William “Nihon Ichi” (日本一 - “Best in Japan”) is something you’ll come across often here, from kittens to cabbages. But one where you won’t go wrong is what’s colloquially known as “3333 Steps” (it’s more; I’ve counted). Built in 1988 to access the Misakain Temple, the granite of pain is formally known as “shakainmisakayūhodō” (釈迦院御坂遊歩道), and you can’t really say you’re from Kumamoto until you’ve climbed it. (I left my sunglasses at the temple once so did it twice in one day.)
Kumanichi reports that a former bank employee, Yasuhiro Kukita, likely obsessed with numbers, has achieved the “climbing” 7777 times at the age of 77 on July 7 (which is 7/7).
If you’ve time and knees, don’t miss the view: Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea simultaneously.