If it’s your first time visiting Kumamoto, you won’t want to miss out on this one-day model course that takes you through the must-visit sights of the city. From the reconstruction of the majestic Kumamoto Castle to savoring the local ramen and ending your day with a visit to Kumamon, there’s something for everyone.

In the spring of 2021, Kumamoto Station unveiled its newly renovated station-front square and the the Amu Plaza Kumamoto shopping center. Start your journey at the tourism desk located across from the Shinkansen ticket gates inside Kumamoto Station to prepare for the day ahead.

The One-Day Tram Pass not only offers discounts on various tourist facilities but is also a cost-effective choice if you plan to ride the tram more than three times. The pass will give you discounts at places like Kumamoto Castle, Wakuwakuza Kumamoto Castle Museum, and Suizenji Jojuen Garden.

You can buy the One-Day Tram Pass at the Kumamoto Station tourism desk. Mobile tickets are also available for purchase through a smartphone app, which allows you to ride the streetcar just by flashing your phone's screen.

Leaving the Shirakawa (East) exit of Kumamoto Station, you'll find the tram, bus, and taxi stands. The Kumamoto City Tram, which started running in 1924, is a familiar sight to the locals. It runs on two lines connecting Kumamoto Station (Tasakibashi) with Kengunmachi and Kamikumamoto Station.

Disembark at Hanabatacho and after a 5-minute walk past the statue of Kato Kiyomasa, the builder of Kumamoto Castle, and up Miyukizaka Hill, you'll find Wakuwakuza Kumamoto Castle Museum. 

Here, you can delve into the history of Kumamoto Caslte with the Kumamoto Castle VR exhibit that recreates the castle as it stood centuries ago up until the earthquakes. Live cameras also offer glimpses of the ongoing castle restorations. Rain or shine, this indoor museum is a perfect spot to deepen your knowledge of Kumamoto Castle. For those interested in visiting both the castle and the museum, the Two Hall Joint Admission ticket is a great deal.

Just a stone’s throw away from the museum is Kumamoto Castle itself. Entering through the southern gate, visitors can get a bird's eye view of the restoration from the 6-meter-high Special Observation Pathway.

The exhibitions inside the castle keeps were completely renewed along with the exterior repairs done to the keeps. Visitors ascend through time: the first floor is dedicated to the era of Kato Kiyomasa, the second floor to the ruling Hosokawa family, and continuing towards the present day as you climb. Through models and videos, the exhibits explain the castle's construction, its destruction during the Satsuma Rebellion, the damage from the Kumamoto earthquakes, and the restoration work. Finally, the observatory on the sixth-floor offers panoramic views of Kumamoto City. 

Be sure to download the official app as exhibits are only available in Japanese. The Kumamoto Castle Official App features multilingual translations of the displays and videos present throughout the keeps.

Sakuranokoji in Josaien features a selection shops and restaurants offering local delicacies like horse meat sashimi and akaushi beef, and souvenirs from all over Kumamoto Prefecture. Don’t miss the chance to try Amakusa sea urchin croquettes and salad chikuwa, a local perennial favorite junk food. Whether you're looking for a sit-down meal or street food, there’s something to satisfy.

Opened in 2022, Menya Yamamura serves up fragrant Kumamoto Ramen, characterized by its black, slightly spicy mayu garlic oil. The ramen is topped with meaty chashu, kikurage mushrooms, nori, green onions, and a stewed egg.

Yamamura also specializes in taipien, the local soul food. Taipien is a glass noodle dish brimming with vegetables, seafood, pork, and is traditionally topped with a fried egg. The light, yet flavorful white soup highlights the flavors of the ingredients.

A 19-minute tram ride from Hanabatacho to the Suizenji Park tram stop brings you to Suizenji Jojuen Garden. Charmed by the clear spring waters of Suizenji, this scenic spot was the site of a teahouse built by Hosokawa Tadatoshi, the first lord of the Higo Hosokawa family that ruled Kumamoto. It was during his successor Tsunatoshi's time that it was expanded into an elaborate garden. Izumi Shrine, located within the garden, is dedicated to the past generations of the Hosokawa family.

Suizenji allows visitors to enjoy the beauty of the seasons, from cherry blossoms to autumn leaves, with events like the summer Takigi Noh performances adding to the seasonal charm. The area is rich in springs, with the pond in Suizenji fed completely by underground springs.
The view of the garden from the Kokindenju no Ma, a hut transplanted from the Kyoto Imperial Palace in 1912, is the most beautiful. For an immersive experience, consider exploring the area in traditional Japanese attire from a kimono and yukata rental shop along the approach to Suizenji Jojuen Garden.

A 12-minute tram ride from Suizenji Park to Suidocho, and you're at Kumamon Square, the promotional hub of Kumamon himself,  Kumamoto's Sales and Happiness Manager. The highlight here is undoubtedly Kumamon's stage show—be sure to check the official website for the schedule.

Even when there's no stage event, visitors can shop and get something to eat within Kumamon Square.
Almost all Kumamoto souvenir shops sell Kumamon merchandise, but Kumamon Square is the only place where you can buy merchandise with featuring photos of Kumamon.

The snack corner offers drinks and soft serve ice cream made with local Kumamoto ingredients.

From Suidocho, the tram stop nearest Kumamon Square, it's a 23-minute ride to the Kumamoto Station tram stop on the red A line heading to Tasakibashi. Your journey concludes at the Higo Yokamon Market, located just opposite the station ticket gates—a perfect place for your final shopping in Kumamoto. With plenty of seating and a variety of restaurants and cafes, it's the ideal spot to relax before catching a Shinkansen or local train.