Kumamoto Castle was badly damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes, but rebuilding is progressing and the castle has become the symbol of reconstruction after the quakes. Around 800 cherry blossom trees bloom here in the spring, and it is well-loved by the people of Kumamoto Prefecture as a place of rest. From the top floor of the main keep, you can look out over the cityscape and the Aso mountains.
*Currently undergoing restoration as of 2024

Explore this stroll garden (a garden that is meant to be appreciated by strolling around) centered around a pond with quietly gushing underground water from Aso. Try wandering around as you view the artificial mountain imitating Mt. Fuji, pine trees, and the rocks in the water. Shops selling souvenirs and Kumamoto specialty gourmet treats line the approach to Suizenji Temple.

This dish uses a rich, mellow, and concentrated tonkotsu soup as its base, with thick, slightly hard noodles. The ma-yu (blackened garlic oil) is the key finishing touch. The fragrant flavor makes the deliciousness of the ramen stand out even more.

The builders of this castle made use of a small hill during construction, so it is also called “Moritake” Castle ("forest hill" castle). The museum of early Japanese Christian history inside displays historic materials about the transition to Christian teachings in Japan and the Shimabara Rebellion. The observation deck on the fifth floor offers sweeping views of Shimabara City and the Kumamoto mountains.

Unzen Onsen started business more than 1,300 years ago. The intense steam eruptions from all over this area have given rise to another name: Unzen Jigoku (Unzen Hell). You can enjoy walking around “hell” on the walkways in the area. The Jigoku teahouse rest spots offer foot steam baths where you can experience the geothermal energy and gases, as well as the local specialty “onsen eggs,” which are definitely worth a try.

The popular Minami-yamate area has an air of exoticism. Walk up the stone-paved road of Glover Street, lined with souvenir stores and other shops, to see Japan’s oldest church, Oura Cathedral. There is a wide area of historic architecture and scenery here, including Glover Garden, where you can see nine traditional buildings.

With beautiful red gates and lanterns adding color to the streets, this is a bustling area of around 40 buildings, including Chinese restaurants and souvenir shops. Visitors can enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine; Nagasaki’s specialty noodle dishes, “champon” and “sara udon,” are popular choices. A spectacular lantern festival is held for Chinese New Year, which is enthusiastically attended by large numbers of tourists.

Within the terminal, you will find transport company offices, souvenir shops, restaurants, a tourist information center, convenience stores, etc., and you can spot Mt. Onidake from the second-floor observatory. When you arrive, the first thing you should do is pick up helpful pamphlets from the tourist information center.

There are also coin lockers within the terminal. 

 

Relax and lay on the folding lounge on the meadow. In this quiet venue, you can learn about the stars and observe the beautiful starry sky with the Newtonian telescope in Onidake observatory.

Take the shuttle bus at Campana Hotel, in front of The Juhachi-Shinwa Bank Fukue Branch or GOTO CON-KANA KINDGOM to go to Onidake. During this night tour, you need to climb up a 20m ladder and a hill to get to Onidake grassland and the guide uses a laser pointer to explain stars.  Next, it is on to the observatory to enjoy the fantastic starry sky with the Newtonian telescope. 

The Goto Tourism and Historical Materials Museum was built to commemorate the 35 years of Fukue City's founding (now part of Goto City since 2004). Construction works started in 1987, and the Museum opened on the 12th November 1989, within the precincts of former Ishida Castle. The museum introduces Goto's cultural heritage, history and touristic development.

Soon after the ban on Christianity was lifted by the Meiji government, two French missionaries, fathers Fraineau and Marmand, were sent to Goto in order to take part to the revival of the local Christian community.  Father Marmand established a first wooden church in Goto, in 1879.

Dozaki Church was rebuilt in red bricks in 1908 under the guidance of Father Pélu, a missionary who succeeded Marmand and Fraineau. Some of the materials were brought all the way from Italy. The inside of the church is made of wood, with typical stained glass and ribbed vault ceiling. 

Today, various documents and objects showing us the history of the Christians’ persecution are displayed in Dozaki.

The building has been registered as prefectural tangible heritage in 1974.

Myojoin Temple was the worshipping place chosen by the feudal lords of the Goto clan for many generations. The current main building was completed by the 28th Lord of Goto, Goto Moriyuki, in 1778.

The oldest wooden temple in Goto City was the worshipping place chosen by the feudal lords of the Goto clan for many generations. The current main building was completed by the 28th Lord of Goto, Goto Moriyuki, in 1778. Myojoin Temple is also the main temple for the Shingon Sect of Buddhism in Goto. The paintings on the ceiling of the main building are believed to have been painted by a disciple of the famed painter Kano Eitoku.  Myojoin Temple, in which the famous monk Kukai is said to have stayed on his way back from China, contains many buddhist artefacts and statues dating back from Kamakura and Muromachi (mid-12th to mid-16th century) eras.

Eat noodles made in-house here. You can also buy souvenirs, so this is a must-visit!

Come and enjoy Gyogasaki Park’s flower fields all year round!

The park’s beautiful flower fields change with every season: canola fields and hydrangeas in spring, sunflowers during the summer, beautiful cosmos in autumn. 

On sunny days, the contrast between the flowers the sea and the sky is simply breath-taking.

The park also has a campsite and a nearby beach, which makes it the ideal location for summer outdoor activities.

The history of Mizunoura Christians is said to have started when five men from Sotome (located north of Nagasaki City) moved there together with their families in 1797 as part of the Goto and Omura feudal domains policies. 

A first church was built in 1880 but didn’t last long and deteriorated quickly. The church was rebuilt into its current appearance in 1938 by famed architect Yosuke Tetsukawa. 

The lilywhite wooden church, a masterful mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Japanese architecture, is the biggest wooden church in Goto, and the contrast between its white spire and the blue of the seas seems to come right out of a postcard.

The hill behind the church features a statue of St John Soan de Goto and remains of a prison from the ban on Christianity era. 

This facility features an exhibit about Goto's role in the Japanese missions to Tang China. There is a souvenir shop and a restaurant that offers many dishes with local ingredients. 

Takahama Beach boasts some of the whitest sand and clearest water in Japan. It is not only one of the best-known beaches on the Goto Islands, but also listed as one of Japan’s Top 100 Beaches, and Top 88 Swimming Beaches! This beautiful beach is popular with locals and tourists alike, attracting holidaymakers from all over the country.

The west-facing beach overlooks the Sagano Island and has a wide sandbar that provides a calm shallow swimming area. Silver sand sparkles through the clear water, and the surrounding greenery completes the perfect coastal escape.

For a view of the beach in its entirety, head to “Gyoran Kannon Observatory” (a three-minute drive from the beach) where you can catch a glimpse of the brilliant shades of blue as they change and deepen throughout the day.

The Osezaki Lighthouse is set against a dramatic backdrop of wave-worn cliffs as steep as 150 meters. Although the current lighthouse was built in 1971, the original structure was designed by an Englishman and erected in 1879. A part of it has been turned into a permanent exhibit at the Museum of Maritime Science in Tokyo.

The nearby observatory is a popular spot for both visitors and locals to enjoy the sunset view. For adventurers, you can also walk to the lighthouse. Getting to the lighthouse requires a 2.4km hike (round-trip of about an hour), but intermittent green tunnels created by camellia trees lining both sides of the paved trail make it a pleasant trek. Once at the lighthouse platform, the sight of the stoic white structure combined with the cliffs and surrounding ocean makes it a spectacular and an unforgettable view.

The story of Imochiura starts when hidden Christians from Omura domain moved to Imochiura to work in salt factories. 

Upon hearing in 1891 that a replica of the Lourdes grotto was being built in  Vatican City, father Pélu who was tasked with reviving the Catholic faith in Goto at the time,  gathered enough beautifully shaped rocks with the help of local believers to build the first Lourdes grotto in Japan in 1899.

Drinking this miraculous water is said to be a cure for many illnesses and the grotto rapidly acquired a holy-ground status among Japanese believers.

Daihoji was founded in 701, 1st year of Daiho Era at the request of empress emeritus Jito.

A century later, in 806, the famous monk Kukai taught the principles of Shingon Buddhism for the first time on his way back from China. Many cultural treasures are kept in the temple among which some nehan-zu paintings from  Muromachi era (1336-1573), a bronze bell and a monkey sculpture by famous Edo era artist and carpenter Hidari Jingoro.

Enjoy Goto Beef, fresh seafood, and mountain produce in this eatery with stunning sea views.
*Booking required no later than 15:00 the day before you visit

This stunning beach with emerald-green waters and white sands is easily accessible from the city.
Goto Tsubaki Bussankan, located in the grounds of Tsubaki Chaya, offers a range of hand-made items and souvenirs. You can also participate in camellia oil and salt-making experiences, making this a place to enjoy even outside the sea swimming season.

Mt. Onidake, a symbol of Goto, is a 315-meter cinder-cone volcano, which last erupted approximately 18,000 years ago. The volcano, which is covered in grass now, is well-known as a venue for an annual kite flying event, and as a leisure and hiking spot.