Sakura-no-baba Josaien

This open-air complex at the foot of Kumamoto Castle recreates a castle town atmosphere from the 1600s, with more than 20 restaurants and food stalls serving the city's most famous dishes: horsemeat sashimi, mustard-stuffed deep-fried lotus root, and sweet-potato dumplings. An outdoor stage hosts samurai performance shows that trace the castle's history in an entertaining, accessible format. At the Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza, you can explore the castle through VR tours and projection mapping, or rent a ninja, samurai, or townswoman costume in the museum lobby before heading up to the castle grounds.