Basashi (horse sashimi)馬刺し
Thinly sliced raw horse meat, eaten with sweet soy sauce, ginger and garlic.
Kyushu
Kumamoto Travel Guide
Local tips, regional food and places off the tourist trail
Central Kyushu, dominated by the vast Aso caldera. Kumamoto city has its great castle and Suizenji garden, while Kurokawa Onsen and the Amakusa islands offer rural hot springs and coastline.
Open Kumamoto on the map37 places on the map · 6 local favourites
Local tips
- TipAso, Kurokawa Onsen and Amakusa are spread far apart; a rental car is the easiest way to link them.
- Heads upAccess to Aso’s Nakadake crater is often restricted by volcanic gas or activity; check the status on the day.
- TipKumamoto Castle is still being restored after the 2016 earthquakes; elevated walkways let you see the repair work.
- DoAt Kurokawa Onsen, buy a wooden tegata pass to try outdoor baths at several different inns.
- Heads upMountain roads around Aso can ice over in winter; drive with winter tyres or stick to the train and buses.
What to eat
Kumamoto ramen熊本ラーメン
Pork-bone ramen flavoured with fried garlic chips and black garlic oil (mayu).
Karashi renkon辛子れんこん
Lotus root stuffed with mustard-miso, battered and fried, then sliced.
Local favourites
Places mostly visited by people who live here — quieter, and often the highlight of a trip.
Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Garden
熊本市動植物園 ExperiencesLocal family favourite by Lake Ezu with a zoo, amusement rides and gardens. Easily reached by tram.
● Mostly localsSengetsu Shuzo
繊月酒造 Local FoodExperiencesKuma shochu distillery in Hitoyoshi with free tours of its storehouse and tastings of the rice shochu this valley is known for.
● Mostly localsMisumi West Port
三角西港 Sights & HistoryMeiji-era stone harbour designed by a Dutch engineer, with old buildings along the quay. Part of a World Heritage listing but rarely busy.
● Mostly localsHonmyoji Temple
本妙寺 Temples & GoshuinchoHillside temple that holds the grave of Kato Kiyomasa, reached by a long stairway lined with stone lanterns.
● Mostly localsYamaga Sakurayu
さくら湯 Hot SpringsRebuilt Edo-style wooden public bathhouse in the centre of Yamaga, with silky alkaline water.
● Mostly localsYamaga Toro Folk Museum
山鹿灯籠民芸館 ExperiencesSights & HistoryMuseum of Yamaga's golden lanterns, intricate shrines and castles made from nothing but paper and glue. See the craftsmen's work up close.
● Mostly localsThe famous sights
The places most visitors come for. Worth it — just go early.
Kumamoto Castle
熊本城 Sights & HistoryOne of Japan's great castles, with sweeping curved stone walls. An elevated walkway lets you watch the ongoing earthquake repair work up close.
Kumamon Square
くまモンスクエア Mascot CharactersOfficial home base of Kumamon, the black bear mascot famous across Japan. Check the schedule and time your visit for one of his dance appearances.
Sakuranobaba Josaien
桜の馬場 城彩苑 Local FoodShoppingFood and souvenir village at the foot of Kumamoto Castle. Snack your way through ikinari dango, karashi renkon and horse-meat croquettes.
Suizenji Jojuen Garden
水前寺成趣園 Nature & SceneryStroll garden with a miniature Mount Fuji and a spring-fed pond so clear you see every carp. Have matcha at the old Kokin Denju teahouse.
Kurokawa Onsen
黒川温泉 Hot SpringsRustic hot-spring village in a wooded valley. Buy a wooden 'nyuto tegata' pass to hop between three outdoor baths of different inns.