Yatsushiro (Kumamoto)

Yatsushiro is a port city on the western coast of Kyushu, about an hour south of Kumamoto by road. The city's own attractions are modest: old castle ruins, a few shrines, and a quiet waterfront. The main reason ships call here is access to Kumamoto and its castle, one of the largest in Japan. The castle was badly damaged in the 2016 earthquakes and is still being restored, but parts are open to visitors, and the scale of the stone walls is impressive even from outside. Suizenji Garden in Kumamoto is a traditional landscape garden modelled on the 53 stations of the Tōkaidō road, including a miniature Mount Fuji. Kumamoto ramen, a rich pork-bone broth with garlic oil, is the local speciality. Back in Yatsushiro, the Kuroshio Market sells fresh fish. The city is known for its autumn fireworks festival, one of the largest in Japan. The yen is the currency. Shuttle buses usually run from the port to Kumamoto.