Kumamoto Castle

Today was the last day of our rail passes - boo hoo!  It was also the worst weather day of the holiday so far with rain, wind and thick grey gloom.  However, it wasn't cold so we dried off quickly every time it stopped raining, we got a good soaking a number of times.

Yakiniku rice burger - yum

After a konbini (convenience store) breakfast (various buns) which we had at home whilst waiting for the washing machine to finish, we headed to Hakata Station to get the Shinkansen to Kumamoto.  We got the slower train as we had scrapbooking to catch up on and the Shinkansen is the best place to do it.

Kumamoto Castle

We got to Kumamoto just in time for lunch.  Lunch today was at Mos Burger - Matt has been dying to have a Mos burger for while, but we haven't been in the right place at the right time until today.  Mos burger is a Japanese burger chain, but of course they have their own spin on it.  Tom had a prawn katsu burger, I had a burger with special sauce and Matt had a yakiniku rice burger (rice patties instead of bread, thinly sliced beef instead of a burger.  All was served with a sensible portion of chips and a couple of onion rings.  It was all good stuff, and Matt was very happy.

Nice tower

We then got the tram to Kumamoto Castle.  Wow, what a big castle it was too.  It had huge grounds, such a shame it was pelting it down with rain, we didn't really get to enjoy them.  However, the castle was open - you accessed it via a huge secret underground passage.  Unusually we didn't have to take our shoes off to enter the castle.  We looked around all the floors, but there wasn't really that much to see, they don't really go into exhibits / explaining castle life etc, maybe because they don't have many exhibits, the castle has burnt down a number of times in its history after all - why they continue to make them from wood when they know this is beyond me!  Anyway the best bit was the view from the top of the castle (there were about 6 floors, so it was quite a way up).  Even though it was raining and very grey, it was a good view.

There always has to be something Kawaii

We came down and then found another building that was open to the public. the Grand Hall.  Here we did have to take our shoes off, the whole place was covered in tatami mats and smelt wonderful.  It felt like it was only about 5 years old as it didn't show any signs of wear and tear, just beautiful furnishings.  The castle kitchen was in this building which was interesting as I don't think I've ever seen a kitchen in a Japanese castle before.  It was 2 trenches built down into the floor on which kettles and bowls were hung and behind it another room with some big urns in it for rice etc.  There were also some big rooms with sliding doors which acted as meeting rooms.  Some of them had beautifully painted sliding doors etc.

Once we were done in the Hall, the heavens opened again so we found shelter in a room full of vending machines and then walked back to the tram to return to the station.  We had our 3 o'clock doughnut in Mister Donut, then the customary look around Daiso before heading home.

Ornate paintings

Tom the Shogun

Good cheap food - even if someone's scowling

Tonight it was Matt's choice for dinner.  He did some research and took us to a gyoza restaurant not far from the station.  It was basically a Japanese greasy spoon.  There were only 2 things on the menu: chicken wings and gyoza.  We got an order of each, the chicken wings were cold and the gyoza fine, but we couldn't make a main meal of them.  Luckily we discovered there was an Ohsho next door (one of Matt's favourite restaurants from way back when) so we paid up and then got a table at Ohsho and had yet more gyoza, some fried rice, ebi tempura and veggies.  We were much happier.

We walked back via Hakata station to pick up a new suitcase from a luggage store (we have bought loads of stuff - as we always do) and then headed home for baths and bed.