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JAPAN

Kumamoto

Volcanoes, springs, open skies.

Popular keywords#Nature & scenic views#Architecture#Local sightseeing & town walks#Culture & history#Outdoor & land art#Luck in victory#Workshops & kilns#Crafts & pottery#Food, markets & local products
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Aso

Onda Matsuri

A procession in white robes goes round the fields. An agricultural rite said to have run for two thousand years.

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STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Yamato

Heitate Jingu

Almost at the centre of Kyushu, high above sea level. The great cedar in its grounds is said, by tradition, to be 15,000 years old.

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Siwamura · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Introduced by city, ward, town and village within the prefecture.

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KumamotoShrines & Temples, Art & Crafts · 21 entriesAmakusaShrines & Temples, Nature & Scenery · 10 entriesYamagaArchitecture, Museums · 10 entriesAsoNature & Scenery, Shrines & Temples · 9 entriesHitoyoshiShrines & Temples, Architecture · 9 entriesYatsushiroShrines & Temples, Architecture · 6 entries
FEATUREKumamoto now (autumn)Brilliant foliage spreads across Aso and the mountain valleys of Gokanosho.See the feature Siwamura · CC BY-SA 4.0
Watch Dolphins in AmakusaHead out by boat to look for wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.Onsen-Hop in KurokawaUse a wooden bath pass to sample open-air baths surrounded by nature.Adventure on the Kuma RiverExperience the mountain river on a traditional boat ride or rafting trip.

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JAPAN GUIDE

Things worth knowing about Japan

No worries even on a first trip to Japan. Useful things to know, explained clearly.

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Q. What do people get wrong about IC cards (Suica, PASMO) in Japan?

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Q. What do people get wrong about coin lockers and luggage forwarding in Japan?

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Q. What do people get wrong about Golden Week, Obon and New Year travel?

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REGIONAL SPECIALTIES

Meet the Japan you don't know yet.

It is not only the big cities. The regions are full of charm, and special experiences you can only have in each place are waiting.

Chiyonosono ShuzoKumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts CenterKikuchi Valley

Value Village

Japan's value, to the world.

Regional culture, tradition, food, sightseeing, nature and people. A directory that delivers the appeal of each to the whole world.

About Value Village
Value VillageLocal Value, Global Reach.
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INSTAGRAM / 6

Official and local Instagram photos

Local governments, tourism accounts and local posts are shown with official embeds. Photos are not stored on Value Village; they link to the original posts.

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THINGS TO DO / 6

Things to do in this prefecture

Choose from what you can only do here.

01Experience Mount AsoTake in vast grasslands and volcanic terrain from lookouts and walking trails.See related entries →ltsc1980 · CC BY-SA 2.002Explore Kumamoto CastleExplore the celebrated castle and learn about its ongoing restoration.See related entries →CC BY-SA 3.003Onsen-Hop in KurokawaUse a wooden bath pass to sample open-air baths surrounded by nature.See related entries →Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.004Watch Dolphins in AmakusaHead out by boat to look for wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.See related entries →Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.005Stroll Suizenji GardenWalk around the spring-fed pond of this elegant strolling garden.See related entries →Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.006Adventure on the Kuma RiverExperience the mountain river on a traditional boat ride or rafting trip.See related entries →MK Products · CC BY-SA 3.0

NEED TO KNOW

At a glance

  • AirportAso Kumamoto Airport
  • ShinkansenKumamoto Station and Shin-Yatsushiro Station
  • From TokyoAbout 1 hour 50 minutes by air
  • Best seasonApril–May and October–November
  • Local specialtiesBasashi horse sashimi · Kumamoto ramen · Mustard lotus root
  • Typical temperatureSummer: around 28°C / Winter: around 6°C

See all 302 entries in this prefecture →

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

What each season brings

LOCAL FOOD / 12

Local food

What people have long eaten in this place. We collect the dishes themselves, not restaurants.

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Karashi Renkon (Lotus Root with Japanese Mustard)

The holes of a lotus root are stuffed with barley miso mixed with mustard powder, then the root is coated in a yellow batter of wheat flour and turmeric and deep-fried. It is cut into rounds to eat.

Area：Around Kumamoto

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Basashi (Horse Sashimi)

Raw horse meat is sliced thin and served with condiments such as thinly sliced onion, grated ginger, grated garlic and chopped green onion, and eaten with sweet soy sauce.

Area：Kumamoto, Aso area

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Dagojiru

Wheat flour is kneaded with water and left to rest, then stretched thin by hand and torn into dumplings, which are simmered with taro, burdock and carrot in dashi made from dried sardines and dried shiitake mushrooms, and the soup is finished with barley miso and soy sauce.

Area：Throughout the prefecture

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Taipien (Glass Noodle Soup)

A noodle soup built around glass noodles, combined with pork, squid, shrimp, fish cake, Chinese cabbage, carrot and wood ear mushrooms. It is distinguished by the deep-fried boiled egg placed on top.

Area：Central part of the prefecture

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Hitomoji no Guruguru (Green onion with Vinegar miso)

The white root end of quickly boiled scallions is used as a core and the leaves are wound around it, then a vinegared miso of white miso, sugar and vinegar is poured over.

Area：Throughout the prefecture

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Tsubon-jiru Soup

Chicken, dried shiitake mushrooms, taro, chikuwa fish cake, konjac, carrot and grilled tofu are cut into small pieces, simmered in dashi made from dried sardines and finished with soy sauce, giving a soup full of ingredients.

Area：Hitoyoshi-Kuma area

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Nankan agemakizushi

Nankan-age, large sheets of fried tofu deep-fried twice to drive off the moisture, are simmered sweet and savory and spread out, then rolled around vinegared rice with thick rolled omelet, dried gourd strips and shiitake mushrooms.

Area：Nankan

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Aso Takana-zuke

Aso takana mustard greens, snapped off by hand in spring, are pickled with salt and red chili pepper. They are also chopped, stir-fried in oil and mixed into rice to make takana rice.

Area：Aso

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Yakiayu no kanroni

Sweetfish caught in rivers such as the Kuma River are grilled first, then simmered down with soy sauce, coarse sugar and mirin until even the bones are soft. Each fish is served whole.

Area：Hitoyoshi-Kuma area, Yatsushiro area

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Tofu misozuke

A preserved food made by pressing tofu with a weight to draw out the moisture and bedding it for about six months in miso mixed with sugar. It is sliced thin to eat.

Area：Yatsushiro and Kuma areas

Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

MICHI-NO-EKI / 38

Michi-no-Eki roadside stations

RestInformationLocal links

Rest facilities registered by Japan's national government. Each has parking and toilets open 24 hours, and by definition includes a facility that sells local products. This is where the making and the food of this prefecture can actually be bought.

There are 38 stations in this prefecture in all (national registry).

Source: MLIT register of Michi-no-Eki

LOCAL ACCOUNTS / 2

People posting this area

Japanese-language accounts that post about this area.

These are third-party accounts. They are not affiliated with Value Village and this is not an endorsement.

CITIES & TOWNS / 21

Find by city or town

Sorted by number of entries. Start from the name of a town.

Kumamoto 21Amakusa 10Yamaga 10Aso 9Hitoyoshi 9Yatsushiro 6Kikuchi 4Takamori 3Uki 3Yamato 2Minamiaso 2Reihoku 2Kamiamakusa 2Arao 2Kosa 1Minamioguni 1Oguni 1Minamata 1
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INTERESTS / 14

Find by interest

Only the interests found in this prefecture.

Aso Jinja · Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.0

Shrines & Temples29 entries

Aso Jinja ／ Aoi Aso Jinja

To the list Hifuri Shinji · STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Nature & Scenery42 entries

Hifuri Shinji ／ Onda Matsuri

To the list Kurokawa Onsen · tjabeljan · CC BY 2.0

Hot Springs1 entries

Kurokawa Onsen

To the list Sakitsu · Tensanda · CC BY-SA 3.0

Historic Districts20 entries

Sakitsu ／ Hitoyoshi

To the list

Castles & History2 entries

Hitoyoshi-jo ／ Nabeta Yokoana

To the list Kumamoto-jo · CC BY-SA 3.0

Architecture20 entries

Kumamoto-jo ／ Suizenji Jojuen

To the list Museum of Decorated Tumuli · STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Museums7 entries

Museum of Decorated Tumuli ／ Chibusan Tomb

To the list Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art · Drivephotographer · CC0

Art & Crafts33 entries

Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art ／ Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto

To the list Grasslands of Aso · Sonata / Sonata · CC BY-SA 3.0

Contemporary Art8 entries

Grasslands of Aso ／ Kikuchi Gorge

To the list Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute Kikuchi Laboratory · hyolee2 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Craft Experiences57 entries

Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute Kikuchi Laboratory ／ Konyusha Head Office Plant

To the list Ryumon Dam · 河川一等兵 · Public domain

Culture & History17 entries

Ryumon Dam ／ Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine

To the list Yatsushiro Myokensai · Jerry fish tkc · CC BY-SA 3.0

Festivals2 entries

Yatsushiro Myokensai ／ Yamaga Toro

To the list Chiyonosono Shuzo · STA3816 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Food & Markets28 entries

Chiyonosono Shuzo ／ Kameman Shuzo

To the list Dolphin Watching · Totti · CC BY-SA 4.0

Experiences8 entries

Dolphin Watching ／ Aso Kusasenri Riding Club

To the list

HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of this prefecture

From entries with clearly licensed photos.

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Shrines & Temples
Aso

Aso Jinja

The 2016 Kumamoto earthquake brought down its gate and worship hall. Every fallen piece was numbered, collected, and where usable returned to its original position; the gate was restored in 2023. Not rebuilt, but put back with the same timber. The idea of repairing rather than replacing, which this series keeps meeting, is happening here in the present tense.

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SMILE NEWS / 136

Smile news from Japan and the world

Stories that lift your spirits a little, collected with their sources.

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Kumamoto

Kumamoto zoo and garden to hold cosmos festival with 150,000 blooms

Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens will hold a Halloween and cosmos festival on October 24 and 25. About 150,000 cosmos in its large flowerbed will be at their best, along with a market, a Halloween parade and special talks by keepers.

source: Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Patagonia National Park, Chile

Women rangers return Darwin's rheas to the wild in Chile

In Chile's Patagonia National Park, a women-led ranger team returned 13 Darwin's rheas to the wild in April 2026. Working with the Rewilding Chile Foundation, they care for the birds around the clock; surveys once estimated only about 11 to 15 remained.

source: Mongabay

INSTAGRAM

Explore on Instagram

Hashtags often used for this area. Each opens the tag page on Instagram.

#熊本県Kumamoto Prefecture

SEASONS & EVENTS

Seasons & events

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BEFORE YOU GO

Before you go

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Q1Q. What do people get wrong about IC cards (Suica, PASMO) in Japan?Q2Q. What do people get wrong about coin lockers and luggage forwarding in Japan?Q3Q. What do people get wrong about Golden Week, Obon and New Year travel?

TRAVEL

Transport & stays

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Photos of Kumamoto

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KumamotoEnlarge ↗
KumamotoVickerman625 · Public domain · Original image and source ↗Display size adjusted. The enlarged view shows the whole photo.
KumamotoEnlarge ↗
KumamotoMK Products · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image and source ↗Display size adjusted. The enlarged view shows the whole photo.

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Vickerman625 · Public domain ↗