Kumamoto Port Ferry Terminal → JR Kumamoto Station
At the bus stop in front of the ferry boarding area at Kumamoto Port, take Sanko Bus route S3-2 and get off at the stop in front of JR Kumamoto Station.
Cruise port in Japan
Kumamoto
Allow about 30 min each way from the terminal to the city center. Average time in port: 11 hours. 23 places to explore.
- Ships calling here
- 4 ships
- Upcoming sailings
- 10 sailings
- Average time in port
- About 11 hours
- Lowest fare
- From USD 779
Photo: Image by Kohji Asakawa from Pixabay
After disembarking
Cruise ships dock at Kumamoto Port Yumesakijima Pier. Allow about 30 min each way from the terminal to the city center.
- Where the ship docks
Cruise ships dock at Kumamoto Port Yumesakijima Pier.
- Public Transport from Kumamoto Port to Downtown
Sanko local buses run every 30–40 minutes from Kumamoto Port Passenger Terminal to JR Kumamoto Station and Sakuramachi Bus Terminal; the trip takes about 30–40 minutes.
- Kumamoto City Tram 1-Day Pass
After reaching downtown, buy a 1-day pass for the Kumamoto City Tram to travel without limit to Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Jojuen, and the arcade shopping streets.
- Kumamoto's Signature Food Culture
Fresh horse sashimi (basashi), Kumamoto tonkotsu ramen topped with fragrant burnt garlic oil, taipi-en (太平燕) with glass noodles, and karashi renkon (lotus root stuffed with mustard) are Kumamoto's 4 signature local dishes.
About 11 hours in port: where can you go?
Time available at the destination after subtracting return travel.
Return travel Time at destination
Calculated from the average time in port. Return deadlines vary by sailing; check the daily programme on board.
Between the terminal, city and airport
Travel between the terminal, city center, railway station and airport.
Kumamoto Port Ferry Terminal → Sakuramachi Bus Terminal
At the bus stop by the ferry boarding area at Kumamoto Port, take a bus to Sakuramachi Bus Terminal and get off at the terminus. Kumamoto Castle entrance is then within walking distance.
JR Kumamoto Station → Kumamoto Castle (City Hall Stop)
At the tram stop at the east exit of Kumamoto Station, take the A-line tram toward Kengunmachi and get off at Kumamoto Castle / City Hall stop (熊本城・市役所前).
Kumamoto places to explore
Explore 23 checked places. Select a pin to see its card, or choose View on map from a card.
Kumamoto Castle
Completed by Kato Kiyomasa in 1607, this is one of Japan's three great castles. Its imposing main and small castle keeps, restored after earthquake damage, stand alongside musha-gaeshi stone walls that showcase the height of castle-building techniques.
- Visit
- about 1 hr 30 min
- Admission
- JPY 800
Last admission is at 16:30, and the special visitor route includes both the earthquake recovery site and exhibits inside the main keep.
Suizenji Jojuen
Centered on a clear pond fed by groundwater from Mount Aso, this Momoyama-style daimyo garden features a circuit path and miniature hills depicting the 53 stations of the Tokaido and Mount Fuji.
- Visit
- about 1 hr
- Admission
- JPY 500
Along with visiting Izumi Shrine in the grounds, you can enjoy matcha while looking over the pond from the Kokindenju-no-ma tea room.
Kumamon Square
This exhibition complex has a sales manager’s office for Kumamon, Kumamoto Prefecture’s popular mascot, and a dedicated performance stage. Visitors can buy limited-edition original goods.
- Visit
- about 40 min
- Admission
- Free
Check the official website in advance for the stage schedule when Kumamon makes an appearance in person.
Kato Shrine
This shrine enshrines Kato Kiyomasa, the Sengoku-period warrior who built Kumamoto Castle. It is a popular photo spot offering a clear view of the castle keep from close by.
- Visit
- about 30 min
- Admission
- Free
Located midway along the approach to Kumamoto Castle’s Honmaru, making it an easy stop during a visit to the castle grounds.
Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto
Located on the third floor of the Bipuresu Kumani Hall building at the entrance to Kamitori, this urban contemporary art museum features installations by James Turrell and Yayoi Kusama, as well as a free library gallery.
- Visit
- about 45 min
- Admission
- Free
Closed on Tuesdays; special exhibitions require a separate paid admission fee.
Takahashi Inari Shrine
Counted among Japan's five major Inari shrines, this shrine has red torii gates lining the hillside. Worshippers continually visit to pray for business prosperity and safe voyages.
- Visit
- about 45 min
- Admission
- Free
The stone steps continue all the way to the main sanctuary, so comfortable sneakers are recommended.
Cruises calling at Kumamoto
10 sailings are grouped into 9 cruises by ship and route.
Royal Caribbean InternationalSailing 2026.12Asia cruises · 9 nights · Mid-length cruise
9 Night Best Of Japan Holiday Cruise
Hong Kong departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 1,516
Royal Caribbean InternationalSailing 2027.02Asia cruises · 12 nights · Long cruise
12 Night Singapore To Tokyo Cruise
Singapore → Yokohama
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 1,678
Celebrity CruisesBook now
Sailing 2027.05Asia cruises · 13 nights · Long cruise
13 Night Best Of Japan & South Korea
Tokyo → Incheon
Per person, double occupancyCheck with the booking provider
Royal Caribbean InternationalSailing 2027.09Asia cruises · 5 nights
5 Night Kumamoto & Fukuoka Cruise
Baoshan Pt departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 779
Royal Caribbean InternationalSailing 2027.11Asia cruises · 11 nights · Long cruise
11 Nt Best Of Japan & South Korea Cruise
Hong Kong departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 1,761
Celebrity CruisesBook now
Sailing 2028.03Asia cruises · 13 nights · Long cruise
13 Night Japan Cherry Blossoms
Yokohama departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyCheck with the booking provider
Royal Caribbean InternationalSailing 2028.03Asia cruises · 8 nights · Mid-length cruise
8 Night Kobe, Kagoshima & Kumamoto
Baoshan Pt → Yokohama
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 793
Celebrity Cruises2 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2028.03Asia cruises · 12 nights · Long cruise
12 Night Japan Cherry Blossoms
Yokohama departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareCheck with the booking provider
Celebrity CruisesBook now
Sailing 2028.05Asia cruises · 13 nights · Long cruise
13 Night Japan & Korea: Hydrangea Season
Yokohama departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyCheck with the booking provider
9 cruises call at this port.
Ships calling at Kumamoto
Explore cabin types, dining and deck facilities for each ship.
Celebrity Cruises · 4 sailings
Celebrity Solstice
33 cabin types · 13 dining venues · 43 entertainment options · 14 decks
Explore the ship
Royal Caribbean International · 4 sailings
Spectrum of the Seas
25 cabin types · 17 dining venues · 52 entertainment options · 14 decks
Explore the ship
Celebrity Cruises · 1 sailings
Celebrity Millennium
26 cabin types · 11 dining venues · 35 entertainment options · 12 decks
Explore the ship
Royal Caribbean International · 1 sailings
Navigator of the Seas
27 cabin types · 12 dining venues · 66 entertainment options · 14 decks
Explore the ship
About Kumamoto
Kumamoto, Japan is a cruise port visited by 4 ships, with 10 upcoming sailings calling here.
Cruise lines calling here: 2 places
Celebrity CruisesRoyal Caribbean International
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