A short walk from Hotel Nikko Kumamoto, where I was staying downtown, just below the castle, I discovered a beautiful gourmet city. Each region has their own unique food, and at Josaien, Edo period shops sell local Kumamoto specialties, including taipien noodles, horse sashimi, Kumamoto ramen, spicy lotus root, and many more. Most stores have small portions and samples so you can try a bit of each food. You can also learn about historical castle town life here.