Springing up in a village where 90% of the area is mountain forest Heal your mind with peaceful hot springs
Dedicated Site
This RV park is "RV Park Smart".
RV Park smart is operated by Trust Park Co.Overnight stay facility exclusively for online reservationsIt is. For details on how to make reservations, etc., please visit the Trust Park Co.
Late Heian Period standing wooden statue of Bishamonten enshrined in the oldest temple in the Kuma region.
A temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect located in the center of Yamae Village. It is the oldest temple in Hitoyoshi Kuma region, built in the late Heian period (794-1185), and is said to have been the domain of the powerful Hirakawa clan. The inner sanctuary is located at the top of 375 stone steps, where the Bishamonten Hall, a nationally registered tangible cultural property, stands. Five standing statues of Bishamonten (Bishamonten) used to be enshrined in this hall, but they are now kept in a storage room beside the main hall at the top of the stone steps. Of the five standing statues of Bishamonten, two are designated as National Important Cultural Properties: one is a standing wooden statue of Bishamonten holding a geki, an ancient Chinese weapon, and the other is a standing wooden statue of Bishamonten holding a treasure stick. Both statues were created in the late Heian period (794-1185), and it is believed that the Hirakawa clan may have had them made. They are among the cultural properties designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs as part of the "700 Years of Sagara's Conservative and Enterprising Culture," a Japan Heritage Site.
Kuma shochu liqueur to drink in Hitoyoshi Kuma shochu liqueur to bring back as a souvenir
Kuma shochu is made from rice, and rice was abundant in the Hitoyoshi Kuma region, which maintained a peaceful order for 700 years. In fact, there was a surplus of rice, and shochu was made from the surplus rice and rice malt. Moreover, the Kuma River and its tributary, the Kawabe River, flowed through the area, providing the high-quality water essential for sake brewing. Even today, there are 27 breweries, and tours are available at each. However, if you drive a car, please be patient and refrain from tasting sake at the breweries! Incidentally, the "Kuma Shochu Museum Hakudake Densetsu Kura" is the brewery of Takahashi Shuzo, which produces the authentic rice shochu "Hakudake".
Hanami at a famous flower viewing spot in a mountain village Stop by at the beginning of a day's journey!
If you stay in your car at Yamae Onsen Hotaru during the cherry blossom viewing season, I recommend this Maruoka Park. It is a 7-minute drive from Yamae Onsen Hotaru, and offers a spectacular view of the Hitoyoshi Kuma Basin. The park consists of the main circle, the second circle, and the third circle, and the view from the main circle and the third circle on the gently sloping hill is spectacular. In spring, 300 cherry trees and 5,000 colorful azaleas are in full bloom, and there is a 100-year-old Iwatsutsuji tree. The azalea festival is held on the third Sunday of April.
The local people call it "Aoi-san" and are familiar with it. Hitoyoshi's chief Shinto shrine with a history of 1,200 years.
The first place to visit in Hitoyoshi City is Aoi Aso Shrine, Hitoyoshi's general guardian. The shrine was founded in 806 AD. The Sagara clan, a feudal lord who ruled Hitoyoshi Kuma region, had a 700-year reign of peace from the Kamakura period in the 12th century to the Meiji Restoration, which is rare in Japanese history. The Sagara clan took advantage of their geographical location to prevent the invasion of foreign enemies and adopted the most advanced architectural styles of the time in the construction of temples and shrines, making the area a center of human emotion. Aoi Aso Shrine, built in the early Edo period, is a typical example. The massive shrine pavilions with thatched roofs boast an overwhelming presence. The tower gate, main hall, hall of worship, corridor, and hall of offerings, as well as one building tag from the time of construction and five nameplates that clearly state the date and details of reconstruction, are designated as the first national treasures in Kumamoto Prefecture. It is also one of the cultural assets of the Japan Heritage Site "Sagara: 700 Years of Conservative and Enterprising Culture" recognized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. The original red seal book is now very popular and there is also an online awarding office.
address (e.g. of house)
118, Kamiaoi-machi, Hitoyoshi-shi, Kumamoto, Japan
Playing in the Kuma River, one of the three most rapid rivers in Japan.
The Kuma River is called "one of the three most rapid rivers in Japan" along with the Mogami River in Yamagata Prefecture and the Fuji River in Shizuoka Prefecture. The "Kuma River Rafting," a wooden boat ride down the Kuma River, is one of Hitoyoshi City's tourist attractions. A skilled boatman reads the flow of the river, and a "Tomohari" steers the boat at the back of the boat. The "short course," which takes about 30 minutes, allows visitors to view Hitoyoshi Castle Town from the river. (The 50-minute course is currently suspended due to the torrential rain disaster in 2020.) Kuma River rafting, on the other hand, is a more active way to enjoy the Kuma River. This is the only place in Kyushu where you can enjoy the dynamic outdoor sport of rafting down the rapids on a rubber boat. You can enjoy the feeling of adventure by rowing the oars to the instructor's call. Life jackets are worn, so even beginners who cannot swim can enjoy this activity. The tour takes 1.5 to 2 hours and runs from April to October. (Due to the torrential rain disaster, only an approximately 8-km course is available.)
Kuma River rafting: Adults (junior high school students and older): 2,000 yen, elementary school students: 1,000 yen, infants: 500 yen (3 years and older), one infant (0-2 years) free per adult Rafting: 8,000 yen
Business Hours
Kuma River cruise departs every hour from 10:00 to 15:00 on weekdays and every hour from 9:00 to 16:00 on weekends and holidays *Varies according to season. Rafting departs at 10:00 and 14:00
Period: April - October
Kumagawa Railway
Run for reconstruction of the entire line! Kumagawa Railway's Rural Symphony
Let's travel by train once in a while. To support local train lines affected by the disaster, Kumagawa Railway is partially operating a 19-km section between Higo Nishimura (Nishiki Town) and Yamae (Yamae Town), which was relatively undamaged out of the entire 24.8-km line after the torrential rain disaster in 2020. The "Rural Symphony," a sightseeing train designed by Eiji Mitooka, has been reborn as an all-long-seat train and operates as a regular train. The four cars were colored according to spring, summer, fall, and winter, and Beethoven's symphony "Denen" was played inside the cars. Now you can ride on such a sophisticated train for a regular fare. We would like to support Kumagawa Railway, which aims to restore the entire line by 2025.
Shiki, a naval town in the mountains Secret Base Museum
Sneak into the ruins of an underground military facility, a base built by the former Imperial Navy in the mountains!
There used to be a naval air base in Nishiki Town in the Hitoyoshi Basin, far from the sea. It was built by the Navy in November 1943 and spanned Nishiki Town and the neighboring village of Sagara. After the war, even its existence was forgotten, but recent research has revealed that the bunker was a large-scale underground military facility. This facility was built on the site of that bunker. Upon entering the museum, visitors are greeted by a life-size replica of a Type 93 intermediate training plane for suicide attack training, known as the "Red Dragonfly. At the end of the war, there were 96 of these aircraft left at Hitoyoshi Naval Base. Part of the underground torpedo adjustment area, the underground operation room/radio room, and the underground barracks bunker are open to the public. The Basic Plan (30 minutes) includes the museum and the underground torpedo control area, the Standard Plan (90 minutes) includes the museum and three underground dugouts, and the Premium Plan (150 minutes) includes the remains of the government housing area. Both plans are guided by a full-time guide.
Basic Plan / 800 yen for high school students and older, 500 yen for elementary and junior high school students Standard plan/High school students and older: 1,500 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 1,200 yen Premium Plan / 2,000 yen for high school students and older, 1,700 yen for elementary and junior high school students *Preschool children are free of charge for all plans.
