One Piece fan sites in Japan: Stores, statue locations & more [ワンピース]

Ultimate travel guide of One Piece sites and tourism in Tokyo, Fukuoka & Kumamoto, Japan

TIP: The best One Piece sites and attractions aren’t where you think

Where should One Piece fans go in Japan? Right at the top, it’s crucial to know one thing before you plan your One Piece-themed trip to Japan.

For the BEST and MOST in One Piece tourism, Tokyo is NOT where it’s at.

We’re going to tell you where to go instead.

About our straw hat pirate family (mugiwara kaizoku kazoku 麦わら海賊 家族)

Check out our travel vlog from our family’s One Piece statue tour

Who we are

We are the Learners and Makers: Jodie, Anthony, Connor, and Aster. We empower families and people with mobility disabilities to travel confidently, their way. With a cozy vibe that focuses on how to slow down, connect, and enjoy each day, our worldschooling family of four has been traveling the world full time since 2022.

We first got into One Piece in 2023, with the anime (and now the live action Netflix series). As of 2026, we’re current on both the anime and the Netflix live-action series.

Our fave characters:

• Aster: Robin
• Connor: Zoro
• Jodie: Luffy
• Anthony: Franky

Fun fact: We travel with a Straw Hat pirate flag and often hang it wherever we’re staying.

One Piece statue tour vlog: Watch our family trip to all 10 statues

What is One Piece? A quick and perfunctory summary

One Piece is one of the most popular and longest-running manga and anime series in the world. It chronicles the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy as he and his Straw Hat Pirate Crew seek a treasure known as the One Piece, so Luffy can become king of the pirates.

Along the way, many things happen.

Oh, and when Luffy was a kid, he ate something called a devil fruit. These give people all sorts of powers. In Luffy’s case, it made him a rubber man.

Netflix has also adapted One Piece into a live-action series.

By the way, “mugiwara” is Japanese for “straw hat.” That’s important. You’ll find out why in a little bit.

What we’ll talk about in this One Piece Japan tourism guide

• Where to go for One Piece sites in Japan
• Tip: Use this word and these Japanese characters when searching for more One Piece news, shops, destinations & more
• Tip: At any station, shop, shopping center, or other destination, look for (or ask for) this
• One Piece shops and sites in Tokyo
• One Piece destinations in other parts of Honshu
• Where to find One Piece shops and more in Fukuoka, on Kyushu
• The best place to go in Japan for One Piece tourism: Kumamoto, on Kyushu
• Why is Kumamoto Japan’s epicenter of all things One Piece?
• One Piece sites in Kumamoto City
• How to see all 10 One Piece statues, including sample itineraries
• Other things to do on Kyushu (think of them as statue side quests)
• One Piece tourism FAQ

Where to go in Japan for One Piece sites and attractions

One Piece fan? Here’s where to go in Japan.

Tourism spot recommendations for One Piece fans

Given One Piece’s popularity, sites and events pop up throughout Japan, but alas, not all of them are forever.

You might have seen mentions of some during your own research, such as a pirate ship replica that used to be in Nagasaki, or the Tokyo Tower One Piece installation. Sadly, the Tokyo One Piece Tower closed in 2020.

Nowadays, there are 3 main places you want to consider for One Piece fan sites in Japan. Here they are in order of importance:

1. Kumamoto: The epicenter of all things One Piece, including all 10 Straw Hat crew statues
2. Tokyo: Merch stores!
3. Fukuoka: Shonen Jump merch store!

Let’s dig into the details like Robin digging into info about the Void Century.

Tip: Use this word and these Japanese characters when searching for more One Piece news, shops, destinations & more

When we’re planning destinations and making plans around One Piece in Japan, sure, we search for things like “One Piece,” “Straw Hat,” “Straw Hat Pirates,” or “Luffy.”

We’ve now learned one other term we didn’t know before our One Piece Japan trip, and it has been really useful. Now that we know it, we want to make sure you know it:

Mugiwara.

If you want One Piece in Japanese with captions in your language (which is what we do), you might have picked up on this term here and there.

“Mugiwara” is the Japanese term for “straw hat.” In the show, “mugiwara” is often how people address Luffy. It’s also in the dialogue when people talk about the Straw Hats, or the Straw Hat Pirates.

So, when you’re googling or AI chatting for the latest and greatest during your own One Piece itinerary planning, also try using the word “mugiwara.”

Searching with these Japanese terms and characters is also useful:

麦わら帽子

OR

麦わら

Essentially, these are “mugiwara boshi” or “mugiwara” in Japanese, respectively.

ワンピース

Even if a One Piece fan doesn’t know Japanese, all Straw Hats know these characters.

They appear in the One Piece logo on every episode.

Literally translating to “wanpisu,” these characters spell out “One Piece” in Japanese’s katakana character system.

TIP: At any station, shop, shopping center, or other destination, look for (or ask for) this

Anytime you are at a bus station, train station, shopping center, or damn near anywhere in Japan, you want to look for one thing.

It’s easy.

It’s free.

And as souvenirs go, you can collect a hundred and they’ll still be easy to pack.

We are talking, of course, about stamps.

Throughout Japan, you can find free ink stamps. Many train and bus stations have their own unique stamps, as do many shopping centers. So do One Piece shops, including Jump Shops and Mugiwara Stores.

So, whenever you go to a One Piece shop, a train station, or bus station in Japan, look for the stamp area. You might need to ask (a simple “su-stanpu wa doko desu ka?” should do it). In train stations, stamps are often in or near a ticket office.

It’s best to bring your own paper or wee notebook. An A6 can be good, or for imperial/inches, it needs to fit stamps up to 4×6.

Stamps are one of our favorite souvenirs. During our 3 months in Japan, we filled an entire wee notebook with stamps, ticket stubs, stickers, and other mementoes. And among our faves were the stickers and stamps we got at One Piece stores.

The One Piece shops you didn’t know about, plus the character figures you can pose for photos with

Many folks who come to Japan seeking One Piece merch head to Shonen Jump shops. You’ll find Shonen Jump shops throughout many major shopping centers throughout Japan. They specialize in really cool collectibles, plushies, and other merch about many Shonen Jump anime and manga titles, including One Piece.

However, there’s another line of shops in Japan that you might not know about.

Official One Piece Mugiwara Stores only offer One Piece merch.

As of 2025, there are 11 main locations throughout Honshu and Kyushu.

There are also temporary “branch” stores. Called “Mugiwara Store Little,” these pop-up locations have been open for limited times throughout Japan and beyond, including Okayama and Shinjuku. Check the listings to see if Little stores coincide with your dates and plans.

Learn more and find Mugiwara Store locations to visit

Much of the product is the same across the different stores. However, each one has different selfie-ready figures you can take pictures with, such as Sabo, Ace, and Luffy in the Kumamoto store.

When you visit a Mugiwara Store, make sure you receive (or ask for) a rewards card, or point card. In Japanese, you’ll hear it referred to as “pointo caddo.” You can get points at any Mugiwara Store, and eventually trade them in for prizes, such as Straw Hat wanted posters.

One Piece shops and sites in Tokyo

For where to travel in Japan if you love One Piece, odds are you’ll start in Tokyo.

If you’re coming to Japan, odds are you’re starting and/or finishing in Tokyo. While you’re here, you can take in some One Piece merch goodness like Nami on a shopping kick. Head to the Mugiwara store full location list, especially as news and details change, but we’ll note a few stand-out locations below.

Shibuya Mugiwara Store

Given its location, the Shibuya Main Store in Tokyo is probably the most well-known of all the Mugiwara Stores. It’s also the flagship store of the entire chain.

This Mugiwara Store is especially known for its life-size figures of Chopper and Sanji. However, we’d go just for a photo with Red-Haired Shanks. He’s posed holding out the famous straw hat that he gave to Luffy, and you could try posing yourself under the hat.

Odaiba Mugiwara Store

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Heading to Tokyo’s bayside Odaiba area is worth it just for the skyline views, the waterside parks and promenades, and the huge, life-size Gundam mech outside of the Divers City Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba.

We’d spent the day in the area for Tokyo TeamLab, and as part of a multi-location Gundam stamp rally which finished at the Divers City shopping center. As we wandered the mall to find our stamps, we came across the Odaiba Mugiwara Store—and were blown away.

Until that moment, we hadn’t known it existed.

While we’d looked into Tokyo One Piece attractions, we hadn’t found info about Mugiwara stores. Seeing this store was a revelation. We probably missed something, or maybe English-language info was harder to come by. Just like Luffy finding his crew though, we’ll gladly roll with the serendipity.

And since we didn’t know about it, now we want to make sure you absolutely know about Mugiwara stores and can plan them into your One Piece Japan trip!

Tokyo Salamachi Jump Shop

Close to the iconic Tokyo Skytree tower, the Tokyo Salamachi shopping center is also home to a Jump Shop (not to mention a Ghibli shop, if you’re also into Miyazaki and Ghibli films, like we are).

The Jump Shop is on the fourth floor (specifically, the Gift/sundries area at 4F East Yard Block 11 Japanese Souvenirs), and it has a great selection of One Piece collectibles and other merch.

Other Mugiwara store locations in the Kanto region

• Ikebukuro
• Tokyo Station
• Harajuku

Given the ongoing popularity of One Piece, this will be an ever-changing list. As we learn about and/or visit more One Piece destinations throughout Tokyo and Kanto, we’ll update these listings!

One Piece destinations in other parts of Honshu

Tokyo doesn’t get to have all the fun though. Other areas of Honshu, such as Osaka, are home to One Piece-themed attractions as well.

Mugiwara Stores

• Abeno Osaka
• Umeda Osaka
• Kyoto
• Nagoya
• Also check for new pop-up locations

As we learn about and/or visit other One Piece destinations throughout Honshu, we’ll add them here.

Special for 2025: Ride the One Piece Shinkansen during the World Expo in Osaka

During April through October 2025, Osaka will host the World Expo. As part of the festivities, a special One Piece-themed shinkansen high-speed train will run between Shin-Osaka Station and Fukuoka’s Hakata station. This 10-minute news podcast discusses the show and the train.

The JR RailPass site has more details on the train, features, timetables, and how to ride.

Is the One Piece Shinkansen included in the JR Pass?

Yes! It’s sounding like JR Pass does include the One Piece Shinkansen, with this caveat:

Where to find One Piece shops and more in Fukuoka, on Kyushu

Fukuoka is Kyushu’s main city, and also the home of a major Shinkansen terminal, ferries to South Korea, and an international airport (code FUK, and yes, I’m typing that with a straight face. Barely.)

If you’re going to Kumamoto, especially via train, you’re going through Fukuoka. You might as well make a few stops on this particular Grand Line.

Jump Shop at Canal City, Hakata, Fukuoka

Canal City is a major shopping center destination in Fukuoka, and it’s easy to get there from pretty much anywhere in the area. (We took the subway’s Kuko Line from Hakata Station to Gion Station, then followed the signs for a few minutes’ walk.)

Directions: How to get to Canal City

You’ll find the Jump Shop in the Center Walk area, on floor B1F.

The Shonen Jump store in the Canal City shopping center has an excellent Luffy statue for photos, along with various One Piece merch.

Tip: While at Canal City, head to the fourth floor and snag a bowl of tonkatsu style, or hakata style, ramen from one of the many cool ramen shops at Ramen Stadium. Luffy would approve.

Fukuoka alone is worth at least a few days. Even if you overnighted or did 1-2 days, you could get a decent taste.

And you’ll be going to Fukuoka.

Because from Fukuoka you can snag a regular train or a shinkansen to nearby Kumamoto.

And you’ll be going to Kumamoto. Because Kumamoto is the world epicenter for all things One Piece, including the Straw Hat crew statues that surprisingly few people know about.

When it comes to One Piece fan sites in Japan, Kumamoto is why Franky smacks his forearms together and shouts “Sooo-per!”

The best place to go in Japan for One Piece tourism is Kumamoto, on the island of Kyushu

When it comes to One Piece fan sites in Japan, Kumamoto is why Franky smacks his forearms together and shouts “Sooo-per!”

While other parts of Japan have some nifty One Piece places to visit, the true heart and soul of all things One Piece is in and around Kumamoto, on the island of Kyushu.

Why is Kumamoto Japan’s epicenter of all things One Piece, and why are there One Piece statues here?

One Piece’s creator, Eiichiro Oda, is from Kumamoto Prefecture. After a massive earthquake affected areas throughout the prefecture in 2016, Oda donated a total of ¥800 million, or about US$8 million, to aid with relief and rebuilding for the prefecture where he grew up.

Fun fact: Oda did this with 2 donations. The first was for ¥500 million, in Luffy’s name, to go with what at the time was a 500 million berry bounty on our fave Straw Hat.

The One Piece statues are part of the ongoing Kumamoto Revival Project… but why is that?

Oda’s generosity, and Kumamoto being his hometown, resulted not only in One Piece shops (such as the Mugiwara Store in Kumamoto Station’s shopping center). Kumamoto worked with Oda to install 10 statues, one for each member of the Straw Hat crew, throughout the prefecture.

And those statues are the main reason you really, really want to come to Kumamoto for your One Piece Japan vacation.

There is nothing like them anywhere else. But the funny thing about the statues? They’ve been around a few years now, but are not necessarily well known, even to One Piece fans. In fact, we’ve been surprised at how many times we said we saw all 10, and people had no idea the statues even existed.

Now you do—and we’re going to tell you how to visit all 10 statues.

One Piece shops and sites in Kumamoto City

Where One Piece fans go in Japan can be a merch and road trip tour of all 10 statues. Kumamoto One Piece sites about throughout the prefecture. First, we’re going to talk about other One Piece sites in the Kumamoto City area:

One Piece mural and Mugiwara Store, Kumamoto Station shopping center

Kumamoto Station isn’t just your typical arrival and departure point for the city. Nor is it just an easy place to grab Kumamoto’s excellent and affordable tram.

The station’s AMU Plaza shopping center is home to a couple of notable One Piece destinations.

First, head to the One Piece mural inside the main entrance. Installed in 2021, the mural is a great selfie backdrop.

From there, head to AMU Plaza floor 6F for the Kumamoto Mugiwara Store.

Honestly? This is our favorite One Piece shopping so far. Along with this featuring only One Piece, this store is also home to photo-ready life-size figures of Luffy, Sabo, and even Fire-Fist Ace. You can also find One Piece-themed plushies of Kumamoto’s adorable bear mascot, Kumamon, dressed in post-Marineford Luffy-style—including the infamous scar.

Kumamoto Shunsaikan Sakura (Souvenir/Gift Shop), Sakuramachi Shopping Center, Kumamoto

I’m going to level with you: We bought nothing from this shop.

However, the only reason we didn’t is because full-time travel and living out of backpacks isn’t amenable to carrying around a scale model of the Thousand Sunny.

If we were living in Kumamoto, we would’ve bought this shop’s One Piece section out.

The souvenir shop is on the basement level, floor B1, of the Sakuramachi Shopping Center. You want to come to this area anyway. The awesome covered shopping arcades are full of cool eateries, cafes, and shops. Plus, Kumamoto Castle is nearby.

Along with the cool One Piece merch, the shop has other regional specialties, gifts, and souvenirs. Come hungry, too: The many food court restaurants are affordable, low key, and delicious.

NEW! Visit the One Piece 100 Great Pirate Scenes Mural at Aso Kumamoto Airport

Even if you’re not flying, there’s a reason to go to Aso Kumamoto Airport. 

Unveiled in December 2024, the mural “One Piece 100 Great Pirate Scenes” is at the free, outdoor space called Sorayoka Park.

One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda developed the mural to feature characters who got high rankings in the 1,000st World Popularity Poll for One Piece Characters WORLD TOP 100. This worldwide poll commemorated the XNUMXth weekly chapter of One Piece in Shonen Jump.

The mural is 5 meters high and 18 meters wide. Along with the mural, we took family photos with the Kumamoto sign and we looked for the hidden Kumamon. The park itself is a calm space, and a nice way to unwind before or after a flight.

Just down from Sorayoka Park, head to the visitors center. There’s been work underway to add more educational and entertainment activities there. But the main reason is a particular vending machine.

Much of the area east of Kumamoto City is renowned for its sweet potato agriculture. And at the airport, as we’ve seen in a few other spots outside Kumamoto, is a vending machine that sells roasted sweet potatoes. For ¥600, we got a little packet that had two delicious, hot roasted sweet potatoes inside—a great snack before getting back on the road.

If driving, you can park in the paid lot just past the park area. Or, buses run to and from the airport. The airport website has more transportation and parking info here.

Ride the One Piece Sunny-Go Train

We didn’t manage to work this in, but another way to enjoy some One Piece fun in the Aso area is a special One Piece-themed train.

The Sunny-Go Train’s design is inspired by the Thousand Sunny pirate ship. The train started running in 2023, on a limited schedule between Tateno Station and Takamori Station in Aso. When the train isn’t running, you can also find it parked at Takamori Station—next to the Franky statue.

The train is full of One Piece-themed design touches, such as straw hat light fixtures and manga panels on the headrests. Little designs and “One Piece-related secrets” are all over the train too, to keep Straw Hats on the hunt for One Piece delights.

There’s more info about the train here (use your browser’s translation function to translate from Japanese).

Note that you can’t use a JR Pass for this train, and fare payments are in cash or physical/digital IC cards such as Suica.

Driving straight from Jinbe’s statue on the Uto Peninsula to Usopp’s statue near Mt. Aso, you’d travel only about 69 km (43 miles). The drive would take about an hour and a half.

How to see all 10 One Piece Straw Hat Crew statues in Kumamoto Prefecture

We’re going to come at this a few ways.

First, we’re going to give some context on the statues and the area the statues cover, because it’s less distance than you might think from looking at a map.

Second, we’ll list out the statues and give some info on their overall backgrounds, context, and locations. Understanding the context of the location of each statue is important and makes your One Piece statue tour deeper and more fun. The locations tie into their respective character in varying ways, sometimes touching and sometimes hilarious.

Third, we’ll share suggested itineraries spanning 1–5 days, how to get around, how we did our own One Piece statue tour, and the itinerary we’d use to do EVERYTHING in our One Piece fan travel guide.

Each statue was unveiled on its own between 2018 and 2022

Each One Piece statue was unveiled on its own, starting in 2018 with Luffy and finishing in 2022 with Jinbe. They’ve become major tourism draws to the region. (Luffy alone is credited with bringing millions of yen worth of visitors to Kumamoto, including no small amount from a certain Straw Hat family of four.)

And seriously, check out this news story about the Luffy unveiling. A 2-minute video with it shows a Luffy-themed Kumamon (complete with chest and under-eye scars). Though my favorite part is the prefectural officials wearing straw hats with their suits and ties.

Actually, I can’t stand the cuteness. I’ll just drop the video here for you:

On a different note, I greatly appreciate how Uto’s mayor brought One Piece into the context of his area’s suffering and recovery after the 2016 earthquake.

You see, each statue location wasn’t by whim or accident. They’ve been placed in areas where the 2016 quake hit especially hard. In Uto, their city hall nearly collapsed, and residents had to hustle for shelter and safety.

Six years later at the Jinbe statue unveiling, according to this news story:

The One Piece statues are spread out, but less than you might think

All 10 statues are spread out across Kumamoto Prefecture, from the Uto Peninsula on the Ariake Sea, to Mount Aso, not far from the prefecture’s eastern borders with Oita Prefecture.

Thing is, the statues aren’t all that far apart. You can visit them all in as little as one day. But if you can budget multiple days for this part of your Japan trip, more is better (and we’ll go over expanded itinerary ideas later in this guide).

The Jinbe and Usopp statues are about the farthest apart. All the other statues are in between (technically Franky is south of Usopp). Driving straight from Jinbe’s statue on the Uto Peninsula to Usopp’s statue near Mt. Aso, you’d travel only about 69 km (43 miles). The drive would take about an hour and a half.

What’s around the statues?

We’ll go into this more as we zoom into each individual statue. However, the statues all vary a lot in terms of location and nearby services and amenities.

Is it true you can buy special limited edition figures of each character at statue locations?

Technically, yes. Special limited edition figures of each character are for sale at statue locations. Availability varies though.

When we toured the statues in late 2024, many locations were currently out of stock. To be fair, we don’t know if that was temporary. When you visit, be sure to look, and be sure to ask. Even if the special figurines themselves aren’t there, odds are you can find other souvenirs.

What’s the best time of year to visit the One Piece statues in Japan?

The best time of year to visit the One Piece statues in Japan is the time of year you are able to make your Japan trip a reality.

Winters in Kumamoto aren’t severe, but this would be the least favorable time to visit. The weather is a little cold, but you typically don’t get much in the way of snow.

Summers can be hot, but there will be overall nice weather.

Spring and fall are typically the best time weatherwise to visit, but there can be more crowds, especially in spring.

We visited in fall, and found that a wonderful time to visit. During November, for example, the gingko trees lining the Luffy statue had golden, beautiful leaves. Autumn leaf colors added vibrancy to the drives through the hills and countryside too. Plus, we could still catch favorable weather, sunshine, and even warm days.

There’s not a bad time weather-wise to visit Kumamoto. Go when you can, and enjoy the statues!

About the One Piece statues and their locations throughout Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

Kumamoto Prefecture isn’t large, but many of the statues are in small towns and villages outside of Kumamoto City itself. Here’s a map of all 10 of Kumamoto’s One Piece Statues throughout the prefecture:

Kumamoto City: Luffy and Chopper

Both statues are in town, and easily visited via public transportation. We visited both on the same day, and it took a few hours with transit, lots of time for photos, and a ramen lunch. More on that in a bit.

Southwest of Kumamoto City: Jinbe

Naturally, fish man (and knight of the sea) Jinbe is near the sea. He’s on a peninsula, all by himself, southwest of Kumamoto. He can be the trickiest to visit, but he’s just as worthwhile.

East of Kumamoto: Everyone else

Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Robin, Franky, and Brook are scattered among villages east of Kumamoto.

Let’s zoom into each location and statue one by one.

The 10 One Piece statues

To be clear, for simplicity we’re listing the statues not in a suggested visitation order, but in the order each person joined the Straw Hat Pirates crew. After we introduce you to each Straw Hat statue, we’ll share mix-and-match itineraries.

Each address/location links to its Google Maps listing.

For navigation, walking routes, and distances, use your preferred mapping app.

Luffy

Location: 6-chōme-18-1 Suizenji, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto, 862-0950, Japan

Does a tight schedule only allow a visit to a single One Piece statue? Does the idea of seeing and snagging a photo with just one statue all you need for your trip to Japan?

If so, Luffy is the one.

Plus, Luffy’s statue is right in Kumamoto City itself. The statue is easy to find, local public transportation can drop you off just meters away, and there’s a tasty ramen place nearby.

During our fall visit, the gingko leaves were a brilliant gold, adding to the luster of the Luffy statue.

Luffy’s statue is right in front of the Kumamoto Prefectural Government office, a further symbol of the ties between One Piece and Kumamoto.

Tip: Luffy’s statue is at Kumamoto Prefecture Administrative Office, NOT city hall.

Don’t make this mistake when you visit the Luffy statue!

By the way, this is worth doubling down on: The Luffy statue is in front of the Kumamoto Prefecture Administrative Office.

However, there is also a Kumamoto City Hall (which is close to the Sakuramachi shopping center and Kumamoto Castle).

Luffy is not in front of City Hall.

When setting your course, make sure you are heading to the Kumamoto Prefecture Administrative Office. Typically, you can search “luffy statue” in your mapping app, and it should pull up the right navigation and directions.

Other sightseeing and activities: While you’re here, take this side quest

From the bus stop at the edge of the plaza, a short walk leads to Ajisen Ramen. This chain has stores all over the world now. We delighted in the garlicky broth and rich flavor, and Aster especially enjoyed the shrimp gyoza.

You can also wander to Suizenji Jojuen Garden, which is about a 10–20 walk.

If setting out from the Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, first head to the basement floor. The souvenir shop there has a One Piece section.

From Kumamoto Station, also stop inside the entrance for a photo with the One Piece mural, then duck into the Mugiwara Store for some One Piece gifts and souvenirs.

Roronoa Zoro

Location: Japan, 〒869-1233 Kumamoto, Kikuchi District, Ozu, Ōzu, １１５６−３ 中央公園

You’ll find Zoro’s statue in Ozu Central Park. The Ozu area is known for its sweet potato agriculture. It’s also home to a local kendo, or sword martial art, school, though the 2016 earthquake destroyed the original building. In fact, Zoro is positioned so that he faces the direction of the Otsu Town Budokan, as if to keep watch over the students.

If taking public transportation, you’ll get off at Higo-Ozu Station and walk over. If driving, there’s a free parking lot right there.

Other sightseeing and activities: While you’re here, take this side quest

Ozu Central Park has a small playground, which can be handy if you’re with kids who need some romping time. The playground is also home to another statue: Karaimo, the Ozu area’s sweet potato mascot. Across the street there’s also a walking path and a large open field.

The Zoro statue is facing the direction of the Otsu Town Budokan, where children practice kendo, and is always watching over the children.

The Zoro statue is well-placed just off National Route 57, the main road between Kumamoto and Aso. A little farther east, stop by the Ozu Roadside Station for snacks, a bit of shopping, and the free stamp. Hint: Also look for the sweet potato vending machine, which has hot and cold ready-to-eat Karaimo-approved Ozu sweet potatoes.

Nami

Location: 2115-3 Komori, Nishihara, Aso District, Kumamoto 861-2402, Japan

Our favorite bit about the Nami statue? Oranges are a bit part of the navigator’s history, and there is an orange tree planted behind the statue.

Nami is known in part for the pinwheel tattoo on her shoulder. And Nishihara village, the home of Nami’s statue, is also known for its wind turbines, which sustained damage in the 2016 earthquake. Nearly every home in the area was destroyed or sustained at least some damage.

For the statue, look for the Nishihara store, turn into its parking area, and look for a road to the left going to the upper parking lot. The hillside location of Nami’s statue is a lovely backdrop, plus the paths along the hill make for a nice walk before continuing your statue tour. 

Bus: From Sakuramachi bus terminal, you’ll want a bus heading for Takamori, and you’ll alight at Moe no Sato – Tawarama Trailhead. The statue is about a 10-minute walk. We haven’t done this route though, and our understanding is it can be tricky to walk along the road.

Other sightseeing and activities: While you’re here, take this side quest

The nearby store is Moe no Sato. It’s a major souvenir shop and local produce market for Nishihara, and we liked stopping there for snacks. Also ask for the free stamp.

Depending on your visit time, we understand that July offers views of sunflowers fields, and fall is packed with wildflowers such as cosmos. During our November visit, there were oranges on the tree near Nami’s statue.

Usopp

Location: 1444-2 Kurokawa, Aso, Kumamoto 869-2225, Japan

The Straw Hat’s sniper stands just outside Aso Station, and behind him you can see Nakadake, one of the active volcanic craters throughout the Aso area.

Usopp is also a fan fave: Over 1,200 people attended the 2019 unveiling of his statue, complete with a brass band and choir performance of the signature One Piece theme, “We Are!”.

Tip: To the right of Usopp, look for a plaza with little fountains in it. Depending on the time of day and year, you might catch a water and music show.

Bus: From Sakuramachi Terminal, look for a bus to Aso Station. One option: Kyushu Odan Bus from platform 6; ride about 100 minutes and alight at Aso Station.

By train: From Kumamoto Station, the Hohi Lane can take you to Aso Station.

Other sightseeing and activities: While you’re here, take this side quest

Usopp’s statue has one of the best side quests. We’ll get into it more in the itineraries, but from Aso you can also visit Mt. Aso. This steaming crater is an active volcano (we saw its steam from Kumamoto Castle one afternoon).

Nakadake Crater in Aso-Kuju National Park is an amazing sight. It’s open to visitors when conditions allow. Down from the crater itself, an intriguing museum showcases the volcano and its eruption history. Our fave was a large display of camera footage, taken from a camera at the crater. The seconds of footage show the beginning of flying lava—until the camera was destroyed.

The Aso crater visiting area also has hilltop observation decks, wetland walking areas, and hiking paths, along with souvenir shops and some tasty cafes. Helicopter rides of the crater are also available, depending on conditions.

Vinsmoke Sanji

Location: 236 Kiyama, Mashiki, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto 861-2242, Japan

Just outside Kumamoto, the Mashiki area got hammered hard during the 2016 earthquake. In addition to the sports center being used long-term as an emergency shelter, the quake destroyed Mashiki’s school lunch center.

Naturally, that’s why the statue for Vinsmoke ”Black Foot” “Curly Eyebrows” Sanji, the cook for the Straw Hats, is on the grounds of the Mashiki City General Gymnasium. You’ll find Sanji just off the running track, and there’s ample parking here.

Bus: From Sakuramachi bus terminal, look for buses heading to Kiyama Kamimachi. Alight there and walk about 15 to 20 minutes to reach Mashikimachi Sports park.

Tony Tony Chopper

Location: 5-chōme-14-2 Kengun, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto, 862-0911, Japan

Like Luffy, Chopper is in Kumamoto City itself. Plus, Chopper’s location is one of the most delightful in terms of its connection to his character.

After all, the Straw Hat Pirate doctor is a reindeer. And Chopper’s statue is outside the zoo.

The Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens is easy to access via public transportation. You can figure out routes via bus or tram. In our experience, the bus drops you off just outside the zoo grounds. There’s also a paid parking lot. We took the bus from Luffy to Chopper. When we left, we enjoyed a relaxing walk through Shoguchi Park to a tram stop.

Since Chopper’s statue is outside the zoo, it’s free to visit this doctor. There are also vending machines nearby if you need a quick refreshment.

The most delightful part for us? Chopper’s statue reminded us that the One Piece statues are all life-size. Chopper’s wee size made him all the more adorable to us.

Also: Head inside the zoo’s entrance hall and ask for their really cute zoo stamp.

• Bus: Look for buses to Kumamoto Zoo.
• Tram: Look for a tram to Doubutsueniriguchi, then walk about 10 to 15 minutes.

Other sightseeing and activities: While you’re here, take this side quest

Go to the zoo, naturally.

Due to earthquake damage the zoo was closed for over a year, and some of the animals even had to be relocated during renovations and reconstruction.

And we got a cute zoo stamp. 

Before you plan the zoo, check its hours. Sometimes there are closures for ongoing repairs

Nico Robin

Location: Japan, 〒869-1404 Kumamoto, Aso District, Minamiaso, Kawayō, ５４３５ 東海大学阿蘇実習フィールド 横

If there were a contest for the most scenic location, Robin would be our favorite to win.

On top of a rise on the grounds of the former Tokai University Aso Campus in Minamiaso, Robin stands out with a demonstration of her multi-limb power, as well as a stunning backdrop of the area’s hills and forests.

Robin’s statue is also why we suggest renting a car for your One Piece statue tour. No public transportation serves this spot, which is now the Kumamoto Earthquake Memorial Museum.

Other sightseeing and activities: While you’re here, take this side quest

Robin’s statue is also where we would like to spend more time.

The earthquake damaged this campus so badly that the site is no longer used as part of the university. (Apparently there are parts of the campus where the rent faults in the ground remain visible.)

However, the campus has been given new life, as a memorial and museum. Our schedule on the day didn’t allow us time to visit here, and we consider that a shame.

On a future visit to Kumamoto, we want to come back to the museum, learn more about the earthquake and its effects on the area, and simply pay respects to those who went through the quake.

Franky

Location: 1526-5 Takamori, Aso District, Kumamoto 869-1602, Japan

You’re right: Franky’s statue is “SUUUUP-ERRRRR!”

The eighth member of the Straw Hat crew has one of the best locations. After all, not only is Franky’s statue at Aso’s Takamori Station on the JR line. In One Piece, Franky helped build a train that could travel through water. It’s rather fitting that his statue is by a train line.

We felt especially glad to see the Franky statue. In the aftermath of the 2016 earthquake, Takamori Station itself sustained so much damage that it was closed—and didn’t reopen until 2023. For our own visit in 2024, we felt all the more awe, respect, and sympathy for the folks here, and their spirits of resilience—something we admire in the Straw Hat crew too.

Train: The JR line runs from Kumamoto to Tateno Station. From there, switch to the Minamiaso Railway Line toward Takamori Station.

Bus: You’ll want to time this well. Buses run between Kumamoto City and Takamori, but our understanding is there aren’t a lot running day to day. You might consider a bus-train combo.

Other sightseeing and activities: While you’re here, take this side quest

Just outside the station, you can pose for photos with a cutout of the Sunny-Go Train. There are even dialogue cards you can hold up. Naturally, for Franky, look for the card that says, “スーパー,” or in English, “SUPER!”

When the Sunny-Go Train isn’t running, it’s parked here. During our visit we didn’t get to take the Sunny-Go, but we did get lots of photos and videos of the train itself.

Head inside Takamori Station too. As part of the station’s post-quake reconstruction, there are some really cool areas. We had two faves:

• A carpeted, shoe-free area has shelves full of manga and walls lined with messages of support, including a letter from Oda himself.
• There were a dozen free eki stamps, so make sure you bring lots of paper (or an extra notebook) for your stamps!

Also during our visit, just past the ticket counter was a vending machine selling glass bottles of Coca-Cola. And no matter when or where, there is just nothing like Coke out of a glass bottle.

Brook

Location: 42-3 Hetami, Mifune, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto 861-3206, Japan

Of all the One Piece statue locations, Brook’s is the funniest. Even Brook couldn’t believe his eyes. Though he doesn’t have any eyes, because he’s a skeleton.

Brook’s Fureai Hiroba/Friendship Park location is also very sweet. The fiddling, shark guitar-playing musician for the Straw Hat Pirates would indeed be right at home in Mifune, near the Heisei College of Music. The earthquake damaged the college, so Brook has come to play music for the students and citizens.

The best part, though?

Mifune is home to Mifunemachi Kyoryu Hakubutsukan. In other words, a dinosaur museum.

Dinosaur museums showcase bones.

And Brook is all bones.

Bus: From Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, look for buses that head toward Mifune. Alight at the dinosaur museum bus stop (it’s the Mifunemachi Kyoryu Hakubutsukan stop). A short walk of about 5-10 minutes will have you at the park. Brook’s statue is a little past the main entrance.

Other sightseeing and activities: While you’re here, take this side quest

Friendship Park is a great spot to stretch your legs. The extensive grounds have fields, exercise equipment, and playgrounds, perfect for kids and adults to move around after their statue tour exertions. There’s also an ice cream shop near the entrance.

Naturally, the main thing to add in while you’re in Mifune is a visit to the dinosaur museum. In addition to extensive dinosaur fossil collections and reconstructions of major dinosaurs, the museum has also been home to temporary special exhibitions, such as a Pokemon-themed exhibition in 2024.

Jinbe

Location: 3162-1 Sumiyoshimachi, Uto, Kumamoto 869-0401, Japan

Just as the whale-shark fish-man First Knight of the Sea was the last crew member to join the Straw Hat Pirates, Jinbe’s statue was the last statue to be installed, in 2022. He’s also probably your last stop on a One Piece statue tour.

And the location is stunning. While Luffy and Chopper are in Kumamoto City and 7 of the other crew members are throughout the eastern part of Kumamoto Prefecture, Jinbe’s statue is southwest of Kumamoto City, on the Uto Peninsula. From the seaside location on the Ariake Peninsula, you can see Mt. Unzen and the hills of Unzen-Amakusa National Park in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Fortunately, Jinbe is sitting. Remember: The statues are life-size. If you thought Jinbe was impressive in the manga or anime, it’s another thing to be next to his statue and realize just how big Jinbe really is.

Tip: Given Jinbe’s seaside location, some people time their Jinbe visit with sunset. We’d likely do this ourselves on a future visit, but we’d want to drive instead of timing things right and worrying about catching the bus back to Kumamoto.

Bus: Jinbe’s statue isn’t hard to get to, but it is more out of the way. From Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, look for buses that go out to Uto and Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park, and alight at the Nagabeta bus stop (about 40 minutes). Buses run only every hour to a couple of hours or so. Keep an eye on the schedule to make sure you catch the one you want. From the bus stop, you’ll walk along the road to the statue area in Sumiyoshi Park. You’ll often be walking on the road shoulder, so be cautious as traffic is passing close by.

Car: It’s an easy drive to here from Kumamoto, and there’s a free parking lot for visiting the park, Jinbe statue, and gift shop.

Other sightseeing and activities: While you’re here, take this side quest

If you can, time your visit for low tide. This area is home to extensive aquaculture, such as sea greens harvesting. During low tide, the water recedes enough to expose the paved strip of the Nagabeta Sea Road. Wandering along this road is a great chance for photos, views of Nagasaki Prefecture beyond, and glimpses of sea life and birds.

Regardless of the tide, Jinbe’s statue is next to okagesama MOBA. This shop sells One Piece merch, local treats, and prepared ready-to-eat foods. An outside dining area is a great spot to nibble on sweet potato treats and fried chicken. We also greatly enjoyed the various sea green snacks we picked up too.

Getting around Kumamoto: How to visit all 10 statues

What’s the best way to visit all One Piece statues in Kumamoto?

Your self-serve options come down to public transportation or driving.

Public transportation: Bus, train, tram

Doable, but takes more walking, more time, and some statues are far from stops

Kumamoto’s extensive tram and bus services can be handy to get to some statues, but travel times will be longer. Your schedule is also much more dependent on following the bus schedules, especially for statues in far-flung areas, such as Jinbe’s.

In town, the tram or bus can easily get you to Luffy’s statue and Chopper’s statue.

While buses are infrequent for going to and returning from Jinbe’s statue in Uto, it’s doable. Just be mindful of the bus schedule. Use your phone mapping app, such as Google Maps, to stay clued into the schedule.

Train services can get you to a couple of statues, such as Usopp and Franky.

However, transit will be tricky or a no-go for many statues, such as Robin and Nami.

If you want to rely mostly on public transportation, you can combine it with walking to visit statues. Expect long days with some good exertion though.

If you want to use public transportation to visit the One Piece statues, you’ll also want to break this into a few days, such as 2, 3, or even 4 days. You’ll need extra time to travel there and back via public transportation, and many statues will require walking good distances from the nearest stop.

No Suica, Pasmo, or other IC cards but one: For public transport, you’ ll need to pay cash or get a Kumamon card

If you’ve been learning about using Japan’s IC cards, such as Suica or Pasmo, for things like public transport, you’ll want to be ready for this one thing in Kumamoto.

At the end of 2024, Kumamoto Prefecture introduced its own IC card, the Kumamon card.

Public transportation in Kumamoto no longer accepts any IC card but Kumamon.

There’s also not a phone or credit card option (technically there’s an app, but it’s tied to accounts at one Japanese bank). When paying for transit in Kumamoto Prefecture, you’ll need to use either cash or your Kumamon card.

The Kumamon card can be used throughout Kumamoto. But only Kumamoto.

You can purchase Kumamon cards from Lawson convenience stores.

We found it far easier to get ours at Sakuramachi Bus Terminal. Head to the bus ticket office on the third floor. As of 2024, the cost is ¥2,000, cash only.

You can top up your card’s balance with cash at machines inside bus stations, at Lawson, or at Higo Bank branches. You can also tell the bus or tram driver that you want to top up your card at the fare box, but we found it much easier to use the machine near platform 1 inside Sakuramachi Bus Terminal.

About the Kumamon Card

Car

Our preferred and recommended option, especially with kids

Renting a car means you can travel at your pace, and all statues are easy drives with nearby parking

While visiting the One Piece statues by public transportation is possible, renting a car is better and more convenient—especially if you want to visit all 10 in one day.

Kumamoto has multiple places where visitors can rent a car. Check driving requirements for your nationality to drive a vehicle in Japan. We are US citizens, and we needed an International Driving Permit (IDL), which we got from AAA back in the USA before we left. With our IDL and a credit card, we found renting a car easy. Cars were fuel-efficient, and driving on the left was a smooth and quick transition for us.

Plus, navigating Japan by car is much easier with a mapping app, just like you might at home. We set routes via Google Maps, and had no problems finding the statues.

Rent a car in Kumamoto

One Piece statue tour itineraries

Depending on how much time you can allot for your One Piece statue tour, we’ve laid out 2 example itineraries below. We’re going to focus on seeing the statues by car, and longer itineraries will include suggestions for side trips near the statues.

Note: for dining, we don’t usually recommend specific restaurants, since Japan is so full of good food, you pretty much just have to follow your eyes and nose. We’ll note places we stopped though, along with any useful locations for vending machines when you want a quick refreshment.

What about public transportation?

Train, bus, and tram schedules change all the time. Plus, how you get around via public transportation depends on your schedule and where you are in Kumamoto.

Our One Piece statue tour map gives locations for each statue. From those, you can tap or click into each statue to view it in Google Maps. Maps pulls in Kumamoto public transportation info, including its public bus system, tram, and trains such as the JR line.

We used buses and trams to visit Luffy, Chopper one day, and Jinbe on another day. Having transit schedules up on our phones made it easy to plan well and be at our stops at the right time.

If you want to see the statues via public transportation, also keep in mind that no transit goes directly to where the Robin statue is. Our understanding is that folks either walk or arrange a taxi.

What’s the driving distance like to visit all 10 One Piece statues?

If we use Luffy as a starting point and Jinbe as an end point, driving to all 10 statues will cover at least 155 km, or 96 miles.

Once you include driving to Luffy, side quests, and driving from Jinbe back to your chosen end point in Kumamoto (eg, it’s about 21 km or 13 miles from Jinbe to Kumamoto Station), you’re probably adding at least another 50 km, or 31 miles.

Padding that out, let’s estimate your total driving distance as 205 km, or 128 miles.

How long will it take to drive to each One Piece statue?

Starting at Luffy and finishing at Jinbe, it takes at least 4 hours to drive to each One Piece statue in a row.

That doesn’t include getting to Luffy from wherever you start in Kumamoto. Nor does it include leaving Jinbe and driving to your end point in Kumamoto.

Estimate another 40 minutes to drive from Jinbe to Kumamoto Station.

Let’s break down the numbers more, with a few estimates:

• 20 minutes: Driving from your starting point to Luffy
• 4 hours: Total drive time from Luffy to each statue, finishing at Jinbe
• 4 hours: Assuming that you visit each statue for 20 minutes, that’s about 3.5 hours. We’ll pad that out with another 30 minutes for getting in and out of the car, having a snack/beverage, toilet breaks, and such
• 40 minutes: Driving from Jinbe to Kumamoto Station
• 2 hours: Meals, window shopping, souvenirs, station stamps, leg stretching, and being absolutely gobsmacked at how pretty the countryside is, especially around Aso. This might take less time, but we’d be surprised if it did.

All told, at a minimum, a 1-day One Piece statue tour will take about 11 hours.

How much more time will it take if we do all of the side quests?

If you did all the side stops—roadside station, the Earthquake Museum, Aso Volcano Museum, the crater, the airport mural, and the shops—you’re easily adding at least 2 more hours. Another 3-4 hours is more realistic.

1-day itinerary: Visit all 10 One Piece statues in 1 day (hard mode)

If you only have one day to visit all 10 One Piece statues, you can pull it off. It’s going to be a big day though, and our itinerary focuses solely on the statues.

We’ll list out small side quests such as snack and stamp stops, as well as the One Piece mural at the airport, and we’ll finish at the Mugiwara Store in Kumamoto Station’s Amu Plaza shopping center.

If possible, arrive in Kumamoto the day before, and visit Luffy and Chopper. You’ll get two statues out of the way, and that will add some breathing room to your tour day. Then, your full tour day can focus solely on the statues outside of Kumamoto City, and you might free up enough time for bigger side quests, such as the Earthquake Museum or the Mt. Aso crater area.

You’ll definitely want to rent a car. Pick it up in the afternoon or evening (check hours for when the rental shop closes). Then you can immediately hit the road on tour day.

For a 1-day trip, see the One Piece statues in this order

1-day itinerary map

Look at route and driving directions

Get an early start the next day, and go in this order:

• Luffy
• Chopper
• Zoro
• Optional: Stop for a snack (and free stamp) at the Ozu Roadside Station, just a few minutes past Zoro’s statue
• Robin
• Usopp
• Optional: Get the free stamp inside Aso Station, and stop at the gift shop and farmer market across from the station
• From Usopp, you can drive south through Aso-Kuju National Park to get to Franky’s statue at Takamori Station
• Franky (and if it’s parked there, the Sunny-Go Train)
• Optional: Nip into Takamori Station, which Franky faces, for the free stamps and to check out the letters of support, including from Oda, lining the walls.
• Nami
• Optional: Grab snacks, gifts, souvenirs, and the free stamp from inside the Moe no Sato Nishihara store
• Optional: Swing by Aso-Kumamoto Airport to see the 100 Great Pirate Scenes Mural
• Sanji
• Brook
• Jinbe: Consider timing your visit to the Jinbe statue to coincide with sunset.
• Finish: Back in Kumamoto, go by the mural and Mugiwara Store in Amu Plaza at Kumamoto Station. After such a big day on the road, the food court area in Amu Plaza makes it easy and affordable to get dinner, snacks, and treats for your entire pirate crew.

Like we said, it’s going to be a big day.

2-day itinerary: 5×5 with a Jinbe sunset (normal mode)

For a 2-day trip, see the One Piece statues in this order

2-day itinerary map

Look at route and driving directions

The breakneck pace of a 1-day tour is also why we’d suggest, if you can, that you allocate at least 2 days. Then you can take in not only the One Piece statues, but the side quests and highlights along the way.

The Aso crater area especially is a must-visit when in Kumamoto, and we’re not even getting into the in-town attractions, such as Kumamoto Castle or Suizenji Park.

Visiting all 10 One Piece statues in 2 days is still a decent haul, but you have more breathing room to pull it off. It’s going to be a big 2 days though, especially to spend time on the worthwhile but optional side quests.

Day 1 itinerary

• Start: Luffy
• Optional: Ajisen Ramen
• Chopper
• Optional: Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Garden
• Sanji
• Brook
• Optional: Mifune Dinosaur Museum
• Jinbe: Consider timing your visit to the Jinbe statue to coincide with sunset.
• Optional: Gifts, souvenirs, and snacks at okagesama MOBA, plus a wander along Nagabeta Seabed Road if the tide and conditions are favorable
• Finish: Back in Kumamoto, go by the mural and Mugiwara Store in Amu Plaza at Kumamoto Station. After such a big day on the road, the food court area in Amu Plaza makes it easy and affordable to get dinner, snacks, and treats for your entire pirate crew.

Day 2 itinerary

• Start: Aso-Kumamoto Airport to see the 100 Great Pirate Scenes Mural
• Nami
• Optional: Grab snacks, gifts, souvenirs, and the free stamp from inside the Moe no Sato Nishihara store
• Franky (and if it’s parked there, the Sunny-Go Train)
• Optional: Nip into Takamori Station, which Franky faces, for the free stamps and to check out the letters of support, including from Oda, lining the walls.
• From Franky and Takamori Station, you can drive north through Aso-Kuju National Park to get to Usopp’s statue at Aso Station
• Optional: Aso Volcano Museum (plus snacks/meal at the cafe nearby
• Optional: Aso Nakadake Crater. If conditions allow and you’ve buffered your time, the volcano is worth a visit, especially when you can get right up to the rim.
• Usopp
• Optional: Get the free stamp inside Aso Station, and stop at the gift shop and farmer market across from the station
• Robin
• Optional: After seeing Robin’s statue, take up to 30 minutes to visit the grounds and exhibits at the Earthquake Museum
• Optional: Stop for a snack (and free stamp) at the Ozu Roadside Station, just a few minutes past Zoro’s statue
• Zoro

The power of this itinerary? You can spend more time with some of the amazing places in and around Kumamoto. At the same time, you can skip any side quests that don’t interest you.

What about 3 days, 4 days, or more?

While 2 days gives you a good pace to visit the statues, Kumamoto itself deserves as much time as you can give this small city on Kyushu. You’ll also have more opportunity to build in time for more of Kumamoto’s must-see attractions.

For stays in Kumamoto longer than 2 days, here are some ideas to help you mix and match your own Kumamoto and One Piece statue tour itinerary:

• Half-day or day at Kumamoto Castle, grounds, Kumamoto Castle Museum, and Sakura-no-baba Josaien shopping area
• Suizenji Jojuen Garden
• Sakuramachi Shopping Center, including the gift shop with One Piece souvenirs on floor BF1 as well as the Kumamon gift shop on F3
• Stay overnight in Aso, then have a day that includes the Usopp statue plus visiting Mt. Aso, touring the crater overlook, exploring at the museum, and wandering the trails and overlooks
• Ride the Sunny-Go Train
• Soak in an onsen in the Aso area
• Visit the forest’s Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine
• More ideas for things to do in and around Kumamoto

Our itinerary when we visited all 10 One Piece statues

How did our family of four visit the One Piece statues? We were staying in Kumamoto for a few weeks. That helped us break up our statue visits into more manageable chunks over 4 non-consecutive days.

Day 1

Using the bus and tram, we visited:

• Luffy
• Ajisen Ramen
• Chopper (and zoo stamp)
• Mugiwara store and One Piece mural at Kumamoto Station’s Amu Plaza

Hint: A fall visit can be a wonderful time. Gingko trees line both sides of the plaza where Luffy is, and if you time it right, the leaves will be a brilliant gold. Overall, the weather is pretty temperate, and the fall colors in the countryside add so much beauty and appreciation to our Kyushu road trip.

Day 2

For our daughter’s birthday, we rented a car to visit 6 more statues and other attractions, including:

• Zoro
• Ozu Roadside Station (and stamp)
• Robin (and wished we had had more time for the Earthquake Museum)
• Franky and Takamori Station (including the stamps and the display area showing manga and letters of support)
• Nami and Moe No Sato store
• Sanji
• Brook
• Finished with dinner at Kura Sushi

This day has some of the fondest memories of our travels (and between you and me, that’s saying a lot). However, we really wished we’d had time for the Earthquake Museum, and probably at least a little time at the Mifune Dinosaur Museum near Brook.

Darn—I guess we’ll just have to go back to Kumamoto!

Day 3

Jinbe.

Since Jinbe is out of town in a totally different area, we took a bus from Sakuramachi Bus Terminal to Uto. While there we also got some snacks from the shop. Our afternoon visit coincided with low tide, and it was fun to wander down the sea road, all the while looking toward the hills of Nagasaki Prefecture on the far side of the Ariake Sea.

Day 4

Even though Usopp is one of the first to join the Straw Hats, his statue is the one we visited last. We combined visiting Usopp with a day at Mt. Aso.

Favorable conditions had the crater overlook open, so we first went to the overlook and wandered the crater area. After all, Usopp’s statue isn’t going anywhere, but crater conditions are subject to change. We’d suggest prioritizing the crater, then heading to Usopp.

From the crater overlook we visited the Aso Volcano Museum, checked out some of the grounds and overlooks in the overall park area, and had some snacks and refreshments at the on-site cafe.

Then we headed to Usopp, got a stamp from Aso Station, and had a peek at the shop and farmer’s market across the street.

See our family’s experience in this One Piece statue tour vlog

Guided Kumamoto One Piece Statue Tours are also available

If you’d prefer to leave the driving and other logistics to someone else, you can also book a guided tour to visit all 10 One Piece statues.

If you’re a One Piece fan, you want to visit all 10 statues in Japan

One Piece has enthralled fans around the world since the 1990s. Kumamoto is deeply steeped in One Piece fandom.

There’s an abundance of One Piece-themed places in Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. And nowhere else in the world, even nowhere else in Japan, has One Piece statues like Kumamoto.

When you plan your trip to Japan, a tour of the One Piece statues deserves to be a priority in your travel plans, along with shops, trains, and more.

Now there’s only one thing left to, Straw Hat. Put the ultimate One Piece fan tour guide to Japan to work. So sure, ride the One Piece Shinkansen in Osaka, or head to Mugiwara stores in Tokyo. But above all, head to Kyushu, and make your Kumamoto One Piece Statue Tour dreams come true!

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