Choose from 2 main epicenters in this Kyushu city
When you’re traveling around Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, where to stay in Kumamoto with kids presents good options. While Kumamoto is a much smaller city than Tokyo, the city abounds with convenient, clean, safe hotels. Plus, you can find vacation rentals, which can be a better fit for families.
During our family of four’s month-long stay in Kumamoto, we stayed in a vacation rental near the Sakura Machi Bus Terminal, shopping center, and Kumamoto Castle. We’re going to break down some of the areas we’d suggest when visiting Kumamoto City as well as out and about in the Aso area of Kumamoto Prefecture.
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Things to keep in mind when searching Kumamoto accommodation
If you’re more accustomed to stays in the USA, Canada, or Europe, finding accommodation in Japan can be a little different from what you might be familiar with. Here are a few observations based on our experience traveling in Japan with kids and when figuring out where to stay in Kumamoto:
- Accommodation can be a spendier part of your overall trip budget, but you’ll find clean, safe places to stay throughout budget ranges
- Spaces can be tighter and smaller, especially in hotel rooms
- Vacation rentals often run small. Since we often stay in one place for a few weeks, we prefer to have more space. This can be challenging in many Japanese cities depending on their availability, how close to town you want to be, and your overall budget
- Central locations make it easier to take advantage of Japan’s excellent public transportation
- Locations away from the city center, in suburbs, or a little outside cities can still have access to transportation, but you’ll want to account for that in your travel times.
- Rentals vary greatly in terms of how well-stocked the kitchen is, or how much space you might have for sleeping and day-to-day life
- Rentals usually have some pots and pans, a rice cooker, kettle, and enough place settings for your party. If something isn’t there, in our experience we can ask our host about it. Especially when guests are staying longer, hosts might bring additional supplies.
- If staying in a hotel, take advantage of lobby and lounging areas to extend your space
Accommodation around Kumamoto Station
When arriving in Kumamoto via train (including the Shinkansen), you’ll start your adventure at Kumamoto Station. The Amu Plaza shopping center here makes for a convenient place to snag affordable meals, take care of shopping, and indulge some One Piece fandom thanks to a photo-friendly mural and a Mugiwara Store of One Piece merch.
From Kumamoto Station, you can also easily catch local buses or the local tram. Both are affordable and indispensable for visiting Kumamoto’s attractions, including Kumamoto Castle.
Accommodation around Kumamoto Castle, the Sakura Machi Shopping Center, and Bus Terminal area
Just a few tram stops or bus stops from Kumamoto Station, the Sakura Machi area can be a great base for your Kumamoto stay. It’s home to more accommodation than Kumamoto Station. Plus, being here makes it easier to snag buses and trams, plus you’re close to attractions and sightseeing.
Here are a few reasons why we preferred the Sakura Machi area:
- Multiple hotels within a short walk of the tram stops and bus terminal
- Sakura Machi has an excellent basement-level food court, complete with a supermarket for groceries and budget-friendly prepared foods (we especially enjoyed a family-size salmon sushi, and a tonkatsu bigger than my hands)
- Kumamoto Castle is a walk, or quick tram ride, away
- The covered streets here are home to an array of local and chain restaurants, convenience stores, and other shopping. Plus, the people-watching is first-rate, as this is a popular area for locals and visitors alike
- Being near the bus station makes it especially easy to get out and about in Kumamoto.
During our month stay in Kumamoto, we found this area an easy and safe base for us and our kids, whether for sightseeing nearby or when we headed to other parts of town or the countryside.
Where to stay in the Aso area
About an hour and a half drive east of Kumamoto, the Aso area can be a day trip from Kumamoto. However, if you want to spend more time at attractions, you can get more out of your visit by staying locally.
Aso is home to a convenient train station, a lovely farmer market and regional goods/souvenir shop, one of the 10 One Piece statues, onsens, and above all, an active volcano you can visit.
We visited Aso as part of a day trip from Kumamoto. However, if you wanted to overnight as part of a larger road trip, or simply wanted a few days in the Aso area, there are quite a few places to stay in and around Aso.
Good places to stay make your Kumamoto trip all the more enjoyable, especially with kids
From hotels to vacation rentals, Kumamoto, Aso, and other parts of Kumamoto Prefecture abound with excellent places to stay. Our month-long visit in Kumamoto left us wanting to return to this part of Kyushu. It’s a great place to visit with kids, and you can find family friendly places to stay in Kumamoto City, Aso, and beyond.
