Go by tram! A model tour of Kumamoto city

10:00 Departure from Kumamoto Station

Kumamoto Station will have a new station square and a comprehensive commercial facility called "AMU PLAZA Kumamoto" open in the spring of 2021. You can prepare for your trip at the general information center inside Kumamoto Station, located in front of the Shinkansen ticket gates.

Buy a discounted 1-day tram pass

The "City Tram One-Day Pass" includes discounts at tourist facilities, and if you plan to use the city tram three or more times, it is more economical to purchase the ticket. In this model itinerary, discounts are applied to admission fees at Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza, and Suizenji Jojuen Garden. The "City Tram One-Day Pass" can be purchased at the Kumamoto Station General Information Center. There is also a mobile ticket that uses a smartphone app, so you can purchase a ticket on the app and then simply show the screen of your smartphone on the day to board the city tram. For more information on the "City Tram One-Day Pass," please click here .

When you leave the Shirakawa Exit (East Exit) of Kumamoto Station, you will see the tram, bus and taxi stops directly in front of you. The Kumamoto City Tram is a streetcar that began operation in 1924 and is familiar to local residents. It runs two lines, one from Kumamoto Station (Tasakibashi) to Kengun-cho, and one from Kami-Kumamoto Station to Kengun-cho.

10:30 Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza

Get off at Hanabatacho tram stop and walk for 5 minutes. Pass the statue of Kato Kiyomasa, who built Kumamoto Castle, and go up Gyokozaka to find the Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza. Wakuwakuza is a spot where you can learn more about Kumamoto Castle before exploring the castle.

Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza is an experiential museum where you can learn more about Kumamoto Castle, including the "Kumamoto Castle VR" where you can view Kumamoto Castle from various angles from the Edo period to before the earthquake in VR, and the restoration work being carried out using a fixed-point live camera. It is completely indoors, so you don't have to worry if the weather gets bad! It is a spot where you can learn more about sightseeing at Kumamoto Castle. If you are visiting both Kumamoto Castle and Wakuwakuza, it is more economical to use the [Kumamoto Castle/Wakuwakuza 2-venue common admission ticket].

[Data] Spot name Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza Telephone number 096-288-5600 Location 1-1-1 Ninomaru, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture Business hours 9:00-17:30 (Wakuwakuza admission until 17:00) Admission fee (adults) High school students and above 300 yen (children) Elementary and junior high school students 100 yen [Kumamoto Castle / Wakuwakuza 2-venue common admission ticket]

(Adults) High school students and above 850 yen (Children) Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen

Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza Official Homepage

11:00 Kumamoto Castle

Kumamoto Castle is just a short walk away from the Kumamoto Castle Museum. When you enter the south entrance of the castle, you can see the damage to the stone walls, which are currently being restored, from a special observation walkway 6 meters above ground.

The exhibition, which was renewed in conjunction with the complete restoration of the castle tower, is designed to bring visitors closer to modern history as they go up the floors, with the first floor covering the era of Kato Kiyomasa and the second floor covering the Hosokawa family. In addition, models and videos are used to provide easy-to-understand explanations of the construction of Kumamoto Castle, its destruction during the Seinan War, the damage caused by the Kumamoto earthquake, and its restoration. From the observation deck on the sixth floor, you can get a panoramic view of the city of Kumamoto.

If you download the official Kumamoto Castle app , you can enjoy audio and subtitles for the explanatory texts and videos of the permanent exhibits. In the observation area on the sixth floor, you can use the AR (augmented reality) function to overlay old photographs and compare them with the current state of Kumamoto.

[Data] Spot name Kumamoto Castle Telephone number 096-223-5011 Location 1-1 Honmaru, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture Business hours 9:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30) * Admission to the castle tower is until 16:30 Admission fee High school students and above 800 yen (640 yen) Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen (240 yen) Preschoolers free [Kumamoto Castle / Wakuwakuza 2-themed admission ticket]

(Adults) High school students and above 850 yen (Children) Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen

Kumamoto Castle Official Homepage

12:30 Johsaien Cherry Blossom Alley

At Johsaien Sakura-no-koji, you can find restaurants serving local cuisine such as horse sashimi and Akagyu beef, as well as souvenirs from all over Kumamoto Prefecture. You can also sample Amakusa sea urchin croquettes and B-grade gourmet salad chikuwa, so you can find a meal that suits your style.

Sakuranobaba Johsaien Official Homepage

Noodle shop Yamamura

Menya Yamamura, which just opened on October 1, 2022, serves Kumamoto ramen with a fragrant tonkotsu flavor, as well as Tai Ping Yen, the soul food of Kumamoto residents. Kumamoto ramen is characterized by its jet-black garlic oil, which is appetizing with its fragrant garlic. Kumamoto BLACK is a classic ramen that uses a secret black garlic oil that was developed in-house. It is said to have been made to be as close to the real Kumamoto ramen as possible for those who will be eating Kumamoto ramen for the first time. It is topped with meaty pork slices that stand up to the slightly spicy garlic oil, as well as wood ear mushrooms, seaweed, green onions, and salted eggs.

Tai Ping Yen is filled with plenty of vegetables, seafood such as shrimp and squid, and pork, and looks like champon, but the noodles are made with healthy glass noodles. It is customary to have it topped with a fried egg. The gorgeous tai ping yen topped with shrimp and clams will make you want to take a photo. It is lightly flavored with plenty of ingredients, and the white soup brings out the sweetness of the ingredients. The cooking method and seasoning of the char siu pork are made using the techniques of the manager, who has over 25 years of experience in Japanese cuisine. The horse tail ramen and Kumamoto shoyu ramen, which are limited to 20 bowls per day, are especially Japanese-style ramen.

Menya Yamamura Official Homepage

14:00 Suizenji Jojuen Garden

It's a 19-minute tram ride from Hanabatakecho Station. Get off at Suizenji Park Station and you'll find Suizenji Jojuen Garden, just a short walk away. Suizenji Jojuen Garden was founded when Lord Tadatoshi, the first lord of the Higo Hosokawa clan, who ruled Higo Province (Kumamoto Prefecture), fell in love with Suizenji Temple, where pure water springs forth, and had it constructed as a teahouse. It was during Lord Tsunatoshi's reign that the garden was developed into what it is today, and Izumi Shrine within the garden enshrines the successive generations of the Hosokawa family.

You can enjoy seasonal scenery such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, and seasonal events are held in the summer, such as the Takigi Ono Noh performance. There are many springs around Suizenji, and the pond in Suizenji Park is also water that springs from underground. The pond in the center of Kumamoto city, where Aso's underground water springs, is a symbolic place of Kumamoto, known as the Water City. The view of Jojuen from Kokin Denju no Ma, which was relocated from the Kyoto Imperial Palace in 1912, is said to be the most beautiful. There are shops where you can rent kimonos and yukatas on the approach shopping street in front of Suizenji Jojuen, so it's nice to stroll around in a Japanese kimono.

[Data] Spot name Suizenji Jojuen (Suizenji Park) Phone number 096-383-0074 Address 8-1 Suizenji Park, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City Opening hours 8:30-17:00 (entry until 16:30) Admission fee

Adults: 400 yen

Junior high and elementary school students: 200 yen

Suizenji Joshuen Garden Official Homepage

15:00 Kumamon Square

It takes 12 minutes by tram from Suizenji Park Station to Suidocho Station. We arrived at Kumamon Square, the base of operations for Kumamon, the sales manager and happiness manager of Kumamoto Prefecture. The highlight is the Kumamon stage. On days when Kumamon is present, there is a stage where he dances and a photo session where you can take pictures with him.

Kumamon's stage is held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and the first, third, and fifth Thursdays of every month. The capacity is limited to 80 people, so applications are accepted 1.5 to 2 hours before the stage. Click here for details. Be sure to complete the registration process as you move from Josaien to Suizenji Jojuen.

Even on days when there is no Kumamon stage, you can shop and eat at Kumamon Square. You can find many goods with Kumamon illustrations in souvenir shops, but goods with Kumamon photos can only be purchased at Kumamon Square. There are over 10 types of acrylic key chains, all of which are very cute! Clear files are also popular.

At the snack corner, you can enjoy drinks and soft serve ice cream made with ingredients from Kumamoto Prefecture. All of them feature a Kumamon motif. The Kumamon Square Parfait uses soft serve ice cream made with milk from Kumamoto Prefecture. It is filling and high quality at 500 yen (tax included). It is a parfait that we highly recommend if you visit. The Kumamon Sales Manager's Office is Kumamon's office, decorated with this month's schedule and awards. You can sit down and take a commemorative photo pretending to be the Kumamoto Prefecture Sales Manager.

Kumamon Square Official Homepage

16:30 Arrive at Kumamoto Station

It takes 23 minutes from Suidocho tram stop, the closest to Kumamon Square, to Kumamoto Ekimae tram stop. Take the red A line (bound for Kumamoto Ekimae/Tasakibashi). Stop by the Higo Yokamon Market in front of the ticket gates to do some final shopping for your trip to Kumamoto. There is also space to sit and relax. There are also restaurants and cafes, making it the perfect place to pass the time until your Shinkansen or train.

Higo Yokamon Market