Resort Glamping.com
Nationwide (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Koshin, Kansai, Tokai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa)
Resort Glamping.com
Nationwide (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Koshin, Kansai, Tokai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa)
June 16, 2026
Kumamoto, located in the heart of Kyushu, Japan, is an important stop for Hong Kong travelers planning independent trips within the region. From Kumamoto Castle in the city center to the volcanic grasslands of the Aso area and the Kurokawa Onsen hot springs in the northern mountains, each tourist spot in Kumamoto Prefecture offers its own unique charm. This article summarizes the latest Kumamoto tourist itinerary for 2026.
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Travel destinations in Kumamoto Prefecture primarily focus on history, nature, and hot springs. Major tourist spots include Suizenji Jojuen Garden, Mount Aso, Kurokawa Onsen, Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine, as well as Aso Kumamoto Airport and the Kumamoto City Tram System.
These spots are distributed across three areas: the city center, the Aso Plateau, and the northern hot spring area. Travelers can freely combine them according to the length of their stay, and a 3-day, 2-night trip is enough time to fully explore the city center and the Aso area, which are representative spots of Kumamoto. Before planning your Kumamoto sightseeing itinerary, it's a good idea to first understand the overall geographical distribution.
| Kumamoto area | Kumamoto's representative spot | Travel time from Kumamoto Station |
|---|---|---|
| Kumamoto city center | Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Jojuen Garden, Kamitori and Shimotori | 10-20 minutes by streetcar |
| Aso Volcano Area | Kusasenrigahama, Nakadake Crater, Daikanbo | Approx. 1.5 hour |
| Aso Northern Hot Spring Area | Kurokawa Onsen, Tsuetate Onsen | about 2-2.5 hours |
Kumamoto Castle is the most iconic tourist attraction in Kumamoto. Built in 1607 by Kato Kiyomasa, the first lord of the Kumamoto domain, the castle is considered one of Japan's three most famous castles, along with Nagoya Castle and Osaka Castle.
The castle tower, turrets, and stone walls suffered extensive damage in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, but after many years of restoration work, the large and small castle towers were restored in 2021. The museum's exhibits were also digitized and renovated in 2026, upgrading from static exhibits to interactive experiences of Kumamoto Castle.
https://castle.kumamoto-guide.jp/
This is a multi-purpose tourist complex with a castle town atmosphere located at the foot of Kumamoto Castle, featuring restaurants and souvenir shops. It's perfect for a meal before or after visiting Kumamoto Castle.
There are over 20 restaurants, including branches of famous, long-established establishments. There are also many food shops where you can buy Kumamoto's classic delicacies.
Kumamoto's three most famous local delicacies are horse sashimi, karashi renkon (mustard-filled lotus root), and dango (rice dumplings). Furthermore, Kumamoto offers seasonal delights unique to the region. In winter, you can enjoy yuzu ginger tea, and in summer, night markets become popular tourist attractions.
https://www.sakuranobaba-johsaien.jp/
This garden, with a history spanning over 300 years, features a hill-style garden with a pond fed by groundwater from Mount Aso. Within the grounds, you'll also find a miniature Mount Fuji and the Izumi Shrine.
It was built in 1632 by Hosokawa Tadatoshi, the first lord of the Kumamoto domain. He constructed a temple called Suizenji and a tea house here.
At the eastern end of the garden is a straight path covered with gravel. Since Izumi Shrine was built in 1878, a competition of shooting whistling arrows from horseback has been held along this path, and it remains part of the spring and autumn festivals of Kumamoto Shrine.
At the southern end of the garden are four cherry trees, and the Noh theater, illuminated by torches leading to the stage, is also a sight to behold.
https://www.suizenji.or.jp/
This is a hidden gem of a tourist spot on the Uto coast in Kumamoto. A row of utility poles stretches out into the sea, and at high tide, the road is submerged, creating a landscape that looks like something out of another world.
The most distinctive feature is that the scenery changes depending on the tide. At low tide, the road emerges from the sea, appearing as if it leads into the middle of the ocean. Conversely, at high tide, the road surface is submerged in seawater, with only the utility poles standing above the surface, creating a truly unique and almost mystical Kumamoto landscape.
There's also a statue of Jinbe from One Piece nearby.
https://kumamoto.guide/spots/detail/12475
Aso boasts the most magnificent natural scenery among Kumamoto's tourist attractions. Mount Aso has a massive caldera landscape on a global scale, and there are tourist spots such as Kusasenri, a grassy area, Shirakawa Spring, the Nakadake crater (an active volcano), and Daikanbo, which offers panoramic views.
Kusasenri, located at an altitude of approximately 1,100 meters, is often home to grazing horses, offering picturesque, postcard-perfect scenery that is representative of Aso.
However, if you plan to visit Aso in 2026, you should pay particular attention to the status of the crater's opening. Due to the effects of a sightseeing helicopter accident, visits to the Nakadake First Crater and the crater shuttle bus will remain restricted as of mid-2026, and it will not be possible to view the crater from close range.
About an hour's drive from Aso, you'll arrive at Kurokawa Onsen, a very popular hot spring resort in Kumamoto. This Kumamoto hot spring town retains a strong mountain atmosphere, with no high-rise buildings or neon signs, and its charm lies in its collection of old-fashioned, unified wooden buildings.
The most popular way to enjoy Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto is to purchase a pass that allows access to multiple hot springs. With this pass, you can visit the open-air baths of several inns and enjoy the different types of spring water and scenery.
Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine is a mystical tourist spot located in Takamori Town, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture. This Kumamoto shrine is nestled in the forest at the foot of Mount Aso, with nearly 100 stone lanterns lining both sides of the approach to the shrine.
The combination of stone steps, moss, cedar trees, and sunlight creates a scene that feels as if you've stepped into the entrance to another world.
Furthermore, this spot is very popular with tourists on social media because it is said to be very similar to a scene from the TV anime "Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light".
https://asotakamori-kanko.com/sightseeing/上色見熊野座神社/
If you are departing from Hong Kong or Taiwan, you can access Kumamoto Airport via direct flights or through Fukuoka or Osaka. After arriving at Kumamoto Airport, there are three main ways to get to the city center: airport limousine bus, airport shuttle bus + JR Hohi Line, and chartered car.
| Kumamoto Route | Kumamoto Applicable Spot Area | Estimated travel time to Kumamoto |
|---|---|---|
| Airport limousine bus | Airport to Kumamoto city center | Approx.50 minutes |
| Airport shuttle + JR Hohi Line | From the airport, via Higo-Ozu to Kumamoto Station. | JR section: approximately 40 minutes |
| Chartered car / Rental car (self-driving) | Aso, Kusasenri, Kurokawa Onsen | It depends on the route. Mountainous areas are the first choice. |
Kumamoto Yoshimuta is a private resort garden in Kumamoto, where every building is equipped with a sauna and a bonfire.
There are a total of five guest rooms, and the private area, including the private garden, can reach up to 70 square meters.
In terms of dining, you can enjoy salads and BBQ made with vegetables from Kumamoto Prefecture. Furthermore, all guest rooms are equipped with an authentic Finnish-style sauna, where you can relax your mind and body while enjoying the scenery of nature.
A: The large and small keeps of Kumamoto Castle were restored in 2021 and are open to the public. The digitization and renewal of the exhibits inside the castle will also be completed in 2026. Currently, it is open to the public in a special format, and visitors can tour it along a designated tourist route, but the Uto Turret is still under restoration and is scheduled to be completed in fiscal year 2032.
A: As of mid-2026, the Nakadake First Crater remains restricted due to the effects of a sightseeing helicopter accident, and crater tours and shuttle buses are suspended. Kusasenrigahama, Daikanbo, and hiking trails are open as usual. Please check the latest information from the official Aso Volcano website before departure.
A: Yes, you can go. There are local buses and Kyushu Trans-Island buses that connect to Aso, and there are also express buses to Kurokawa Onsen. However, the number of buses is limited, so you need to allow plenty of time for transfers. For travelers who want more flexibility, it is recommended to consider chartering a car.
If you're visiting Kumamoto for the first time, we recommend starting with a tour of Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Jojuen Garden, Kumamon Square, and the shopping streets to fully enjoy the culture and cuisine of Kumamoto City. A visit to Kurokawa Onsen will allow you to enjoy the charming atmosphere of a hot spring town nestled in the mountains of Kyushu. For travelers from Hong Kong and Taiwan, Kumamoto is an extremely attractive destination not only as a day trip from Fukuoka, but also as a place to explore thoroughly over 3-4 days. With its diverse attractions including nature, hot springs, history, and gourmet food, you're sure to enjoy a fulfilling trip to Kumamoto.
He is an editor at Resort Glamping.com, a glamping-focused media outlet visited by approximately 100 million people a month. He has written over 150 articles introducing glamping facilities and experience reports, and is involved in a wide range of glamping facility services, from planning and development to operation and customer acquisition consulting.
