Kumamoto Information of Kyushu Travel Info

Kumamoto Prefecture is located roughly halfway down in the center of Kyushu'western side. It is bordered by the Ariake inland sea and the Amakusa archipelago to the west. Kumamoto boasts a fine castle and a ladscaped garden, both with origins stretching the 17th century. Kiyomasa Kato was made daimyo of half of the (old) administrative region of Higo in 1588. After that, Kiyomasa built Kumamoto Castle. Due to its many innovative defensive designs, Kumamoto Castle was considered impregnable, and Kiyomasa enjoyed a reputation as one of the finest castle-builders in Japanese history. Mt. Aso, an extensive active volcano, is located at the center of the Aso caldera, the most famous caldera in Japan. The observation platform of Mt.Aso is called Daikanbou. The Prefecture is home to two great national parks - the Aso-Kuju National Park and the Unzen-Amakusa National Park, and is the true heart and soul of Japan.

By Air

Kumamoto Airport have some distance with central part of Kumamoto city. The Limousine Bus service between them takes about 40 min.

INTERNATIONAL
TO	FROM	TIMES
KUMAMOTO	SEOUL	1 HOUR 35 MIN
DOMESTIC
KUMAMOTO	TOKYO	1 HOUR 45 MIN
	OSAKA	1 HOUR 05 MIN
	OKINAWA	1 HOUR 25 MIN

By Train

The JR Kagoshima Line runs north to Hakata Station (Fukuoka).

TO	FROM	TIMES	COSTS
KUMAMOTO	TOKYO	6 HOURS 15 MIN	24,380 YEN ~
	OSAKA	4 HOURS 50 MIN	16,840 YEN ~
	FUKUOKA	1 HOUR 40 MIN	20,70 YEN ~
	NAGASAKI	3 HOURS 35 MIN	5,750 YEN ~
	KAGOSHIMA	1 HOUR 30 MIN	6,060 YEN ~
	BEPPU	3 HOURS	5,350 YEN ~
ASO	KUMAMOTO	1 HOUR	1,080 YEN ~

By Bus

There are highway bus services from the Kumamoto Kotsu bus station to most major destination in Kyushu.

TO	FROM	TIMES	COSTS
KUMAMOTO	OSAKA	9 HOURS 20 MIN	4,000 YEN ~
	KYOTO	11 HOURS 10 MIN	4,000 YEN ~
	FUKUOKA	1 HOUR 40 MIN	2,000 YEN ~
	NAGASAKI	3 HOURS 08 MIN	3,600 YEN ~
	SASEBO	3 HOURS 40 MIN	3,200 YEN ~
	OITA	3 HOURS 40 MIN	2,700 YEN ~
	ASO	1 HOUR 30 MIN	1,220 YEN ~
	AMAKUSA	2 HOURS	2,180 YEN ~
	KAGOSHIMA	3 HOURS	5,350 YEN ~

By Boat(ferry)

Ferry services are available from Kumamoto city to Amakusa city, and Shimabara city Nagasaki.

TO	FROM	TIMES	COSTS
KUMAMOTO	SHIMABARA	30 MIN	800 YEN ~
YATSUSHIRO	AMAKUSA	50 MIN	800 YEN ~