#NovemberDestinations2025 The Shirakawa Spring at the end of November is the kind of place that instantly brings peace and tranquility. The air is cool, the sky is clear, and the entire spring area is enveloped in nature, as clean as a filtered world. On the way to the spring, the only sound is the flowing water; the atmosphere is as serene as a scene from a picture book. The moment I actually saw the spring, I was completely stunned. The water was so clear it seemed weightless; the stones, weeds, and even the bubbling springs in the riverbed were all clearly visible. The Shirakawa Spring isn't just any stream; it's a natural, flowing spring that gushes directly from the ground, and seeing it with my own eyes was truly breathtaking. At that moment, I noticed that everyone in line was holding plastic bottles, but no one was putting their hands into the water. Because— They provided transparent plastic spoons to scoop up the spring water and then pour it into their own bottles to drink. When it was my turn, I picked up the plastic spoon and reached into the clearest part of the spring to scoop up some water. My hands went numb from the cold for a moment; it wasn't the chill of a refrigerator, but the pure, icy coolness unique to natural spring water. After pouring the spring water into a plastic bottle, I took my first sip and was completely stunned. The water from Shirakawa Spring has a taste that makes you "stop." It's so clear, sweet, and clean it seems unreal. It doesn't have the strange taste of bottled water, nor the rough texture of typical spring water. Its sweetness is natural and smooth, not the sweetness of sugar, but a sweetness so pure you can feel the water itself is alive. After drinking it, I looked at the spring again and truly understood why the people of Kumamoto called Shirakawa Spring their treasure. Standing there, just watching the water bubbling and bubbling, brings a sense of peace. A nearby shop sells soy sauce made with Shirakawa Spring water. I had no expectations, but after trying it, I was so shocked I almost bought two bottles. The soy sauce had an incredibly clean taste, a delicate aroma, and just the right amount of saltiness—not overly salty or pungent. The shopkeeper explained that the clean water allowed for smoother fermentation and a more pronounced flavor. Drinking the spring water before tasting this soy sauce made it truly easier to discern the source of its refreshing quality. The breeze was gentle in late November, the leaves were subtly changing color, and the air by the water was cool and refreshing. Standing before the spring, drinking the freshly scooped water, I suddenly felt all the fatigue of my journey wash away. This isn't a glamorous tourist spot, but it's the kind of place you'll want to return to, a place you'll always remember for that sweet taste. Before leaving, I slowly filled a bottle with the spring water using a plastic spoon, as if taking a small portion of this natural energy with me. The truly captivating aspect of Shirakawa Spring isn't its fame, but its "purity"—everything you see, hear, and taste is genuinely natural. #Kumamoto #MinamiAso #KumamotoAttractions #KumamotoNaturalAttractions #MinamiAsoAttractions #ShirakawaSpring #ShirakawaShrine