population: 0.74 million

extension: 389.53 square kilometers

Museums

If you're in Kumamoto and interested in visiting museums, I'd recommend checking out the Kumamoto City Museum or the Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto. Other nearby museums worth exploring include the Suizenji Jōjuen Garden and the Reigando Cave, where legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi spent his final years.

Food

Some of the most recommended, popular and typical dishes to eat in Kumamoto according to locals include:

1. Basashi (horse meat sashimi)
2. Karashi-renkon (lotus root stuffed with mustard)
3. Ikinari dango (sweet potato dumplings)
4. Dago-jiru (soup with wheat dumplings and vegetables)
5. Mentai-ko (spicy cod roe) dishes
6. Taipien (spicy seafood soup)
7. Tonkotsu ramen (pork bone broth noodles)

These dishes are all delicious and unique to Kumamoto, so be sure to try them if you get the chance!

Activities

In Kumamoto, some fun activities that locals enjoy include visiting the Kumamoto Castle and taking a stroll through its surrounding park. Another popular activity is soaking in an onsen (hot spring) at Kurokawa Onsen or Takeo Onsen. You can also try the local cuisine, such as horse meat dishes or basashi (raw horse meat), or attend a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at one of the many tea houses in the area. Additionally, if you're interested in nature, you could explore the Aso-Kuju National Park or hike up Mt. Aso, an active volcano.