This tour will guide you to the most popular sightseeing spots in Kumamoto city center.
You can also enjoy the popular local restaurant, craftsman shop, sake brewery and etc.
This one day tour contain historical and modern site of Kumamoto city.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your Hotel in Kumamoto city
At your Hotel in Kumamoto city
Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle is known for being one of the three great castles in Japan. Also known as Ginkgo Castle, the castle was built by Kato Kiyomasa in 1607. The castle's grounds cover about 980,000m2, with the outer circumference being about 9 kilometers (at the time of construction). The castle is made up of curving stone walls, a castle keep consisting of 3 towers, 49 turrets, 18 turret gates, and 29 castle gates.
The main keep was destroyed in a fire during a civil war in 1877. The current keep was rebuilt by Kumamoto City in 1960.
The castle grounds are home to 800 cherry blossom trees of 3 different species.
Kumamoto Castle was severely damaged by the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes. Access is currently restricted due to restoration work but, you can view the main keep and turrets from Ninomaru Park, Kato Shrine and the surround areas.
Lunch Break
I will bring you to the local restaurant as following your request.
Suizenji Jojuen Garden
Built in 1632 by Lord Hosokawa, Suizenji Jojuen is a traditional Japanese garden. Notable features within the garden grounds include a traditional Japanese teahouse, where visitors can enjoy a cup of tea, a natural pond, and a miniature recreation of the Tokaido road, a well-traveled route in the Edo Period connecting Tokyo and Kyoto. You'll even see a small recreation of Mount Fuji. Other facilities worth mentioning include a shrine and lakes containing colorful koi fish.
Shimada Museum
This museum standing in the midst of a bamboo forest serenity exhibits nearly 1,000 antique works of art on Samurai-class cultures from medieval to modern period in Japan. These are a personal collection made by historian and researcher Mr. Matomi Shimada and are consisted of calligraphic works, weapons, armors, furnishings, articles in connection with Miyamoto Musashi, and many more. The annex has a picture gallery in it and is used for private exhibitions as well.
Shimotori Arcade
The Shimotori arcade is the largest shopping arcade in Kumamoto Prefecture. With excellent shopping, lots of places to have fun, and plenty of gourmet options, Shimotori is where people from all over Kumamoto come to let loose. With a combined length of 511 meters and a width of 15 meters, Shimotori is also often used as a location for music and art events throughout the year. Compared to the Kamitori arcade, Shimotori has many more bars and restaurants and has a much livelier night-life.
At your Hotel in Kumamoto city
Ending Point
At your Hotel in Kumamoto city
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee, hotel pick-up in Kumamoto city center
transportation fee (you and guide), entrance fee (you and guide), lunch (you and guide)
Travel insurance is not included in my tours. I would recommend you take out your own travel insurance just in case of any unexpected accident, loss, or damaging others' property.
In this tour we walk and use public transportation.
Kumamoto is historical and traditional countryside city where is not so much internationalized and still you can find the original Japanese scenery.
You can travel as local with me.
Thank you for reading my profile.
I am Mai living in Kumamoto, Kyusyu. I grew up in Kumamoto and studied and worked in overseas, such as China, America, South America and Europe for the F&B and food business. Also I used to work as Kurabito (Japanese sake brewer) in the traditional sake brewery.
So If you are looking for somebody, bring you to the best gourmet spots that are not in guide book, please contact me. I am the Sake sommelier, so if you are interested to experience and understand Japanese sake and culture, especially for I can be your guide.
All my life until now I practice martial arts such as Kendo and Iaido.
If you are Katana (Japanese sword) or martial arts lover, I can guide you to the right place.
Beside of food and sword, Kumamoto has breathtaking nature and verity of Onsen.
If you are interested, please contact me.
I will be your best guide for Kumamoto.
English and casual conversation of Chinese is available.
“The SUPER One Piece - All 10 Statues”
Our group did the 10 statues tour in one day, but it was beyond just the One Piece statues. Mai-san was punctual to pick us up at our hotel, and despite the full schedule didn't rush us at any of the locations whenever we wanted to spend a little more time taking photos or just appreciating the landscape. The car driving, when going to each statue, was also very comfortable. In each region, Mai-san taugh us about its tradition, culture and livestyle. It was an outstanding tour, and Mai-san was amazing in providing the most excellent tour throughout the Kumamoto region.
“Outstanding Customized Tour -- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED”
Mai provide an outstanding customized tour of Aso National Park, including a hike, and a journey through the countryside that included a lunch stop in a historic restaurant that has been around since the Meji Restoration period -- plus a visit to a mountain shrine and a sake brewery. She also worked with me in advance to plan for this itinerary. She provides an outstanding tour and is also a great conversationalist, and I highly recommend her as one of the best tour guides in Japan.
“Amazing Tour”
I recommend this tour. It is a must if you are a One-piece fan. Mai is the very best tour guide, her kindness and hospitality is second to none. Come to Kumamoto its an amazing place.
$254/ per group