Fiona here with my last post of 2021. The Tatsuda-yama area of Kumamoto city offers many accessible walking trails and nature-viewing opportunities all year round. Matsuri Hiroba, which can be reached from Kita Bypass or Shimizu, has a car park, brand new toilet facilities and a lovely new play area perfect for families to visit during the winter holidays. If you’re driving through in the evening you also stand a good chance of seeing wild boar, rabbits and other woodland creatures you might not expect to find so close to downtown Kumamoto.