Kuma to Minamata

Updated: March 16, 2024 09:13 AM

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Kumamoto and Minamata

Language

The official language of Japan is Japanese. However, many people in major tourist areas can speak English.

Currency

The official currency of Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY). You can exchange your currency at banks, post offices, and currency exchange offices. Credit cards are widely accepted in Japan.

Distance

Kumamoto is located on the island of Kyushu, in southwestern Japan. Minamata is located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Kumamoto.

How to Reach

There are several ways to reach Kumamoto and Minamata.

• By air: Kumamoto Airport (KMJ) is located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the city center. There are flights to KMJ from major cities in Japan, as well as from Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei.
• By train: Kumamoto Station is located in the city center. There are several bullet train (shinkansen) lines that stop at Kumamoto Station, including the Kyushu Shinkansen and the Nagasaki Shinkansen.
• By bus: There are several bus companies that operate buses to Kumamoto and Minamata. The journey time from Fukuoka to Kumamoto is about 2 hours, and the journey time from Kumamoto to Minamata is about 1 hour.

Expenses

The cost of your trip will vary depending on your travel style and the time of year you visit. However, here are some general guidelines:

• Accommodation: A night in a budget hotel will cost around 5,000 JPY. A night in a mid-range hotel will cost around 10,000 JPY. A night in a luxury hotel will cost around 20,000 JPY or more.
• Food: A meal at a budget restaurant will cost around 1,000 JPY. A meal at a mid-range restaurant will cost around 2,000 JPY. A meal at a luxury restaurant will cost around 5,000 JPY or more.
• Transportation: A single ticket on the subway will cost around 200 JPY. A day pass for the subway will cost around 800 JPY. A taxi ride will cost around 1,000 JPY for the first 2 kilometers, and then 300 JPY for each additional kilometer.

Best time to go

The best time to visit Kumamoto and Minamata is during the spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November). The weather is mild during these months, and there are fewer tourists.

What to Eat

Kumamoto is famous for its horse meat dishes. Some of the most popular horse meat dishes include:

• Basashi: Raw horse meat served with soy sauce and ginger.
• Sakura-nabe: Horse meat hot pot.
• Uma-zakana: Horse meat sashimi.

Minamata is famous for its unagi (eel) dishes. Some of the most popular unagi dishes include:

• Unagi no kabayaki: Grilled eel served with a sweet sauce.
• Unagi no donburi: Grilled eel served over rice.
• Unagi no seiro-mushi: Steamed eel served in a bamboo steamer.

Where to Go

Kumamoto is home to several historical and cultural attractions, including:

• Kumamoto Castle: A 17th-century castle that is one of the most famous castles in Japan.
• Suizen-ji Jojuen Garden: A beautiful garden that was built in the 17th century.
• Kumamoto City Museum: A museum that houses a collection of art and artifacts from Kumamoto's history.

Minamata is a city with a tragic history. In the 1950s and 1960s, Minamata was polluted by industrial waste from a nearby chemical plant. The pollution caused a number of health problems in the local population, including a neurological disorder known as Minamata disease. Today, Minamata is a memorial to the victims of Minamata disease. There are several museums and monuments in the city that tell the story of the pollution and its impact on the local population.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about Kumamoto and Minamata:

• Is it safe to eat horse meat in Kumamoto? Yes, it is safe to eat horse meat in Kumamoto. Horse meat is a popular dish in Kumamoto, and it is carefully inspected to ensure that it is safe to eat.
• Is Minamata still polluted? No, Minamata is no longer polluted. The chemical plant that caused the pollution was closed in the 1960s, and the environment has since been cleaned up.
• Can I visit the Minamata Museum? Yes, you can visit the Minamata Museum. The museum is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and admission is free.

*Distance calculation may be aerial distance.

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