In the Edo period, it flourished as a Castle Town centered on the Tomioka Castle, and fascinates people who visit the ruins of the Tomioka Castle and the historic port of Tomioka Port, which still face of it.
There are also a variety of sightseeing spots, such as the highly transparent Tomioka Beaches, the Shiraiwazaki Campground with a beautiful sunset, and the Myoken Falls where quiet time streams.
Please spend a relaxing time in Reihoku Town, where you can experience the rich nature, history, and warmth of people.
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*The photo was taken during a spring mountain-climbing event.*
[Now Accepting Participants] The 20th Tenjiku Saiyuki Mountain Climb will be held!
This mountain-climbing event takes you to Tenjiku, one of Reihoku’s landmarks and the highest peak on Amakusa Shimoshima. The 20th “Tenjiku Saiyuki Mountain Climb” will take place on Sunday, November 16, 2025⛰. The roughly 11 km round trip offers panoramic views from the summit and refreshing forest bathing, and a local product sale will also be held, so please sign up for an autumn outing. Participants can also earn 20 Kumamoto Health Points✨
Register via the QR code or from the News section of our website!
▶ Schedule: Sunday, November 16, 2025, 9:30–14:00
09:30 Departure ceremony
10:10 Start
14:30 Goal (estimated)
▶ Meeting place: Amakusa Koba-no-Mori Nature School (former Koba Elementary School), 6118-2 Tororo, Reihoku
▶ Parking: Please use the Koba-no-Mori Nature School parking area (around the lodging building).
▶ Course: Approximately 11 km round trip
▶ Eligibility: People who are healthy on the day and can follow the event rules. Children in elementary school or younger must be accompanied by a guardian.
▶ What to bring: Drinks, trash bags, towel, change of clothes, etc.
▶ Fee: Adults (high school students and older) ¥1,500; elementary and junior high students ¥500; preschool children free
Fees will be collected at registration on the day. Please bring exact change if possible.
▶ Other: Rice ball bento (¥500) will be prepared for those who need it. If you would like one, please fill in the field at the end of the application form.
This event accepts pre-registration only; there will be no on-site registration.
Please provide information for every participant.
The event may be canceled due to weather. In that case we will notify the email address you provided (if multiple people register together, we will contact the representative’s email address).
Application deadline: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 5:00 PM
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We sincerely thank you for your continued understanding and support of our activities. Here is a brief excerpted report on our activities for the first half of this fiscal year (April–September 2025).
■ May: Sea-Opening Ceremony & SUP Experience On Saturday, May 31, we held a sea-opening Shinto ceremony and the SUP Experience 2025, with a total of 37 participants, which was very well received.
■ June: OPPAI_ROCK Marche & Petting Zoo 2025 On Saturday, June 7, we hosted the OPPAI_ROCK Marche & Petting Zoo 2025, which welcomed approximately 1,600 visitors.
■ July: The 37th Reihoku Jatto Festival (Fireworks Display) The festival took place on Saturday and Sunday, July 19–20, and our company participated by sharing information and providing event staff.
■ Other Achievements
・Number of tourists who visited the tourist information center: 2,408
・Total visitors to the Sunset Marche (local product sales): 608
・Visitors to the Beauty & Healing Yorimichi Marche (product sales and treatment trials, held Saturday, July 12): 213
・Usage of Shiraiwasaki Campground: 102 people ※Currently temporarily closed due to construction
・RV Park usage: 34 bookings (April–August 2025) ※Currently temporarily closed due to construction
・Website operations: Posted 17 notices
・SNS activity
Facebook: 35 posts, 1,798 followers
Instagram: 46 posts, 2,486 followers
COOL JAPAN VIDEOS: 27 posts, 7 followers
・Guided tours provided: 77 people
・PR activities: Participation in the Roadside Station Tsujunkyo first-anniversary event (April 12–13); sales revenue: ¥92,822
We would be grateful for your continued understanding and support of our activities. Thank you very much for your continued cooperation.
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[Limited to 500 copies] Tomioka Castle “Gojoin” 70th Anniversary Edition Now on Sale!
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Reihoku’s municipal status, established on January 1, 1955 (Showa 30). To commemorate the anniversary, a special Tomioka Castle Gojoin 70th Anniversary Edition will be sold in a separate limited release of 500 copies, apart from the regular Gojoin on sale now.🎊
During the Shimabara–Amakusa Uprising, Tomioka Castle served as a government stronghold and withstood two major assaults by the rebel forces led by Amakusa Shirō Tokisada. Through a desperate defense, the castle avoided capture. The Gojoin of the impregnable Tomioka Castle is said to bring the blessing of “not falling.”👀 Please purchase yours at the Reihoku Town History Museum.✨
Price: 500 yen per sheet (set of two: regular edition plus 70th anniversary edition — 700 yen)
Number available: First 500 copies (sales end when sold out)
Sale starts: Sunday, October 26, 2025 from 10:00 AM — the day of the Castle Festival!
Sales location: Reihoku Town History Museum
Hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (last admission 4:30 PM)
Closed: Every Thursday (if a holiday, closed the following weekday)
Phone: 0969-35-0712
Please note: mail-order sales are not available.
For inquiries, contact Reihoku Town History Museum (☎0969-35-0712) or Reihoku Town Hall Commerce and Tourism Division (☎0969-35-3332). The same notice is also available on the official Reihoku Town Hall website.
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Announcing the Tomioka Castle Festival on the radio!
We will promote the “Reihoku Town 70th Anniversary: 9th Tomioka Castle Festival,” held on Sunday, October 26, on FM Kumamoto’s program “Ii Tabi Kumamoto Tourism School.” 📻
The broadcast airs on Thursday, October 23, from 18:08, so please tune in. 👂
Also, be sure to check the quoted post below for more on the castle festival. 👀‼️
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Reihoku Sunset Marche — October Announcement📣
We are pleased to announce the Reihoku Sunset Marche will take place in October♪
👀 Highlights of this Sunset Marche 👀
❣ Freshly harvested rice from the 2025 crop (late-harvest rice and sun-dried rice) will be offered at bargain prices!
Just-picked lettuce and zucchini will also be available 🥬
In addition to produce, prepared foods will be on sale too ❣
We look forward to seeing you 😊 Don’t forget to bring your own shopping bag 🛍✨
[Planned Produce for Sale]
・Okra (white okra)
・Cucumbers
・Water spinach (kangkong)
・Rice (new crop, late-harvest rice, sun-dried rice)
・Extra-early mikan (mandarin oranges)
・Jumbo peanuts
・Zucchini
・Banana peppers
・Bell peppers
・Lettuce
🥦🍅🥕🍠🥬🧅🫑🌽🌶🫛🍆🫚🥔
Reihoku Sunset Marche
[Date] Sunday, October 12 — 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
[Venue] Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association
※ Reihoku Town Product Center facility (4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihoku)
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[Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour — Kicks Off Today!]
The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will run for five days from Thursday, October 9 through Monday, October 13 (a national holiday), with six kilns across Reihoku and Amakusa City participating.
For photos of preparations and the new works being readied for the tour, please see our past posts from visits to each kiln.
The forecast looks favorable for those five days, with plenty of sunshine expected.
Please take this opportunity to visit, enjoy Amakusa ceramics and the coastal scenery of the Amakusa West Coast 🌊🌅.
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[The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour]
Period: Thursday, October 9 – Monday, October 13 (national holiday)
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Venues:
Reihoku: Uchida Sarayama ware, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshugama
(Tenjiku Gama will not participate)
Amakusa City: Takahama-yaki Juho-gama, Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln (Jurō Kiln)
🍁Two stamp rallies run at the same time!
• A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points📱
• A stamp rally with a chance to win products from your chosen kiln (entry forms are available at each kiln📃)
Inquiries: Secretariat of the Amakusa Ceramic Stone Research and Development Promotion Council (within Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division)
TEL: 0969-35-3332
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[Beauty and Healing Yorimichi Marche Opening Celebration 🎊]
The "Beauty and Healing Yorimichi Marche," which drew more than 200 visitors when it was held in July, will return to Reihoku Tourist Information Center on Sunday, October 19th 😍
You can enjoy not only healing treatments but also delicious food from kitchen trucks, so please take this opportunity to visit♪
For details about each vendor, check the event notices on CROSSLINK’s (Crosslink) Instagram @cross_link2025 or the website linked in our profile 📝 Look forward to it!
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[Beauty and Healing Yorimichi Marche]
[Period] Sunday, October 19th
10:00 AM–4:00 PM
[Venue] Reihoku Tourist Information Center (4535-1 Kamitsu-Fukae, Reihoku, Amakusa District)
*A stamp rally is also planned 📃
[Contact] CROSSLINK (Crosslink) Instagram @cross_link2025
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Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour — Introducing Participating Kilns / 06 Takahama-yaki Juho-gama
The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (a public holiday), with six kilns in Reihoku and Amakusa City serving as venues. 😊
During the event, new works will be exhibited and sold, and special discount sales will take place, so please take this opportunity to visit and enjoy Amakusa ceramics and the scenery of the Amakusa West Coast. 🌊🌅
(Note: Tenjiku Gama will not participate. 🙇♀️🙇)
🍁🍁🍁
Introducing the participating kilns /
Heading south along the Amakusa West Coast brings you to the Takahama area. Takahama-yaki Juho-gama is a kiln that forms part of the Ueda family’s history; the Ueda family served for generations as village headmen in this area.
In the Meiji era, grape cultivation thrived in the Takahama district, and the area became widely known for “Takahama grapes.” The town was once described as being covered in vines. Though grape growing faced extinction at one point, the local promotion association’s efforts revived it, and you can now see grape trellises across the region.
Takahama-yaki Juho-gama is well known for its mirumon (seaweed motif), but the kiln’s painted grape designs also keep Takahama’s history alive. By the time the Autumn Kiln Tour takes place, the grape harvest will already be over, but it is delightful to reflect on the area’s past while admiring the grape motifs on the pottery.
From Thursday, October 9 to Sunday, October 12 during the event, Ueda Family House, adjacent to Juho-gama, will host a workshop by illustrator Yoko Koda, along with food and craft stalls. Please see the posted images for details.
📍Takahama-yaki Juho-gama
598 Takahama Minami, Amakusa-cho, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2804
TEL: 0969-42-1115
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The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour
Period: Thursday, October 9 – Monday, October 13 (public holiday)
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Venues:
〈Reihoku〉Uchida Sarayama ware, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshugama
(Note: Tenjiku Gama will not participate.)
〈Amakusa City〉Takahama-yaki Juho-gama, Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln (Jurō Kiln)
🍁Two stamp rallies run at the same time!
※A digital stamp rally linked to the Kumamoto Health Points program 📱
※A stamp rally offering a chance to win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms are available at each kiln 📃)
Inquiries: Amakusa Ceramic Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (within Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division)
TEL: 0969-35-3332
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Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Introducing participating kilns / 05 Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln
The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9th to Monday, October 13th (holiday), using six kilns in Reihoku and Amakusa City as venues 😊
During the event you can see new works on display and buy items at discounted prices, so please take this chance to visit and enjoy Amakusa ceramics and the Amakusa West Coast scenery 🌊🌅♪
(Tenjiku Gama will not be participating 🙇♀️🙇)
🍁🍁🍁
Introducing the participating kilns /
Odatoko lies south along the Amakusa West Coast at the point where the road bends toward the sea. Perched to overlook a calm shoreline popular with divers and kayakers, Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln stands here. Previously known and loved as Amakusa Karatsu Jurō Kiln, it has reverted this autumn to its former name, Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln.
The exhibition room displays pottery reflecting the distinct personalities of the married couple. Mr. Kameyama Go trained in Karatsu, famed for Karatsu ware, while his wife, Sanae Kameyama, studied ceramics at the pottery college in Arita. Even within Saga Prefecture, Karatsu and Arita ceramics differ greatly in materials and characteristics — clay or stone, pottery or porcelain.
Mr. Go’s pieces attract the eye with striking forms and tranquil, nature-like patterns woven from clay and glazes. The lines on his pottery, reminiscent of classical Karatsu motifs, embody a ‘‘beauty of subtraction.’’ Ms. Sanae uses a blue pigment called gosu to paint modern, expressive designs by underglaze before applying glaze. Her work carries a warm charm that brings a smile to the viewer’s face.
Although they work with opposite materials, the couple’s distinct styles complement each other. These works arise precisely because Amakusa offers both types of materials. The exhibition room, filled with vessels nurtured by Amakusa’s nature, radiates an unexpectedly rich harmony. Please pick them up and savor their world.
📍Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln
426 Shimoda-minami, Amakusa-cho, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2802
TEL: 090-5081-1316
🗺️ The back of this year’s kiln tour flyer has been renewed!
Based on the Amakusa West Coast map illustrated by Sanae, please head out and enjoy the kiln tour by car 🚗
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The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour
Period: Thursday, October 9th – Monday, October 13th (holiday)
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Venues:
〈Reihoku〉 Uchida Sarayama ware, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshugama
(Tenjiku Gama will not be participating)
〈Amakusa City〉 Takahama-yaki Juho-gama, Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln (Jurō Kiln)
🍁Two stamp rally events will take place simultaneously!
※A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points 📱
※A stamp rally where you can win products from the kilns you visit (entry forms are available at each kiln 📃)
Inquiries: Secretariat of the Amakusa Ceramic Stone Research and Development Promotion Council (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division)
TEL: 0969-35-3332
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Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour — Featured Kiln / 04 Unshū Kiln
The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (public holiday), with six kilns in Reihoku and Amakusa City serving as venues.
During the event you can enjoy new works on display and for sale, plus special discounted sales. Take this chance to visit and enjoy Amakusa ceramics and the Amakusa West Coast scenery 🌊🌅.
(Note: Tenjiku Pottery Kiln will not participate.)
🍁🍁🍁
Featured Kilns /
Unshū Kiln sits in a small seaside settlement where you can hear the surf, roughly halfway along the road that leads to the Tomioka Peninsula in Reihoku.
One late-summer day I visited the kiln owner, Ms. Miyoshi, a friendly person who always carries a light, cheerful air.
For this Autumn Kiln Tour, alongside Unshū Kiln’s staple vessels, you will see works using the vivid red cinnabar (shinsa) pigment, a color believed since the Jomon Period to ward off evil.
Also noteworthy are charming pieces inspired by Amakusa sea urchins. They appeared a few years ago and have returned for this Autumn Kiln Tour after a long absence.
During the exhibition the kiln will sell succulents including cacti, and offer painting-on-ware experiences. Please drop by—unexpected encounters and discoveries await you.
📍Unshū Kiln
2829 Tomioka, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2507
TEL: 080-5254-7915
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The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour
Period: Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (public holiday)
8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Venues
Reihoku: Uchida Sarayama Pottery, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshū Kiln (Note: Tenjiku Pottery Kiln will not participate)
Amakusa City: Takahama Ware Juhogama, Amakusa Karatsu Goyama Kame Kiln (Juro Kiln)
🍁 Two stamp rallies run concurrently!
• A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto health points📱
• A prize-entry stamp rally to win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms available at each kiln📃)
For inquiries: Amakusa Pottery Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division)
TEL: 0969-35-3332
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