Kumamoto Fall Travel Guide: History, Hot Springs, and Fall Foliage

Although September can still bring lingering summer heat, mornings and evenings gradually become more comfortable. Learn about the history of the castle at Kumamoto Castle, then browse crafts from across the prefecture at the Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center, including Higo inlay, Shodai ware, and Yamaga lanterns. Venture to Yamaga to visit Yachiyoza, a theater dating from the Meiji and Taisho periods. Begin your fall journey by tracing Kumamoto’s history and culture through the city.

October brings comfortable daytime temperatures, making it an ideal season for exploring central Kumamoto, Yamaga, and the town around Aso Shrine. In Yamaga, stroll through streets that retain traces of the historic Buzen Kaido route, then soak in a public bath or hot spring inn. Around Aso Shrine, visitors can explore the town while searching for its 36 mizuki spring-water stations. Add a distinctly fall experience to your itinerary by resting in a hot spring after a day of walking.

November is the season to combine fall foliage in the mountains and gorges with a visit to a hot spring. The forests and valleys of Gokanosho turn vivid colors from late October through mid-November, while Kikuchi Gorge offers trails through a natural setting surrounded by broadleaf trees. At Japan’s Longest Stone Steps in Misato, visitors can admire the fall scenery of the mountain village while climbing 3,333 steps. After viewing the foliage on foot, consider heading to a mountain hot spring such as Kurokawa Onsen.

Built by Kato Kiyomasa in 1607, Kumamoto Castle is one of the city’s most prominent landmarks. A walk through the castle reveals numerous defensive features, including Kuragari Tsuro, an underground stone passage, and shinobigaeshi spikes installed on the stone wall of the small castle keep.
The castle was constructed using the most advanced technology of its time and immense human effort, and it later became the setting for several important events in Japanese history. Take time to examine the ingenious defensive features found throughout the grounds.

This facility introduces the craft traditions passed down in communities throughout the prefecture. Visitors can learn about approximately 90 traditional Kumamoto crafts, including Higo inlay, Shodai ware, Amakusa ceramics, and Yamaga lanterns.
The permanent exhibition room on the second floor displays a wide range of traditional crafts from across Kumamoto. Some local folk toys, including Obake no Kinta, Hanatebako boxes, and Kijiuma wooden horses, can be picked up and handled. Traditional crafts are also available for purchase on the first floor.

One of Kumamoto’s long-established hot spring destinations, Yamaga Onsen is home to 23 day-use bathing facilities and accommodations. Yamaga was an important point along the Buzen Kaido route connecting Kumamoto and Kokura, and it flourished as a hot spring post town during the Edo period.
Historic buildings remain throughout the area, including a koji shop founded during the Tenpo era. The town is also home to a theater designated as an Important Cultural Property and a public bathhouse restored to its Meiji-period appearance. After exploring the streets, relax with a soak befitting this historic hot spring town.

Built in 1910 by wealthy local merchants, this large theater preserves the theatrical culture of the Meiji and Taisho periods. On days without performances, visitors can tour the backstage area and the space beneath the stage to see equipment such as the revolving stage and seri stage lift.
The adjacent Yume Kogura museum displays historical materials and theatrical props. Explore both the seating area and backstage spaces to compare the theater’s many mechanisms.

The town around Aso Shrine, which has a history of approximately 2,300 years, is an inviting area to explore while sampling local food and spring water. As visitors walk through the town, they will encounter spring-water stations known as mizuki.
There are 36 in total, with names such as the Spring of Academic Success and the Spring of Financial Fortune. Their water has long been used for drinking and daily life. Some shops serve coffee brewed with water from the mizuki, so search for the springs while exploring the town’s retro streets.

Set in the mountains along the Tanohara River, Kurokawa Onsen is a hot spring community shaped by the concept of Kurokawa Onsen Ichiryokan, which views the entire town as a single inn. Its history as a therapeutic hot spring destination stretches back centuries, and during the Edo period, domain officials stayed at a lodging known as the Okyakuya.
Visitors can walk through the town from inn to inn and use a wooden Nyuto Tegata bathing pass to experience open-air baths with different characteristics. With seven types of spring water available, it is also an opportunity to compare their distinctive qualities.

With approximately 50 hot spring sources spread across Hitoyoshi City, Hitoyoshi Onsen is deeply rooted in local life. There are around 20 public bathhouses, making it easy to visit several different baths.
To fully experience the area’s renowned waters, stay at an inn or hotel along the Kuma River or visit one of the public bathhouses offering day-use bathing. Exploring several public baths around town, rather than simply staying at an inn, is a distinctly Hitoyoshi way to experience the area.

Kikuchi Gorge is a lush natural valley surrounded by clear subterranean water and old-growth forest, with approximately 2,948 acres of woodland extending across the northwestern part of the Aso caldera rim. The scenery changes along its exceptionally clear streams, with highlights including Kakemaku Falls, Reimei Falls, and Ryugafuchi Pool.
Recommended walking routes include the 0.6-mile round-trip Healing Course and the 1.2-mile round-trip Negative Ion Course. Some sections may be wet from the spring water, so wear comfortable footwear with good traction before venturing deeper into the gorge.

Gokanosho is surrounded by mountains rising approximately 4,265 to 5,577 feet. Located near the border with Miyazaki Prefecture and enclosed by rugged gorges, this remote region is associated with a legend that defeated Heike warriors once sought refuge here.
Suspension bridges connecting the settlements offer views of the mountains and gorges. From late October through mid-November, the surrounding forest is covered in vivid fall colors. After exploring the natural surroundings, stop at Gokanosho Heike-no-Sato, which displays artifacts connected with the Heike clan.

This long approach to Shakain Temple, located at the summit of Mt. Daigyoji in Misato, consists of 3,333 stone steps. Restrooms and rest areas are provided along the route so visitors can make the climb at their own pace. Take in the mountain village scenery as you work your way up all 3,333 steps.

This specialty restaurant serves horse meat raised on its own approximately 735-acre farm in Aso, Kumamoto. Its extensive menu includes its signature fresh horse sashimi and harihari hot pot, along with rare-cut belly meat cutlets and tongue stew.
Course meals combining horse meat with Kumamoto ingredients are also available, accompanied by a selection of shochu from across Kyushu and local sake rarely distributed outside the prefecture. Consider pairing the food with a drink during a day of sightseeing in central Kumamoto.

Founded in 1934, this long-established Chinese restaurant is located on Shimotori in central Kumamoto City. Taipien, a well-known Kumamoto specialty, is its signature dish and makes a convenient meal during a walk around the city. The cloudy chicken-and-pork-bone broth comes with glass noodles made from 100% mung bean starch and a generous assortment of seafood and vegetables.
The restaurant also serves sweet-and-sour pork made with ingredients from Kyushu and house-made dim sum. After exploring Shimotori, stop for a bowl that has long been part of Kumamoto’s local food culture.

Founded in 1968, Asoji is a restaurant along National Route 57 serving Kumamoto regional cuisine. Its broad selection includes Akaushi beef grilled on a ceramic plate, horse sashimi, and dago-jiru dumpling soup.
A highlight is takana meshi, a regional dish representing Kumamoto’s Aso area. House-made pickled Aso mustard greens and bamboo shoots are mixed into rice and arranged in the shape of Komezuka, a volcanic cone visible from the restaurant. Sets with dago-jiru or stewed offal are also available, allowing diners to combine several of Aso’s regional flavors.

Located on the grounds of Hibari Kobo in Aso, Kumamoto, Hibari Cafe serves house-made sausages accompanied by views of the Aso landscape. The Five Peaks of Aso and surrounding farmland can be seen from inside the cafe and its wooden deck.
The menu includes hot dogs made with juicy sausages, bread from a local bakery, and locally grown vegetables. Stop during a drive through Aso and take a break overlooking the countryside with coffee brewed using spring water from the property.

Founded in 1957, Kokutei carries on the tradition of Kumamoto ramen. Its house-made, medium-thick straight noodles are served in a cloudy tonkotsu broth flavored with roasted garlic oil. The signature broth is prepared by simmering large quantities of relatively lean pork skulls, giving it depth and richness while maintaining a light finish.
Ramen topped with two egg yolks is another standard choice, alongside the classic bowl with house-made chashu pork, wood ear mushrooms, and nori seaweed.

Located a 15-minute walk from Kumamoto Castle, this hotel is convenient for sightseeing in the city, with shopping streets and museums also within walking distance. Renovations of all guest-room floors were completed in 2022, creating spaces that incorporate Japanese design and elements associated with Kumamoto.
A variety of accommodations are available, including twin rooms, Japanese-style rooms, and suites, making the hotel suitable for both business and leisure. Dining options include Japanese and Cantonese cuisine and buffet dining, while breakfast features ingredients from Kumamoto. The hotel makes a convenient base for exploring Kumamoto Castle and the city center on foot.

Located deeper in the forest beyond the main Kurokawa Onsen area, this hot spring inn offers bathing surrounded by nature. One of Ryokan Sanga’s highlights is its two private hot spring sources with different water qualities: Yakushi-no-Yu and Bihada-no-Yu.
The 100% free-flowing spring water can be experienced in seven bathing areas, including separate open-air baths for men and women, indoor baths reserved for overnight guests, and private baths. Guest rooms range from Japanese-style rooms and rooms with beds to accommodations with private open-air baths. Meals made with seasonal ingredients from the Oguni area are another highlight.

Located next to the Aso roadside station, this hotel makes a convenient base for exploring the Aso area. Nearby attractions include Mount Aso, Kusasenrigahama, and Daikanbo.
The hotel has a complimentary cafe and marketplace, while Yume-no-Yu, a natural hot spring facility for day visitors, is located nearby. A wide range of outdoor activities is also available, making this a suitable place to stay for active travelers and nature enthusiasts.