[:it]Nella regione di Kyushu, circondata da montagne e con i suoi paesaggi creati dall’attività vulcanica del Monte Aso, sorge Kumamoto (熊本市).

photo credits: japantravel.com

Quando pensiamo a questa città, l’immediato riferimento è quello del pacioccone orso nero dalle gote rosse: Kumamon (くまモン). Vero e proprio simbolo della prefettura divenuto la sua stessa mascotte, Kumamon aiuta anche la promozione turistica in Giappone e all’estero con il “Kumamon Square”! (sito ufficiale in giapponese e in inglese: https://www.kumamon-sq.jp/en/)

photo credits: kyushuandtokyo.org

Le Origini

Durante il periodo Nara, Katou Kiyomasa fu nominato daimyō nel 1588 e fece costruire l’inespugnabile castello di Kumamoto attorno al quale il villaggio crebbe. Al clan Kiyomasa succedette quello di Hosokawa. Nel 1877 ex samurai di Satsuma si ribellarono al governo Meiji con la ribellione di Satsuma. Il Castello di Kumamoto rimase sotto assedio per 53 fra seccheggiamenti e incendi, anche la cittadina fu rasa al suolo. Una piccola curiosità, i fatti della ribellione di Satsuma sono narrati nel bellissimo film “L’ultimo samurai”.

Il nuovo assetto politico si ristabilì nel 1889 conferendo a Kumamoto il ruolo di importante centro economico e industriale di Kyushu. Grazie a questo ottenne il titolo di “città designata per ordinanza governativa” (政令指定都市) contando ben 5 quartieri al suo interno. I quartieri della città sono Kita-ku (北区) il quartiere nord, Nishi-ku (西区) il quartiere ovest, Chūō-ku (中央区) il centro cittadino, Higashi-ku (東区) il quartiere est e Minami-ku (南区) il quartiere sud.
Purtroppo un violento terremoto colpì la prefettura nel 2016 provocando ingentissimi danni, ma il grande spirito giapponese non ha permesso ai suoi abitanti di arrendersi ed oggi Kumamoto risplende ancora.

photo credits: zingarate.com

Esplorare Kumamoto

Durante gli anni ‘60 e ‘70, il castello subì una massiccia restaurazione tornando al suo antico splendore. Una tappa imperdibile è il giardino Suizen-ji Jōju-en costruito nel 1636 da Hosokawa Tadatoshi. Questo funge come luogo di ritiro per il tè grazie all’acqua purissima del laghetto. Al suo interno si trova il santuario di Izumi dove sono custoditi i membri della famiglia Hosokawa, un Nōgaku-dō e un teatro Noh. La casa da tè Kokin-Denju-no-Ma era originariamente nel Palazzo Imperiale di Kyoto, ma fu trasferita qui nel 1912. Il giardino è stato dichiarato dal governo nazionale un sito storico di bellezza paesaggistica.

photo Credits: sygic.com

Se amate i musei, una tappa obbligatoria è il Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art. A soli 500 metri dal castello ospita diverse sezioni dedicate all’arte moderna giapponese, europea e americana. Nel museo troviamo un’area in cui sono collezionati i corredi funerari ritrovati nei kofun (antichi tumuli funerari) e un’ultima parte dedicata ai reperti appartenenti alla città. Kumamoto è spettacolare anche grazie ai suoi paesaggi. Infatti, uno dei luoghi più magici dal quale godere viste mozzafiato sull’intera prefettura è il parco Hanaokayama Koen. Nella zona sud della città si trova invece il Lago Ezu. Questo specchio d’acqua è circondato da un’immensa oasi naturale in cui passeggiare, pescare, fare un giro sulle caratteristiche barchette giapponesi a noleggio, o fare birdwatching. Restando in tema di natura, è interessante visitare il Kumamoto City Zoological Garden. Qui troviamo 124 specie diverse di animali, bellissimi giardini botanici e un piccolo luna park.

photo Credits: zoosinjapan.blogspot.com

C’è un luogo, però, che più di tutti, vale la pena di visitare: la grotta Reigando (霊巌洞). Sacra e misteriosa, questa grotta sorge ai piedi del Monte Kinpo. Questo luogo ha raggiungo la fama soprattutto perchè qui il filosofo Musashi Miyamoto compose il trattato sulle arti marziali “Go Rin No Sho” (The Book of Five Rings. Ma non solo, è qui che nel corso dei secoli, monaci, poeti e guerrieri si sono recati per meditare.

photo Credits: kumamoto-guide.jp

Per raggiungere Reigando è necessario attraversare il tempio buddista zen di Unganzenji. Il percorso consta di una ripida scala in pietra ai cui lati si snodano 500 uniche statue degli illuminati seguaci di Buddha. Alla fine del sentiero si apre l’entrata della grotta che si affaccia sulla foresta. Nella parte posteriore della grotta è custodita la dea a quattro facce Iwato Kanon. Si dice che la statua si sia misteriosamente lavata nella grotta 1000 anni fa dopo che la nave che la trasportava affondò.

photo Credits: japanshoreexcursions.com

Spirituale e rilassante, Kumamoto sa regalare davvero tanto ai suoi visitatori e merita assolutamente di essere visitata ed amata, come ogni città del Giappone.[:en]In the Kyushu region stands Kumamoto (本市), surrounded by mountains and with its landscapes created by the volcanic activity of Mount Aso.

photo credits: japantravel.com

When we think of this city, the immediate reference is that of the black bear with red cheeks: Kumamon (くまモン). A true symbol of the prefecture that has become its own mascot, Kumamon also helps promote tourism in Japan and abroad with the “Kumamon Square”! (official website in Japanese and English: https://www.kumamon-sq.jp/en/)

photo credits: kyushuandtokyo.org

The origins

During the Nara period, Katou Kiyomasa was named daimyō in 1588 and built the impregnable Kumamoto castle around which the village grew. The Kiyomasa clan was succeeded by Hosokawa’s. In 1877, former Satsuma samurai rebelled against the Meiji government with the Satsuma rebellion. The Castle of Kumamoto remained under siege for 53 days between drying out and fires, even the town was razed to the ground. A little curiosity, the facts of the Satsuma rebellion are narrated in the beautiful film “The last samurai”.

The new political order was re-established in 1889, giving Kumamoto the role of an important economic and industrial centre of Kyushu. Thanks to this it obtained the title of “city designated by government ordinance” (政令指定都市) counting as many as 5 neighbourhoods within it. The districts of the city are Kita-Ku (北区) the northern district, Nishi-Ku (西区) the west district, Chūō-Ku (中央区) the city centre, Higashi-Ku (東区) the east district and Minami-Ku (南区) the southern district.
Unfortunately a violent earthquake struck the prefecture in 2016 causing enormous damage, but the great Japanese spirit did not allow its inhabitants to surrender and today Kumamoto is still shining.

photo credits: zingarate.com

Explore Kumamoto

During the 60s and 70s, the castle underwent a massive restoration returning to its former glory. An unmissable stop is the Suizen-Ji Jōju-en garden built in 1636 by Hosokawa Tadatoshi. This serves as a retreat for tea thanks to the pure water of the pond. Inside there is the sanctuary of Izumi where members of the Hosokawa family are kept, a Nōgaku-dō and a Noh theatre. The Kokin-Denju-no-Ma teahouse was originally in the Kyoto Imperial Palace, but was moved here in 1912. The garden was declared a historic site of scenic beauty by the national government.

photo Credits: sygic.com

If you love museums, a must is the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art. Just 500 meters from the castle, it houses several sections dedicated to modern Japanese, European and American art. In the museum, we find an area where the funerary objects found in the kofun (ancient burial mounds) and a last part dedicated to the finds belonging to the city are collected. Kumamoto is spectacular also thanks to its landscapes. In fact, one of the most magical places from which to enjoy breathtaking views of the entire prefecture is the Hanaokayama Koen park. Lake Ezu is located in the south of the city. This stretch of water is surrounded by an immense natural oasis in which to walk, fish, take a ride on the characteristic Japanese boats for hire, or do birdwatching. Staying with nature, it is interesting to visit the Kumamoto City Zoological Garden. Here we find 124 different species of animals, beautiful botanical gardens and a small funfair.

photo Credits: zoosinjapan.blogspot.com

There is a place that it is worth visiting: the Reigando cave (霊巌洞). Sacred and mysterious, this cave rises at the foot of Mount Kinpo. This place has achieved fame mainly because here the philosopher Musashi Miyamoto composed the treatise on martial arts “Go Rin No Sho” (The Book of Five Rings. But not only that, it is here that over the centuries, monks, poets and warriors they went to meditate.

photo Credits: kumamoto-guide.jp

To reach Reigando it is necessary to cross the Zen Buddhist temple of Unganzenji. The path consists of a steep stone staircase to the sides of which 500 unique statues of the enlightened followers of Buddha unfold. At the end of the path opens the entrance to the cave that overlooks the forest. At the back of the cave is the four-faced goddess Iwato Kanon. It is said that the statue was mysteriously washed in the cave 1000 years ago after the ship that transported it sank.

photo Credits: japanshoreexcursions.com

Spiritual and relaxing, Kumamoto can really give its visitors a lot and absolutely deserves to be visited and loved, like every city in Japan.[:ja]In the Kyushu region stands Kumamoto (本市), surrounded by mountains and with its landscapes created by the volcanic activity of Mount Aso.

photo credits: japantravel.com

When we think of this city, the immediate reference is that of the black bear with red cheeks: Kumamon (くまモン). A true symbol of the prefecture that has become its own mascot, Kumamon also helps promote tourism in Japan and abroad with the “Kumamon Square”! (official website in Japanese and English: https://www.kumamon-sq.jp/en/)

photo credits: kyushuandtokyo.org

The origins

During the Nara period, Katou Kiyomasa was named daimyō in 1588 and built the impregnable Kumamoto castle around which the village grew. The Kiyomasa clan was succeeded by Hosokawa’s. In 1877, former Satsuma samurai rebelled against the Meiji government with the Satsuma rebellion. The Castle of Kumamoto remained under siege for 53 days between drying out and fires, even the town was razed to the ground. A little curiosity, the facts of the Satsuma rebellion are narrated in the beautiful film “The last samurai”.

The new political order was re-established in 1889, giving Kumamoto the role of an important economic and industrial centre of Kyushu. Thanks to this it obtained the title of “city designated by government ordinance” (政令指定都市) counting as many as 5 neighbourhoods within it. The districts of the city are Kita-Ku (北区) the northern district, Nishi-Ku (西区) the west district, Chūō-Ku (中央区) the city centre, Higashi-Ku (東区) the east district and Minami-Ku (南区) the southern district.
Unfortunately a violent earthquake struck the prefecture in 2016 causing enormous damage, but the great Japanese spirit did not allow its inhabitants to surrender and today Kumamoto is still shining.

photo credits: zingarate.com

Explore Kumamoto

During the 60s and 70s, the castle underwent a massive restoration returning to its former glory. An unmissable stop is the Suizen-Ji Jōju-en garden built in 1636 by Hosokawa Tadatoshi. This serves as a retreat for tea thanks to the pure water of the pond. Inside there is the sanctuary of Izumi where members of the Hosokawa family are kept, a Nōgaku-dō and a Noh theatre. The Kokin-Denju-no-Ma teahouse was originally in the Kyoto Imperial Palace, but was moved here in 1912. The garden was declared a historic site of scenic beauty by the national government.

photo Credits: sygic.com

If you love museums, a must is the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art. Just 500 meters from the castle, it houses several sections dedicated to modern Japanese, European and American art. In the museum, we find an area where the funerary objects found in the kofun (ancient burial mounds) and a last part dedicated to the finds belonging to the city are collected. Kumamoto is spectacular also thanks to its landscapes. In fact, one of the most magical places from which to enjoy breathtaking views of the entire prefecture is the Hanaokayama Koen park. Lake Ezu is located in the south of the city. This stretch of water is surrounded by an immense natural oasis in which to walk, fish, take a ride on the characteristic Japanese boats for hire, or do birdwatching. Staying with nature, it is interesting to visit the Kumamoto City Zoological Garden. Here we find 124 different species of animals, beautiful botanical gardens and a small funfair.

photo Credits: zoosinjapan.blogspot.com

There is a place that it is worth visiting: the Reigando cave (霊巌洞). Sacred and mysterious, this cave rises at the foot of Mount Kinpo. This place has achieved fame mainly because here the philosopher Musashi Miyamoto composed the treatise on martial arts “Go Rin No Sho” (The Book of Five Rings. But not only that, it is here that over the centuries, monks, poets and warriors they went to meditate.

photo Credits: kumamoto-guide.jp

To reach Reigando it is necessary to cross the Zen Buddhist temple of Unganzenji. The path consists of a steep stone staircase to the sides of which 500 unique statues of the enlightened followers of Buddha unfold. At the end of the path opens the entrance to the cave that overlooks the forest. At the back of the cave is the four-faced goddess Iwato Kanon. It is said that the statue was mysteriously washed in the cave 1000 years ago after the ship that transported it sank.

photo Credits: japanshoreexcursions.com

Spiritual and relaxing, Kumamoto can really give its visitors a lot and absolutely deserves to be visited and loved, like every city in Japan.[:]