A harbinger of Kumamoto spring is the agricultural festival, and that at the Agricultural Park in Koshi Machi is the largest of all. All kinds of plants, from the lil’ bitty to the humongous, are sold, along with food (horumon highly recommended) and other items - browsing is an excellent way to acquaint oneself with Kumamoto culture.
This year, its 44th, runs from 1/19 to 2/18. Parking and admission are free. Those carless can take the Kumamoto Dentetsu line to its terminus, Miyoshi, and then take a pleasant kilometer walk to the front gates. Kumanichi notes organizers expect 220,000 attendees and 352 million yen in sales. - William
