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

Tsujunkyo Bridge is Japan’s largest stone-arch aqueduct bridge, and it was constructed in 1854 by a local official Yasunosuke Futa in Yabe. The structural purpose was to supply water to the Shiraito Plateau where people suffered from water shortage at that time. The supply of water comes from the upper stream of the Sasahara River about 6 kilometers away. The total length of the water passage is approximately 30 kilometers, and the irrigated area covers an extensive, 100 hectares.

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, a symbol of the city of Kumamoto.

Former Hosokawa Residence

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

The 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, wood and bamboo crafts, ceramics, folk toys, and knives. There is a permanent hands-on exhibit, three weekly gallery rooms, and an area where crafts are available for purchase.

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.