Discover Mizukami: Footbath, History and Tours

Yuyama in Mizukami brings together a variety of experiences: a footbath supplied with water from Yuyama Onsen, a historic stone building with a present-day role in green tourism, and activities at Ichifusa. There is also a forest therapy tour with short and long routes, as well as canoeing and boating experiences at the reservoir. If you are planning a trip, you can consider which of these distinctive experiences you would like to shape your stay.

Footbath in Yuyama and Yuyama Onsen Motoyu at Ichifusa

Motoyu no Mori is located in the Yuyama district. It has a footbath supplied with water from Yuyama Onsen. This connection between place and water gives the footbath a direct link to the onsen experience. Yuyama Onsen Motoyu is another named location: it lies at the foot of the sacred mountain Ichifusa. The two names refer to different points of interest in Yuyama and should not be confused when planning your trip.

A Historic Stone Building Put to New Use

The Ishikura Exchange Facility in Yuyama is housed in a stone building that was built as a rice storehouse in the early Shōwa period. The original stone walls have been preserved. Today, the building serves as an information center for green tourism, a place for interaction with city residents, and a gathering place for the local community. The building thus brings together a former agricultural function and several present-day roles.

Those interested in history will find not only an old building here, but also a sense of how it is used: as an information center and as a space for meeting and spending time. This makes it different from Yuyama’s nature and water activities. When choosing the focus of your trip, you can therefore weigh whether you would mainly like to learn about the building’s history and current role, or give more prominence to other experiences.

Forest Therapy with Two Route Options

The Mt. Ichifusa Forest Therapy Tour in Yuyama offers a short and a long route. This is a clear distinction between the tour options: you can consider in advance which route length better suits what you have in mind for the tour.

Canoeing and Boating at Ichifusa Reservoir

Amenbo-kan offers canoeing and boating experiences at Ichifusa Reservoir in Yuyama. This adds another type of activity on the water to the tour and cultural attraction. As you plan your trip, you can consider whether you would prefer to include one of the water activities or whether another of the listed highlights is more important to you. Canoeing and boating are the two activities specifically offered.

More Destinations

For more travel ideas, you can also discover HokamakiHokamaki, YatsushiroYatsushiro, AshikitaAshikita, KikuyoKikuyo, AsoAso, TanouramachiTanouramachi, KikuchiKikuchi and Kami-AmakusaKami-Amakusa.

For the broader travel overview: Kumamoto Prefecture.