Kumamoto · Things to do
Things to Do in Kumamoto: 16 Places with Hours, Prices and Access
16 things to do · checked October 22, 2026
16 things to do in Kumamoto, from the castle outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 22, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Kumamoto Castle熊本城
Castle · Kumamoto city centre
The castle's main keep, damaged in the 2016 earthquake, was fully rebuilt by March 2021 and is open inside, with three elevators for wheelchair and stroller users and people who find stairs hard. On weekdays entry is through the South Gate only; at weekends and on national holidays the North Gate also opens.
Open to 21:00 until 1 November 2026 for the autumn festival.
- Access
- City tram from Kumamoto-ekimae to Kumamoto-jo/Shiyakusho-mae (about 20 minutes), then about 15 minutes on foot via Sakuranobaba Josaien. The Shiromeguri-n bus runs from Sakuramachi Bus Terminal to Ninomaru Parking (about 10 minutes); a free shuttle links Josaien, the South Gate and Ninomaru Parking every 10–15 minutes, 9:00–17:00.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00; last entry to the keep 16:30). During the autumn castle festival, 2 October–1 November 2026: 9:00–21:00, last entry 20:00
- Closed on
- 29 December; may close in severe weather
- Price
- High school age and over ¥800; elementary and junior high ¥300; under 6 free. Castle + Wakuwakuza ¥850 / ¥300; castle + Wakuwakuza + Kumamoto City Museum ¥1,100 / ¥400
2Sakuranobaba Josaien桜の馬場 城彩苑
Food and souvenir street, history museum · Foot of Kumamoto Castle
A row of food and souvenir shops at the foot of the castle, with the Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza. Wakuwakuza can be added to a castle ticket for ¥50 more (¥850 for both).
- Access
- On the walking route from Kumamoto-jo/Shiyakusho-mae tram stop to the castle. The free castle shuttle starts here.
- Hours
- Shops 11:00–19:00 (subject to change, per the city tourism site)
3Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art熊本県立美術館
Art museum · Ninomaru, Kumamoto Castle grounds
In the north-west corner of the castle grounds, with a permanent display of decorated kofun tombs and rotating exhibitions from the Hosokawa family collection held by the Eisei Bunko Foundation.
- Access
- Shiromeguri-n bus to Ninomaru Parking, right there; or city tram to Kumamoto-jo/Shiyakusho-mae and about 15 minutes on foot.
- Hours
- 9:30–17:15 (last entry 16:45)
- Closed on
- Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday); 31 December–1 January
- Price
- Standard exhibits: adults ¥430; university students ¥260; high school and under free (special exhibitions extra)
4Kumamoto City Museum熊本市立熊本博物館
History and science museum · North-west of the castle
City history and culture on the first floor, the prefecture's natural history on the second, and a planetarium in the basement. It is part of the three-facility ticket with the castle and Wakuwakuza.
- Access
- Shiromeguri-n bus to Museum/Old Hosokawa Residence; or city tram to Sugidomo and about 5 minutes on foot.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday); 29 December–3 January; maintenance days
- Price
- Adults ¥400; high school and university ¥300; junior high ¥200 (planetarium not included in these prices)
5Kumamoto City Tram熊本市電
Tram · Kumamoto city
The tram links Kumamoto Station, the castle, the Torichosuji shopping streets and Suizenji at one flat fare. Pay cash (exact change; change machines on board) or use an IC card, touch payment or QR code payment.
- Access
- Kumamoto-ekimae stop, in front of JR Kumamoto Station. Riding between Kami-Kumamoto and Tasakibashi needs a change at Karashimacho.
- Price
- Adults (junior high and over) ¥200; children ¥100 per ride. Paper 1-day pass ¥700 / ¥350; mobile 1-day pass ¥500 / ¥250
6Suizenji Jojuen Garden水前寺成趣園
Stroll garden · Suizenji
A stroll garden laid out by Lord Hosokawa Tadatoshi in the early Edo period, with scenery modelled on the 53 stations of the Tokaido and a Mt. Fuji-shaped mound. Izumi Shrine, for the Hosokawa lords, stands inside.
- Access
- City tram to Suizenji-koen, about 4 minutes on foot (about 34 minutes from Kumamoto-ekimae); or JR Hohi Line to Shin-Suizenji (about 7 minutes from Kumamoto Station), about 10 minutes on foot.
- Hours
- 8:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Open every day
- Price
- Adults ¥500; children ¥200
7Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto (CAMK)熊本市現代美術館
Art museum · Kamitori
A gallery and community space with a small permanent collection, free to view, and about five paid temporary exhibitions a year. Open until 20:00.
- Access
- Right at Torichosuji tram stop: about 15 minutes from Kumamoto-ekimae, about 5 minutes from Karashimacho.
- Hours
- 10:00–20:00 (exhibition entry until 19:30)
- Closed on
- Tuesdays (Wednesday if Tuesday is a holiday); 29 December–3 January
- Price
- Permanent collection free; exhibition fees vary
8Kumamon Squareくまモンスクエア
Mascot shop and stage · Torichosuji
The home base of Kumamon, the prefecture's bear mascot, with goods on sale and scheduled Kumamon appearances. Appearance times change month to month and are posted on the official calendar.
- Access
- 1F Tetoria Kumamoto Building, 8-2 Tedori-honcho, Chuo-ku.
- Hours
- 10:00–19:00
9Reigando Cave and the 500 Rakan霊巌洞・五百羅漢
Cave and temple grounds · Nishi Ward (Unganzenji Temple)
The cave where Miyamoto Musashi spent his last two years and wrote The Book of Five Rings, reached past the 500 Rakan, stone figures of the Buddha's disciples, many of them headless, on a mossy hillside.
- Access
- Tram to Karashimacho (about 10 minutes from Kumamoto-ekimae), then bus U3-1 toward Kawachi Onsen Center to Iwato Kannon Iriguchi (about 25 minutes) and about 15–20 minutes on foot. About 30 minutes by car from the city centre.
- Hours
- 8:00–17:00
- Price
- Adults ¥200; children ¥100
10Mt. Aso Nakadake Crater阿蘇山 中岳第一火口
Active volcano · Aso
The active crater at the centre of Aso. As of the Japan Meteorological Agency's bulletin of 9 October 2026, a crater-area warning (alert level 2) remains in force, with danger from large volcanic rocks within about 1 km of the first crater, so the crater rim cannot be visited. Check the JMA status on the day.
Crater rim closed at alert level 2 (JMA, 9 October 2026).
- Access
- Aso area, east of Kumamoto city. The crater area is off limits while level 2 is in force.
11Aso Volcano Museum阿蘇火山博物館
Volcano museum · Aso
A museum on Aso's volcanoes, with crater cameras and a live view of the Kusasenri area. A visit takes about 40–50 minutes.
- Access
- Address: 1930-1 Akamizu, Aso City. The museum's access page points to Kyushu Sanko Bus for bus routes and times.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Maintenance closure days
- Price
- Adults (junior high and over) ¥1,300; elementary ¥650; 65 and over ¥1,100; preschool age 4 and over ¥350
12Aso Shrine阿蘇神社
Shinto shrine · Aso
The head shrine of about 500 Aso shrines across Japan. Repairs to its Romon gate after the 2016 earthquake took seven and a half years and were completed in December 2023.
- Access
- About 15 minutes on foot from JR Miyaji Station (Hohi Main Line); about an hour by car from Kumamoto IC.
- Hours
- Amulet office 9:00–17:00
13Kurokawa Onsen黒川温泉
Hot spring town · Minamioguni, north of Aso
Thirty ryokan surrounded by mountains, whose outdoor baths are opened to visitors through the Nyuto Tegata pass. The ¥1,500 pass carries two stickers for outdoor baths, chosen from 25, and one for food or souvenirs in town; it is valid for six months.
- Access
- Kyushu Odan Bus direct from Kumamoto Station, about 3 hours (per the Kurokawa ryokan association). By car via Route 57 or 212, or the Yamanami Highway.
- Hours
- Outdoor baths on the pass: 8:30–21:00 (may be limited for maintenance)
- Price
- Nyuto Tegata bath pass ¥1,500 (one per person)
14Kikuchi Gorge菊池渓谷
Gorge walk · Kikuchi
A gorge in Kikuchi City looked after by a local conservation council; its official site lists autumn leaves among the seasons to visit. Staff are on duty from 1 April to 30 November; outside that period you may still enter but no staff are present. It may close when heavy-rain warnings are issued.
Staffed season ends 30 November.
- Access
- By car: about 1 hour 30 minutes from JR Kumamoto Station, about 1 hour from Kumamoto Airport. The official site notes car navigation may show the wrong location.
- Hours
- 8:30–17:00 (1 April–30 November)
- Price
- ¥500 per person from high school age
15Tsujunkyo Bridge通潤橋
Aqueduct bridge · Yamato
A bridge in Yamato Town that releases water on set days in the town's discharge calendar. Walking on top of the bridge is suspended for the rest of 2026 (town notice of 12 August 2026).
Walking on the bridge suspended for the rest of 2026.
- Access
- From Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, platform 1, Kumamoto Bus M3-2 toward Tsujun Sanso to Tsujunkyo-mae, about 1 hour 29 minutes.
16Sakitsu Church and Sakitsu Village崎津教会・﨑津集落
Church and fishing village · Amakusa
A working parish church in Sakitsu, in Amakusa City. Visits need advance contact with the Kyushu Sanko Tourism travel centre, and visitors may not be allowed in during Mass.
Contact the travel centre before visiting.
- Access
- 539 Sakitsu, Kawaura-machi, Amakusa City. A free sightseeing car park is under 3 minutes on foot.
- Hours
- 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–17:00
Good to know
Start with Kumamoto Castle. Its main keep, damaged in the 2016 earthquake, was fully rebuilt by March 2021 and is open inside; entry is ¥800, or ¥850 with Wakuwakuza at Sakuranobaba Josaien. Until 1 November 2026 the castle stays open to 21:00 for the autumn festival (last entry 20:00); after that it is 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:00.
The city sights sit along one tram line at a flat ¥200 a ride: Kumamoto-ekimae to Kumamoto-jo/Shiyakusho-mae for the castle (about 20 minutes), Torichosuji for CAMK and Kumamon Square, and Suizenji-koen for the garden (about 34 minutes). A paper 1-day pass is ¥700.
Outside the city, the list moves on to Aso and Kurokawa Onsen. As of 9 October 2026 the Japan Meteorological Agency keeps the Nakadake crater at alert level 2, so the crater rim is off limits; the Aso Volcano Museum and Aso Shrine are open. Kurokawa is about 3 hours by direct bus from Kumamoto Station. Kikuchi Gorge (about 1 hour 30 minutes by car) and Sakitsu in Amakusa are car trips; Tsujunkyo Bridge is about 1 hour 29 minutes by bus from Sakuramachi.
Kumamoto city, Aso, Kurokawa, or further out
How you get there, what it costs to get in, and what to check first. Adult prices; children's prices are on each card above.
| Where | Getting there | Entry (adult) | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kumamoto city: castle, Josaien, museums, Suizenji, CAMK | City tram, ¥200 a ride; castle about 20 min and Suizenji about 34 min from Kumamoto-ekimae | Castle ¥800 · castle + Wakuwakuza ¥850 · Suizenji ¥500 · City Museum ¥400 · CAMK collection free | Castle last entry 16:00 (20:00 until 1 Nov 2026) · Suizenji 16:30 · CAMK closed Tuesdays |
| Reigando Cave | Tram to Karashimacho, bus U3-1 about 25 min, then about 15–20 min on foot | ¥200 | Open 8:00–17:00 |
| Aso: crater, Volcano Museum, Aso Shrine | Aso Shrine about 15 min on foot from JR Miyaji Station; museum by Sanko Bus (see the bus company) | Volcano Museum ¥1,300 · Aso Shrine free | Crater rim closed at alert level 2 (JMA, 9 Oct 2026); museum last entry 16:30 |
| Kurokawa Onsen | Kyushu Odan Bus direct from Kumamoto Station, about 3 hours | Nyuto Tegata ¥1,500 (two baths + one food/souvenir sticker) | Outdoor baths 8:30–21:00 |
| Kikuchi Gorge · Tsujunkyo Bridge | Kikuchi: about 1 h 30 min by car from Kumamoto Station · Tsujunkyo: bus M3-2 from Sakuramachi, about 1 h 29 min | Kikuchi ¥500 · Tsujunkyo bridge-top viewing suspended | Kikuchi staffed 1 Apr–30 Nov, 8:30–17:00 · Tsujunkyo discharge days on the town calendar |
| Amakusa: Sakitsu Church | Car; free car park under 3 min on foot | Not stated | Contact Kyushu Sanko Tourism before visiting; no entry during Mass |
By kind of trip
First trip, one day in the city
The castle, Josaien and the two museums are a walk or a shuttle ride apart; the three-facility ticket covers the castle, Wakuwakuza and the City Museum for ¥1,100. Suizenji is on the same tram line.
Kumamoto Castle · Sakuranobaba Josaien · Kumamoto City Tram · Suizenji Jojuen Garden
Rain or a late finish
CAMK is open until 20:00 and its collection is free. Kumamon Square is open until 19:00, and the two museums by the castle are indoors.
Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto (CAMK) · Kumamon Square · Kumamoto City Museum · Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art
With children
Elementary and junior high pay ¥300 at the castle and under 6 enter free. Kumamon appears on a monthly schedule at Kumamon Square. The City Museum has a planetarium.
Kumamoto Castle · Kumamon Square · Kumamoto City Museum · Aso Volcano Museum
A day in Aso
The crater rim is closed at alert level 2 (JMA, 9 October 2026). The Volcano Museum shows the crater on camera, and Aso Shrine is 15 minutes on foot from JR Miyaji Station.
Hot springs and countryside
Kurokawa's ¥1,500 pass covers two outdoor baths from 25. Kikuchi Gorge is staffed until 30 November; Tsujunkyo Bridge releases water on calendar days.
Questions
Is Kumamoto Castle open, and is the keep restored?
Yes. The official site says the main keep was fully rebuilt by March 2021 after the 2016 earthquake, and the keep is open inside, with three elevators for people who need them. Hours are 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00, keep 16:30); from 2 October to 1 November 2026 the castle is open until 21:00, last entry 20:00. It closes on 29 December.
Can I visit the Aso crater now?
Not the rim. The Japan Meteorological Agency's bulletin of 9 October 2026 keeps a crater-area warning (alert level 2) for the Nakadake first crater, with danger within about 1 km. The Aso Volcano Museum (9:00–17:00) shows the crater on its cameras. Check the JMA status before you go, as the level can change.
How does the Kurokawa Onsen bath pass work?
The Nyuto Tegata costs ¥1,500 per person. It carries two stickers for outdoor baths chosen from 25 at the ryokan and one for food or souvenirs in town, is valid for six months, and the baths take pass holders 8:30–21:00. Buy it at the ryokan association or any ryokan.
How do I get around Kumamoto city?
The city tram charges a flat ¥200 for adults and ¥100 for children, paid in cash, by IC card, touch payment or QR code. A paper 1-day pass is ¥700 and a mobile one ¥500. The Shiromeguri-n bus runs around the castle area every 20–30 minutes, 9:00–17:00, for ¥200.