Kumamoto Guide: How to Plan Your Trip + Itinerary
Kumamoto is about 116 kilometers from Fukuoka and is the third-largest city in Kyushu.
While the city itself doesn’t have many major attractions, the real highlights are in the surrounding areas. You can get up close to volcanic craters, watch dolphins jumping out of the water, go boating through scenic gorges, or relax in hot springs in quiet mountain towns.
by Luo Jin Hong | lin zhaohai | Nichika Sakurai
Getting to Kumamoto from Fukuoka
If you have a JR Pass:
Take the Shinkansen from Hakata Station in Fukuoka to Kumamoto Station. The ride takes about 49 minutes and costs ¥5,310. All seats are non-reserved, and trains are rarely full — no need to book in advance. For more details on the JR Pass, Check here
If you don’t have a JR Pass:
Take a highway bus from the Hakata Bus Terminal in Fukuoka to Kumamoto Ekimae Station. The ride takes about 2 hours and 17 minutes and costs ¥2,500. Tickets can be bought at the counter or self-service machines.
Tip: It’s also easy to travel from Kumamoto to Kagoshima — just 46 minutes by Shinkansen.
Recommended Hotels in Kumamoto
Since fewer tourists stay overnight in Kumamoto, hotels here tend to offer better value than those in Fukuoka.
Here are two hotels just a 3-minute walk from JR Kumamoto Station — both are in a great location:
Kumamoto 2-Day, 1-Night Itinerary
Day 1:
- Take the Shinkansen from Fukuoka to Kumamoto.
- From JR Kumamoto Station, take the tram to
Kumamoto Castle/City Hall(17 min, ¥200), then walk 10 minutes to Kumamoto Castle. - Visit Kumamoto Castle (allow 1 to 1.5 hours), then have lunch nearby. There are many restaurants and shopping options around Tsuruya Department Store.
- Take the tram to
Suizenji Park(19 min, ¥200), then walk 5 minutes to Suizenji Jojuen. - Explore Suizenji Jojuen (30 minutes to 1 hour; last entry at 4:30 PM).
- Take the tram back to
Kumamoto Station(36 min, ¥200). - Check into your hotel and spend the evening dining or shopping at AMU PLAZA KUMAMOTO (right next to the station).
The Kumamoto City Tram route map can be found here.
Day 2:
Visit scenic spots around Kumamoto. Since public transport is limited, most travelers join a guided day tour. A typical route includes:
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine → Mt. Aso → Kusasenri → Kurokawa Onsen
Tours usually depart at 7:40 AM and return to Kumamoto by 6:00 PM. After the tour, you can return to Fukuoka or head to Kagoshima
Attractions in Kumamoto Downtown
Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle is one of Japan’s Three Great Castles and was originally built in 1601. Its history has been turbulent — parts were demolished or damaged during the Meiji era, it was hit by air raids in World War II, and though it was extensively restored in the 1960s, it suffered serious damage again in the 2016 earthquake.
Currently, only the main keep (tenshukaku) and part of the grounds are fully restored. The main keep stands 30 meters tall — it looks like a three-story building from the outside but actually contains six floors inside.
Floors 1–5 feature exhibits on the castle’s history and architecture.
Floor 6 offers an observation deck with panoramic views of Kumamoto.
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission: ¥800 (high school students and adults), ¥300 (elementary/junior high students). Online tickets available.
Recommended Visit Time: 1 to 1.5 hours (see map here)
How to visit: Enter through the South Gate. After exploring tthe main keep, visit Sakura-no-baba Josaien, a nearby shopping and dining area, for souvenirs.
Official Site: kumamoto-guide.jp
Getting There: Take the tram to Kumamoto Castle/City Hall, then walk about 10 minutes.
Watch: Japan’s BEST Castle? Kumamoto Castle
Photo Highlights:
by Luo Jin Hong | Zion C
Suizenji Jojuen Garden
Built in 1636, Suizenji Jojuen is a classic example of a traditional Japanese landscape garden.
Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission: ¥400 (adults), ¥200 (children)
Recommended Visit Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour (see map here)
Official Site: suizenji.or.jp
Getting There: Take the tram to ‘Suizenji Park’, then walk about 10 minutes.
Watch: 水前寺成趣園へ！
Attractions Around Kumamoto
Most of Kumamoto’s scenic spots are located outside the city (see map below).
Because Kyushu’s rail network is limited and local buses can be slow and infrequent, many travelers choose to join a guided day tour to visit places like Mount Aso.
Mount Aso
Mount Aso is an active composite volcano with a massive caldera measuring about 25 km north to south, 18 km east to west, and around 120 km in circumference. (A caldera is a large depression formed when the ground collapses after a volcanic eruption.) Inside the caldera, you’ll find volcanic cones, lakes, and ongoing activity such as minor eruptions and tremors.
What most visitors call “Mount Aso” is actually Nakadake, the most active volcanic cone within the caldera. It last erupted in 2021, sending a column of ash 3,500 meters into the sky.
Hours: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (may vary by season)
Admission: Free
Recommended Visit Time: 1.5 to 4 hours
Official Site: aso-volcano.jp
How to Enjoy:
- Get a close-up view of the volcanic crater
- Visit nearby Kusasenri-ga-hama for grasslands, horseback riding, and restaurants If you’re traveling independently by bus, you can first visit the crater, then walk about 4 km (1 hour) to Kusasenri-ga-hama. Alternatively, take the “Aso Crater Line” route bus to Kusasenri Aso Volcano Museum-mae (5 minutes, ¥330), then take the highway bus back to Kumamoto from there.
Getting There:
- Self-drive – Easiest and most convenient
- Guided tour – e.g., Kyushu Aso Mountain Day Tour
- Highway bus – About 2 hours from Kumamoto; ¥1,750 one way (reservation required). Get off at Asosanjo Terminal, then either: Walk 20 minutes to the crater, or Take the local shuttle bus (5 minutes, ¥600 one way)
- JR trains – More complicated than buses; not detailed here.
Watch: KUMAMOTO, KYUSHU🇯🇵 Japan’s Active Volcano “Mt. ASO”
Dolphin Watching in Amakusa
While dolphins can be seen in many places, Amakusa is known for its large, resident dolphin population. The dolphins here are friendly and curious — they often swim alongside the boat and sometimes leap out of the water.
Cost: ¥5,500 (adults), ¥4,500 (junior high/high school), ¥3,500 (elementary school) Online booking discounts available. Walk-ins accepted.
Recommended Visit Time: 2 hours
Departure Times: 10:00 / 13:00 / 15:00 — check the latest schedule here
Departure Point: Mio Camino Amakusa / Maejima Port
Official Site: seacruise.jp
Getting There:
- Self-drive – Easiest and most convenient
- Highway bus – From JR Kumamoto Station to ‘L’isola Terrace Amakusa’ (~1.5 hrs, ¥1,730 one way). No reservation needed. The departure point is a 1-minute walk from the bus stop. (Facilities available: ticket counter, waiting area, restaurants)
- JR train + ferry – Take a JR train from Kumamoto to Misumi Station (~57 mins, ¥870 one way) Walk 3 minutes to board the Sea Cruise speedboat to Matsushima (~20 mins, ¥1,000 one way) The dolphin-watching boat departs just a 1-minute walk from the ferry landing. (train/ferry schedule)
Watch: 天草イルカウォッチング
Kurokawa Onsen
With limited public transportation and minimal commercialization, Kurokawa Onsen maintains a peaceful, secluded atmosphere with relatively few tourists. The area is home to about 30 traditional wooden ryokan (Japanese inns), each featuring open-air baths designed to blend naturally into the surrounding forests and streams — offering a uniquely tranquil bathing experience.
Recommended Visit Time:1.5 hours to 1 day
Recommended Ryokan:
Kurokawa Onsen Oku no Yu
Kurokawa Onsen Oyado Noshiyu
How to Enjoy:
- Stroll around the compact town (you can explore it fully in about 10 minutes)
- Try day-use hot springs (check the ryokan’s website for each ryokan’s public bathing hours and prices — no pass required)
- Stay overnight at a hot spring inn
Getting There:
- Self-drive – Easiest and most convenient
- Guided tour – e.g., Kyushu Aso Mountain Day Tour
- Highway bus – About 3 hours from Kumamoto; one-way fare ¥2,800 (reservation required)
Watch: Kurokawa Onsen in Autumn
Takachiho Gorge
Takachiho Gorge is a stunning natural formation shaped by volcanic activity and river erosion.
The main highlight is renting a boat (advance booking recommended) to paddle through the gorge, where you can look up at the dramatic columnar basalt cliffs — the most iconic feature of Takachiho.
Admission: Free
Recommended Visit Time: 1 to 3 hours
How to Enjoy:
- Walk along the gorge trail (about 1 km roundtrip) for great views from both sides (trail map)
- Rent a rowboat to explore the gorge from the water (¥4,100+ per boat / 30 minutes / up to 3 people) Advance booking is highly recommended — boats sell out quickly!
Getting There:
- Self-drive – Easiest and most convenient
- Guided tour – e.g., Aso, Takachiho George Day Tour
- Option 3: Highway bus – About 3 hours from Kumamoto; one-way fare ¥2,700 (reservation required)
Official Site: takachiho-kanko.info
Watch: 高千穂峡／阿蘇山大噴火による火砕流が作った自然景勝地
Hope you enjoy your Kumamoto adventure!
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