Places
Kumamoto and central Kyushu have so many interesting sightseeing places to visit whether you are looking for nature, culture, history or just fun...
Kumamoto Prefecture districts
Kumamoto Prefecture in central Kyushu is ringed by mountains and covers a range of landscapes from fertile farmland to balmy coast to Japan’s largest grassland area in Aso. Offering stunning views it’s home to Japan’s biggest volcano and is one of the world’s most impressive volcanic calderas. The south of the prefecture particularly Hitoyoshi and Kuma region is mountainous and so remote it is famed as a historic hideaway.
Explore the activities and sightseeing places you can find in the following areas around Kumamoto Prefecture.
…click on the place names to start exploring…
Arao
Home to Mitsui Greenland, Kumamoto's only theme park. A famed samurai swordsmith and Shoudai Yaki pottery...
Yamaga
Ancient burial tombs, a beautifully restored kabuki theatre, amazing paper crafts and a stunning lantern festival...
Kikuchi
Forest bathing at Kikuchi Gorge, sakura viewing, beautifying hotsprings, an ancient castle and a dragon festival...
Oguni
Hotspring heaven: home to the villages of Kurokawa Onsen, Tsuetate Onsen, Waita Onsen and some great waterfalls...
Aso
The world's biggest inhabited volcanic caldera, beautiful grasslands and an active volcano that you can look inside...
Kumamoto City
friendly, lively city dominated by Kumamoto Castle, some great restaurants, a beautiful Japanese garden and spring fed lakes...
Uto
The gateway to Amakusa and the best sunset viewing spots, seaweed farms and an underwater road...
Misato
a pastoral landscape famous for its stone bridges, the longest staircase in Japan and some great walking courses...
Yamato
a farming community with Kyushu's only traditional puppet theater, a unique aqueduct, and amazing Hassaku festival creations...
Amakusa
island chain known for dolphin watching, amazing seafood, porcelain pottery, hidden Christianity and dinosaur remains...
Beyond Kumamoto prefecture
Take a look at this section to see places outside Kumamoto Prefecture that you can visit in a day trip from Kumamoto City
Takachiho
in Miyazaki prefecture, is home to Japan's most beautiful gorge and many of its most ancient Shinto myths...
Kuju
in Oita prefecture boasts the highest mountains on the mainland of Kyushu and beautiful alpine scenery ...
Yanagawa
in Fukuoka is famed as the little Venice of Kyushu with a network of canals running through the center of the town...