can dream about your next adventure as you recuperate!
|
Thanks, all! I’ll get back to you when I can! It’ll be a while, but I won’t forget!
|
Hi progol
Did you try the onsen at Yamamizuki? Is that the place with hot spring bathing in the stream? I just a booked a return stay at Miyama Sansou, a sister property next to Yamamizuki. Am thinking about going there for a soak before or after I check out of Miyama Sansou. I think I would stay at both but it seems that Yamamizuki doesn't accept solo guests. Am I correct to assume the dinner was amazing. Am toying with the idea of just booking for two. Given/assuming that the difference a solo stay and a couple stay is the cost of the meals for the second person maybe I would just ask for seconds of the stuff I like most. I just took a look and Yamamizuki won't book for one guest. Looks like the rooms had futons. At Miyama Sansou I saw that the room I booked solo would be 20% more for two. Yeah, it took me all that to realize that I sh/could just stay there for two nights at the solo rate and sleep in the same bed. Looks like it has both an indoor and outdoor private bath. |
Hi, mrwunrfl,
I’m not sure I understand your question about the bathing. The baths were certainly outdoors beside the hot springs that I assume are fed by them but we didn’t go directly into the stream. They were similar to the ones in Yarimikan that we went to last year. There are also indoor baths. Oh, and yes, the dinners were wonderful! Quite the experience! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...cea035daa.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...52f05da2f.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7f1faa6b6.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...323d879c3.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...56065f257.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f85ef7cfe.jpeg |
Great fotos. Is that horsu shown in the 4th photo or maybe it is one of the sashimi bits? That is Kumamoto-ken.
I thought the Yama Mizuki hot spring and bath was in the stream. But they are next to a stream, not in it. Maybe these photos look familiar to you: Hot Springs|Kurokawa Onsen Ryokan Mt. Mizuki Official Site [Aso, Kumamoto] Got there by clicking around the site for Miyama Sanso (which is somehow aka Fukuyama Sanso). Therefore, while "mountain dogwood" is the literal translation, "a symbol that cherishes nature and comfort" effectively conveys the spirit and meaning behind the name Yamamizuki in the context of the ryokan. Therefore, Miyama Sanso can be understood as:
|
Hi, mrwunrfl,
My apologies for the delay in responding! We were in the middle of visiting family and have just gotten back home (can relax a bit now!). I don't believe we had any horse at the ryokan, though I can't tell you for sure! But I can upload the menu! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d4f97c9908.jpg Thank you for the link to the Kurokawa Onsen site! Yes, I definitely recognized the women's open air bath and the women's indoor bath, both of which I happily immersed myself in!! The walk along the path to the outdoor bath was more of a run during the cool mornings! And I was surprised how far from the showers the actual onset was! Sigh, a wonderful memory. https://yamamizuki.com/spa/ |
Thanks! Google sez:
Higo beef is a local specialty beef from the Kumamoto area of Japan, known for its low-fat content and being a local specialty. It is a strain of Japanese Brown cattle, developed in Kumamoto by crossbreeding with Korean, Simmental, and Devon cattle. Here is the menu translation followed by a photo I saw on yahoo this morning. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...95245f2772.jpg no horsu https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...90b07ae511.jpg random photo |
mrw, Basashi is usually served raw. We had it on two occasions and one of them was in Sanga ryokan in Kurokawa, I guess a specialty in the Kumamoto area. The other ryokan we were served that was Osenkaku in the mountains. They also served bear meat at Osenkaku. Linda did not eat the meats on that stay lol.
Aloha! |
It is a specialty in Kumamoto-ken. Had some in a hotel ryokan Aso years ago. Kind of like fugu in that there is not much going for it beyond the curiosity factor. Bear might at least have a memorable flavor, like it or not? Sanga looked nice (from your link in other thread). I will return to Miyama Sanso in K.O. about a week before you go back to Sanga.
|
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:16 PM. |