{"id":5945,"date":"2017-05-15T23:42:14","date_gmt":"2017-05-15T23:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/?p=5945"},"modified":"2019-05-05T11:14:44","modified_gmt":"2019-05-05T11:14:44","slug":"japan-self-drive-in-kyushu-6-kumamoto-prefecture-kumamoto-castle-and-kumamoto-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/2017\/05\/japan-self-drive-in-kyushu-6-kumamoto-prefecture-kumamoto-castle-and-kumamoto-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Self Drive in Kyushu 6 – Kumamoto Prefecture : Kumamoto Castle and Kumamoto University"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kagoshima to Kumamoto –\u00a0How far?<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Kagoshima to Kumamoto is about 175 km, took us about 2.5 hours.<\/p>\n

Kumamoto \/\u718a\u672c\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kuma mean bear in English and Moto is origin, so Kumamoto is the origin of bear. \u00a0It has another nickname called Hi no Kuni meaning Fire Country because of the nearby giant volcano Mt Aso and Mori no Miyako\/Capital of the forest.<\/p>\n

Meeting old University friends in Kumamoto<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u00a0did my postgraduate studies in Kumamoto University so coming back to Kumamoto means meeting old University friends, Kuni chan and Kumi chan. By the way, Chan is just same as san in Japanese, except chan\u00a0\u00a0has a “cute” pronouncing of -san so chan is used for babies, young children, grandparents and teenagers.<\/p>\n

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Kumamoto Castle – 3rd Largest Castle in Japan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kumamoto Castle\/\u718a\u672c\u57ce is one of the most beautiful castles in Japan, and the third largest. \u00a0There are 3 important castles in Japan, Matsumoto, Kumamoto and Himeji Castle. \u00a0I have been to first two but not been to Himeji Castle yet.<\/p>\n

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There are more than 100 castles in Japan but Kumamoto castle is one of the impressive castles one should not miss while in Kyushu. \u00a0 There were many tourists around the world visited the castle when I was there as it is considered one of the top attraction in Kyushu.<\/p>\n

Were there any female samurai?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, it is called Onna bugeisha, powerful female samurai warrior but not common. \u00a0I pretend to be one of them!<\/p>\n

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Key Features of Kumamoto Castle<\/strong><\/p>\n

The stone wall is one of Kumamoto Castle\u2019s key features. \u00a0The stone wall\u00a0was built with a steady base angle and very steep and high which make the invaders hard to climb up and would slide back down. \u00a0If you have seen other castles in Japan, you will notice Kumamoto Castle’s prominent feature, that is the high stone wall.<\/p>\n

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Most people knew the best timing to visit Japan is spring because everywhere is full of Cherry blossom. \u00a0It is especially pretty in Kumamto Castle as there are nearly thousand cherry blossom\u00a0trees planted\u00a0around this area. \u00a0I was here in the winter so no cherry blossom but less crowded for sure.<\/p>\n


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Me and my friend Kuni chan posing for picture with Kumamoto Castle as our backdrop, red and pink scarf make a nice picture. \u00a0Kuni chan is a teacher for students with special needs now.<\/p>\n

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Kumamoto is a Bonchi\/\u76c6\u5730\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some view from top of the castle, as you can see Kumamoto City is surrounded by mountains and it is called as Bonchi\/\u76c6\u5730 in Japanese. \u00a0Bonchi is like a basin between mountains. \u00a0What it means is both the winter cold and summer heat can be severe and\u00a0the highest record of a difference was 24 C between the high and low temperature of a day. \u00a0The rainfall in Kumamoto is also considered one of the highest in Kyushu. \u00a0If you are coming in July – Aug, you would experience raining day most of the time.<\/p>\n

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Okonomiyaki at Daimonji \/\u5927\u6587\u5b57<\/strong><\/p>\n

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake or omelette containing a variety of ingredients, such as seafood, ham, cabbage and etc. \u00a0 Daimonji is the place me and Kumi chan used to go during our students time, simply it was cheap and fun to cook. \u00a0An order cost about 500-800yen (USD $ 4-7 ). \u00a0We went back to Daimonji to re-collect of our old memories.<\/p>\n

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Kumamoto University – The RED GATE\/Akamon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Akamon is the most iconic doorway and is the popular meeting point for students.<\/p>\n

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I went back to Kumamoto University and tour around the school campus. \u00a0The buildings are still the same, no change. \u00a0There weren’t many students in the campus as it was winter holiday.<\/p>\n

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Kumamoto University Dormitory<\/strong><\/p>\n

University Dormitory located outside the campus at Kurokami. \u00a0About 15 min cycle to University. \u00a0I tried to search for the security ojisan\/old man who used to stay at the guard house but he is no longer there. \u00a0I remembered he would greet me “ohayo” when I went for a morning walk every morning. \u00a0I wonder how is he now?\u00a0Walking around the campus and dormitory has triggers nostalgia for my youth! \u00a0\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Green Rich Hotel Suizenji<\/strong><\/p>\n

This hotel is super small and the ceiling is really low as it is located in the heart of Kumamoto City. \u00a0 If you are self drive, you can choose hotel which is located further from the Kumamoto City which has bigger space. \u00a0If you don’t mind small space and would like to experience how Japanese life is, this is hotel for you.<\/p>\n

Japan Self Drive in Kyushu 6 – Kumamoto Prefecture : Kumamoto Castle and Kumamoto University<\/strong><\/p>\n