Uto and Yatsushiro: Okoshi Kaigann, Kumamon Port, and the Sparkling Ariake Bay Coastal Drive

This is a scenic coastal drive along the Ariake Bay shoreline from the Uto Peninsula to Yatsushiro Port in Kumamoto Prefecture. In the morning, capture mysterious scenes at Nabeta Kaishouro (長部田海床路), where utility poles line up toward the sea, then leisurely explore the headland at Sumiyoshi Nature Park (住吉自然公園) jutting into Ariake Bay. At lunch, enjoy seafood and souvenir shopping at Michi-no-Eki Uto Marina (道の駅宇土マリーナ), a rare highway rest stop with a yacht harbor. In the afternoon, visit Okoshi Kaigann (御輿来海岸), selected as one of Japan's hundred best beaches. At low tide, the tidal flats reveal crescent-shaped sand ripples—a natural artwork painted by wind and waves. Finish up at Kumamon Port Yatsushiro (くまモンポート八代) in Yatsushiro Port, surrounded by a giant Kumamon and 84 companion statues for memorable photos. Experience the full charm of Ariake Bay as its landscape transforms with the tides—a photogenic coastal journey.