This one-day course takes you around the charming central area of Yatsushiro City, where you can experience the rich cultural heritage of old Japan, with highlights such as the site of Yatsushiro Castle and Shohinken.

There are many historical and cultural spots to explore in Yatsushiro: Hinagu Onsen, beloved by the haiku poet Taneda Santoka; Gokanosho, where the legend of the Heike clan survives deep in the mountains; and Toyo Stone Takumi Museum, where you can learn about Taneyama stonemasonry. This course is easily accessible by public transportation, with spots located near train stations.

Yatsushiro is easy to get to via the Kyushu Shinkansen, Hisatsu Orange Railway, and Kyushu Expressway, making it a great destination for travelers.

In the midst of the picturesque countryside, you'll find the Kirari art installment in front of Shin-Yatsushiro Station. This stunning artwork is part of the Kumamoto Artpolis project.

The monument aims to create the illusion of being a lightweight structure made of paper, with its walls and roof made of special thin concrete. The interior, with its square openings, fills with sunlight, creating a bright and airy space where one can take a break and enjoy the breeze.

If you pay to enter either museum, you will receive a discount ticket that allows you to enter the other facility at a reduced price.

Take advantage of the discount and enjoy sightseeing with a great deal.

Thirty minutes by bus from Shin-Yatsushiro Station, the Yatsushiro Municipal Museum (aka the Mirai no Mori Museum) is in the center of Yatsushiro. It showcases various aspects of Yatsushiro's history and culture, from the belongings of the Matsui family who served as lords of Yatsushiro Castle, to artistic crafts such as Yatsushiro pottery (Koda yaki) and Miyaji washi paper. You’ll even find excavated items from ancient tombs (kofun) and castle ruins, items related to the Myoken Festival, and a model of the grounds of Yatsushiro Castle. The building, with its distinctive curves, is also a part of the Kumamoto Artpolis project and was designed by world-renowned architect Toyo Ito.

Left: Yatsushiro Castle was destroyed by lightning in 1672. This model shows what the restored towers and castle town were like at that time. The site of Yatsushiro Castle is located about 300 meters from the museum.

Right: These tsuba (sword guards) allow us to witness the craftsmanship of Higo Zogan.

In the free entrance hall area, you can see videos and a historical replica of the procession for the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Shohinken sits in front of the Yatsushiro Municipal Museum.

Shohinken is a tea house built in 1688 by Matsui Naoyuki, the third lord of Yatsushiro Castle. It is one of the three former feudal lord's villas, along with Kumamoto's Suizen-ji Joju-en and Yanagawa's Shotoen Garden.

The garden features a number of different miniature landscapes, with a spacious pond, elegantly arranged stones, a sculpted mountain, and scenery reminiscent of the Katsura Imperial Villa's Amanohashidate. Designated as a National Scenic Spot, Shohinken is a treasured early 17th century lord's garden that incorporates the sea and distant views.

From mid-May to early June, Higo Hanashobu, one of the local Higo Rokka flowers, are in full bloom. Shohinken is what a lord's garden would have looked like from the 17th to 19th centuries, and the Yatsushiro Chawanokai group offers authentic matcha to sip while you enjoy the beautiful flowers. When the Higo Hanashobu are in bloom, they serve matcha tea in the garden of Shohinken. The tea bowls used are Koda ware.

The central shopping street of Yatsushiro is a bustling hub located about 10 minutes away on foot from Shohinken. Stretching approximately 730 meters, this arcade is home to around 150 shops, mainly consisting of restaurants and clothing stores. With resting areas and plazas scattered throughout, it becomes a lively gathering spot during events like night markets, attracting people from both within and outside the city.

We're going to visit Mother Goose, a popular, old-fashioned establishment loved by the locals.

Left: Homemade dry curry set

Right: Old-fashioned naporitan spaghetti set

Both come with coffee or tea and are very reasonably priced.

Mother Goose was founded in 1979 and became famous for offering waffles, which were not well-known at the time. Even now, their waffles are quite popular.
They serve freshly grilled waffles to order that are delightfully crispy. They are topped with seasonal fruits such as apples, oranges, and kiwi, making for a satisfying and filling dish.
Next door is Kumanan Station, where you can stop to buy souvenirs.

At Kumanan Station, you'll find a wide array of about 100 different kinds of Kumamon merchandise.

Just a 7-minute walk from Honmachi and Toricho Shopping Streets, the Yatsushiro City Museum for Folk Performing Arts is a facility that showcases the various folk cultures passed down in Yatsushiro, such as the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival, Kagura (ritualistic Shinto dance), Bo-odori (stick dancing), and Women's Sumo. In the exhibition room, you can get a taste of the thrilling atmosphere of the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival on the three-screen video display. You can also see the decorations on actual kasaboko festival floats used in the festival from the second floor, allowing you to get a close-up view of these valuable cultural assets.

(Exhibition content may change depending on the season.)

The entrance hall is free to access and has a 3D pop-up book showcasing traditional folk performances for visitors to look at. There are also touch panels that teach you about the Myoken Festival and Japanese heritage via games and audio, making learning fun and enjoyable.

A 7-minute walk from the museum. In 1588, it is said that there were 6,000 Christians in Yatsushiro, ruled by the Christian daimyo Konishi Yukinaga. After the Battle of Sekigahara, the Christian persecution under Kato Kiyomasa began, and in 1603, the first martyr of that time came from Yatsushiro. Later, after receiving permission from the Meiji government, Father Jean Marie Corre of the Paris Foreign Missions Society was dispatched to Yatsushiro, and in 1890, the Catholic Yatsushiro Church was established.

Inside the cathedral, the high ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows create a colorful and mystical atmosphere as the rays of sunlight cast rainbow-colored light onto the white walls. It's rare to see such a large crucifix in a Japanese church. Every Sunday, around 70 worshippers gather for mass.

You'll find the striking white and blue building of the St. Paul of Chartres Convent after an easy 8-minute walk from the Catholic Church in Yatsushiro. Built in 1900, this historic structure has been designated as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property since 2000, and is a beautiful sight to behold.

You'll find the striking white and blue building of the St. Paul of Chartres Convent after an easy 8-minute walk from the Catholic Church in Yatsushiro. Built in 1900, this historic structure has been designated as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property since 2000, and is a beautiful sight to behold.