Uki

Uki (宇城) is a city on the island of Kyushu in Kumamoto, Japan.

Understand
The city was established with the merger of five towns on January 15, 2005: Matsubase (松橋), Misumi (三角), Ogawa (小川), Shiranuhi (不知火) and Toyono (豊野).

Tourist information site
The city has a Japanese-only guide site, Uki Trip with integrated Google Translate.

By train
To reach Uki by train from Hakata station in Fukuoka, take the Relay Tsubame or Ariake limited express to Kumamoto and transfer to the appropriately-named JR Misumi line. The ride costs ¥4400, and takes anywhere between 2 and 3 hours in total, since train services between Kumamoto and Misumi are sparse (only one train per hour). As of this writing, the first train leaves Kumamoto at 6:25, and the last at 23:09.

Alternately, one may reach Uki by means of local trains. Departing from Hakata Station on the privately owned Nishitetsu will take you as far as Omuta where travellers can hook up with the JR lines to reach Kumamoto City for a reasonable ¥1090. From Kumamoto City it is an extra ¥720 on the Misumi line (total cost from Hakata ¥2890).

By boat
The Sea Pyramid is the ferry terminal of Misumi port where one can catch ferries to Amakusa and the Shimabara Peninsula (Nagasaki prefecture). An individual ticket will set you back ¥720 for adults and ¥360 for children. It is also possible to take your car across. As of this writing the cost of passage (including driver, passenger and car) runs ¥3,360.

By car
It takes about 45 minutes to get to Uki from Kumamoto city by car. From Kumamoto City, take Route 3 towards Uto City. You can also use Route 266 which will take you through Jonan-machi to the Matsubase/Shiranuhi area. You can follow Route 266 West towards Misumi-machi (still part of Uki City) on towards Amakusa (Ryugatake, Sumoto, Hondo, Ushibuka).

Get around
Buses run from Kumamoto's Kotsu Center 「交通センター」to Uki dropping off across the street from the train station. Buses travel through Uto City 「宇土市」or Matsubase Town 「松橋」before terminating in Uki. Kotsu Center buses also venture into Amakusa (Kami-Amakusa, Hondo, Ushibuka, etc) for the adventurous.

See

 * Fireflies
 * The fires on the sea. The fires appear in summer, and these are very beautiful. It is a mysterious thing, but many people want to see the fires every year.
 * Wakamiya Beach
 * Tobase Flower School
 * Isuichi Dam
 * Misumi Sea Pyramid
 * Various mountains

Do

 * Wakamiya is a swimming beach, popular with the locals during the "swimming season." Otherwise it can be quite desolate even when the weather is perfect.  Lessons can be had at the Tobase Flower School for a reasonable fee.

Buy
The major shopping attraction in the Ogawa district is Diamond City. Here you will find Jusco, Uniqlo, Tsutaya, Starbucks, Daiso, 100 Yen Sushi, Right-On: Jeans Live and The Sports Authorty. There are various smaller clothing shops.

Local crafts can be purchased in the craft hall past the 266/57 Junction into Amakusa. At Nishiko Port you can catch an amazing sunset as the sun sinks behind Amakusa. You can also enjoy coffee at a small but very nice coffee shop as well as learn about the local hero, Lafcadio Hearn.

Eat
Shiranuhi has some famous fruits, for example, melon, grape, and many kinds of oranges. There are a couple of eateries before the 1st bridge of Amakusa (towards Oyano) as well as along Route 266.