Kumamoto Prefecture Hit By Earthquake

Above, Kumamoto Station in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture was rocked Tuesday by a 7.1 earthquake.

Japan is prone to having major earthquakes as it sits on the "Ring of Fire" of the Pacific. In 2010, a major quake hit the Tohoku Region of Japan that caused a huge tsunami.

I visited Kumamoto in April 2007. One of the places I visited was nearby Mount Aso.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO - A major earthquake rocked Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, knocking out power to thousands of homes, rupturing roads and injuring at least 50 people.

Speaking to reporters at ‌her office in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the full extent of casualties and damage from the 7.1 magnitude quake was still being assessed.

"We have already been informed that people have been injured," Takaichi said. "Power outages and ‌fires have occurred in some areas, and there has also been damage to ⁠roads and bridges and the collapse of buildings."

One hospital had reported more ⁠than 50 injuries, public ⁠broadcaster NHK said. Several people on a high-speed train at the time of the quake were also ‌injured, Nikkei newspaper said.

Multiple buildings were damaged, including an Aeon shopping mall that NHK said had suffered ⁠an explosion, while footage from the broadcaster also ⁠showed other buildings on fire or partially collapsed. A spokesperson for Aeon did not immediately have a comment on the situation.

 To read more, go here.

Where To Travel In Japan Besides Tokyo

Above, a restaurant at Osaka's Dotonbori district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of my eight trips to Japan was just confined to Tokyo. It was a short five-day trip, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I have been as far north (or east) as Sendai and far south (or west) as Kumamoto along with points in-between.

Yahoo! News has posted a list of places to travel to besides Tokyo.

They begin with:

Every few years, certain destinations emerge as major travel hotspots for American tourists. HuffPost recently asked travel experts to predict the most popular choices for 2024, and while many shared a variety of countries, cities, islands and other locales, a lot of them gave the same answer: Japan.

“The destination that comes to mind first for me is Japan,” said Sarah Firshein, head of editorial at Tripadvisor. “With travelers increasingly eager to spend their discretionary income on experiences and activities, I’m fully expecting Japan’s ancient temples, diverse cultures and communities, next-level food scene, and extraordinary art and architecture to be a huge draw in 2024.”

Of course, Tokyo is likely the first city that comes to mind when you think of travel to Japan. But with the growing tourist crowds, you might want to set your sights beyond the capital as well. Below, experts share the other amazing Japanese destinations they recommend.

To read more, go here. 

Gaijinpot: 5 Historical and Quirky Places to Visit in Kyushu

Above, the Peace Statue at Nagaski Peace Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that Japan will be welcoming foreign tourists again in four days, it is now the time to take a look at what places to visit while there.

Gaijinpot has posted five historical and quirky places to visit in Kyushu. I visited Kyushu back in 2007 and enjoyed the trek there.

For daikaiju eiga fans, Kyushu was prominent in Rodan (1956), including Mt. Aso, Sasebo City and Fukuoka. Fukuoka was featured in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995). While visiting the seven on the list, side trips to other sites are worth one's while. They are covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

They begin with:

Kyushu is Japan’s southernmost main island and the third largest after Hokkaido. There are seven prefectures that make up the island: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. These prefectures are home to a handful of active volcanoes (26 to be exact), world-class hot spring towns and great local cuisine.

While not as popular as Okinawa or Kyoto there’s an undeniable charm to each prefecture that make up this island. From Kokura Castle in Kita-Kyushu down to Sakurajima in Kagoshima, many other destinations await the eager explorer.

Here are our top five spots to get you started on planning your Kyushu adventure.

 To read more, go here.

Explore Kyushu With The JR Kyushu Discover Rail Pass

Above, a view of Fukuoka from Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2007, I took a trip down to Kyushu, Japan and wandered around Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Mount Aso, Nagasaki and Sasebo. This trip was before the Hakata and Kagoshima Shinkansen was built.

Now, with that Shinkansen and other commuter trains available, the JR Kyushu Discover Rail Pass will make exploring Kyushu a lot easier.

According to GaijinPot:

Whether you’re traveling in Kyushu to enjoy the lush countryside home to natural hot springs, active volcanoes and waterfalls, or heading into the bustling cities to shop your heart’s content, getting around Japan’s underrated third-largest island has never been more affordable or convenient, thanks to the new JR Kyushu Discover Rail Pass.

Although Japan’s borders are still closed to tourists from abroad due to the coronavirus, the JR Kyushu Discover Rail Pass is designed for the country’s foreign residents who want to discover Kyushu’s hottest tourist attractions in a fast and efficient manner.

The pass offers users unlimited travel on JR Kyushu shinkansen and limited express trains for three consecutive days. If you’re planning to visit more than one city on your trip, it makes sense to take advantage of this limited-time discount—as you’ll likely be using the train to move around the island.

To read more, go here. 

Kyushu Shinkansen Gets Send-off...10 Years Later

Above, Fukuoka Tower in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2007, I took a trip down to Kyushu to see Kumamoto, Mt. Aso, Nagasaki, Sasebo and Fukuoka.

At that time, the "Shooting Star" Shinkansen was still under construction. It didn't begin service until March 12, 2011. 

Above, Kumamoto Station in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It would have come in handy for me as I had to rely on smaller and slower commuter trains to get from Fukuoka to Kumamoto.

The ceremonial send-off for the Shinkansen was canceled due to the Great East Japan Earthquake of the day before on March 11.

Finally, ten years later, a ceremonial glitzy send-off was held for the train.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

KAGOSHIMA--Ten years after being fully launched, a bullet train dubbed the "Shooting Star Shinkansen" finally got the send-off it wanted but canceled due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

The Shinkansen made a special run on March 14, carrying hundreds of wishes solicited from the public and emitting spotlights into the night sky in seven hues and attracting spectators along the way.

The run marked the 10th anniversary of the full opening of the Kyushu Shinkansen Line, which connected Fukuoka to Kagoshima, in March 2011.

The train, comprising six cars, left JR Kagoshima-Chuo Station at 6:35 p.m. for Hakata Station in Fukuoka without passengers.

Above, a view of Fukuoka from Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Kyushu: 5 Hidden Gem Places

Above, a snow-covered shrine at Mt. Aso Volcano National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2007, I spent several days at Japan's westernmost island of Kyushu. It was one memorable trip that I recommend to others.

Once the pandemic ends (whenever that'll be), Kyushu is a place to seriously look into during Japan vacation planning.

Japan Today has posted five "hidden gem" places that deserve a visit.

They begin with:

TOKYO - As someone who has been in Kyushu for over ten years, I can attest that it’s a pretty nice place to live. The island consists of seven prefectures: Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima, and often Okinawa is included too. 

Kyushu is much more laid back than its mainland counterpart, and people here are friendly and full of character. Where else can you can enjoy city life with beautiful scenic views just a stone’s throw away? I wouldn’t trade living down here for Tokyo at all. 

However, Kyushu is often overlooked in people’s Japan itineraries. A shame, because you miss out on visiting places like the Nagasaki Peace Museum, Kumamoto Castle, or other great sightseeing spots. But Kyushu has much more to offer than what a cursory Google search might tell you. Where are the places that the locals like to visit? Here are a couple for you!

To read more, go here. 

Visit Old Japanese Naval Port Towns of Maizuru, Kure and Sasebo

Above, the Hario Towers near Sasebo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2007, I took a trip down to Kyushu to visit several places of historical and kaiju history.

While there, I visited Kumamoto, Mount Aso Volcano National Park, Sasebo, Nagasaki and Fukuoka.

Tokyo Cheapo has an article on visiting Japan's old port towns, which includes Sasebo. In the Sasebo portion of their article, they focused on the Hario Towers, purportedly the towers that transmitted the signal to the Japanese fleet to attack Pearl Harbor. Near the towers, is the Saikai Bridge that was featured in Rodan (1956).

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are a submarine fan, there is a port town (Kure) where submarines can be viewed and a museum dedicated to the Japanese battleship, Yamato.

They begin their article with:

Many visitors to Japan limit their sightseeing to the country’s major cities, like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. Beyond those hot spots, however, exists a wealth of history and culture in local areas that can offer unique tourist opportunities. Consider Maizuru, Kure and Sasebo—three old Japan port towns chock-full of natural beauty, historical attractions and nautical adventures.

To see the full article, go here.

9 Vacations To Help-Rebuild Japan's Disaster Hit Regions

Above, Godaido temple in Matsushima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Several areas of Japan had been struck by severe earthquakes initially struggled to repair attractions and tourist facilities or were able to re-open relatively fast. But the tourists did not come.

Gaijnpot.com has an article on nine vacations people can take in these areas to help them rebuild their tourism industry.

The article begins with:

On a whole, these days tourism in Japan has never looked healthier. At the same time, some of the country’s outlying areas have faced their own set of tourism challenges. Following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that ripped apart the Tohoku region, many of the region’s cities faced double devastation, as much of the area’s tourism industry was also heavily affected. 

Something similar happened in Kyushu two years ago, when, in April 2016, an earthquake shocked Kumamoto leaving much of the area in rubble. Tourism forecasts there are not looking much better. 

Now — seven years after the Tohoku quake and two years after the Kumamoto temblor — the areas have shown an unbelievable level of resilience, and in terms of tourism plenty of the areas are back in action. However what they need now is an injection of tourism, which is why both areas are well worth exploring on your next Japan adventure. 

Above, Bansuitei Ikoiso Ryokan in Sendai. I stayed there in 2006. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Tourism To Mt. Aso's Crater Area Resumes

Above, the Mt. Aso Museum lobby. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The volcano featured in the 1956 Toho feature, Rodan had caused the suspension of tourism to the crater area after an eruption three years ago.

It is now re-opened.

The Japan Times reported:

KUMAMOTO – Local authorities reopened a crater area of Mount Aso on Wednesday to tourists for the first time in over three years following diminished volcanic activity and the installation of safety measures. 

The crater on the 1,592-meter active volcano had been one of the most popular tourist spots in Kumamoto Prefecture before it was closed to visitors in August 2014 after a small-scale eruption. 

About 60 people from the local governments and sightseeing industry attended a ceremony in a park 1 kilometer from the crater to celebrate the reopening. They hope it will lead to the revitalization of the local economy, which is reeling from a series of huge earthquakes that hit the region in April 2016.

I visited Mt. Aso 11 years ago, but I didn't get to see too much as a blizzard hit the national park at the time.

Above, yours truly at the Mt. Aso ropeway station in 2007.

To read more, go here. 

Nagasaki Itinerary For 3-Days, Two-Nights

Above, the Nagasaki Peace Statue. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2007 (Wow! Seven years ago!), I took a whirlwind tour around Kyushu to visit Mt. Aso (I stayed in Kumamoto), Sasebo, Nakasaki and Fukuoka. I wrote about this trip in detail in an article in G-FAN.

On that trip, I had a JR Rail Pass that got me from Tokyo to Kyushu on the shinkansen and then around Kyushu aboard several commuter trains. I saved a lot of money doing so.

City-Cost.com has posted their three-day/two-night itinerary in an article to show what the costs they incurred to give readers an idea on how much money to bring. They flew from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Kyushu.

They begin with:

Anyone who follows us on Instagram will have likely noticed a deluge of ‘grams’ sent out through the SNS ether originating from Nagasaki. It was our first time visiting the city in southern Kyushu and we can hand on heart say they we loved it. Nagasaki is quite unlike any place we’ve ever been to in Japan, both visually and in terms of atmosphere. Hemmed in by mountains and sea, the way the city spreads up the mountain slopes, from a distance almost reminded us of Rio de Janeiro (the abundance of churches adding to the effect). Atmospherically, coming from Tokyo, Nagasaki moves at a distinctly slower pace, and is all the better for it. The local people also, seem to be far more at peace and are some of the friendliest we have encountered in Japan.  Our trip was a three day / two night quickie and given that we’re all about how much things cost in Japan, we thought it might be useful to try and document our spending during our time in Nagasaki and thus help others to budget for their short breaks in the city and get a sense of how much money they might need to bring.  This budget breakdown is loosely listed according to our itinerary across our time in Nagasaki.

To see more, go here. 

Japan Welcomed 24 Million Foreign Tourists In 2016

Above, Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji "Golden Pavilion". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan set a new record in the number of foreigners who visited it in 2016.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of foreign tourists to Japan reached a record high 24.04 million in 2016, up 22 percent from the previous year and topping 20 million for the first time, the tourism minister said Tuesday. 

The pace of increase, however, was slower than 47 percent in 2015, amid a strong yen, China's economic slowdown and earthquakes that hit Kumamoto Prefecture in April.

To read more, go here.

Mount Aso Erupts Over Weekend

Above, yours truly at the Mount Aso ropeway station in 2007.

Kyushu has been getting a lot of attention in recent months. But it is the kind of attention they don't want or need.

According to the Japan Times:

Still reeling from a series of earthquakes beginning in April, Kumamoto Prefecture is once again experiencing nature's fury, this time in the form of Mount Aso's eruption Saturday. 

Besides being on high alert for another volcanic eruption, Kumamoto residents are growing increasingly concerned about the long-term prospects for the prefecture’s tourism industry, which has yet to recover to pre-quake levels.

Kaiju fans are familiar with Mount Aso as the site of the final battle in Rodan (1956). I visited Mount Aso in 2007. I didn't get to see much as the area was hit by a blizzard during my visit.

Mount Aso is spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 46.

To read more, go here.

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Kyushu Tourism Still Struggling

Above, Kumamoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As it happened in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the recent quakes in Kyushu has put a damper on foreign tourism.

News On Japan reported:

Tourism continues to struggle in southwestern Japan two months after major earthquakes, with hotel guests in Kumamoto and Oita prefectures at only 60% of normal levels in late May. 

The sector is a key industry in the Kyushu region, which includes the two prefectures. Expectations are growing that the central government will come to the aid of affected businesses.

The Tohoku region of northeast Japan still hasn't seen a full recovery in foreign tourism.

To read more, go here.