One of the largest prefectures in Japan’s southern Kyushu island, Kumamoto Prefecture encompasses a vast volcano in the island's center, lively Kumamoto City on the coast, and the offshore Amakusa Islands south of Nagasaki. Whatever your interests, there are plenty of things to do in Kumamoto Prefecture: Ogle one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world at Mt. Aso, luxuriate in hot spring baths in natural settings, admire the well-reconstructed Kumamoto Castle, or spot dolphins and get off-the-beaten-path in the islands.
You can visit Kumamoto Prefecture year-round, but like much of Japan, it’s less comfortable in the hot, humid summer (June–September). Because this prefecture is quite far south—in central Kyushu—its winters tend to be milder than many places on Honshu. Still, higher-altitude Aso at 1,640 feet (500 meters) can be colder than sea-level Kumamoto City. Winter is typically the low season, but it’s a good time to soak in hot spring baths.
Kumamoto Prefecture is well-connected, both internally and to other parts of Kyushu, by train and bus. There’s no need to have a vehicle to explore the prefecture unless you want to visit hard-to-reach rural places. Small towns popular with tourists, such as Aso and Kurokawa Onsen, are easy to reach by train or bus without advanced Japanese language skills. The Amakusa Islands can be reached by bus from Kumamoto City or ferry from the Shimabara Peninsula or Kagoshima City.
Soaking in an onsen is a must-do experience in Japan, and Kumamoto Prefecture is one of the best places to do it. The delightful town of Kurokawa Onsen, a few miles north of Mt. Aso, offers one of the more authentic bathing experiences you’ll find in Japan. Unlike many hot spring towns, Kurokawa Onsen has not been garishly developed despite its popularity. You won’t find concrete high-rises here, just charming wooden ryokan and bathing houses beside the river.
