Local Guide Momoka Yamada | MICHIKUSA Guide ~ An Original Japan Travel Guide by Hoshino Resorts' Local Staff

Local Guide

Yamada Momoka

A team discovering the charms of people from Kumamoto!

A young Staff/staff member from Kumamoto who is passionate about conveying the charm of his hometown.
Discover and capture the charm of Kumamoto with your companion, a single-lens reflex camera.
He has a stronger hospitality spirit than most people, and thinks every day about what he needs to do to impress Guest/customer.
Although he always has a smile on his face and gives off a calm impression, he is actually a competitive person who only gets fired up when faced with adversity.

OMO5 Kumamoto by Hoshino Resorts: Kumamoto City is located almost in the center of the Kyushu region, and is easily accessible from both inside and outside the Direction, with the shortest distance of 33 minutes from Hakata Station on the Kyushu Shinkansen and about 30 minutes by car from Aso Kumamoto Airport. The town below Kumamoto Castle, which has continued to change its appearance and role over the years, is lined with shops filled with the passion of Kumamoto residents, including the representative tourist attraction "Kumamoto Castle." We will devise services that will serve as a base for enjoying the city of Kumamoto.

Introduction page

Local Guide FAQ

What are some recommended spots in the Kumamoto area?: It's on Namikizaka. It's located just past the large arcade called Kamitori.
The streets are lined with trees, have stylish cobblestone streets, and are lined with second-hand bookstores, cafes, beauty salons, etc. Even just walking through the area is satisfying, but I love reading books, so I'm very happy to have so many second-hand bookstores within walking distance.
Every time I come across a wonderful book, I'm not sure whether it's by chance or fate.

Please tell us about some hidden spots that you know because you live there.: This is Kokai Shopping Street. On the night I took my first walk in Kumamoto, I happened to have my camera with me, and the decadent scenery there made me feel romantic.
When I went back later for lunch, I found many new shops and enjoyed the lively atmosphere (including an incredibly delicious ramen shop and a stylish cafe and bar that still has its Jaga Tama Seika sign). The retro shopping street, permeated with a sense of nostalgia, continues to evolve as a place for students, creators, and businesspeople to express themselves, which I found to be very appealing and Kumamoto-esque.

What is your most memorable trip?: I went to England with my English conversation teacher and students when I was in the first year of junior high school.
Although it was a short-term study abroad program, it felt almost like a trip. I remember that everything was so exciting for me, who had never left Kyushu. Our British teacher returned to his family home, and even though we could barely speak English, we were left behind at a camp where children from all over the world gathered. We tried our best to enjoy a "foreign country" where everything was different, and it was a wonderful Experience made us feel small in a good way.

What do you do on your days off?: Reading. Although I'm relatively an indoor person, if my eyes get tired I'll go for a walk in the evening when it's cooler. I'll go out with just my camera, or I'll suddenly get a craving for the donuts that the protagonist in my favorite book ate.

Is there anything you always bring with you on your travels?: This is a single-lens reflex camera that I bought when I went on a school trip in high school.
I think that even when I go on a trip or just take a walk, it becomes a more wonderful experience if I take the trouble to bring my camera and take pictures. Retouching the photos after I get home is also something I enjoy.