2025 Yamaga Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

#AutumnTrip ⁣ Yudokoro Fugetsu♨️⁣ ⁣ Hirayama Onsen is a mellow beauty bath. It is said that Lord Kato Kiyomasa also visited for a hot spring cure♨️⁣ ⁣ It is close to the highway interchange and I used to go there often when I was young, but this was my first time visiting Yudokoro Fugetsu. ⁣ It was renovated in December 2020. ⁣ ⁣ I forgot to take a picture, but⁣ A cute clerk cat greeted me🐱⁣ The bath is changed every time, and it had just filled up when I arrived at my room after checking in. ⁣ ⁣ Prices range from 1600 yen to 2800 yen⁣ I used the semi-open-air Mio, which usually costs 1800 yen for 60 minutes, but with the weekday discount (10:00~17:00), I got a 500 yen discount and it was 1300 yen😳⁣ ⁣ Weekdays are open from 10:00 to 24:00⁣ Saturdays and Sundays are open from 9:00 to 25:00⁣ So it might be a good idea to stop by on your way back from viewing the autumn leaves🍁♨️ Yamaga is the largest chestnut producing area in western Japan I visited in the afternoon at the end of September, so they were sold out, but I also recommend the steamy Yamaga chestnuts🌰 🗾5709 Hirayama, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture ⁣ 📍Fugetsu⁣ ⁣ ⁣

I've picked 7 recommended spots in Kumamoto that I'm glad I visited! ① Kurokawa Onsen ② Tsujun Bridge ③ Amakusa Dolphin Watching ④ Kumamoto Castle ⑤ Greenland ⑥ Yachiyoza ⑦ Nabegataki Falls If you're going to Kumamoto, be sure to visit them 🤗 #recommendedlist #Kumamoto

#Overseas travel Kurokawa Onsen is a famous hot spring town in Kumamoto Prefecture. It is famous to both foreigners and Japanese people. However, it is said that locals are reluctant to go there because transportation is very inconvenient. So where do Kumamoto citizens go for hot spring trips? They say that many people head to Tamana Onsen, Kikuchi Onsen, and Yamaga Onsen, which are 40-50 minutes away by car. I go to Yamaga Onsen Village, which is located in the middle of the three. It is not only the largest in size, but it is also called Kumamoto's little Kyoto. This is also a place I discovered while studying little Kyoto. There is a city bus every 30 minutes from the Kumamoto Bus Center, and it takes about an hour to get there. My accommodation was at Kumamoto Station. From Tamana Onsen to Yamaga Onsen, there is a route bus that runs every 1-2 hours, so you can use the All Kyushu Pass to get to Shin-Tamana Station, where the Shinkansen stops, in just 10 minutes. It takes about 40 minutes from here to Yamaga Onsen. It takes more than 70 minutes from Kumamoto Station, so you can save both bus fare and time. When returning to Kumamoto, the bus and train schedules do not match, so you will return by bus to Kumamoto Station. Yamaga Onsen also has ryokans located along the river. There is a Kyoto-style street with a hot spring town shopping street, and the smell of rice and alcohol from the tall brewery, and it is an ideal hot spring town with ashiyu and public hot springs! The atmosphere of the city is similar to Yuda Onsen in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and the side located along the river has the atmosphere of Ureshino Onsen, and the side with the shopping street resembles Kotohira Onsen. The large public hot spring in the center feels like the main building of Dogo Onsen, and the hot spring water is drinkable, which reminds me of Arima Onsen. The Ashiyu with Kumamon reminds me of Noboribetsu Onsen. It would have been better if I had stayed overnight and walked around the moonlit Yamaga Onsen, but I learned a lot even though I stopped by before moving to Fukuoka on the last half-day of my Kyushu trip. Thank you. #JapanTravel #KumamotoTravel #KyushuTravel #HotSpringTravel #Kumamoto

#Spring0yentrip The stay at "GLAMPER'S" in Hirayama Onsen, Yamaga City, was a truly extraordinary and luxurious experience. The private space is limited to one group per day, and the spacious dome tent is equipped with air conditioning, a refrigerator, and even a 100-inch projector, so you can enjoy comfort and a sense of exclusivity at the same time.  In the Finnish barrel sauna, you can enjoy a loyly by adding your own firewood, which was an irresistible experience for sauna lovers. In addition, the semi-open-air hot spring is known as a "beauty skin bath," and the thick water quality heals the mind and body.  The BBQ space is equipped with all the necessary equipment and comes with a tarp so you can enjoy it safely even in rainy weather. At night, the time spent talking around the bonfire under the starry sky was exceptional. "GLAMPER'S" is a special place where you can enjoy a luxurious glamping experience that satisfies your five senses in nature, making it a special place you'll want to visit again and again. 

#Spring0yentrip I stayed at the Fuji Hotel in Yamaga Onsen and spent a refreshing time both physically and mentally. The hot spring is known for making your skin smooth, and it was so comfortable that I wanted to soak in it many times, morning and night. Both dinner and breakfast were kaiseki cuisine, and I was delighted with the dishes that used plenty of local seasonal ingredients. The warm hospitality of the staff was also impressive, and it was an inn that made me want to visit again.   The next day, I enjoyed lunch at "Bistro Neige" located in a rural landscape. It is a restaurant that serves French cuisine and also Italian pasta, and all of the dishes, which are made with a focus on locally produced ingredients, were exquisite. I was particularly impressed by the wide variety of desserts, and the carefully made sweets such as Wasanbon cigars and tarts. I was able to spend a luxurious time with delicious food in a quiet environment☺️

"ricca" ⁡ A shop in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture¨̮♡ There are many cakes and baked goods There was also gelato¨̮♡ ⁡ You can eat in, but I didn't have time this time, so I took it out ⁡ When you think of ricca, this is it! ✤Yamaga Chestnut Mont Blanc Mont Blanc made with chestnuts from Kikuka Town, Yamaga City Yamaga chestnuts are famous for being delicious🌰 This was really delicious (◦ˉ ˘ ˉ◦)♡ ⁡ ✤Strawberry Tart Strawberries are Koiminori🍓 Strawberries with pistachio cream The tart had a firm dough The strawberries were sweet and delicious ⁡ ✤Gelato Double Grenoburg Chocolate Rich and smooth♡ It was delicious and I ate it all up ⁡ I'd like to try eating in next time ⁡ Thank you for the meal (⋆ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)” ⁡ ⁡ ※The menu and prices may have changed ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈𖠚ᐝ𖠿𖠋𖧧┈ 【ricca】 ⁡ ■ 279-1 Katahoda, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture ▷ 10:00-18:00 Cafe until 17:00 Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays P Yes ༶ஐ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ⁡ ⁡ #ricca#ricca #Kumamoto cafe#Yamaga cafe #Kumamoto sweets#Yamaga sweets #Kumamoto trip#Kumamoto sightseeing #Yamaga sightseeing #Domestic travel #0 yen tripFebruary 2025

Fudoiwa, located in Kumamoto Prefecture's Kuma District, is a spectacular spot with a series of giant rocks🏔️✨ As its name suggests, this rock has an overwhelming presence and was formed by the power of nature over a long period of time. From the observation deck, you can enjoy a spectacular view along with the beautiful rural scenery surrounding it. The patterns carved into the rock surface are natural art itself! This is a must-visit place for hiking lovers🚶♂️🍃 [Opening hours] Open 24 hours [Access] Approximately 30 minutes by car from JR Hitoyoshi Station🚗³₃ [Notes] Light trekking required! #0yentravelFebruary2025 #Fudoiwa #Kumamototourism #nature #spectacularhiking #powerspot

🌿 To Yachiyoza in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture 🪭 A place I've always wanted to go to 😊 Don't just eat, do some sightseeing sometimes ( * ॑꒳ ॑* )ྀི Yachiyoza, which still exists in its original structure, is a playhouse designated as a national important cultural property ☝️ ̖́- It is still in use today, and you can visit it when it is not in performance. When you pass through the "Kidoguchi" entrance, you will feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Edo period 100 years ago. 🫢✨ The ceiling is decorated with colorful advertising paintings and a large brass chandelier that has been restored. The tour behind the scenes and the revolving stage equipment directly below the stage were interesting and worth seeing. 🙌✨ ┈┈┈┈𖤣𖥧𖥣𖡡𖥧𖤣┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ 【Yachiyoza】 ꕤAddress: 1499 Yamaga, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture ꕤOpening hours and closed days ꕤ︎︎ Admission fee: Adults 530 yen ꕤNo parking┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈𖤣𖥧𖥣𖡡𖥧𖤣┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ #Yachiyoza #YamagaTourism #KumamotoTourism #2024

Yachiyoza, located in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture, is a historic playhouse built in 1910 and designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. It continues the style of a kabuki playhouse from the Edo period, and strongly retains the characteristics of theaters of that time, such as the revolving stage, box seats, and flower path that use rails made in Germany. Recommended points - Historical architecture: Yachiyoza is built by combining the sophistication of Japanese architecture with the advantages of Western architecture, and the ceiling is decorated with colorful advertising posters and large brass chandeliers, giving it a Meiji-era atmosphere. - Comprehensive tours: Tours with explanations by staff are available inside the theater, and you can see the revolving stage, pit, and other backstage areas that are not usually open to the public. Please come and experience the charm of the playhouse of those days ~ ...

In the cold winter, you want to warm up in a hot spring♨️ This time, I would like to recommend Yamaga Onsen, a hidden hot spring spot nationwide. The hot springs are great in Yamaga Onsen, but in February, there is a Japanese light-up event only on Fridays and Saturdays! That is "Yamaga Lantern Romance - Hundred Flowers and Hundred Colors". Candles are lit one by one in the bamboo tubes, and the warm, flickering light and the light illuminating the Japanese umbrellas create a beautiful effect✨ The lighting time is from when the candles are lit to when they run out The candles usually run out around 10pm, so we start cleaning up around that time The main attractions are the many Japanese umbrellas displayed, and the Japanese umbrellas and bamboo lights at Kongojoji Temple🎋 It's so beautiful✨ The accommodation is also reasonable, so if you can go, please go! 〜〜〜〜〜Information〜〜〜〜〜 📍Yamaga Onsen Address: 510-2 Chuodori, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture Access: 60 minutes by car from Kumamoto Airport Event period: Every Friday and Saturday from February 7th to March 1st, 2025 Lighting time: 17:00-22:00 Admission fee: None 〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜 #Domestic travel diary #Domestic travel

🌿 To Kochibiyori in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture 🥄 An old-style cafe specializing in soup♪ I went there because I wanted to drink chestnut soup😊🙌 ︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎ Kamoto Kochi Sandwich and Soup Set (Japanese Chestnut Potage) 3000 yen Japanese chestnut potage is more expensive than other soups, but it's worth it🫢︎💕︎ It was rich and thick and I was impressed by how delicious it was😮💨 The deep-fried burdock chips on top were also delicious❣️ The sandwiches on the homemade buns were also full of vegetables! It was sweet and incredibly delicious 🤤 I want to try other soups, so I'd like to go again ♪ I recommend making a reservation if you're going 🙌 ⚠️ The information on the shop is from when I visited, so please check it before you go 🙌 ┈┈┈┈𖤣𖥧𖥣𖡡𖥧𖤣┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ 【Soup Specialty Shop Kochibiyori】 ꕤAddress: 496-2, Shikamotochosho, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture ꕤBusiness hours: 11:00-16:00 ꕤClosed: Irregular holidays ꕤParking lot Yes┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈𖤣𖥧𖥣𖡡𖥧𖤣┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ #Kochibiyori #EasternWindWeather #KumamotoSoupSpecialtyStore #KumamotoCafe #KumamotoLunch #KumamotoGourmet #YamagaCafe #YamagaLunch #YamagaGourmet #202410

#0yentripnovember Hirayama Onsen Yunokura 📍5255-2 Hirayama, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture All rooms have open-air baths, so you can relax here. There is a large public bath that you can drop in to, and the indoor bath has a sauna. The hot spring is slippery and feels great♨️ The food was also delicious, and I had onigiri for dinner🍙 The service was also great, so I recommend it!

During my visit to AND CAFE in Yamaga, Japan, I was pleasantly surprised by the cafe's inviting and calm atmosphere, which made it an ideal spot to relax and enjoy a quiet moment. The cafe’s minimalist design, featuring clean lines, wooden accents, and soft lighting, created a serene environment that was both modern and cozy. The space felt open yet intimate, offering a perfect blend of comfort and style. Located in a charming part of Yamaga, AND CAFE provides a peaceful escape from the busy world outside. The menu at AND CAFE offered a wonderful selection of beverages and food items, with an emphasis on quality ingredients and simple, satisfying flavors. I chose to try one of their signature hot teas, and it was a great choice. The tea was aromatic and refreshing, brewed to perfection, and served with care. Along with the tea, I decided to try one of their light snacks – a fluffy, freshly made scone. It was warm, buttery, and had just the right amount of sweetness, making it the perfect pairing with my drink. One of the things I loved most about AND CAFE was the attention to detail in both the food and the overall experience. The staff were attentive and friendly, ensuring that every guest felt welcomed and well taken care of. They were eager to assist with any questions about the menu and offered helpful suggestions based on what I was in the mood for. The staff's genuine warmth made the visit even more enjoyable, and their service truly stood out. The atmosphere at AND CAFE is perfect for anyone looking for a quiet space to enjoy a meal or drink while unwinding. It’s a great place to meet with friends, do some reading, or just enjoy some peaceful time alone. The combination of great food, warm service, and a relaxing environment makes AND CAFE a wonderful destination in Yamaga. In conclusion, AND CAFE in Yamaga offers a truly delightful experience. With its calm ambiance, excellent drinks, delicious food, and exceptional service, it’s a place I would highly recommend. Whether you're a local or just passing through, AND CAFE is definitely worth a visit, and I look forward to returning soon.

"Once Upon an Egg" ⁡ Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture A restaurant where you can eat freshly laid egg menu ⁡ ✤ A plate of locally grown eggs (limited quantity) Free refills of eggs and rice There are various soy sauces and condiments, so you can enjoy various types of egg-on-rice It even comes with tomato risotto, so I was full 🍅 ⁡ ✤ Once Upon an Egg TALT The desserts are all different lol The egg flavor was strong and delicious ⁡ ✤Coffee The coffee is roasted with care, so it has a nice aroma and is delicious☕️ ⁡ Weekdays are the best time to come ⁡ Thank you for the meal (⋆ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)” ⁡ ⁡ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈𖠚ᐝ𖠿𖠋𖧧┈ 【once upon an egg】 ⁡ ■ 3685 Kuhara, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture ▷Morning 9:00-11:00 Lunch 11:00-14:00 Cafe 14:00-18:00 Last order 17:30 Closed Mondays Parking available ༶ஐ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ⁡ ⁡ #onceuponanegg #OnceuponanEgg #KumamotoGourmet#KumamotoCafe #KumamotoMorning#KumamotoLunch #KumamotoTrip#KumamotoSightseeing #KumamotoDrive #YamagaSightseeing #FreeTabi

Yachiyoza 1499 Yamaga, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture, 861-0501 About an hour by car from Kumamoto Station Parking available A playhouse designated as an important cultural property by the national government that is still in use. On days when there are no plays or performances, you can pay an admission fee to visit. (Monthly schedules are available on the official website) The runway, stage wings, dressing rooms, prop rooms, and even the underground facilities are all open to the public. When there are few visitors, the guide will explain various things to you. There are also many atmospheric shops around Yachiyoza, so you can take a stroll or have a meal before or after your visit. Also, on the way from Kumamoto Station to Yachiyoza, there is a roadside station called Shichijo Melon Dome, which sells souvenirs and makes a great place to take a break. #Travelingwithme #KumamotoTourism #Kumamoto

If you go to Kumamoto and are too lazy to go to Kurokawa Onsen or Mount Aso, you can go to Yachiyoza, an old Japanese theater in Yamaga Prefecture. It takes about an hour by bus from Kumamoto Bus Terminal to get there. There is a small prop shop near Yachiyoza. (Not related to Yachiyoza) However, there is a rising sun flag magnet there, so be careful if it makes you feel bad. Yamaga Prefecture is a quiet town with not many Korean tourists👍 In particular, if you go before 11 minutes, you won't encounter any package tourists and only a few individual tourists will encounter Yachiyoza, so it's really good for taking pictures.

I wanted to eat the shaved ice here! I couldn't help but wonder if it was run by a soy sauce shop. Reservations are required on weekends! I was turned down at the parking lot once, so I made a reservation the following week to get revenge. The retro feel of the shop is irresistible. Shaved ice made with miso and soy sauce, carefully! It feels like that. Delicious! The volume seems to change depending on the day. Lol #Yamaga #Yamaga #shavedice #KumamotoGourmet But it's cheap too.

I went to Yachiyoza, the playhouse I wanted to visit the most in Yamaga Onsen☺️ From its opening in 1911 to the beginning of the Showa era, Yachiyoza was at the center of Yamaga culture🌿 Over the years, it became increasingly dilapidated, but thanks to people's efforts, such as fundraising, it was restored and designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1988🕊✨ Because it is a historical building, I was surprised to learn that even during large-scale restorations, materials such as wood were reused as much as possible🫢 The most eye-catching feature is the vibrant ceiling, but in fact this is It's an advertising image for the time❕😆 Combined with the brass chandelier, it was a spectacular sight that you can't see anywhere else🥺 I'm proud that there is such a place in Japan☺️ The admission fee is 530 yen, and you can not only see the audience seats and the second floor seats, but also climb up to the central stage and see the pit and dressing room, which is very fulfilling😍 By the way, the Yachiyoza mark is a design with eight "chi" characters around the katakana "yo", and it was created with the hope that Yachiyo will continue for a long time✍️ When you visit, be sure to look for it👀 #Domestic travel#Kumamoto Prefecture #Yachiyoza