Street by Street
My life here in Kumamoto primarily revolves around three main places: My home, where I mostly just sleep, work, and do laundry. My university, where I rush from one lecture to the next. And downtown, where I spend most of my free time. Whether it’s stopping by the city hall or the post office, parting with my more or less hard-earned money in various stores, or meeting friends in cafés, restaurants, or at karaoke, the true spirit of Kumamoto thrives in the streets of its bustling city center. It’s a lively area filled with all kinds of attractive, wondrous, and colorful establishments, and I try to visit it as often as I can, because luckily it's only a stone’s throw from my apartment.
Kumamoto’s downtown, located directly below the famous and beautiful city castle, is centered around three covered arcades that are vibrant day and night: Kamitori, Shimotori, and Shinshigai. These streets are lined with restaurants, drugstores, cafés, cinemas, museums, bars, konbini, bakeries, florists, hotels, and an array of small and large retailers, as well as several shopping centers. I’ve made it my personal mission to visit as many of these places as possible during my time here and keep trying new things. After all, I don’t want to look back in the future and regret wasting this unique opportunity. While I’m here, I want to make the most of it. At least, that’s the plan.
Of course, this is easier said than done. For example, I’ve yet to visit some restaurants because I can’t figure out how to use the ticket machines, which only display Japanese characters. That’s why I’m always grateful when friends join me, patiently explaining everything so I can press the correct buttons and handle things on my own next time. Hopefully, my Japanese will improve gradually - who knows? While Kumamoto might not be the first city that comes to mind for tourists visiting Japan, I’m glad to have landed here. It’s an exciting city full of interesting places and nice people. Bit by bit, I’m exploring all of its charms, and it’s been a vastly rewarding adventure so far.