User:(WT-en) Joseph tomei/project1

This is the project page for Computers and English. I've copied the Kumamoto page here, I'd like you all to work on it in here and when it is finished, we will move it to the Kumamoto page. If you are visiting, go here for the User:(WT-en) Joseph tomei/project description

Kumamoto (熊本) is the capital of Kumamoto prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

Understand

It has a population of about 600,000 and is famous for its large castle, for Lake Ezu and for Suizenji Gardens. Kumamoto was home of the 5th Imperial Boys High School, where Lafacadio Hearn and Soseki Natsume taught and where, for a brief time, Kano Jigoro, the founder of the sport of Judo, was headmaster

Fun Fact: "Kumamoto" means "origin of the bear."

Get in

By plane

Kumamoto has an airport, from which shuttle buses make a one-hour jaunt into the town (¥670).

By train

Kumamoto, on the JR Kagoshima Line, is easily accessible from Hakata station in Fukuoka - the terminating stop on the San'yo Shinkansen line. From here, three limited express trains run to Kumamoto every hour: Two Relay Tsubame trains, and one Ariake train. The trains make varying stops, reaching Kumamoto in 75-85 minutes. The one-way charge is ¥3940.

Local trains take 2 1/2 hours to reach Kumamoto (change in Omuta) at a cost of ¥2070.

Travel times from Hakata will be reduced significantly when the last section of the Kyushu Shinkansen becomes fully operational in 2012.

Get around

kamikumamoto area

See

• Kumamoto Castle is one of the three most famous castles in Japan, and its grounds are used for festivals such as the Kimono Festival. It is currently undergoing some construction, however the main tower, which now houses the museum, is still open to the public.
• Lake Ezu
• Suizenji Gardens is a very large and famous Japanese traditional garden.
• Shiki no Sato Park has its own natural hot springs and animal park.
• Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center exhibits the various traditional crafts for which Kumamoto is well-known. (includes a gift shop)
• (WT-en) Honmyo-ji is one of the most famous temples in Kumamoto.

• (WT-en) Hosokawa gyobutei is such a nice place for you to visit in your life time.

Buy

Everyday Shopping

• Hikari no Mori is a large shopping center. There are many shops including: Kinokuniya, Shinseido, Mujirushi, Starbucks café, and so on. It also contains a large cinema complex with 9 cinema theatres.
• Tsuruya- there are 6 "Tsuruya" department stores in Kumamoto city. They are "The Main building and the East building of Tsuruya", "New-S" and "WINGⅡ", "Comme ca store", "Nextage", and "Brockes Brothers". These buildings are located in "Shimo Tori" or "Kami Tori".
• Kumamoto Hanshin- Kumamoto Hanshin is a big department store and it is located near the "Kumamoto castle" and next to Kumamoto bus terminal. Kumamoto Hanshin sells goods of "Hanshin Tigers" that is a popular Japanese baseball team.

Special/Souvenir

• Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center - the first floor of the Center is a large gift shop where you can purchase crafts made with traditional methods which have historical significance to the Kumamoto area. You can also check out the museum on the second floor while you're there.

Eat

There are some unique traditional foods in Kumamoto.

• Karashirenkon is the most popular food for visitors
• Ikinaridango is the famous sweets. This containe a slice of sweet potato and anko-bean paste. Visitors who come to Kumamoto buy it for a souvenir.
• Basashi is horsemeat sashimi (raw and thinly sliced) and is one of Kumamoto prefecture's most famous dishes

The city has a wide range of restaurants including:

• Dipper Dan nestled right next to Daiei is a popular ice cream and dessert parlor located in Shimotori. Perhaps not as unique, but appears to be a local favorite.

• Musashi Udon is famous noodle in Kumamoto. There are five Musashi Udon restaurants in Kumamoto prefecture. The Udon is differnt from general one. The width of the noodle is fat and the soup is thick, so the color of the soup is brown.

• Ba-roquette is a kind of Croquette in Kumamoto. However, it is different from other one because it includes horse's meat. You can buy it at Torimiya near Aso shrine in Aso. It is only 100 yen. If you eat it, you will want to eat it again!!!

Drink

• Pronto is an Italian-style coffee shop located in Shimotori. It can be a bit pricey, but the ambiance very classy. Aside from coffee, the selection includes various alchoholic beverages, pizza, and desserts.
• Montore is an old-style coffee shop with a dark and cozy atmosphere. The drinks are expensive, but the food comes in large portions. It is located near Kumamoto Gakuen University.

Get out

Travelers would probably not want to spend too long in the city, and may prefer to enjoy the wide range of natural surroundings within easy reach of the city.

• Aso highland area, with an immense caldera, numerous hot spring resorts, fine hiking courses, and an active volcano to look down into.

• Amakusa, a chain of islands off the west coast of Kumamoto, and not far from the south coast of Nagasaki (to which ferries run regularly).

• Hitoyoshi which is famous for hot springs. There are many other places to visit too.

• Takamori is also interesting for Yuusui tunnel.

• Yatsushiro is famous for igusa, the material used to make tatami mats.

• Uki City is comprised of Matsubase, Misumi, Ogawa, Shiranuhi, and Toyono

• Shiranuhi area is on the west coast.

• Misato is famous with 3333 stone steps, which are the most steps in Japan!

• Siki no Sato Park.

External links

• Kumamoto City
• Kumamoto-i A list of annotated links for foreigners living in the Kumamoto area