12 Things to Do in Kumamoto + 3- and 4-Day Itineraries
Kumamoto's core is the castle area and downtown arcades, reachable by tram. Add Suizenji and Lake Ezuko, the Kinpozan area to the west, and a day in Aso. Some facilities are affected by the July 2026 earthquake, so check status before you go.
Itineraries
3 days
Day 1 · Kumamoto Castle
Day 2 · Suizenji and Ezuko
Suizenji Jojuen GardenLake EzukoKumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Day 3 · Downtown
4 days
Day 1 · Kumamoto Castle
Day 2 · Suizenji and Ezuko
Suizenji Jojuen GardenLake EzukoKumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Day 3 · Aso
Day 4 · Kinpozan and downtown
Reigando CaveToge no Chaya ParkKumamon SquareKamitori and Shimotori arcades
Things to do 12
Kumamoto Castle
Castle completed by Kato Kiyomasa in 1607. Visitors can see repair work after the 2016 earthquake from an elevated walkway, and enter the keep.
- Hours
- Sep–Jun 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00, keep until 16:30); Jul–Aug 9:00–19:00; closed Dec 29
- Fee
- High school and older ¥800, elementary/junior high ¥300, preschool free
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Getting there
- Tram to Kumamotojo/Shiyakusho-mae (about 17 min from Kumamoto Station); free shuttle from Sakuranobaba Josaien to the south gate
Sakuranobaba Josaien
Tourist complex at the castle entrance with 23 food and souvenir shops (Sakura-no-Koji) and the main tourist information center. The Wakuwakuza museum inside is temporarily closed after the 2026 earthquake, with reopening planned for December.
- Hours
- Souvenirs 9:00–18:00, restaurants 11:00–18:00; information center 9:00–17:30
- Time needed
- about 1 hour
- Getting there
- About 7 min walk from Kumamotojo/Shiyakusho-mae tram stop
Kato Shrine
Shrine in the castle's Honmaru area dedicated to Kato Kiyomasa. The grounds face the castle keep and Uto Turret.
- Hours
- 8:00–17:00
- Time needed
- about 20 minutes
Kumamon Square
Base of Kumamon, the Kumamoto Prefecture mascot. Stage appearances run on most days; there is also a shop and café.
- Hours
- 10:00–19:00 (check the stage calendar for appearance times)
- Time needed
- about 40 minutes
- Getting there
- Suidocho tram stop (about 17 min from JR Kumamoto Station)
Kamitori and Shimotori arcades
Covered shopping arcades that form central Kumamoto near the castle, with shops and local restaurants.
- Fee
- Free to walk
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
Suizenji Jojuen Garden
Stroll garden begun by Hosokawa Tadatoshi in the early Edo period, with a spring-fed pond and a mound modeled on Mt. Fuji. Izumi Shrine stands inside.
- Hours
- 8:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30); open daily
- Fee
- Adult ¥500, child ¥200
- Time needed
- about 1 hour
- Getting there
- About 4 min walk from Suizenji-koen tram stop; about 10 min from JR Shin-Suizenji Station
Lake Ezuko
Spring-fed lake of about 50 ha in the city, with walking paths and the Suizenji Ezuko Park.
- Time needed
- about 1 hour
Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Zoo and botanical garden on Lake Ezuko with about 120 animal species and about 800 plant species.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed Mondays (next weekday if holiday), Dec 30–Jan 1
- Fee
- Adult/high school ¥500, elementary/junior high ¥100, preschool free
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
Reigando Cave
Cave behind Unganzenji Temple where Miyamoto Musashi is said to have written The Book of Five Rings. Stone statues of the 500 Rakan line the path.
- Hours
- 8:00–17:00
- Time needed
- about 1 hour
Toge no Chaya Park
Pass said to be the model for the teahouse in Natsume Soseki's novel Kusamakura, with a small museum and a dago-jiru soup restaurant.
- Hours
- Museum 9:00–17:00; closed Tuesdays (next day if holiday), Dec 29–Jan 3
- Time needed
- about 40 minutes
Aso Shrine
Head shrine of about 500 Aso shrines across Japan, with a recorded history of about 2,300 years.
- Hours
- Worship (parking) 6:00–18:00; amulet office 9:00–17:00
- Time needed
- about 40 minutes
- Getting there
- 15 min walk from JR Miyaji Station (Hohi Line); about 1 hour by car from Kumamoto IC
Mt. Aso Nakadake Crater
Active crater of Mt. Aso. Access depends on volcanic alert levels; as of Sep 2026 the area within about 1 km of the crater is off-limits (Level 2).
- Hours
- Park road: Mar 20–Oct 31 8:30–18:00, Nov 8:30–17:30, Dec–Mar 19 9:00–17:00; closed at night; subject to restrictions
- Fee
- Crater viewing free; Aso-san Park Road toll ¥1,000 per car (road currently closed)
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Getting there
- About 80 min by car from Kumamoto IC
Good to know
- Kumamoto Castle tickets can be bought online in advance. The Nino-maru ticket office sells tickets until 16:00.
- After the July 28, 2026 earthquake, the Wakuwakuza museum is closed (reopening planned for December) and Josaien parking is partly available.
- Mt. Aso crater access changes with the volcanic alert level; as of Sep 2026 the crater area and park road are closed.
- From Kumamoto Station, the tram reaches Kumamotojo/Shiyakusho-mae in about 17 minutes.
FAQ
How much is Kumamoto Castle admission?
High school students and older pay ¥800, elementary and junior high students ¥300. Preschool children are free.
Can I see the Mt. Aso crater now?
As of September 2026, the volcanic alert is Level 2 and the area within about 1 km of the crater is off-limits. Check the official restriction page on the day.
How do I get to Suizenji Jojuen?
Take the tram to Suizenji-koen stop and walk about 4 minutes. It is open daily 8:30–17:00.