Rugby World UK – August 2019

RW Promotion

have a 98% chance of seeing dolphins.

Take a boat trip from Amakusa, where

you can watch around 200 wild dolphins.

FESTIVAL SPIRIT

To celebrate the World Cup, 40 festivals

from the Kyushu region and Yamaguchi

Prefecture have organised Matsuri in

Kyushu on 28-29 September in Kumamoto

City (matsuri.welcomekyushu.com). Enjoy

a smorgasbord of the area’s top matsuri

festivals and cuisine during

this one-off weekend event.

Think of it as a ‘best of’ all in

one place and soak up all the

local cultural traditions.

At the Kumamoto Castle

Festival (12-13 October) there

are martial art displays and at

night bamboo lanterns cast

reflections in the water.

The Namino Kagura Festival – a dancing

event – takes place on 5 October. You

can watch performances at the open-air

stage of Michinoeki Namino Kaguraen.

POST-MATCH

The big entertainment areas are around

the Kamitori and Shimotori shopping

arcades. If you want to discover more

of Kumamoto, head to backstreets like

Kaminoura or Shower. The izakayas in

traditional kominka houses are well

worth a visit, as are the local beer halls.

If you want a luxurious meal, head to

a ryotei (upmarket restaurant). For more

budget-friendly options, try Kumamoto

ramen, Akaushi donburi or karashi

renkon (mustard lotus roots) over beers

and the renowned Kuma Shochu.

For more information and travel tips

about Kumamoto, turn to page 38.

WORLD CUP

MATCHES

Sun 6 Oct

France v Tonga

Sun 13 Oct

Wales v Uruguay

KUMAMOTO

DAY TRIPS
Mount Aso is an active volcano that has
one of the largest calderas in the world.
As well as viewing spots like Komezuka,
Kusasenri and Shirakawa Suigen, Aso is
also famous for Akaushi (Red beef).
It’s been almost three years since an
earthquake hit Kumamoto and damaged
the castle. Little by little, it’s being rebuilt
and from October Kumamoto Castle
will be partly open to the public, so
you can see the renovated
Main Tower close up.
You’ll find lots of places to
dine and shop in Jyosaien,
next to the castle, and take
the tram from the city to
Suizenji Park, a beautiful
Japanese garden.
Just 80 minutes by car from
the city of Kumamoto, you

Mountain with a view

The Mount Aso area