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

Local Guide

Momoka Yamada

Kumamoto native's attraction discovery team!

A young Staff/staff member from Kumamoto who is passionate about conveying the charms of his hometown.
With his partner, a single-lens reflex camera, he unearths and captures the charms of Kumamoto.
He has a strong spirit of hospitality and is always thinking about what is necessary to impress Guest/customers.
He always has a smile on his face and gives a calm impression, but in fact he hates to lose and is the type of person who burns when adversity strikes.

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.

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Local Guide FAQ

What spots do you recommend in the Kumamoto area?: Namikizaka. It is located just past a large arcade called Kamidori.
Trees line the street and the cobblestone pavement is fashionable, and the street is lined with antiquarian bookstores, cafes, and beauty salons. Just passing through is enough to satisfy me, but since I love to read books, I am very happy to find many secondhand bookstores within walking distance.
Every time I visit, I have a chance encounter with a wonderful book, whether by chance or necessity.

Please sneak in some hole-in-the-wall places that you know because you live there.: This is the Kogai shopping street. The first night I took a walk in Kumamoto, I happened to have my camera with me, and the decadent scenery made me feel romantic.
When I went there later for lunch, I found many new stores and enjoyed the lively atmosphere. (There was an impressively delicious ramen shop and a stylish café and bar that still retained the sign "Jaga Tama Seikatsu"...) I feel the charm and Kumamoto's uniqueness in this retro shopping street that exudes nostalgia and continues to evolve as a place of expression for students, creators, and businesses.

What is your most memorable trip?: When I was in the first year of junior high school, I went to England with my English conversation class teacher and her students.
Although it was a short-term study abroad program, it was almost like a trip. I had never been out of Kyushu before, and I remember how exciting everything was. The English teacher went back to her parents' house, and we were left behind in a camp where children from all over the world were gathered, even though we spoke almost no English. It was a wonderful Experience where we tried our best to enjoy a "foreign country" where everything was different and we felt our smallness in a good way.

What do you do on your days off?: Reading. Although I am a relatively indoor person, when my eyes get tired, I take a walk at night when it is cooler. I pop out with only my camera, or I have a sudden craving for the donuts that the main character in my favorite books used to eat.

Is there anything you always take with you on a trip?: I bought this SLR camera for a school trip in high school.
I believe that even when I go out for a long trip or just for a walk, it becomes a more wonderful time if I take the trouble to take a camera and click the shutter. Retouching after returning home is also one of my pleasures.