Kumamoto Castle is known for being one of the three great castles in Japan. Also known as Ginkgo Castle, the castle was built by Kato Kiyomasa in 1607. The castle's grounds cover about 980,000m², with the outer circumference being about 9 kilometers (at the time of construction). The castle is made up of curving stone walls, a castle keep consisting of 3 towers, 49 turrets, 18 turret gates, and 29 castle gates.

The main keep was destroyed in a fire during a civil war in 1877. The current keep was rebuilt by Kumamoto City in 1960.
The castle grounds are home to 800 cherry blossom trees of 3 different species: wild cherry blossoms, Higo cherry blossoms and Yoshino cherry blossoms. When these trees are in full bloom the castle park remains open at night and attracts over 100,000 visitors who come to see the beautiful flowers.

Hitoyoshi Onsen originated in 1910, and now there are more than 50 hot spring sources.
The spring quality is weak alkaline carbonate spring, which features the soft and smooth touch.
Alongside the Kikuchi River, there are a lot of accommodations with hot spring facilities that have different appealing points, Japanese cypress wood bath, open-air bath, masonry bath, and so on…
Moreover, you will find more than 20 public baths around the city, and local people recognize it as the place for relaxation and refreshment as well.

It’s been told that this shrine was initially founded in 806 A.D. The present shrine pavilions were constructed between 1609 and 1613 under the order of the region lord, Nagatsune Sagara.
On June 9th, 2008, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology designated this, Hiyoshi City’s highly-esteemed, Aoi Aso Shrine and its five pavilions (the two-storied gate, the front shrine, the votive offering hall, the tower, and the main shrine) as the National Treasures of Japan.

It is the first Important Cultural Property in Kumamoto Prefecture to receive a National Treasure designation and is also the southernmost building to receive this title in the entire Japan. It is the fifth National Treasure designation in all of Kyushu, which Kyushu has received for the first time in 55 years.

Kuma region is home to 90% of all of the shrines and temples in Kumamoto with the title of Important Cultural Properties given by the Japanese government and/or the prefectural government: this is includes Aoi Aso Shrine, which is considered to be one of the main ones of that example.

【Summary】
Aoi Aso Shrine was founded in 806 A.D. and has been regarded as the protector of the land by the people of Kuma district. During the medieval times, the shrine became the guardian god of the Sagara clan (the ruling family of Hitoyoshi Castle) who constructed the present shrine pavilions in the early Edo period. The architecture is in the Momoyama style; coated in black, with a steep thatched roof, richly colored, and decorated with detailed engravings and intricate patterns. The main shrine, the votive offering hall, and the front shrine are all connected as well.

【Value as a National Treasure】
　① The pavilions of Aoi Aso Shrine were successively constructed during the Keicho Era with an unified design all throughout and at a high degree of perfection.
　② Each shrine pavilion reflects a relatively unique design developed during the medieval period in Kuma. Yet, they all portray each of their magnificence by utilizing the decorative styles and flairs from the Momoyama period. This method eventually became a textbook model for the modern shrine and temple constructions throughout Kuma region.

In 2021, a new multi-function complex was born in the Hitoyoshi-Kuma region. Hassenba Hitoyoshi Kumagawa features attractions like Kuma River cruising and rafting, e-bike tours, as well as the first-ever Kyushu Pancake Cafe in Kumamoto and the HITO x KUMA STORE that offers local products from the southern part of the prefecture. The complex also houses a number of appealing shops. On the second floor, there's a bar with an open terrace that offers a view of the remains of Hitoyoshi Castle, and a meeting room designed by Eiji Mitooka, making it a new point of interest for tourists.

This facility was developed through a public-private partnership involving the national government, Kumamoto Prefecture, and Royal Caribbean as a hub for international cruise ships. It was completed in March 2020, designed to accommodate some of the world's largest cruise ships, with a capacity of around 220,000 tons.

Surrounding the terminal, there's a welcoming space for passengers and tourists alike, as well as a leisure area for local residents. This includes a unique park themed around Kumamon, the beloved mascot of Kumamoto, adding a charming touch to the visitor experience.