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Before you go
Your trip to Kumamoto.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Kumamoto – Kumamoto Destination Kumamoto and Aso Capital
How to get there
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Aeroporto de Kumamoto (KMJ) Mashiki · 17 km
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Estação de Kumamoto 3 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
Kumamoto Station is served by the Kyushu shinkansen, a little over 30 minutes from Hakata and about 45 minutes from Kagoshima-Chuo. Kumamoto Airport is about 17 km away, with buses to the city center. Highways connect to Fukuoka, Aso, Beppu and Takachiho.
How many days
One full day covers the castle, Sakuranobaba Josaien and Suizenji, with the evening in the city center. With two days, add the old Kawaramachi neighborhood or set off early for Aso.
When to go
From late March into April, cherry trees usually cover the castle park. October and November bring pleasant days. Summers are long, hot and humid, with heavy rains from June to July and typhoons more common from August to October; winters are dry and cold.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
No. Trams link the station with the castle, the city center and Suizenji, and the central area is walkable. A car only helps for getting on to Aso and the Yamanami Highway.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Kumamoto
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Morning
Kumamoto Castle
Take the tram to the castle and enter via the elevated walkway, which passes over the reconstructed walls to the main keep and its museum.
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Afternoon
Josaien and Suizenji
Have lunch at Sakuranobaba Josaien, at the foot of the castle, then take the tram to Suizenji Garden, with its spring-fed pond and the small mountain.
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Late afternoon
Tea in the garden
Have green tea and a sweet at the Kokin Denju no Ma tea house, facing Suizenji’s pond.
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Evening
Shimotori and Kamitori
Dine in the center between the Shimotori and Kamitori arcades: Kumamoto ramen with garlic oil, karashi renkon (lotus root with mustard), and, for those who want, basashi.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How to get around Kumamoto?
By tram, which links the station with the castle, the center and Suizenji. The center and the castle are close enough to explore on foot.
What is Sakuranobaba Josaien?
It is an area at the foot of the castle with restaurants, shops selling regional products and the Wakuwakuza museum, which tells the story of the castle and the city. It’s a good place for lunch between visits.
What to eat in Kumamoto?
Pork-broth ramen with garlic oil, karashi renkon (lotus root stuffed with mustard), basashi (raw horse meat) and ikinari dango, a sweet potato and bean dumpling.
Who is Kumamon?
He is the prefecture’s mascot, a black bear with red cheeks. He appears in shops and on products and has a dedicated space in the city center where he often performs.
Beyond the guide
