Kumamoto

Sea and mountains, Kumamoto is popular with many sightseeing spots with the dynamic nature. Around the Mount Aso which has one of the biggest calderas in the world, there are hot springs and superb views, making it a standard sightseeing spot. At the sea-side, you can see the Amakusa Islands. Christianity has long been a main religion around the area, and you can find many historic buildings such as old churches that were built in the beginning of Showa era. Kumamoto is rich with many local foods as well, such as mustard lotus root (Karashi Renkon), horse-meat sashimi, and Dago-jiru soup, the soul food of the locals. You may want to visit a new world cultural heritage site registered in 2015, Miike Coral Mine, too.