KumamotoLeisure

Yamaga Town Center Visitor Parking Lot (Buzen Kaido Parking Lot)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: Visit a Playhouse Built in 1910 and Designated a National Important Cultural Property

About 15 min from the previous stop

About 120 min here

Next stop: Watch About 4,000 Fireworks from Yamaga's Town Center

About this spot

This visitor parking lot, with space for 177 cars, serves as a base for sightseeing in Yamaga's town center. The nearby Buzen Kaido (豊前街道) was once a road used for the sankin-kotai processions connecting Kumamoto and Kokura, and Yamaga flourished as a hot-spring town and post town along it. The roughly 1.3-kilometer townscape lined with the Yachiyoza Theater (八千代座) and the Yamaga Lantern Folk Art Museum (山鹿灯籠民芸館) has been honored with the Beautiful Townscape Award. On the evening of the Lantern Festival, food stalls and night stands line the streets, so take your time securing a viewing spot while grabbing some festival food. As dusk falls, the golden lanterns begin to glow one by one.

Tips

The area around Sakura-yu (さくら湯) gets very crowded on the evening of the fireworks display. It's best to get your food and drinks early, around 5 p.m. Secure a viewing spot with a clear view toward the fireworks launch direction (the Kikuchi River side) as early as possible. Nearby convenience stores tend to sell out quickly, so buy your drinks early too. Check the locations of the temporary restrooms in advance.