Japan offers many unique challenges. One of them is the 3,333 stone staircase located in Kumamoto ken, in Misato county.
Getting there: The easiest way to get to the stairway is by car. A slightly less convenient way is to get there by bus. From the Kumamoto city Kotsu Center take a bus to Misato. Then take a Misato private bus (It is more like a van) to the staircase. The bus does not run often, but there is plenty of time to climb the staircase, get a good feel of the view, rest, and then come back down. As long as you keep in mind of the time, there should not be a problem. Check the bus schedules for the most current listings.
Preparing for the hike. Be sure to stretch before. Your muscles will thank you the days after. Also pack light. All you really need is your camera (for the beautiful views on the way and at the top), and a water bottle. There are plenty of fountains on the way with delicious water so you can fill up at those places.
It is not all steps. I assumed that the hike would be completely stairs. It actually wasn’t. There were steps, and also some trails where you walk to the next staircase. There are also some rest stops and a couple of places you can sit down, go to the restroom and fill up your water bottle. There is also breathtaking nature, trees and scenery during the entire hike.
What’s at the top? Some people are disappointed that there isn’t something exciting waiting for them at the top of the staircase. There is a stone marker telling you that you made it to the top that you can take a picture next to. The thing that I liked the best was the spectacular view. I personally like it that there wasn’t something commercial at the top. It is nice to know there are places in Japan that is untouched by man and technology. There isn’t some worker shouting out greetings wanting to sell you something at the top. There is a peaceful view with some places to sit and enjoy the scenery. If you walk a little further you will find a temple.
Wildlife. Besides mosquitoes in the muggy weather there is really nothing to worry about. There are some spider webs that you might run into, but only one person in our group experienced that. Some things that we did see was a beautiful blue earthworm, a shiny red beetle, a small orange crab, and some interesting daddy long leg type spiders. So keep your eye out on the ground, you never know what you might find!
What to do after? If you like hot springs (onsen), Misato has plenty of them. When we took the bus back to the Misato bus station, there were several hot springs around. We simply asked someone at the bus station and they lead us in the right direction. A perfect way to relax after a hard hike! There are also several places you can eat around that bus station too. If you are taking public transportation, there are lots of buses that go back to the Kotsu Center, so you don’t have to worry about dipping into hot springs and going to have dinner before catching the bus back to the city.
The 3,333 stone stairway is one of those unique challenges that I am so glad I experienced while I lived in Japan. Don’t miss it!