Things to Do in Yatsushiro

Top Things to Do in Yatsushiro

Things to Do in Yatsushiro


Tours near Yatsushiro

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Top Attractions in Yatsushiro

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What travelers are saying

  • silverspire
    Singapore, Singapore369 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    once you pass the toll gate for Nita Pass, the scenery changes and brilliance explodes in front of your eyes!!

    be sure to head there right early in the morning as the sun rises quite early. the light is important if you want to see the good stuff!

    lots and lots of autumn colours, maple trees lining the narrow mountain passes.

    on some sundays only in November, the narrow roads are one way traffic which REALLY helps - drivers may get stressed out otherwise! we witnessed this as we descended from the area and a tour bus was at an impasse with a larger sedan car. the sedan had to reverse until they got to a space that was wide enough to allow the bus to pass through and it was SO close!!

    this is definitely a must see - the villagers are also all out in full force to help usher traffic as this place is quite popular with both local and foreign tourists.

    we thought a couple of hours was enough but ended up spending the whole day there as there was much driving to do to get from one sight to another.
    Written November 22, 2017
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Tom Y
    Las Vegas, NV849 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not much to see here, just a part and stone wall. There was not a lot of tourist spots in town. We paid $13 to MSC Cruise to takes us here for a few hour. There is a big grocery store close by that you can shop for lunch and gifts. We bought tea.
    Written September 26, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • skaldoften
    Kosa-machi, Japan63 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The drive here is very difficult. It's mostly narrow mountain roads with lots of sharp curves. My group stayed in a nearby ryokan and went to Momoji suspension bridge early Saturday morning. There was only one other group there, so parking was no problem. There are several bridges at different heights. After a few steep but pleasant hikes, we were able to cross each bridge. The view is amazing, especially in fall when the leaves are beautiful.

    After we stopped at a small building where a local retired couple sold souvenirs and light refreshments. We bought all of their homemade wasabi manju, which had a very subtle floral-spicy taste. They also served us tea, as it was near freezing temperatures that high in the mountains.

    If you're going to visit here, I recommend planning on visiting Heike no Ie, a historic site and small museum, which is a very short drive away.
    Written December 6, 2017
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Lee_family_219053
    Singapore, Singapore1,850 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great find on Google map when its not listed as a tourist attraction. Being far from town there were few people at the park. KUMAMON big, small and in the water all spread out. Good place for photo shoot.
    Written March 4, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • kitsuko
    Chicago142 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you drive Route 443 from Miyanohara on the coast (Yatsushiro) and turn right on Route 52 at Hikawa Dam, you'll begin a long climb into the mountains passing through the high mountain village of Iwaoku before crossing into Gokanosho through a narrow turning tunnel. The descent begins on the eastern side and winds down until a large parking lot opens up on the left and several shops are seen across from the lot. This marks the top of the access to Sendantodoro-no-taki, the highest falls in Kumamoto Prefecture.

    To the right of the shops, most of which only open during the fall color viewing season, is a restroom and the start of the trail down to the falls. The trail is paved most of the way and the steep sections have stone steps. Views of the falls begins near the top but the best views don't appear until you reach the bottom. At the bottom is a small picnic shelter that used to have a table but it rotted away and is now only a roof. At the bottom of the falls is a deep pool where you can attempt a swim if you like cold water. Below that pool are several shallow pools that are good for wading or for kids to play in.

    The trail continues downward following the stream until it comes to a small suspension bridge next to the road. There are few parking places along this stretch, but if you are in a group, some can continue along the trail to this point while the driver brings the car around to pick them up. Below this bridge are some large pools that are good for swimming.

    The mountains around here are steep and not overly logged, so the indigenous vegetation still remains and provides spectacular colors in the fall (compared to the newly planted cedar slopes). At this time, the roads can actually become crowded. Most of the rest of the year the only traffic seen is a logging truck or the small mail truck.

    Once I come this far, I usually continue to Momigi to check out Heike-no-Sato, a museum and historic building display deeper in the mountains, returning via Umenokinotodoro no taki hanging bridge and waterfalls to Nihonsugi, where you descend down a steep and windy road to Route 218. This a part of Japan that few go to, even Japanese.

    Access is only by your own transportation or a tour out of Kumamoto. I first came up here in 1982 on my Honda motorcycle. The windy roads make it a good tour.
    Written September 3, 2014
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • hfot2 🌸🍁🌸
    Vermont7,449 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    When we first read about the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival we decided we had to visit.

    It’s described as one of the 3 greatest festivals in Kyushu. It is definitely a very local event. The town was mobbed with locals and visitors from Kumamoto and beyond, but we saw only five other Westerners there.

    The day began for us in the courtyard in front of the JR station. Very convenient if you arrive by train as we did from Kumamoto. The station itself was decorated for the event. Many restaurants sold local specialties as did the souvenir stalls set up for the festival. The TIC right near the exit gave us a map and an English brochure after much searching through files and cabinets.

    The main religious event began the night before with the moving of the god of Yatsushiro Shrine to the Shioya-hachiman Shrine, 6 km away for the night and then returning the god to Yatsushiro Shrine the next day which was the day of the festival.

    The parade included many Shinto priests; locals carrying nine mikoshi, small in comparison to those of Takayama, for example, but still quite heavy - each one was from one of the 9 wards in the town; several groups of school children; and numerous dancers. Each group or individual stopped in front of the station and performed - a lion dance, a tengu goblin dance, a lively display by a turtle with the head of a dragon, and a young boy performing with the turtle.

    The horse event in the space in front of the station is perhaps the most popular. We were glad that they no longer got the horses drunk on sake before running them in the small enclosed space, which definitely could be dangerous; even so it was very exciting and seemed just a bit out of control.

    We stood with the locals along the perimeter of the space in front of the station. A series of bleachers at one end had box seats for sale but they were quite expensive and wouldn’t allow one to move around and take photos.

    After the parade of mikoshi left the station area we, along with most of the visitors, followed the parade and walked to Yatsushiro Shrine. It was a goodly distance along the main street of town. As we got closer to the shrine food stalls and souvenir shops appeared.

    The festival grounds at the temple included all the usual suspects - more food stalls, games, souvenir vendors and displays. The mikoshi were lined up so you could take photos. They were nicely painted and detailed but much smaller than others we’ve seen - small, local festival, small mikoshi. The turtle was also on display and you could pay to climb inside it. Yashushiro Shrine was open and we watched the priests blessing the horses from the morning event.

    When we finally had our fill, we got a taxi to take us back to the station. It was a long walk and we were very tired.
    Written October 28, 2016
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Kimitaka S
    Taichung, Taiwan14,141 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    It is a garden of Matsui Family, the castle keeper of Yatsushiro Castle. Although quite powerful, they were not the same level as the feudal lord of Kumamoto. So the garden is also quite modest. In Yatsushiro, there are not many touristic attractions. If you have time, you might visit this place.
    Written April 11, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Kimitaka S
    Taichung, Taiwan14,141 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Yatsushirogu is a shrine which is located in the site of Yatsushiro Castle. The place where now the main building stands used to stand the castle tower. The shrine is the construction after Meiji Restoration and it is dedicated to a prince of the Southern Court.
    Written April 11, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • hfot2 🌸🍁🌸
    Vermont7,449 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    We came to Yatsushiro for the Yatsushiro Myoken Matsuri.

    When we arrived we stopped at the TIC to get maps and information. The staff initially couldn't find an English map so gave us one in Japanese with pictures. She took us outside of the station and showed us where things were going to happen.

    A few minutes later one of the women came out of the station and found us amonsgt the crowds. She had found an English map for us and further information about the festival as well also in English.

    Thanks all around. As we left, several hours later, we stopped by the office to thank them again.
    Written February 18, 2016
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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