One of Japan’s great castles & Mount Aso
Kumamoto
熊本 · A mighty castle & volcanic country
A proud Kyushu city anchored by one of Japan’s three greatest castles and framed by the vast volcanic caldera of Mount Aso. Kumamoto offers feudal grandeur, lush gardens and easy access to active-volcano landscapes and hot springs.
Top sightsSights
Kumamoto Castle
A magnificent black-and-white feudal fortress, being beautifully restored after earthquake damage.
Suizenji Garden
A landscape garden that miniaturizes the 53 stations of the old Tokaido road, including a tiny Mt. Fuji.
Mount Aso
One of the world’s largest active volcanic calderas, with smoking craters and grassy plains.
Sakuranobaba Josaien
A castle-side district of shops and stalls serving Kumamoto specialties.
Kurokawa Onsen
A charming hot-spring town of riverside ryokan and open-air baths, north of the city.
What to eatFood
Basashi
Kumamoto’s famous raw horse-meat sashimi, tender and prized locally.
Karashi renkon
Lotus root stuffed with mustard-miso and deep-fried, a signature dish.
Kumamoto ramen
A tonkotsu ramen finished with fragrant fried-garlic oil.
Good to know
- Check which parts of Kumamoto Castle are open, as post-earthquake restoration continues.
- Mount Aso access depends on volcanic activity — verify crater conditions before visiting.
- Kumamoto is under an hour from Fukuoka by Kyushu Shinkansen.
Getting there
Kumamoto Airport (KMJ) serves domestic flights; the Kyushu Shinkansen reaches Fukuoka in about 40 minutes.
Next city
Yokohama