Kumamoto Prefecture

Dit was zo'n interresante ervaring en het was echt geweldig om zelf iets te maken.

At first, I thought simply drawing and sheathing the sword would be enough for you to practice! But since it's a trial lesson, perfection isn't required. Completing the whole process is more important. We practiced a set of moves, learned about Miyamoto Musashi and the history of Niten Ichi-ryu, and there are so many other interesting things. Kumamoto is truly a city of samurai.

We traveled from Fukuoka to Kumamoto via the Shinkansen and stayed at The Blossom Hotel. First of all, the accessibility was excellent. Floors 1-8 housed Amu Plaza, and floors 9-12 were the hotel itself. Taking the elevator to the 6th floor, we found a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, McDonald's, and plenty of restaurants. Right next to the first-floor entrance was a Family Mart that was open until 11 p.m., and there were Yoshinoya, Mos Burger, and a variety of other food options. There were also plenty of yakitori restaurants open until around 11 p.m. in the Kumamoto Station shopping mall, and the tsukune (tareh) we had at Birdman, located behind Kumamoto Station, was the best. The tareh sauce was incredibly delicious. After wrapping up all our travels, we enjoyed a relaxing bath in the hotel's large public bath, and the Total Therapy on the 2nd floor of Amu Plaza even had a massage, which was perfect. The beds were comfortable, and the hotel was very clean. Breakfast is average, so I recommend trying the eel rice bowl or various bento boxes sold at the Kumamoto Station Shopping Mall. I'd definitely return.

This hotel has parking for self-driving guests. They have a partnership with a parking garage where entry is ¥1300 per day, payable directly to the garage staff! The 12th-floor public bath facilities are very complete, with facial cleansers provided. Remember to bring a towel to the public bath. The outdoor bath can be a little cold, so I chose to soak in the indoor bath! It's very suitable for families! It's also not far from Is Katsuretsutei, you can walk there!

Located right next to the streetcar line, with a shopping street and the new Sakuramachi Department Store nearby, the location is super convenient and highly recommended! The rooms are large, comfortable, spacious, clean, and quiet. Free drinks, ice pops, and a large public bath are amazing and so relaxing! The breakfast is carefully prepared. If 100 is a perfect score, I give it 120! I will definitely stay here again next time I'm in Kumamoto.

This hotel's location is extremely convenient. It's in the middle of Kumamoto's Kamitori and Shimotori shopping streets, a 10-minute walk to Kumamoto Castle, and across from a bus stop with buses to the airport. It's super convenient for shopping or restocking nearby. If you buy too much, you can go back to the hotel to drop things off before continuing your shopping spree. 😆 The reception staff are friendly, and the interior space is very bright with a nice view from the window. However, the only drawback is that the electric kettle's body is not heat-resistant, so you have to be extra careful when using it!

Hotel location: conveniently located in Sakura Machi Shopping Mall. Parked at Sakura Machi & passed your parking ticket to the front desk during check-in to receive a discounted parking rate. Paid parking fee to hotel staff and they would give you a discounted ticket/coupon (to be inserted only after the parking ticket was inserted to the exit machine when exiting the car park). Walking distance to Kumamoto's famous shopping arcades. Room was small but quite clean. Castle view from hotel room. Hotel entrance located on 2nd floor of the mall, while hotel lobby located on 14th floor. Good Staff service.

Stayed at Sotetsu Grand Fresa Kumamoto for four nights and was very satisfied overall! The hotel's location is super convenient, within walking distance of the shopping streets in downtown Kumamoto. There are restaurants and convenience stores downstairs, making it easy to get around. It's also a short walk to Kumamoto Castle. The rooms are clean and comfortable with a simple and refreshing design. Although the space isn't large, the facilities are complete, and the bed is very comfortable, allowing you to get plenty of rest even after staying several nights. The bathroom has a typical Japanese design; small but complete, with a bathtub and a washlet, and the water pressure is also sufficient. Although the breakfast isn't particularly lavish, it features Kumamoto specialties such as Takana rice and pumpkin soup, as well as cute Kumamon packaging details, which makes you feel very considerate. Overall, this is a clean, comfortable, conveniently located hotel with Kumamoto characteristics and a high cost-performance ratio, highly recommended for tourists or business travelers visiting Kumamoto!

The hotel offers complimentary welcome drinks on the 2nd floor from 2 PM to 9 PM. It's conveniently located within walking distance of Shimotori Shopping Street and the Michelin-recommended Katsuretsutei Tonkatsu restaurant. The hotel has a mechanical parking garage available for a fee, but please be aware of the height restrictions. Also, note that parking is only available until checkout time; additional hourly charges will apply after that. The hotel is filled with adorable Kumamon (Kumamoto bear) themed decorations! Additionally, registering as a member of Mitsui Garden Hotels will give you a choice of complimentary gifts.