ASO, Kumamoto Prefecture--The Romon gate of the Asojinja shrine here was unveiled in late June, restored to its former magnificence after being damaged in the Kumamoto earthquake in April 2016.

The mikoshi return to the shrine late at night. (© Haga Library) Ohoshi Matsuri (October 30, Mashiki, Nishihara, and Kikuyō, Kumamoto Prefecture) The mikoshi is thrown to the ground. (© Haga ...

Kumamoto is truly soaked in history and other important sights include the Kengun Shrine, the city’s oldest, its origins are believed to date back to the 6th century.

Kumamoto Castle – One of Japan’s top castles, beautifully restored and historically significant. Mount Aso – The star of the region, with crater visits depending on volcanic activity.

Aso Jinja: A Shinto Shrine Rises from the Rubble. This shrine in Kumamoto Pref. was razed in the 2016 earthquake. The seven-year restoration fused traditional craftsmanship with the latest technology.

T he Tanabata Festival is a celebration aimed at fostering the development of learning, culture, arts, and ushering in good fortune. It draws inspiration from a poem penned by Sugawara Michizane, who ...

Ōmiya Shrine, which venerates the emperor, was later erected on the site where he had stayed, and lanterns began to be presented as offerings. The tōrō odori dance takes place at Ōmiya Shrine ...

Each year in southern Japan, dozens of people gather at a seafront shrine to honour a British botanist who never visited the country but is credited with revitalising its crucial seaweed industry ...

A memorial ceremony was held Monday to mark nine years since the powerful 2016 earthquakes in Kumamoto Prefecture that killed 278 people.. The first earthquake struck on the night of April 14 ...