Travel dates: 2025/08/13-18
For our second day in Kumamoto, I planned a visit to Kumamoto Castle with nearby shrines in the morning, followed by Suizenji Jojuen Garden in the afternoon.
The night before, we had already walked to the castle area to check where the entrance and ticket booth were located since we were supposed to meet with my husband’s coworker there. At 8 PM, the shopping street nearby was completely deserted- nobody around at all. It was such a contrast to the next morning, when the streets were filled with people heading to the castle.
The weather was extremely hot, as expected in mid-August - over 30°C and sometimes closer to 40°C. Still, the bright blue sky made the castle look even more beautiful. We were also lucky: just a few days earlier, Kumamoto had suffered from heavy floods, and it had only stopped raining the day before our arrival!
Suizenji Jojuen Garden
After lunch, we hopped on a tram to visit Suizenji Jojuen Garden (水前寺成趣園). The ride took about 20 minutes. Using the tram is quite simple: you enter through the back door, and when you get off, you pay at the fare box by the driver. There’s a coin exchange machine on board in case you don’t have small change.
The fare is 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for children, no matter the distance. A one-day pass costs 500 yen if you plan to ride several times. We tried using a credit card, which didn’t work, but a Suica card was accepted (though I had read earlier that Kumamoto prefers other payment systems).
Suizenji Jojuen is a traditional Japanese landscape garden originally built in the 17th century by the Hosokawa clan, the ruling family of Kumamoto. The garden was designed to represent the Tōkaidō road, the historic route between Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto, with miniature reproductions of famous landmarks such as Mount Fuji.
The garden is beautifully maintained, with a large pond filled with koi fish, carefully shaped pine trees, stone lanterns, and bridges. The water in the pond is so clean that you can even see the fish clearly - and they are so used to people that you can touch them if they come close.
Inside Suizenji Garden, you’ll also find Izumi Shrine, which was established in 1878. The shrine is dedicated to the Hosokawa family, who ruled Kumamoto for centuries. It serves as the family’s ancestral shrine and a place where they are still honored today.
The main hall is simple but elegant, with bright red torii gates leading up to it. Around the grounds, you’ll see stone lanterns and guardian lion-dog statues. Like most Shinto shrines, you can’t go inside the main hall, but you’re welcome to walk around, offer a prayer, or ring the bell.
Izumi Shrine also has a very special feature – a natural spring that flows right in front of the shrine. The water is so pure that it’s often used in traditional tea ceremonies, and some people even bring bottles to take it home. This spring is one of the reasons the Hosokawa family chose this site for the garden back in the 17th century.
Even if you’re not familiar with Japanese history, the shrine adds a beautiful cultural layer to the peaceful setting of Suizenji Garden. It’s a lovely spot to pause, take in the atmosphere, and appreciate how history, nature, and spirituality all come together here.
The garden is open from 8:30 AM to 5 PM. Before entering, there are vending machines where you can grab a drink. There is also a small shop inside, but it didn’t look very busy, so I wasn’t sure what exactly they served.
On the Thursday afternoon when we visited, it was quiet, with very few other visitors, which made the experience especially relaxing.
In the Evening
After the garden, we took the tram back to the hotel to rest a bit before dinner. In the evening, we went to Sakuramachi Shopping Mall, which was much busier compared to the first night. Some restaurants, like BBQ places, were already fully booked. In the end, we went for sushi again, which was fresh and delicious.
One thing I really appreciate about Japan is that public toilets are everywhere. They are not only free, but also very clean and always stocked with toilet paper. This is not always the case in Taiwan, and in Europe it’s even worse as you have to pay. For example, in Poland, using a public toilet often costs about 5 PLN per person (around 40 NTD), which can add up quickly if you’re traveling as a family.
Since most shops in Japan close early (around 8 PM), there wasn’t much to do afterward, so we spent the rest of the evening relaxing at the hotel.
That was our Day 2 in Kumamoto - a mix of history, culture, and nature, with some great food in between.
