On the One Piece trail
If you are a fan of One Piece; Japan’s best selling manga and animation series you need to go on a voyage to discover Kumamoto’s collection of One Piece statues scattered across the prefecture. Kumamoto Prefecture has 10 One Piece statues to see. Limited edition figures of each character are available to buy from near each statue’s location. Proceeds from the figures goes to help the ongoing recovery of the region after the Kumamoto earthquakes.
Even if you are not a manga fan you may well come across at least one of the statues as you explore Kumamoto prefecture. Tracking them all down is a lot of fun and a great way to see the area, taking you from the city to the mountains of Aso and then out to the coast of the Ariake sea. It also introduces you to some of places affected by the earthquakes.
Read on to find out about each One Piece statue, how to find them and why each One Piece statue is in its special location.
One Piece: The Kumamoto Connection
Eichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece was born and raised in Kumamoto. In 2016 Kumamoto was struck by two powerful and devastating earthquakes. Oda quickly decided he had to help with the area’s recovery and started the One Piece Kumamoto Revival Project. A variety of projects using the characters from One Piece took place. The Kumamoto Prefectural Government decided to show their appreciation for Oda’s efforts by producing a series of One Piece Statues. In 2018 Luffy was the first statue to be unveiled and in the summer of 2022 Jinbe ‘ the Knight of the seas’ was the final one to be completed.
Kumamoto's One Piece Statues
Luffy Statue
Monkey D Luffy is the leader of the Straw Hat Pirates. His special power is his rubbery body. He leads his crew in the earthquake restoration which is why he is placed right in front of the Prefectural Government Office.
Tip: Visit Luffy in mid to late November to see him surrounded by the golden leaves of the ginko trees.
How to get to the Luffy Statue
- Name: Monkey D Luffy
- Location: 〒862-0950 熊本県熊本市中央区水前寺６丁目１８−１
- Access: About 30 minutes from the city center by public transport. Take a bus to Kumamoto Prefectural Government Office. Or take a tram to Shiritsutaikukanmae, from there it's a 10 minute walk. The statue of Luffy is in front of the building in between a parade of ginko trees
- A limited edition Luffy figure can be purchased from inside the Prefectural Hall
- Nearby Sights: Suizenji Gardens, Ezuko Lake
Chopper Statue
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Tony Tony Chopper is the Straw Hat Pirates doctor. He’s a reindeer but after eating a devil fruit he became part human.
He is the smallest of the statues and you can find him in front of Kumamoto Zoo and botanical gardens. In the 2016 earthquakes the zoo was damaged and closed for over a year, many of the animals had to be relocated while repairs were made. Chopper is there to take care of them.
Tip: You can see some of the Zoo animals, if you take a walk by the lake. You can also walk all the way to Suizenji Gardens by following the lakeside path.
How to get to the Chopper Statue
- Name:Tony Tony Chopper or 'Cotton Candy Lover' Chopper
- Location: 〒862-0911 熊本県東区健軍５丁目１４−２
- Access: About 40 minutes from the city center by public transport. Take a bus to Kumamoto Zoo. Or take a tram to Doubutsueniriguchi, from there it's a 10 minute walk. The statue of Chopper is on the left near the entrance to the Zoo.
- A limited edition Chopper figure can be purchased from the Zoo ticket office.
- Nearby Sights: The zoo is on the shores of Upper Ezuko Lake, a lovely place for a walk or for kids to play.
Zoro Statue
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Roronoa Zoro is the Straw Hat Pirate’s chief fighter. Once a bounty hunter he is a gifted swordsman practicing the ‘3 sword style’.
Zoro is located in Ozu Central Park a short walk from the Higo Ozu Train station. The area is well known for Kendo and the martial arts hall was destroyed in the earthquakes. So Zoro’s fighting spirit is there to encourage the young people not to give up.
Tip: Zoro may be inspired by Musashi Miyamoto, said to be Japan’s greatest swordsman who is also connected to Kumamoto. He started a school of swordsmanship using a mere 2 swords. If you’d like to try wielding a katana yourself try why not try Explore Kumamoto’s Samurai sword experience
How to get to the Zoro statue
- Name: Roronoa Zoro or 'Pirate Hunter' Zoro
- Location: 〒869-1233 熊本県菊池郡大津町大津１１５６−３ 中央公園
- Access: From Kumamoto Station take the train to Higo Ozu station, from there it's a 10 minute walk. If you fly to Kumamoto airport there is a free shuttle bus to Higo Ozu station.
- A limited edition Zoro figure can be purchased from the Ozu Roadside station shop - about 30 minutes walk.
- Nearby Sights: From Higo Ozu you can take the train to Aso
Robin Statue
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Robin is the archaologist of the Straw Hat Pirates. She also has the power to reproduce her body parts – great if you need a hand…or even a leg.
Appropriately Robin can be found at the Earthquake Museum near the deep valley entrance to the Aso caldera. The site used to be Tokai University’s Aso Campus. The university buildings were so badly damaged in the 2016 earthquakes that students can no longer study there. Now the campus has become an open air museum which is free to visit.
Tip: Robin’s statue cannot be reached by public transport. But a visit to see Robin can be put in to a customised Around Aso tour or a One Piece tour. Contact us for details.
How to get to the Robin statue
- Name: Nico Robin
- Location: 〒869-1404 熊本県阿蘇郡南阿蘇村河陽５４３５番1
- Access: About 1 hour's drive from Kumamoto City
- A limited edition Robin figure can be purchased from the Earthquake Museum
- Nearby Sights:
Usopp Statue
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Usopp is the sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates.
He can be found standing proudly in front of Aso station, one finger raised to the sky. Behind him is Nakadake, one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. The mountains of Aso suffered a huge number of landslides in the earthquakes. Usopp is in Aso to harness the power of nature and help restore Aso’s grasslands to their former glory.
Tip: From Aso station you can rent a bicycle to explore or take a bus up to the top of Mount Aso to see the active volcano. If you’d like to get off the beaten track & see more of the Aso area take a look at Explore Kuammoto’s Around Aso Tour.
How to get to the Usopp statue
- Name: Usopp
- Location: 〒869-1233 熊本県菊池郡大津町大津１１５６−３ 中央公園
- Access: From Kumamoto Station take the train to Aso station. It takes about 70 to 90 minutes. Or take a bus to Aso from Sakuramachi bus station.
- A limited edition Usopp figure can be purchased from the Aso Roadside station shop next to Aso station.
- Nearby Sights: Aso shrine, Kusasenri, Daikanbo, Nakadake volcano etc,
Franky Statue
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Franky is the shipwright of the Straw Hat Pirate Crew. Part cyborg he is the tallest of the One Piece Statues.
Franky is located at Takamori station in Minami Aso where he is cheering on the reconstruction of the Minami Aso railroad. The train line was damaged in the 2016 earthquakes but the line is due to fully reopen in 2023. An 8km section of the line is open currently.
Tip: Takamori town can be reached by bus from Kumamoto City but the service is infrequent. A visit to see Franky can be part of An Around Aso tour. Inside the station you can see the letter from Oda and messages of support.
How to get to the Franky statue
- Name: 'Iron Man' Franky
- Location: 〒869-1233 熊本県菊池郡大津町大津１１５６−３ 中央公園
- Access: Take a bus from Kumamoto City's Sakuramachi bus station to Takamori, the journey takes approx 1 hr 45 mins.
- A limited edition Franky figure can be bought inside the train station
- Nearby Sights: Takamori Yusui Tunnel, Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine (6km away), Reizan Sake Distillery
Nami Statue
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Nami is the navigator of the Straw hat Pirates.
Nami is associated with windmills and so is her location in Nishihara Village. The Tawarayama wind turbines harness the wind flowing from the Aso caldera. However, these were damaged in the earthquakes of 2016.
Tip: Visit Moe No Sato in summer to see a field of sunflowers and October to see the cosmos flowers in bloom.
How to get to the Nami statue
- Name: 'Cat Burglar' Nami
- Location: 〒861-2402 熊本県阿蘇郡西原村小森２１１５−３
- Access: Take the bus from Sakuramachi bus terminal towards Takamori, get off at Moe no Sato - Tawarama Trailhead. From there it's an 8 minute walk. It takes around 70 minutes in total.
- A limited edition Nami figure can be purchased from the Moe no Sato Roadside station shop
- Nearby Sights: Moe no Sato Road station has seasonal flower fields
Sanji Statue
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Sanji is the Straw Hat Pirate’s cook.
His statue is located in Mashiki Sports Park in front of the running track. Mashiki was the worst hit area in the earthquakes. The sports hall became an emergency shelter for months. The school lunch center was also destroyed which is why Sanji is here providing the children of Mashiki with hot nutritious meals.
Tip: Sanji is behind the sports hall buildings next to the children’s play area. The figure can be bought from the office in the main building.
How to get to the Sanji statue
- Name: Vinsmoke Sanji
- Location: 236 Kiyama, Mashiki, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto 861-2242
- Access:Take the bus from Sakuramachi bus terminal to Kiyama Kamimachi - approx 45 mins. From there it is a 15 minute walk to Mashikimachi Sports park.
- A limited edition Sanji figure is available from the Sports hall office in the entrance to the large building.
- Nearby Sights: Ukishima Shrine - the floating shrine (about 8km away)
Brooke Statue
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Brook is the Straw Hat Pirate’s musician and swordsman.
He is a skeleton so is right at home in the Mifune Dinosaur Park. The Heisei College of Music was damaged in the earthquakes so Brook is there to play music with the college students and entertain the locals.
Tip: Mifune also has a small but interesting dinosaur museum to visit. Getting to Mifune is a little difficult by public transport. Contact us if you would like to see one or all the One Piece Statues in a customised tour.
How to get to the Brook statue
- Name: 'Soul King' Brook
- Location: 〒861-3206 熊本県上益城郡御船町辺田見42-3
- Access: Take the bus from Sakuramachi Bus terminal to Mifunemachi Kyoryu Hakubutsukan (the name of the Mifune Dinosaur museum) Approx 50 minutes then walk about 6 minutes to the Dinosaur park.
- A limited edition Brook figure can be purchased from the small shop in the park
- Nearby Sights: Dinosaur Museum, Higo Indigo Workshop
Jinbe Statue
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Jinbe is a whale shark fish man and the helmsman of the Straw Hat Pirates. He likes a drink which is why he’s holding an empty sake cup.
He is located by the sea in Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park in Uto. Uto Town Hall almost collapsed in the earthquakes. Jinbe is in Uto close to the sea he comes from and navigating the people of Uto towards their recovery.
Tip: Sumiyoshi Kaigan park is a great Sunset spot, it is also where you can see the Nagabeta Seaside road. A road going into the sea for the seaweed farmers to use which is only seen at low tide. It’s become a very popular photo spot, especially if you get your timing right.
How to get to the Jinbe statue
- Name: 'Knight of the Sea' Jinbe
- Location: 3162–1 Sumiyoshimachi, Uto, Kumamoto 869-0401
- Access: From Kumamoto Station take the train to Nagabeta (approx 40 minutes) then walk 5 minutes to Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park
- A limited edition Jinbe figure can be purchased from the Uto Marina Roadside station shop - about 8km away
- Nearby Sights: Nagabeta Undersea Road , Mikorai Beach Observatory
Pressed for time? Take a One Piece Statue Tour
Getting to all the One Piece Statues by public transport is possible but may take a few days. By car it is possible to see them all in a day. If you are pressed for time would like to visit some or all of the statues, Explore Kumamoto can provide you with a customised One Piece Statue day trip. It’s also possible to include other sightseeing spots with visits to some of the statues. For example Zoro, Robin, Usopp, Franky and Nami can be included in a customised Around Aso tour itinerary. Contact us with your request.
