Local Guide ~ An Original Japan Travel Guide by Hoshino Resorts' Local Staff

Local Guide

Makiko Morita

Passionate mother of two

I spent my youth in Machi, Kumamoto, cried with Machi, laughed with Machi, lived with Machi, and love Machi more than anyone else.
His passion and energy for making the Machi area more exciting are second to none.
A mother of two, she loves Kumamoto Castle, Tsuruya Department Store, and sake.

OMO5 Kumamoto by Hoshino Resorts: Located almost in the center of the Kyushu region, Kumamoto City has excellent Direction from inside and outside the area, with the Kyushu Shinkansen taking you to Hakata Station in as little as 33 minutes and Aso Kumamoto Airport in about 30 minutes by car. Starting with Kumamoto Castle, one of the most famous tourist attractions, Kumamoto Castle Town has been changing its appearance and role with the times, and is lined with stores that are full of the particularties of the people of Kumamoto Prefecture. We will devise our services as a base for enjoying the city of Kumamoto.

Introduction page

Local Guide FAQ

What spots do you recommend in the Kumamoto area?: It is a royal road, but it is Kumamoto Castle. Instead of going to the castle tower right away, I recommend going to the "Josaien" area where there are many souvenir stores and gourmet restaurants that remind you of the castle town. There is a museum called "Wakuwakuza" where you can learn about the reconstruction of Kumamoto Castle and see the process of the castle from its appearance 400 years ago to the present day using VR.
If you stop by "Wakuwaku-za" first and then head to the castle tower, the attraction of Kumamoto Castle will be doubled! And the admission fee is only an additional 50 yen, so it's a good deal.

Please sneak in some hole-in-the-wall places that you know because you live there.: Yamazaki Sugawara Shrine. It is located near Kumamoto Castle and is said to be the god of learning. It is a small shrine, but we recommend the "Ichihara Hiroko Koi-mikuji" here. The straightforward and straightforward words will touch your heart. Don't underestimate it as a love fortune, but I received a word that really hit home for me during my child-rearing years...lol.

What is your most memorable trip?: I went to Hawaii for my honeymoon. When I landed at the airport, I was instantly captivated by the "upbeat" atmosphere. We were relaxing on a sunset cruise, watching the sunset, when Hawaiian dancing started and we all danced in a circle (I was made to dance lol).
There are many nice hotels, so we went on a breakfast tour. I couldn't forget the fun memories, so much so that I visited again with my mother when my oldest son was 2 years old.

What do you do on your days off?: I started camping with my family a few years ago. Kumamoto is rich in nature, with both ocean and mountains, and there are numerous campgrounds.
Our family has a tradition of taking a hot spring bath near the campgrounds, which is one of the things we look forward to.

Is there anything you always take with you on a trip?: Map.
We are the type of people who compile a list of places we want to visit in advance and make something similar to a travel bookmark. We like to have a clear idea of where we are located, so paper-based maps are easier to keep in mind.