William. Autumn is here, and perhaps you’re itchy to get out. A place to visit which, if you haven’t, you can’t actually say you’ve lived in Kumamoto, is 釈迦院御坂遊歩道3333段石段 (shakainmisakayūhodō 3333 steps - there are actually more; I counted them once), which is one of the longest 参道 (sandō, a road approaching a shrine) in Japan. Near the peak is an outcrop with a beautiful view of the Yatsushiro sea and its surroundings, and many stop there, but THAT IS NOT THE POINT! Continue upward and visit the shrine, the purpose of the steps. It’s not a particularly spectacular shrine, but it does have the most excellent 参道 of any in Japan. There is a bus from Kotsu Center, but the optimal transportation mode is a car. Elevation is about 600M from the trailhead.