2026 Misato Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in August)

Kumamoto Recommended Spots The exhibits at the Mifune Dinosaur Museum are truly awe-inspiring—they look like they could spring to life at any moment! They showcase precious fossils excavated right here in Mifune, making it an incredibly fun spot for anyone interested. The Octagonal Tunnel and Futamata Bridge are located right next to each other. The Octagonal Tunnel has a magical, breathtaking beauty to it. It’s a rare and precious architectural marvel that you don't get to see very often. Sadly, Futamata Bridge is currently destroyed due to severe rainstorm damage. As a result, you can no longer capture the famous photo of the sunlight filtering through to form a perfect heart shape. Over at Nagabeta Ocean Road, I couldn't snap any picture-perfect shots due to the unfortunate weather and low tide. However, the low tide reveals massive numbers of crabs and mudskippers! It’s endlessly entertaining to watch the mudskippers show off their fins and perform their courtship jumps. Also, the sea grape (umibudo) soft-serve ice cream is an absolute must-try—the saltiness of the sea grapes perfectly elevates the sweetness of the rich vanilla, making it simply exquisite.

\\Tourist Spots// Popular among railway enthusiasts, the "Octagonal Tunnel" is one of the remains of the Kumanobu Railway, which supported industrial development. It was quite a mysterious space. Nearby is Futamatabashi, famous for the stone bridge that forms a heart. 〈Access〉 25 minutes by taxi from Matsubashi Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line Information current as of August 2022. #Breathtaking views #Like overseas #Kumamoto Prefecture #Outdoors #Forest bathing #Summer weekend trip

7-Day Itinerary! Explore the stunning autumn colors with the Sanyo-San'in Northern Kyushu Pass For all autumn foliage enthusiasts, don't miss this amazing 7-day trip covering 7 major cities from Kansai to Kyushu with just one pass! Enjoy unlimited rides on the Shinkansen, save time, and make the most of your journey. Pass to use: JR Sanyo-San'in Northern Kyushu Pass (7 days) 7-Day Itinerary for peak autumn foliage viewing: ・Day 1: Osaka (Stay in Osaka) ・Day 2: Kyoto (Stay in Osaka) ・Day 3: Nara (Stay in Osaka) ・Day 4: Himeji (Stay in Hakata) ・Day 5: Hiroshima (Stay in Hakata) ・Day 6: Miyajima/Itsukushima (Stay in Hakata) ・Day 7: Fukuoka (Stay in Hakata) ‡ Benefits of this pass! (Sanyo-San'in Northern Kyushu Pass) • Super value: One ticket for 7 consecutive days with unlimited rides on the Sanyo Shinkansen, from Shin-Osaka to Hakata! Price: For adults, 7 consecutive days at 26,000 yen For this trip, we recommend flying into Fukuoka.

While traditional sightseeing is nice, why not take a slightly stranger and more mysterious trip to Kyushu every once in a while? We've carefully selected nine "Deep Zones of Kyushu" where the power of nature and the faith of the people are woven together! As you travel around, feeling the stories that live in each place, it's as if the entire Kyushu region is the stage for a single myth. ✨ Travel Itinerary Nagasaki - [Sea Pyramid] A geometric monument that appears on the seaside 📍Address: 1714 Aokatago, Shinkamigoto-cho, Minamimatsuura-gun, Nagasaki Prefecture Kagoshima - [Chomei Helsin Vinegar Brewery] A tour of the vinegar brewery where you can experience "drinkable health" 📍Address: 3075 Fukuyama, Fukuyama-cho, Kirishima-shi, Kagoshima Prefecture Fukuoka - [Nanzoin Temple] A tranquil temple home to a 41-meter-long reclining Buddha statue 📍Address: 1035 Sasaguri, Sasaguri-cho, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture Kumamoto - [Japan's Longest Stone Steps (Shakain Misaka Promenade)] A 3,333-step ascetic path 📍Address: Sakamoto, Misato-cho, Shimomashiki-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture Kumamoto - [Hocagonal Tunnel] A former railway tunnel bathed in mystical light 📍Address: Haki, Sakamoto-cho, Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture Kagoshima - [Kumasoana] A cave said to have been inhabited by the mythical Kumaso tribe 📍Address: Hanakura-cho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture Miyazaki - [Ameno Sakahoko] A sacred site in the Kirishima Mountains where the legend of the descent of the heavenly grandson remains 📍Address: Oaza Kamamuta, Takahara-cho, Miyazaki Prefecture (near the summit of Mount Takachiho) Miyazaki - [Takanabe Daishi] A sacred site lined with over 500 stone Buddha statues 📍Address: 1211 Mochida, Takanabe-cho, Koyu-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture Fukuoka - [Naritasan Kurume Branch Temple] A scenic spot where a giant Kannon statue watches over the city 📍Address: 1386-22 Kamitsu-cho, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture Kyushu is known as the "Island of Myth and Miracles." Spiritual scenery you can't experience in tourist spots will lead you on a new journey. Come and see Kyushu's hidden gems for yourself! #KyushuTrip #HuntingHiddenGems #NaritasanKurumeBranch #Nanzoin #Japan'sHighestStoneSteps #OctagonalTunnel #Amanosakahoko #Kumasoana #TakanabeDaishi #SeaPyramid #ChoumeiHelsinVinegarDistillery #ZeroYenTravel2025Autumn

#AbsolutelyFreeTravel The Octagonal Tunnel, located in the remote mountains of Misato Town in southern Kumamoto Prefecture. This tunnel is one of the remains of the Kumanobu Yuen Railway, which once connected Minami-Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto City to Toyo Station in Toyo Town, Shimomashiki District (now Misato Town). It is said to have been built to prevent rockfalls, but the reason for its octagonal shape remains a mystery. The line was abandoned in 1964 and now stands quietly in the mountains. Its mysterious scenery, which seems to transport you to another dimension, has recently become a hot topic on social media. 📍Location: Komushi, Misato Town, Shimomashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture 💰Free admission, free parking 🚗Access: Approximately 50 minutes by car from Kumamoto City, approximately 7 minutes by car from Misato Town, approximately 15 minutes by bus from Misato Town to the "Komatsu" bus stop, then approximately 5 minutes from the bus stop #KumamotoPrefecture #StunningView #TrendingOnSNS

Reidai Bridge, located in Kosa Town, Kamimashiki District, is an arched stone bridge that is a tourist spot with a beautiful landscape that harmonizes with the surrounding rural scenery. 🌉✨ The bridge was built in the Edo period, and you can feel the history. There is a parking lot nearby, so it is perfect as a rest spot during a drive. 🚗! [Opening hours] Open 24 hours a day [Access] About 40 minutes by car from JR Kumamoto Station [Notes] There is a parking lot nearby. 🚗³₃ #0 yen trip February 2025 #Reidai Bridge #Kumamoto sightseeing #historical building #stone bridge #rural scenery

"Futamata Bridge and Futamata Fukura-do" Today, we will introduce Futamata Bridge and Futamata Fukura-do in Kumamoto Prefecture😊 This bridge is a stone bridge that spans the area where the Shakain River and Tsuru River meet, and it is very atmospheric🥹 The two bridges also meet at a right angle, so they are also called the Twin Bridges. There is a large ginkgo tree near the bridge, so during the autumn foliage season, a carpet of ginkgo leaves forms, making it a popular photo spot😊📸🍁 From November to March, around 11:00 to 12:00, the sunlight reflects a heart shape under the bridge, which has become a hot topic, and it has become famous as a stone bridge that forms a heart, and it is registered as a sacred place for lovers, so it is recommended to visit during that time🥰🩷 *·̩͙ ☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎ⓘⓝⓕⓞ☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙ 🕊️Futamatagawa Bridge and Futamata Fukura-do 📌Samata and Komushiro, Misato-machi, Shimomashiki-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧 ˒˒𖡼.𖤣𖥧 ⠜ 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧˒˒. ⓣⓗⓐⓝⓚ ⓨⓞⓤ 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧 #Kumamoto Tourism #Futamata Bridge #Futamata Fukura Watashi #Lovers' Sanctuary #Trip Domestic Travel

"Hacagonal Tunnel" Today, we will introduce the octagonal tunnel in Kumamoto Prefecture😊 This octagonal tunnel is one of the remains of the Kumanobu Railway, which previously connected Minami-Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto City to Toyo Station in Misato Town. As its name suggests, it is octagonal in shape and mysterious🥹 The line was abandoned in 1964, but the octagonal tunnel, which was built to protect against falling rocks, still remains in a place rich in nature, and is popular as a photogenic spot on social media🥹✨ There is a lot of nature around and the atmosphere is calm, so it is a wonderful place perfect for a stroll🌳 *·̩͙ ☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎ⓘⓝⓕⓞ☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙ 🕊️Octagonal Tunnel 📌 Komushiro, Misato-machi, Shimomashiki-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧 ˒˒𖡼.𖤣𖥧 ⠜ 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧˒˒. ⓣⓗⓐⓝⓚ ⓨⓞⓤ 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧 #Kumamoto sightseeing #Hakaku Tunnel #Photogenic spot #Photogenic spot #TripDomestic travel

An artificial object that suddenly appears in nature⛏️ This time, we will introduce the "Octagonal Tunnel" in Misato Town, Kumamoto Prefecture It is one of the remains of the Kumanobu Railway, which connected Minami-Kumamoto Station to Toyo Station in Kumamoto City, and was abandoned in 1964🚞 It was built to prevent the rocks on both sides of the tracks from collapsing, and is a rare octagonal tunnel that is rare nationwide, making it a photogenic spot for ruins📸 If you are visiting Kumamoto, be sure to stop by! ! ~~~~~~Information~~~~~~ 📍Octagonal Tunnel ・Location: Komushi, Misato Town, Shimomashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture ・Access: 50 minutes from Kumamoto Airport ・Opening hours: 24 hours ・Fee: Free ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #Sakura2024 #DomesticTravel #BreathtakingViewsOfJapan #KumamotoTourism

#tourist spot ⁣ "Japan's best stone steps" ⁣ Leaving the octagonal tunnel and heading towards Kirishima ⁣ I saw a sign that said "Japan's best stone steps" so I made a U-turn ⁣ It's called Shakain Misaka Promenade,⁣ and it seems that the best stone steps in Japan were built on Misaka, the main approach to the historic Shakain Temple (Izumi-cho, Yatsushiro City), which has a history of 1200 years. ⁣ There are a whopping 3333 stone steps! ⁣ I asked them to make a U-turn so that I could climb them, but⁣ My accommodation for the day was Kirishima Onsen♨️⁣ It took 3 hours round trip,⁣ and I had to give up because of the check-in time. ⁣ ⁣ I'd like to try it when the weather is nice⛰⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 🗾Sakamoto, Misato-machi, Shimomashiki-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture ⁣ 📍 Shakain Misaka Promenade⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #Kumamoto⁣ #Misato-machi⁣ #Shakain Misaka Promenade⁣ #Japan's tallest stone steps⁣

#PhotogenicSpot "Hakaku Tunnel" From Futamata Bridge to Hakkaku Tunnel I went there in mid-March 2023. One of the remains of the Kumanobu Railway, which was closed in 1964. It connected Minami-Kumamoto Station to Toyo Station in Toyo-cho, Shimomashiki District (now Misato Town) 🚂 It's about a 5-minute walk from Hakkaku Tunnel to Futamata Bridge, so if you're going to both, the parking lot near Hakkaku Tunnel is larger. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 🗾Kumu, Misato-machi, Shimomashiki-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture⁣ 📍Kumanobu Railway Remains: Octagonal Tunnel⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #Kumamoto⁣ #Misato-machi⁣ #Futamata Bridge⁣ #Octagonal Tunnel⁣ #Kumanobu Railway⁣

#tourist spot "Futamata Bridge" While staring at the weather forecast, I've always wanted to go to Futamata Bridge in Misato-cho, Kumamoto Prefecture, which has also been selected as a "sacred place for lovers." November to March, 11:00-12:00 The sunlight shining under the bridge creates a heart shape. Arrived around 10:30 on March 13th I could see it🫶🏻💕︎︎ The photo taken around 11:10 is pic⁣7 When we went there, there was repair work going on, so we had to take a detour, but it seems to have been completed by March 24th. It's about a 5-minute walk to the Hakkaku Tunnel, so if you're going to both, the parking lot near the Hakkaku Tunnel is larger. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 🗾105-2 Samata, Misato-machi, Shimomashiki-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture ⁣ 📍Lovers' Sanctuary at Futamata Bridge⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #Kumamoto⁣ #Misato-machi⁣ #Futamata Bridge⁣ #Lovers' Sanctuary⁣