Feb 2, 2015 - 1 min read

Aso Shrine's Monzen Shopping Street

Traditional shops & eateries in Kumamoto

By Sandra Isaka

Community writer

One of the many attractive buildings lining the shopping street.

The street is fairly short and can be covered easily in an hour or so.

Take a sip of water at one of the lovely natural spring fountains along the street.

A tasty soba and udon restaurant. Note it also has a lovely fountain in front.

Be sure to visit this shop which sells an interesting assortment of goods.

Although there are other wonderful places to eat lunch, I recommend Hanabishi.

Have the Gyu-katsu-ju, a melt-in-your-mouth beef cutlet, very lightly battered and deep fried - served over rice. It comes with miso soup, pickles, and potato salad. It was amazing!

Just off of the shopping street is a 'retro' shop full of treasures. Be sure to stop in and do some exploring.

The friendly, cowboy hat-wearing pharmacist in town sells his own homemade sausage and bacon alongside aspirin here.

Follow handwritten Japanese signs with red arrows to the Kyu-jogako-ato, a former girls' school-turned-shopping and eating complex. It is just a short walk from the shopping street.

Located beside Aso Shrine, not far from Miyaji Station, is the Ichinomiya Monzen-machi shopping street. This lovely pedestrian-only street is lined with restaurants and shops. A collection of natural spring drinking fountains, called mizuki, have been built by the locals in front of many of the establishments. The fountain designs enhance the area and tourists are invited to sample the spring water as they sightsee. Due to the friendliness of the locals, and their tasty cuisine made with the local spring water, this is a highly recommended stop when exploring the Aso area of Kumamoto Prefecture.

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By Sandra Isaka

Community writer

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Yui Yamaguchi 9 years ago

I've never been there, but the town looks so lovely.

Lester Goh 9 years ago

I particularly love the store fronts, the soba udon restaurant for example. They certainly know their landscaping on top of serving sumptuous food. Focusing their landscaping around the mizuki is a great idea! とってもやさしいです。

Sandra Isaka Photographer 9 years ago

The locals have done a great job of making this little shopping street appealing to visitors. The mizuki are a really lovely way to 'showcase' the fresh spring water of the area.

Iain Stanley 9 years ago

Another thing to do when I visit Kumamoto soon!!

Sandra Isaka Photographer 9 years ago

Just wrote an article about the Jo-gakko-ato, be sure to check it out once it is posted. It should not be missed when visiting Aso Shrine and the shopping street.

5 comments in total

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Yui Yamaguchi 9 years ago

I've never been there, but the town looks so lovely.

Lester Goh 9 years ago

Sandra Isaka Photographer 9 years ago

The locals have done a great job of making this little shopping street appealing to visitors. The mizuki are a really lovely way to 'showcase' the fresh spring water of the area.

Iain Stanley 9 years ago

Another thing to do when I visit Kumamoto soon!!

Sandra Isaka Photographer 9 years ago

Just wrote an article about the Jo-gakko-ato, be sure to check it out once it is posted. It should not be missed when visiting Aso Shrine and the shopping street.

5 comments in total