Nankan, town in Tamana district, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan
Nankan is a small town in Tamana district, Kumamoto Prefecture, located in Kyushu, Japan. The landscape features open fields, quiet streets, and traditional Japanese houses with tiled roofs, while small gardens and local shops define the simple residential character of the place.
Nankan has a history spanning over 1000 years, when it was part of Higo Province and served as a border post for travelers and traders. During the Edo period it belonged to Kumamoto Domain and maintained its role as a local center, eventually being organized as a modern municipality in the late 1800s.
The town is known for hand-made somen noodles, very thin noodles that have been produced here for generations. Visitors can watch craftspeople at work and taste these delicate noodles, which represent an important local tradition that residents take pride in maintaining.
The town is best reached by car from the nearby expressway, though buses and trains connect it to Kumamoto and Fukuoka. Visiting is most pleasant in spring and autumn when the weather is mild, as summers are warm and September brings frequent rain.
A few local workshops still make somen noodles entirely by hand without machines, a practice over 300 years old. Visitors can watch craftspeople like Mrs. Igata, the ninth generation of her family to produce noodles, keep this art alive using traditional techniques passed down through generations.
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