Kumamoto, a natural city with "fire" and "water".
Kumamoto is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan with unique charm of natural attractions and historic values. The well-known active volcano Mount Aso creates various stunning natural landscapes, including the crater, grassland, and hot springs. Kumamoto Castle, one of the three greatest castles in Japan, is a traditional place to enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and ginkgoes in autumn.
Exploring Kumamoto
Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the center of Kyushu, Japan. It has rich historical and cultural heritages, as well as spectacular natural landscapes. The spectacular Kumamoto Castle, one of the three greatest castles in Japan, was reconstructed 500 years ago by military commander Kato Kiyomasa and has been a must-visit attraction for travelers. More than hundreds of cherry blossoms and ginkgoes have been planted outside the Castle. When the flower season comes, the view of the blooming pink petals adorned with pure white Kumamoto Castle attracts tens of thousands of people. Suizenji Jojuen Garden is another attraction that you cannot miss out. This Japanese Garden is a National Designated Cultural Property famous for its 53 stations of Tokaido and Momoyama-style garden. The mini Mount Fuji and clear springs from Mount Aso are the centers of the Garden. With elegant garden landscapes of pine, plum and cherry blossoms, it allows people to indulge in the green tranquility even in the hustling urban downtown.
Moving from the urban area to the outskirts of the city, travelers can witness the magnificent, world-renowned active volcano Mount Aso. Mt. Aso is composed of five peaks, the Takadake, Nakadake, Nekodake, Eboshidake and Kineshimadake. Among them, Nakadake is still active today to create special landscapes. Within the authorized zone, travelers can not only observe the volcanic activities at a short distance by bus, but also overlook the sky by helicopter. The white smoke is continuously emitted from the large crater, the Sulphur smell spreads in the air, and the crater lake is in aeneous color. The sight is the ground almost without plants and only black stones covered with volcanic ashes. Not far from Nakadake Crater lies Kusa Senrigahama Grassland, which is completely different view. On the endless grassland, the grass is green and the lake water shines like a mirror, and there are cattle and horses grazing leisurely on the grass. The vast, quiet, beautiful view forms a strong contrast against the active Nakadake crater.
Benefit from active volcanic activities, Kumamoto has an abundance of natural hot springs, and the most renowned one is Kurokawa Onsen. This main street of hot springs with historical styles is nestled in a valley surrounded by mist-covered hills, and all the inns make flexible use of natural landscapes to create unique open-air baths. There are up to 6 kinds of spring water qualities of Kurokawa Onsen, offering different properties such as eliminating fatigue, whitening and moisturizing, and improving cold hands and feet. In order to allow the tourists to indulge in the pleasants of bathing, Kurokawa Onsen also releases discounts for "Nyuto Tegata" (a ticket for entering different springs). By purchasing a bath ticket, travelers can use it at three different open-air baths, and enjoy the dishes with local characteristics at one of the inns as well.
Kumamoto is also the best location to start traveling around Kyushu. Located in the center of Kyushu, Kumamoto has a well-developed transportation network. It takes only 35 minutes to Fukuoka Hakata Station by Shinkansen, and one hour to Kagoshima Chuo Station. Travelers can also take the featured tourist train Aso Boy to the primary tourist attractions around such as Oita's Beppu hot springs. Accompanied by the virtual conductor KURO, travelers can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way while heading to the town of hot springs.
The best travel season
Located in Kyushu, Kumamoto is at a lower latitude with warm and pleasant climate. In the Summer, Kumamoto is hot and wet, and is easily affected by typhoons. The amount of rainfall is less in winter, and it is colder inland on the north-middle side.
Kumamoto's cherry blossoms season each year is approximately from late March to early April. In Summer, travelers can take a ferry to Amakusa Islands to have close contact with the dolphins and see the beautiful sunset. In Autumn, the Kumamoto Castle and street around is full of blooming gold ginkgoes, living up to the romantic name of "Gingko Castle". In Winter, travelers can visit Kurokawa Onsen, which is well known throughout the country, and enjoy various spring water qualities and properties in the well-designed open-air baths to fully relax and rest. Overall, every season is good to travel to Kumamoto, and the itinerary can be arranged according to the landscape preference.
City transportation
In addition to the JR Kyushu trains, streetcars (city trams) are the main public transport in the urban area of Kumamoto. The routes are simple and the shifts are frequent. It is easy to arrive at the primary locations in the urban district such as Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Jojuen Garden, and JR Kumamoto Station. No matter which station to get on and get off, the price of the ride is the same, and you can also select City Tram 1 Day Pass for unlimited rides.
Search for STARLUX flights to plan a trip to Kumamoto, and enjoy a safe and high-quality flight experience worth to be treasured in your heart!
FAQ
Are there any current entry restrictions in Kumamoto?
During the pandemic, the entry restrictions of various countries have been adjusted on a rolling basis. Kindly remind you that please be sure to check the entry restrictions of your destination and prepare relevant documents before your departure. For details, please refer to the latest travel restrictions.
When can I fly to Kumamoto with a lower fare?
You can plan your trip by taking the reference of the lowest fares found by travelers within the latest 48 hours. Log in as a COSMILE member at the time of ticket purchase to earn mileage upon completing your flight.
How many flights are there to Kumamoto every week?
STARLUX Airlines offers flights to and from Kumamoto. You can check the detailed flight dates and information via timetable.
How far is the Kumamoto Airport from downtown?
When passengers arrive at Kumamoto Airport (KMJ), they can take the Airport Liner to the closest JR Higo Ozu Station with a 15-minute ride, or take a 1-hour highway bus to JR Kumamoto Station in the city or the well-known attraction Aso Station. Since Kumamoto is located in the center of Kyushu, it is also easy to take the Shinkansen from JR Kumamoto Station to other cities in Kyushu. It takes around 35 minutes to arrive at the urban downtown of Fukuoka, and the southbound train takes less than one hour to arrive at the urban downtown of Kagoshima. The locations of multiple car rental companies were set up inside the airport, and a self-drive tour around Kyushu has become one of the popular choices recently.
How far is the Kumamoto Airport from downtown?
Kumamoto Airport (KMJ) is located about 18 kilometers of Kumamoto. Kindly remind you to plan your transportation to the city before departure.
How to get from the airport to downtown?
When passengers arrive at Kumamoto Airport (KMJ), they can take the Airport Liner to the closest JR Higo Ozu Station with a 15-minute ride, or take a 1-hour highway bus to JR Kumamoto Station in the city or the well-known attraction Aso Station. Since Kumamoto is located in the center of Kyushu, it is also easy to take the Shinkansen from JR Kumamoto Station to other cities in Kyushu. It takes around 35 minutes to arrive at the urban downtown of Fukuoka, and the southbound train takes less than one hour to arrive at the urban downtown of Kagoshima. The locations of multiple car rental companies were set up inside the airport, and a self-drive tour around Kyushu has become one of the popular choices recently.
