Kumamoto Prefecture Tours & Attractions

This is a unique chance to experience life in rural Japan through a local's eyes. Access areas and meet people that would be impossible without the presence of the guide. Enjoy unique interaction while delving into true Japanese forestry culture. Be mesmerized by the beautiful and unique landscape, born through a long history of living in symbiosis with the mountains and planting cedar trees. All while having your own private guide who is knowledgable and can explain the history of not only the area but the Japanese forestry. But more than anything, this tour aims to be about interaction with locals. As a guide, I wish the meeting between visitors and locals to feel like me introducing friends to each other. The area around Mt. Aso is one of Japan's best-hidden treasures and this is your shortcut to experiencing it. True Japanese culture, food, hospitality, and much much more. Take a chance, step off the beaten track, and come join us for an amazing time in Aso!

【OUTLINE】 Sword making experience taught by a master swordsmith in Kumamoto 【HIGHLIGHTS】 ・Learn how to make katana (Japanese swords) from Genroku Matsunaga, one of the only three Swordsmiths in Kumamoto, who will explain and show the complicated process behind crafting traditional Japanese swords ・Speak directly with Matsunaga and learn about all the secrets and skills that go into making katana ・If you'd like, you will also get the chance to step into the shoes of the ancient Japanese samurai and try out these beautiful swords for yourself!

After a special visit to the historic Aso Shrine, which has a history of more than 2000 years, we recommend visiting the quaint town of Monzenmachi, where many stores are lined up, and visiting the water fountains and eating Aso sweets. Finally, we will visit the top of Mount Aso, where you can feel the breath of the earth. After making a special visit to the main shrine of Aso Shrine at the foot of the mountain, you will feel very grateful when you go to the top of Aso and look at the crater, which is the sacred body of the mountain.

Aso's knowledgeable guides will take you on an easy-to-understand and enjoyable tour of the Aso Caldera from its birth to the present, from the perspectives of volcanoes, geology, history, culture, and beliefs. By walking down the stone-folded path that descends the northern outer rim of the mountain and entering the caldera on your own, you can really feel the size of the caldera, one of the largest in the world. You can also enjoy spots related to the history, culture, and beliefs of Aso, where people have lived in the caldera for over 2,000 years. On the way, we will have a tea time with yogurt and sweets grown in the grasslands of Aso.

The tour starts from Aso Station, about 500 meters above sea level. If you've never used an electric bicycle before, don't worry, we'll practice how to operate it in the safety of our premises. Once you see the five mountains of Aso towering in the distance, it's time to start cycling. It takes about an hour to reach Hinoo-Toge (984m above sea level), enjoying the grassland scenery of the Aso Caldera. On the way, you may encounter animals such as cows and deer grazing on the grass. After crossing the pass, it is downhill to Takamori Station, the goal of the tour, stopping at old-fashioned farming villages and the national park visitor center along the way. Tea time with yogurt and sweets grown in the grasslands of Aso will be served.

We took a leisurely stroll through the village of Teno, which has a nostalgic, original Japanese landscape. After visiting Kokuzo Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Kumamoto Prefecture and known as a power spot, you will be amazed at the size of the natural monument, the "Great Cedar of Teno. Then we will have a delicious lunch with a farmer. You never knew vegetables could taste so good! The farmers' food and smiles are truly a healing experience.

While enjoying the idyllic countryside, you can enjoy a refreshing water source. There are two cycling courses, “Aso Panorama Line South Course” for intermediate players who want to challenge the elevation and scenery. We also introduce photo spots and dining spots.

Gokuraku Zenji is one of the seven temples that protect the Aso Shrine, and has a history of over 450 years. You will spend a luxurious time to purify your mind and body with zazen meditation, where you empty your mind and just sit and look at yourself, and with healthy vegetarian food made with seasonal ingredients and care for the people who eat it. Although this is a famous temple with a long history, the monk will guide you very carefully, so even those who are not good at sitting on the floor or who have never experienced Zen meditation before can participate with ease. In addition, the vegetarian food, made with plenty of local ingredients, is a gem in appearance, taste, and volume. If sitting on the floor is not for you, you can also sit on a chair.

[Exploring Active Volcano’s Caldera by eBike] Guided cycling tour to fully enjoy Aso’s rich nature and talking with local people [Highlights] - Climbing up a hill where you can look down the field at a glance and listening to the story about the volcano - Cycle around the rural landscapes and have an authentic lunch cooked with local vegetables. The secret of the deliciousness is pure water - Try baking rice cakes like balloons - Moving to a temple through back alley. Have Japanese tea in the tea room, strike a bell and feel Japanese culture. - Strolling around a shrine and shopping street and learning the locals’ lives with volcanoes. [Note] - Please come with casual clothes and shoes. Pants, sneakers and backpacks are recommended. Not wide pants or sandals. - Zazen experience and Sutra copying experience are available upon requests. (please ask) - Please let us know all travellers' intended addresses (hotel's name and address) and also if travellers have any food allergies and other religious dietary restrictions in advance.

Fishing by Utase sailing ship is tradition of Ashikita, Kumamoto, Japan. Ashikita is located in southern part of Kumamoto, Kyushu. It started around 400 years ago at the Setouchi sea and was introduced to Ashikita around 1870. It is really beautiful when the ship opens the white sails on the sea. Ashiaka-ebi prawn and Ishi-ebi prawn are caught by the ship and they are famous from Ashikita, Kumamoto. You will listen to the story told by fisherman/woman and enjoy a special lunch box full of fisherman's dishes on the ship.

【OUTLINE】 Visit Kumamoto Castle, the most popular tourist spot in town, and its surroundings which cannot be easily accessible without a local English-speaking guide. Not only that, but you will also have the chance to create a unique accessory using a traditional metal inlaying technique utilized in samurai swords! 【HIGHLIGHTS】 ・Learn about the history and features of Kumamoto Castle. ・Experience the decoration techniques that have been used since that time for the "artistic" characteristic of Kumamoto samurai. ・Enjoy using the local craft technique for samurai swords, called "inlay", to create your very own accessory. ・Visit the backstreets and enjoy the rich history that remains around Kumamoto Castle with a local guide.

This is a three-day program to learn about the origins of the Aso Caldera and feel the awe of nature of the people living in the caldera. You will be able to fully enjoy the natural attractions of the Aso Caldera, which is recognized as Aso-Kujyu National Park and a Global UNESCO Geopark. We will also introduce you to the unique volcanic beliefs nurtured in Aso, the skills of the artisans, the lifestyle of the farmers, and other attractions of Aso that only a few people know about.

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Kumamoto! Kumamoto, located on Kyushu island in southern Japan, strikes a perfect balance between a bustling city fringed by tranquil countryside. The center of the city features its greatest landmark, Kumamoto-jo castle, but a tempting collection of restaurants, bars and shops can also be found nearby. Let us know what you would like to experience, and your guide will arrange a six-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

In the field of Aso, one of the world's largest calderas and a national park, you will participate in a variety of activities for three days to refresh your mind and body. Travel by car is kept to a minimum. We will use low-environmental-impact E-MTBs, horses, and your own feet to give you a solid feel for the nature and lifestyle of the Aso caldera. You can also enjoy wellness time with activities such as yoga and zazen. In addition, you will cleanse your body from the inside out by taking a bath in the free-flowing hot springs and eating healthy meals, mainly made with fresh vegetables.

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Kumamoto! Kumamoto, located on Kyushu island in southern Japan, strikes a perfect balance between a bustling city fringed by tranquil countryside. The center of the city features its greatest landmark, Kumamoto-jo castle, but a tempting collection of restaurants, bars and shops can also be found nearby. Let us know what you would like to experience, and your guide will arrange a four-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

One of the symbols of Kumamoto is the large shopping arcade that runs from north to south through the city. This arcade is at its liveliest at nighttime when it overflows with crowds of people enjoying drinks. The countless drinking establishments lining the alleys create an alluring atmosphere, and the already friendly locals become more cheerful than ever. If you really want to enjoy Kumamoto, you absolutely must experience its rich nightlife. Fully enjoy the nightlife of Kumamoto, Japan's most welcoming city.

Kumamoto is a treasure trove fostered by nature’s blessings such as clean underground water, the Aso mountains, and the Amakusa Sea. Look forward to tasting exceptionally fresh sushi made with seafood caught from Ariake Sea and Amakusa-Nada Sea. Enjoy Izakaya experience at the popular Izakaya, a Japanese-style pub. After some recommended food and drink are served, the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter will explain how people usually spend time at an izakaya the Japanese way. Customers will be guided to a hidden bar. Customers will be given a gourmet map that shows information on Kumamoto City’s restaurants, souvenir shops, and accommodation facilities.

- You will enjoy dinner made with local food like famous prawns, Ashiaka-ebi prawns and Ishi-ebi prawns - The dishes are made by chef who owns a popular local restaurant in Ashikita, Kumamoto - It will be a special opportunity to have dinner at Sekishokan, it usually doesn't provide food

Take a tour around a little castle town that retains the history and tradition of samurai from several hundred years ago. At Suizenji Park, look forward to sipping some matcha green tea in a traditional cultural building with a front view of the beautiful stroll-style garden. Take advantage of this time when scenes from behind the stone walls and astonishing restoration methods on Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan’s most famous castles, can be seen.

【OUTLINE】 Spend a day experiencing Kumamoto's samurai culture. Learn about the culture of the art-loving Hosokawa family and the spirit of Musashi Miyamoto, Japan's most powerful samurai. 【HIGHLIGHTS】 ・Experience Kumamoto's unique samurai culture that was originally developed to save people. ・Kumamoto Castle, the centerpiece of Kumamoto's samurai culture, will be explained from a cultural perspective. ・At Suizenji Seifuen, learn about the traditional teaching know as "art stopped war," a line of thinking that has been passed on into modern times. ・Learn about Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's most powerful samurai, and his spiritual commitment to "surviving as a samurai"

【OUTLINE】 Spend an entire day exploring the arts of Kumamoto's samurai culture, which has continued to grow and develop through the present day. 【HIGHLIGHTS】 ・Make the crest of the Hosokawa Clan using a traditional method called Higo Zogan metal inlay. ・Meet one of Kumamoto's three remaining swordsmiths, learn about the trade, and even try swinging the smith's hammer yourself. ・Visit Reigan Cave, where Miyamoto Musashi spent his final years. ・Visit the Shimada Museum of Arts, where you'll find numerous works by Miyamoto Musashi.

While Ueki supports Japan's food supply with modern agricultural operations, the region is also home to many small rustic and old-fashioned villages where time seems to have stopped, making it the perfect area to experience Japan's good old countryside. Visit homes and fields maintained by local farmers, harvest seasonal fruits and vegetables, and enjoy the producing region's unique way of preparing and eating ingredients and dishes. Become one of the locals for a day and enjoy their way of life in Ueki, Kumamoto's top agricultural area.

【OUTLINE】 Using the ancient technique Higo Zogan, engrave the art-loving feudal lord Hosokawa's family crest into a sword's handguard. 【HIGHLIGHTS】 ・Try your hand at the classical art of Higo Zogan, a style of metal inlaying used to decorate the swords and scabbards of the Kumamoto samurai. ・Hear the rich history of Higo Zogan and the painstaking detail that goes into each piece from Yuji Osumi, a master of the craft. ・Learn how to engrave the ancient Hosokawa family's kuyou signature crest into a tsuba, the handguard of a katana.

【OUTLINE】 This is an authentic naginata lesson from the 16th head of the Higo Ko-ryu, Kumamoto's original style of naginata martial arts. 【HIGHLIGHTS】 ・Learn the Higo Ko-ryu style of naginata from the instructor who inherited the school. ・Discover the "samurai spirit" from the core of ancient martial arts. ・Learn the authentic philosophy and movements behind a unique, modest martial art.

OUTLINE Visit Reigando cave, where the strongest samurai Miyamoto Musashi spent his final years. Stroll around the cave with priests, then enjoy a soothing meditation experience in this symbolic cave. Afterward, you will get to look at and even touch the sword Miyamoto's apprentice used back in ancient Japan. HIGHLIGHTS ・Reigando Cave is where Miyamoto Musashi, one of Japan's most legendary swordsmen, spent the final years of his life. ・The head priest of a nearby temple will guide you to Reigando and lead you in a meditation session within the mystical cave. ・See up-close a real 300-year-old samurai sword used by a pupil of Musashi not available for viewing by the general public.

This private and customizable tour for Kumamoto is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace.

This private and customizable tour for Kumamoto is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace.

Jump straight into the life of the people living in the countryside surrounding Mt. Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan. At a small bicycle shop located 900 m above sea level, we will gear up for our adventures. We head out into the wide symbolic grass fields of Aso, a legacy of the areas deep culture. Through the tour, we will experience how the landscapes changes from fields to forests and small mountain villages. The bicycle lets us freely explore this amazing landscape. We will make one 3 hour stop during the trip to visit a local farmer. Only for this tour, they allow us to follow them into their fields where we harvest vegetables and learn about their organic farming. Together we make classic Japanese home cooking that utilizes locally produced food and ingredients of the season. Join us for a tour that allows for free exploration and interacting with locals and their culture. Be prepared for a day of new experiences in a part of Japan you have never seen before!

This is a plan to enjoy a relaxing dinner at a Japanese restaurant near Kumamoto Castle while watching a dance performance by 'Hanawarabe.' Guests can enjoy dinner in a convenient location just a 5-minute walk from Kumamoto Castle. Enjoy the local cuisine that is said to have been eaten by the lords of the Edo period (1603-1868) at a Japanese restaurant with an over 70-year history. Watch 'Hanawarabe,' dance performance by children in Kumamoto.

Get dolled up, try on a gorgeous kimono, and stroll around the popular and beautiful Suizenji Park! Founded in 1692, this traditional garden is renowned for its beautiful selection of miniature Japanese landmarks scattered throughout the park. HIGHLIGHTS: Enjoy kimono rental in front of the beautiful Japanese garden Suizenji Jojuen. Get dressed up by a qualified, professional kimono dresser. Stroll around the garden as well as Kumamoto Castle in kimono as this is the whole day rental! The plan is a great value since this covers not only kimono rental and dressing, but even the Suizenji Park admission ticket, in-store photoshoot, socks, traditional purse, and a Kumamon (the city’s loved mascot) fan.

● Enjoy the "Aka Beef BBQ" exquisite by Aka beef farmers ● Let's enjoy the blessings of nature raised in Aso in the open, magnificent view of Aso. ・You can enjoy the Aka beef barbecue, which is a special product of Aso, at the superb view spot of Aso, which is normally off-limits. ・A red beef farmer who manages this ranch and breeds red beef selects and cooks the meat. (*Cooking, if the schedule fits) ・The proceeds of the product will be used for activities such as field burning to protect the grasslands of Aso. ・You can also enjoy gorgeous aerial walks of Aso seen from the drone operated by the farmer wearing goggles.

Undergo the invaluable experience of learning the traditional Japanese drum from a performer of Noh, an intangible cultural treasure. You will learn how to play the traditional Japanese drum from a respected Noh performer. Enjoy not only learning how to play the drum but also learning about its origins and history. Also play the instrument with a song sung by the Noh performer at the end of the lesson!

This private tour starts off with you and your English-speaking guide heading to the highest point of the north caldera wall. Here we enjoy the jaw-dropping sight of the five peaks of Mt. Aso and the huge volcanic caldera. After getting a feel for the landscape of Aso we head to one of the small communities that exist in the vicinity of this huge volcano. Here we will explore the true Japanese countryside and meet some of the locals who live here. With their help, we will learn about life and culture in rural Japan, harvest vegetables, cook food, and enjoy a lunch together made from locally sourced ingredients! A true hands-on Japanese farm-to-table experience! This is a half-day tour that gives you the best of two worlds! The amazing scenery of Japan's largest active volcano, but also interaction with local culture! Come and enjoy some of the most beautiful landscapes and heartwarming hospitality that Japan has to offer!

For a more efficient way to explore Aso of Kumamoto, take a private taxi on a one-day tour! Your tour driver will customize your three-hours tour according to your interests. Drive into the heart of Kumamoto's "Land of Fire" the volcanic caldera of Aso provides visitors with a fulfilling sense of peace and serenity. Embark on scenic drives, gorgeous hikes, and bathe in volcanic hot springs, all while surrounded by untouched natural beauty. Let us know what you would like to experience, what time you would like to start your tour, and where you are staying. Your driver will customize a tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.

The world-famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi is the strongest in Japan, and he is said to have never been defeated. He spent his later years in Kumamoto and wrote the “Book of Five Rings” in a cave called Reigan-do in Kumamoto City. He created his own swordsmanship style known as Niten Ichiryu. More about Miyamoto Musashi: (1) He was a samurai that pursued the arts. He thought that improving artistic ability was important for polishing swordsmanship, and created various works of art. He channeled his creativity through ink paintings and tsuba (metal fittings attached to the sword) and some of them are stored at the Shimada Museum of Art in Kumamoto City. (2) He mastered his swordsmanship to protect the house and the lord. As the times shifted from the Sengoku period (1467 – 1615), the era of war, to the Edo period (1603 – 1868), when peace was sought, he tried not only to win but to protect. This kind of swordsmanship and spirituality are inherited as Iaido.