Kumamoto
The lordly city of Kyushu
Kumamoto is located on the island of Kyushu, and is the capital of the prefecture of the same name. It is the largest city in Japan that is not part of the Japanese megalopolis (the area on the Pacific coast including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto or Kobe), and its agglomeration is among the 20 largest in Japan.
Kumamoto is connected to Tokyo by train (between 5 and 6 hours of travel) via Shinkansen, or from Fukuoka from Hakata station to Kumamoto station in 1 hour and a half by shuttle (Limited Express Ariake). It can also be reached by plane: from Haneda Airport in Tokyo, it takes 1 hour and 50 minutes to reach Kumamoto Airport, which is connected to Kumamoto Station by bus (54 min).
From the early 17th century to the end of the 19th century, Kumamoto was a central seigniorial town in the region, renowned for its gardens and waterways. The city has suffered some major earthquakes during its history, the most recent being those of 2016, which devastated Kumamoto Castle (built in 1607) and which is among the most beautiful castles in Japan along with those of Himeji and Matsumoto. The multiple repairs and reconstructions of the estate’s walls are to be spread over a period of 20 years, although some parts have been reopened to the public. In the dungeon, which has already been restored, you can see objects representative of the Shogun period.
Apart from Kumamoto Castle, the city has several tourist attractions. The Suizen-ji Joju-en garden is a must: created in 1632, it covers 64.6 hectares and includes a tea house and a reproduction of the landscapes of the old Tokaido road, including Mount Fuji and Lake Biwa.
On the museum side, there is the Shimada Art Museum (around Samurai culture); the Kumamoto Prefecture Fine Arts Museum located in the castle park, Ninomaru Park (exhibiting Japanese and Western works of art, from prints to decorated tombs); and the Kumamoto Prefecture Popular Arts Centre (exhibiting handicrafts typical of the region).
Kumamoto’s cuisine is renowned in the region for its ramen and Karashi renkon.
Kumamoto does not lack festivals either. The most popular are the Festival of Lanterns (August 15 and 16) and the Aso Fire Festival, which takes place throughout March, and whose most anticipated event is the Dai Himonjiyaki, during which a huge representation of kanji meaning “Fire” is burned.
General informations
In japanese : 熊本
Region : Kyushu
Prefecture : Kumamoto
Population : 738,400 inhabitants
Density : 1,890 inhab/km²
Link : Official Website