Yatsushiro was our first of nine ports in Japan and we were excited to get going. The port offers a nice cruise terminal, with duty-free shopping, small souvenir shops and food stalls. We paid $6 USD for a round-trip shuttle to the Yatsushiro city center. Once in town, there were three historic sites to visit within easy walking distance of the shuttle stop.

Yatushiro lies in the southern prefecture of Kumamoto, on the southern island of Japan. It sits on the Shiranui Sea and has a population of 120K. Its economy is based mostly on rice and other related agriculture products.

Our first stop was a small beautiful garden with traditional topiaries and stone sculptures. This public jewel, Shohiken Gardens, featured a koi pond, small temple, multiple stone bridges and a lush landscape. We suspect we were just a couple days too late to see the cherry blossoms, but the azaleas were in bloom. There were several vantage points and we really enjoyed the peaceful tranquility.

Our next stop was the Matsui Shrine is an historic Shinto shrine known for its cultural significance and tranquil atmosphere. It was not open to visit but the grounds were lovely and it was to walk around and admire the architecture.

Lastly, we explored the ruins of the Yatsushiro Castle. Complete with a daunting stone fortification, the original castle sadly was demolished during an earthquake in 1619. A small replacement was built but it was not accessible to tourists. The grounds were gorgeous, with flowering azaleas and the remnants of the cherry blossoms.

After we returned to the port, we enjoyed walking through the stalls at the terminal. The atmosphere was lively, with many crew members on shore leave and everyone grabbing a local meal. There were saki tastings and ramen noodle trucks and fried donuts. We enjoyed some Japanese-style fried chicken with soy and a local beer.

The local people could not have been more welcoming and helpful. Everywhere we went, someone was ready to give directions, or offer a tip. Even the immigration process was smooth and the officials were kind. We’re looking forward to our other stops in Japan.

Tomorrow: Kagoshima, Japan