Famous for its revolving stage, tatami "box seats," and a corridor for the actors to pass through the audience to the stage, the Yachiyoza Theater first opened in 1911 as a center where residents could see Kabuki performances.

Reopened in the late 1980s, the theater is now designated an Important Cultural Property. Tours are available so you can view the traditional Japanese theater architecture. Also, be sure to check out the Yumekogura Museum with theater memorabilia.

Kumamoto Castle is known as one of the best castles in Japan.

The local feudal lord, Kato Kiyomasa, began constructing the castle in 1601, and it was completed seven years later. Although some of the original towers and other buildings have been lost to fire over the years, the Uto yagura (tower, or turret) has survived since the Edo period.

Kumamoto Castle's 600 cherry trees make it a top destination for sakura in the springtime, and the castle park is lit up and open to the public at night while the cherry flowers are in full bloom from late March to early April.

Note: Kumamoto Castle was heavily damaged during the April 2016 earthquake, and many areas of the castle are still closed to entry. However, aspects of the castle can still be seen from points near Ninomaru Square and Kato Shrine.

Sakuranobaba Josaien is an information complex offering travelers the chance to learn Kumamoto's history and experience it themselves hands-on.

Visitors can see 300 years of Kumamoto's history through exciting visuals at the Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza history and culture facility. At the Sakuranokoji Shopping Arcade, 23 shops have been set up to look like an Edo-era town, giving customers a nostalgic walk through Japan's past.

Stretching over a kilometer from Kumamoto Castle to the city's heart, Kamitori offers numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars, giving travelers many options for shopping and tasting some of Kumamoto's specialties.

At Reigan-do Cave, renowned samurai Miyamoto Musashi's famous book, The Book of Five Rings, was written.

It is also said to be where he is buried, making this a go-to spot for samurai culture buffs. You will find a gong and Toryo writings carved on the inside of the cave walls, and the wooden sword Musashi used to fight against another prominent swordmaster, Sasaki Kojiro, has been kept at the neighboring Reiganzenji Temple as well.

Kato Shrine is where Kato Kiyomasa, the local feudal lord of the 14th and 15th centuries, is enshrined. Originally built within Kumamoto Castle, the shrine was moved to the Kyomachi area of Kumamoto in 1874, then in 1962, moved to its current location.

After visiting the castle, be sure to wander through this beautiful shrine. Every July, the shrine holds a large summer festival known as the Seishoko Matsuri, where children dress up as Kiyomasa and parade down the streets.

Right down the street from Kamitori Arcade, Shimotori Arcade is the largest shopping arcade in Kumamoto, giving travelers many options for shopping, dining, or amusement.

The arcade is well known for its array of dining options, from cafes to restaurants serving traditional local dishes, making it a great place to relax and eat well. In addition, many Western-style bars and Japanese-style izakayas along the arcade are open until late, so you'll find plenty of nightlife here as well.

Tsujunkyo Bridge is Japan's largest stone-arch aqueduct bridge and pumps water into the region's rice paddies.

A giant stone bridge built in 1854 that releases over 15,000 square meters of water from its sides, Tsujunkyo is active every weekend and holiday from late spring to late fall (approximately May to November). The impressive discharge of water lasts about 20-25 minutes.

Although the bridge itself is currently closed to tourists because of ongoing assessment of the damage after the Kumamoto Earthquake, water discharge can still be viewed.

Yamaga Onsen Sakura-yu is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, with its origins dating back about 370 years.

The resort was built as a vacation home for Hosokawa Tadatoshi, lord of the Higo region. The hot spring was opened to the public in 1870 and in use for about a hundred years, becoming a beloved symbol and social hub for the citizens of Yamaga.

It was re-opened in 2012 with a traditional exterior but modern interior baths. Visitors can now enter for a relaxing soak and enjoy the atmosphere of this historical hot spring.

Horse meat sashimi (basashi) is a dish eaten with condiments like ginger and onions. This is just one way to eat this delicacy of Kumamoto, found in restaurants all over the prefecture.

One of the most popular ways to cook it is called shabu-shabu – just swish the meat in a bubbling hot pot.

Originally a variation of Kurume ramen, Kumamoto ramen has developed into its own unique style over the years, characterized by rich pork broth, thick, firm noodles, and seasonings of garlic chips and browned garlic oil.

The noodles have put Kumamoto on the map as a top ramen destination because of their unique taste and popularity.

This 3-day event takes place throughout Kumamoto City in early August.

It features close to 5,000 residents dancing to a local folksong called "Otemoyan" and the light rhythm of "Samba Otemoyan" as they parade through the streets. The night before the parade, there is an elaborate fireworks show.

The Yamaga Tōrō Lantern Festival is held in the Yamaga region of Kumamoto every year on August 15th and 16th.

The festival's highlight is the "1,000 Lantern Dance," with hundreds of women dressed in traditional yukata, holding paper lanterns on their heads, dancing elegantly late into the night. The festival also includes a huge fireworks display on August 15th.

Kusa-senrigahama is a small square grassland spread below Mt. Nakadake. There is a pond below, making the area a beautiful and scenic spot great for sightseeing. With cattle and horses roaming its natural scenery, Kusa-senrigahama also creates a very American West-style atmosphere, especially with activities like horseback riding and hiking available. Make sure to be there when volcanic smoke from Mt. Nakadake rises.

Mt. Aso Nakadake Crater is the most active volcano in Japan and regularly emits smoke and fumes. Tourists are welcome to visit this crater up close and see it for themselves! Its sheer size and beauty can be overwhelming. Access to the crater is strictly monitored and not permitted during periods of activity.

Kurokawa Onsen is an elegant onsen town within Kumamoto filled with many old-fashioned ryokan and bath houses.

Visitors are free to hot spring-hop in as many baths as they wish. Be sure to purchase the Kurokawa Onsen Yurutto coupon that gives travelers six tickets for 500 yen to roam the town's baths. The town's crowning attraction is its many rotenburo (outdoor baths).

About two hundred dolphins are inhabiting the waters of the Hayasaki Strait and Futae, and they often swim and jump in front of boats right as they sail the coastal waters. Many companies operate dolphin watching tours in this area, so it will be easy to book one. The tours are available year-round.