Someone was deplaned from our flight to Kumamoto! We were delayed because they needed to retrieve the luggage out of the plane. In my many years of flying, this was my first time experiencing a deplaning incident. So we arrived in Kumamoto a bit later than expected. It was already dark. But coming to Japan is always about food and the mandatory stop at a convenience store. And so, we did just that with no regrets!

The next day, we walked through the Shimotori Shopping Arcade which was very near to our hotel and had breakfast there. I’m so loving Kumamoto already and its peaceful vibe. There were very few tourists and the locals are so friendly. Kumamon too was greeting us everywhere we went. He was even on top of Sakura Machi! There were lots of Cherry Blossoms and it was just so beautiful!

Besides visiting Kumamoto Castle grounds and Sakura-No-Baba Josain, we also went to Suizenji Jojuen Garden. Suizenji Jojuen Garden is a traditional Japanese garden called a Graceful Garden of Feudal Lords. It was designated as a national scenic and historical site since 1929. It is a very beautiful garden with lots of Cherry blossoms adorning the garden. There were many activities happening too, like making traditional handicrafts.

After three nights in Kumamoto enjoying the food, sights and shopping (including rummaging through hundreds of old vinyls records), it was time to take the bus to Aso for a night at the Onsen…