Fiona here with a suggestion for a winter day trip to Amakusa. Since there are currently no escape rooms in Kumamoto, the next best thing for me is a Real Treasure Hunt. This one, The Timeless Treasure of Shiro Amakusa, involves solving several puzzles scattered around the area with prizes for the winners. It’s free to take part - you just need to pick up a puzzle form at the tourist information centre in Amakusa-shi. It’s a great way to support the local economy if you eat out and do a little souvenir shopping while you’re there. The puzzles usually require knowledge of kanji, and some of the clues will lead you to places that might be hard to reach by public transport so it’s recommended to go by car. Find out more at