Kumamoto

Kumamoto is a major city on Kyushu's west coast, it is deeply proud of its greatest landmark, Kumamoto-jo, the castle around which the city radiates. As a key access point for exploring the volcano and the surrounding Aso area, it is historically rich and well worth exploring over a day or two.

Kumamoto Castle

Kumamoto Castle (熊本城, Kumamotojō) is one of the most impressive castles in Japan. With large castle grounds and a variety of buildings, Kumamoto Castle offers its visitors one of the most complete castle experiences in Japan.

Suizenji Garden

Suizenji Garden (Suizenji Jōjuen) is a spacious, Japanese style landscape garden in Kumamoto, best enjoyed by strolling along a circular path.

Tsujunkyo Bridge

Tsūjun Bridge is an aqueduct in Yamato, Kumamoto, Japan. It is an arch bridge completed in 1854 and is 84.0m long. The arch spans 27.3m. It is the largest stone aqueduct in Japan. The Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs has designated the bridge an National Treasure.

Josaien

Josaien is located in Sakuranobaba, at the foot of Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan’s three major castles. It is a popular tourist attraction designed to enhance the appeal of the old castle town and convey to visitors the food, history and cultural traditions of the region from Kumamoto Castle.

Former Hosokawa Residence（Temporarily closed）

The Former Hosokawa Residence (旧細川刑部邸, Kyū Hosokawa Gyōbutei) is the former residence of a branch family of the Hosokawa Clan, the powerful clan that ruled over Kumamoto during the Edo Period. The building is a great example of a high-class samurai mansion.

Kumamon Square

As well as providing everything you could want to know about KUMAMON, KUMAMON Square distributes information on tourist attractions and local products of Kumamoto. KUMAMON Square is entertaining whenever you come!

Takamori Yusui Tunnel Park

Bringing fresh spring water from the mountains to the valley, the Takamori Yusui Tunnel Park is a site to behold. Not only does the tunnel transport water, but the two kilometer tunnel has seasonal decorations like tanabata lanterns during the summer and Christmas during the winter.

Tasaki Ichiba

The “Tasaki Ichiba” is one of the largest wholesale markets in Japan and it is of course the largest one in Kyushu.

Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center

is a place where various arts and goods with strong ties to the history of Kumamoto are on display and available for sale. Eighty different traditional crafts chosen by the Prefecture are on exhibit here, including the famous Higo Zogan gold inlay metalcraft,

Lafcadio Hearn’s Residence

Lafcadio Hearn, one of the first western authors of Japanese culture, lived in Matsue for about one year of his life. Hearn's former residence is now open to the public along with a museum located next door that is dedicated to his work and person.