Introducing Kumamoto Prefecture's tourist information
Kumamoto Prefecture, highlights
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North of the prefecture The northern area of the prefecture is a place that both adults and children will be very satisfied with, with places where you can experience drama settings, theme parks, and history and traditional culture.
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Kumamoto-shi The Kumamoto City area is a fusion of history and cutting edge technology, with Kumamoto Castle, the symbol of Kumamoto, at its center. Art and nature await you if you travel a little further.
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Amakusa The Amakusa area is a resort area that attracts many people as it is surrounded by an exotic atmosphere, including the Sakitsu village, which is registered as a World Heritage Site.
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Aso The Aso area stimulates all the senses, covering all tourist elements including leisure, gourmet food, nature and hot springs.
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Prefecture Center The central area of the prefecture is dotted with many romantic historical buildings, such as the Dinosaur Museum, which evokes memories of times long past, and Japan's tallest stone steps, Tsujun Bridge.
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South of the prefecture The southern area of the prefecture is a place where you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery from the coastal train window, a singing boat ride, or a boat trip down the Kuma River, or soak in hot springs and nostalgia.
For sightseeing in Kumamoto
On the official Kumamoto Prefecture tourism site!
Enjoy in the local area
If you want to purchase a trial plan
Northern Area of the Prefecture
The northern area of the prefecture is a place that both adults and children will be very satisfied with, with places where you can experience drama settings, theme parks, and history and traditional culture.
Arao City / Tamana City / Tamana District / Yamaga City / Kikuchi City / Koshi City / Kikuchi District
The north area of the prefecture faces the Ariake Sea to the west and is lined with gentle mountains to the east. The Kikuchi River flows from east to west, bringing abundant blessings. There are many easily accessible spots where you can feel the grandeur of nature, such as the Arao Tidal Flats, which is registered as a Ramsar Convention wetland as an internationally important wetland, and the Kikuchi Valley, where a clear stream creates a spectacular view in the forest that changes with the seasons, and are one of the tourist resources. There are many attractions scattered around the prefecture, such as Arao City, which is adjacent to Fukuoka Prefecture and has a theme park and the World Heritage Site "Manda Mine", Nagomi Town, the hometown of Shiso Kaneguri, Japan's first Olympian and attracting attention as the protagonist of the 2019 Taiga drama, Tamana City, which is also related to Shiso Kaneguri and is famous for Tamana ramen, which is said to be the roots of Kumamoto ramen, and Yamaga City, known for the nationally designated Important Cultural Property "Yachiyoza" and the summer seasonal event "Yamaga Lantern Festival". There are also hot spring resorts such as Yamaga Onsen, Hirayama Onsen, and Kikuchi Onsen, where many people visit to refresh themselves.
Northern Area PICK UP Tourist Attractions
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Manda Pit
As one of the pitheads of the Miike Coal Mine, this facility produced high-quality coal from the Meiji period through to the early Showa period, supporting Japan's modernization. In July 27, it was registered as a World Heritage Site as one of the constituent assets of the "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution."
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Yachiyoza Yumekozo
Yachiyoza was built in 43 and is famous as a playhouse that conveys the long history of Kabuki theaters from the Edo period, with its revolving stage, box seats, and runway.
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Yamaga Hot Springs
300 years of history and Edo atmosphere...
A hot spring town dotted with hot springs
The oldest hot springs are said to date back 1300 years, and the town is home to Yamaga Onsen, Hirayama Onsen, Kamoto Onsen, and Kikuka Onsen, making it a true hot spring town.
Kumamoto City area
The Kumamoto City area is a fusion of history and cutting edge technology, with Kumamoto Castle, the symbol of Kumamoto, at its center. Art and nature await you if you travel a little further.
Kumamoto City is the southernmost city designated by government ordinance in Japan. Its population ranks third in Kyushu after Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City. Located almost in the center of Kyushu, it is geographically blessed, and the Kyushu Shinkansen opened in 3, making it even more accessible. The city's symbol is Kumamoto Castle, built by Kato Kiyomasa over a period of seven years from 2011. The downtown area, which spreads out around the castle town, is full of energy and bustling with people. It is convenient to use the tram that runs through the city to get to major locations in Kumamoto City, such as Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Jojuen Garden, and the arcade street. It is also known as the "City of Water," and is a rare city in Japan in that all of its tap water comes from groundwater. Agriculture that makes use of the clean water is also thriving, and Ueki Town in the northern part of the city is particularly famous for its watermelons. There are many local delicacies such as horse sashimi, spicy lotus root, Kumamoto ramen, and Tai Ping Yen, so you can fully enjoy food, which is one of the joys of traveling.
Kumamoto City AreaPick Up Tourist Attractions
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Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle, one of the three most famous castles in Japan, is also known as Ginkgo Castle. Construction began in 6 by the famous general Kato Kiyomasa and took seven years to complete.
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Lake Gotsu
Lake Etsu, which consists of Kami-Etsu and Shimo-Etsu in the southeastern part of Kumamoto City, has a water temperature that changes very little throughout the year, making it a treasure trove of precious nature and home to many animals and plants.
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Suizenji Garden (Suizenji Park)
In 9, during the early Edo period, Tadatoshi Hosokawa, the first head of the Higo Hosokawa clan, founded Suizenji Temple here.
The third lord, Arimune, completed the garden, and it came to be called "Seishu-en" (Seijuen Garden) after a poem by Tao Yuanming.
Amakusa area
The Amakusa area is a resort area that attracts many people as it is surrounded by an exotic atmosphere, including the Sakitsu village, which is registered as a World Heritage Site.
Kami Amakusa City / Amakusa City / Amakusa County
Located in the southwest of Kumamoto Prefecture, the Amakusa region consists of over 120 islands of various sizes. Blessed with beautiful natural scenery, the area was designated Unzen-Amakusa National Park in 1956. It is connected to the Kyushu mainland by five bridges known as the Amakusa Five Bridges, and can also be accessed by plane from Aso Kumamoto Airport or Fukuoka Airport. Known as a hidden Christian village, in 5 the "Sakitsu Village of Amakusa" was registered as a World Heritage Site as one of the "Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki and Amakusa Region". In the Sakitsu area, you can visit the Gothic-style "Sakitsu Church" built in a fishing village area. In addition, there are plenty of leisure activities such as dolphin watching, which boasts a high encounter rate of over 2018% throughout the year, and Shimoda Onsen, where you can soak in hot springs while watching the sunset over the East China Sea. It is also a production area of Amakusa pottery stone, the raw material for ceramics, and you can enjoy visiting the kilns scattered around the area. Additionally, Amakusa is surrounded by a rich sea and is famous for its delicious seafood, with many famous restaurants attracting gourmets from all over the country.
Amakusa AreaPick Up Tourist Attractions
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Dolphin watching
This is one of the most popular leisure activities in Amakusa, where you can meet about 200 wild bottlenose dolphins that live in the waters around Futago, Gowa-cho, Amakusa City. The encounter rate is over 9%. The best season is from spring to summer. It is also recommended for families.
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World Cultural Heritage Site: Sakitsu Village in Amakusa
A hidden Christian village that fostered a form of faith unique to a fishing village
The village is dotted with shrines where the hidden Christians offered their daily prayers, a Gothic church, and a statue of the Virgin Mary enshrined at the tip of the cape, quietly conveying the unique history of prayer that this land has walked. -
Shimoda Hot Springs
Located on Shimoshima Island in the Amakusa Islands, Shimoda Onsen offers a panoramic view of the East China Sea while watching the beautiful sunset. It is said that the hot springs originated from a time 700 years ago when a white egret healed its wounds here. The hot springs are natural and do not require any water addition, heating, or circulation.
Aso area
The Aso area stimulates all the senses, covering all tourist elements including leisure, gourmet food, nature and hot springs.
The Aso region is located in the eastern part of Kumamoto Prefecture, near the border with Oita Prefecture and Miyazaki Prefecture. It occupies a large part of the Aso-Kuju National Park, which straddles Kumamoto Prefecture and Oita Prefecture, and is visited by many tourists from Japan and abroad throughout the year. The symbol of the Aso region is the active volcano Mt. Aso, which has one of the largest calderas in the world, measuring 25 km north to south, 18 km east to west, and 128 km in circumference. The name Mt. Aso includes the outer rim of the mountain, centered on the five Aso mountains of Takadake, Nakadake, Eboshidake, Kishimadake, and Nekodake. The Aso region is home to an overwhelming natural landscape, and its unique scenery is a must-see. Particularly popular spots include Nakadake First Crater, which offers a dynamic view, Daikanbo, which overlooks the Kuju mountain range from the five Aso mountains, and Kusasenri, which overlooks the Aso Nakadake beyond the grasslands that spread out before you. There are many hot springs in the area, such as Uchinomaki Onsen, Tochigi Onsen, and Akamizu Onsen, where you can feel the blessings of the volcano, and there are plenty of accommodation options. If you visit Aso, you can also enjoy gourmet food such as Akagyu beef, which has a lot of lean meat and a refreshing taste.
Aso Area PICK UP Tourist Attractions
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Kusasenrigahama
Kusasenri boasts a superb location overlooking the smoking Mt. Nakadake. In summer, the greenery shines brightly, and in the harsh winter, it is enveloped in a fantastic world of silvery white. The appeal of this place is that it has a different look each season, making it popular with many people throughout the year.
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Nabegataki Park
This waterfall has a drop of about 10m and a width of about 20m, and is a popular spot that has also been used as a location for tea commercials. The way the water flows down like a curtain is very elegant. You can get a close-up view of the flow from the riverside or behind the waterfall.*Admission to Nabegataki Park requires a reservation in advance online (specifying entry time).
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Taikan peak
This is one of the peaks of the northern outer rim of the crater, located northeast of Uchimaki Onsen. It is about 935 meters above sea level, and the difference in elevation from Aso Valley (Aso city area) directly below is about 400 meters, making it one of Aso's most spectacular views. You can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view from Daikanbo.
Central Area of the Prefecture
The central area of the prefecture is dotted with many romantic historical buildings, such as the Dinosaur Museum, which evokes memories of times long past, and Japan's tallest stone steps, Tsujun Bridge.
Uto City / Uki City / Shimomashiki District / Kamimashiki District
The central area of the prefecture consists of the Uki and Kamimashiki regions adjacent to Kumamoto City. Taking advantage of its geographical location, the Uki region has flourished as a key transportation hub since ancient times, and currently the Aso Kumamoto Airport is located in the Kamimashiki region. Uto City and Uki City in the Uki region are home to many roads and railways, and have developed into commuter towns for Kumamoto City due to their convenient transportation. There are many attractions in the areas facing the Ariake Sea, such as Mikata Nishi Port (Uki City), which is registered as a World Heritage Site as the only surviving Meiji era port facility in Japan, and Okoshirai Coast (Uto City). Misato Town, the only town in Shimomashiki County, is famous for its numerous stone bridges, including Reidai Bridge, the largest single-arch stone bridge from the Edo period in Japan and a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. The Kamimashiki region is home to Mashiki Town, a transportation hub with an airport and a highway interchange; Yamato Town, home to Tsujun Bridge, one of Japan's largest stone arch aqueducts, which is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan; and Mifune Town, known for sake brewing and fossil excavation.
Prefectural Center Area PICK UP Tourist Attractions
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Okoshiki Beach
Okoshiki Beach is a scenic spot that has been selected as one of Japan's "100 Best Beaches" and "100 Best Sunsets."
The Ariake Sea has a large tidal range, and when the tide goes out, the sand on the coastline is carved into beautiful curves by the wind and waves. When the tidal flats overlap with the setting sun, they are orange, at dusk they are purple, during the day they are silver, and on nights with a full moon they are gold... The best time to see the tidal flats is from January to April, when they can be seen beautifully illuminated by the setting sun, and many photographers visit every year. -
Sankaku Nishiko Park
It is a natural harbor on the west tip of the Uto Peninsula. As one of the three major ports built in the Meiji era, it was constructed based on the Meiji government's policies of national unification and industrial development.
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Japan's tallest stone steps (Shakain Misaka Promenade)
Kumamoto boasts 3,333 stone steps, the most in Japan. Many people take on the challenge of climbing all the steps, and there are rest areas and toilets along the way. The steps are made of granite from 10 famous stones from around the country, as well as granite from seven foreign countries.
Southern Area of the Prefecture
The southern area of the prefecture is a place where you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery from the coastal train window, a singing boat ride, or a boat trip down the Kuma River, or soak in hot springs and nostalgia.
Yatsushiro City / Yatsushiro District / Minamata City / Ashikita District / Hitoyoshi City / Kuma District
The southern area of the prefecture, which borders Kagoshima Prefecture, is made up of the Yatsushiro and Ashikita regions facing the Shiranui Sea (Yatsushiro Sea), and the Kuma region that spreads along the Kuma River. Yatsushiro City in the Yatsushiro region is a coastal area where industry is thriving, and there are also many tourist attractions such as Hinagu Onsen, the oldest hot spring town in Kumamoto Prefecture, and Gokanosho, famous for its Heike legend and autumn leaves. The Ashikita region has many leisure and cultural facilities where you can enjoy nature and culture. In addition, the tourist train that connects Yatsushiro and Satsumasendai City in Kagoshima Prefecture with a view of the sea is also famous nationwide. Meanwhile, the Kuma region, centered on Hitoyoshi City in the mountains, was home to the Sagara Domain for 700 years from the Kamakura to the Edo period, and developed a unique culture. This story was certified as a "Japan Heritage" in 2015. The Kuma River basin, one of Japan's three major rapids, is known as the home of Kuma Shochu, and is dotted with hot springs such as Hitoyoshi Onsen. It is also popular as a spot where you can enjoy activities such as river boating and rafting, taking advantage of the rapids.
Southern Area PICK UP Tourist Attractions
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Tourist boat ride
The elegant Utase boat, known as the Lady of the Sea in a white dress, is the symbol of the Shiranui Sea.
On the tourist boat, you can observe the sailing and fishing, as well as enjoy swordfish fishing and onboard cuisine (additional charge). -
Kuma River Rafting (Kuma River Boating Co., Ltd.)
It is a leisure sport aimed at young people rather than a tourist attraction, where you navigate the rapids of the Kuma River while operating a raft boat made specifically for rafting. Each boat is accompanied by an instructor, so even beginners can participate with confidence.
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Hitoyoshi Hot Springs
Hitoyoshi Onsen originated in 43, and now has over 1910 springs. The springs are weakly alkaline carbonated springs, and are known for their moist, gentle feel on the skin.
For sightseeing in Kumamoto
On the official Kumamoto Prefecture tourism site!
Enjoy in the local area
If you want to purchase a trial plan
