Private Tour
Kumamoto Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced English-speaking tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Kumamoto!
Kumamoto, located on Kyushu island in southern Japan, strikes a perfect balance between a bustling city fringed by tranquil countryside. The center of the city features its greatest landmark, Kumamoto-jo castle, but a tempting collection of restaurants, bars and shops can also be found nearby.
Let us know what you would like to experience, and your guide will arrange a four-hour tour that's best for you!
Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.
Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Note*3: This tour does not allow for pick up at the Yatsuhiro Port.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot. No Private Vehicle is included.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Licensed Local English-speaking Guide
Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Kumamoto city
Customizable Tour of your choice of 2-3 sites from 'What to expect' list
Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Private transportation
This tour does not allow for pick up at the Yatsuhiro Port.
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle (熊本城, Kumamotojō) is one of the most impressive castles in Japan. With large castle grounds and a variety of buildings, Kumamoto Castle offers its visitors one of the most complete castle experiences in Japan. Only a few structures have survived the centuries since the castle's construction in 1607 intact. The castle keep and most other buildings are modern reconstructions, but the reconstructions are mostly of a high quality and new buildings are continually being added. With about 800 cherry trees, the castle becomes a popular cherry blossom spot usually in late March and early April.
Suizenji Jojuen Garden
Suizenji Garden (水前寺成趣園, Suizenji Jōjuen) is a spacious, Japanese style landscape garden in Kumamoto, best enjoyed by strolling along a circular path. It was built by the Hosokawa family in the 17th century. The garden reproduces the 53 post stations of the Tokaido, the important road, which connected Edo with Kyoto during the Edo Period, in miniature form, including a small Mt. Fuji.
Options
Kumamoto Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Pickup included
Reviews
11 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Reigando Cave and the life of Musashi Miyamoto.
Resort93002,
Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Kenzo honored my request that we go to Reigando Cave, where legendary samurai and philosopher penned his famous Book of Five Rings. Kenzo is a terrific guide well versed in Kumamoto history and the life of Musashi Miyamoto. We finished our tour at the lovely farm to table restaurant “Kokopelli”. Wonderful four hour tour!
Three kumamoto highlights in a half day
K6573IIfrankb,
Aug 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide was Kenzo Ito. He leads tours in Tokyo and Kumamoto. Kumamoto is his hometown and he knows it well. His explanations were both interesting and educational. We explored the castle and grounds, the Suizenji gardens and the former residence of Natsume Soseki. Lunch was at a Yoka-Yoka for some local style beef. To do all this we did have to use a taxi twice but it was worth it. I recommend this schedule because you get to experience a bit of everything around. Thank you Kenzo san for a great tour.
Great guide Kenzo Ito, Great tour and places to see.
Susan B,
Aug 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The guide Kenzo Ito was great. It was a very hot day and he did a great job with managing our needs with the heat. We went to the Kumamoto castle Suizenji gardens and Uchitsuboi author house plus lunch at Akaushi yoka yoka. Kenzo was very knowledgeable and fun to talk to. He structured the tour by asking what we were interested in. He also went out of his way after the tour was over to walk us to a Lawsons store so we could pick up our concert tickets for the next day and helped translate the machine. Above and beyond. Great tour. Great guide. Great places to visit.
The guide Kenzo was...
Susan B,
Aug 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The guide Kenzo was great. It was a very hot day and he did a great job with managing our needs with the heat. We went to the Kumamoto castle Suizenji gardens and Uchitsuboi author house plus lunch at Akaushi yoka yoka. Kenzo was very knowledgeable and fun to talk to. He structured the tour by asking what we were interested in. He also went out of his way after the tour was over to walk us to a Lawsons store so we could pick up our concert tickets for the next day and helped translate the machine. Above and beyond. Great tour. Great guide. Great places to visit.
Merci kenzo
THOMAS R,
May 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Kenzo is a very good guide with good life experience. Very considerate for the whole group. The visit to the castle was very good.
Wonderful MEIKO!
AnaBelenGP11,
Mar 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We have the best time with MIEKO at Kumamoto. She contact me to explain the best options to get from my cruise to Kumamoto. We visit Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Gardens. At Kumamoto Castle she suggest to rent ninja customs for my kids. Inside the castle she explain everything really nice. In Suizenji gardens she take us the best pintures and explain the Sakura Season.
Such a knowledgeable guide!
lsmilburn2019,
Mar 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mieko was an incredible guide. I feel very fortunate that we got to spend a half day her. Her knowledge of Shoguns, emperors, Samurai, and Kumamoto is amazing! I always have about 1000 questions, and she knew the answers to 99% of them! She was also very receptive to customizing our tour to address our requests. I cannot recommend her more!
Phenomenal Tour Guide
Maxine B,
Aug 25, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide Jun was very informative. He had a binder with visuals to ensure nothing would get lost in translation. In addition he assisted us with transportation to and from our cruise ship. He is one of the best tour guides we have encountered.
Great tour with Mieko
Y1166BLstephens,
Dec 3, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mieko is an excellent guide. We had a beautiful day to tour Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Jojuen gardens. I learned a lot and can't recommend Mieko enough.
A wonderful tour in Kumamoto with local guide Mieko san
Nomad717546,
Oct 22, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We visit the Kumamoto castle, and Suienzi garden; also the Traditional culture museum. Private guide provide a more leisure course that suit our family (with one little baby) without hustle or fuzz. Our tour guide Mieko also showed good professionalism on introduction to the castle's special building techniques. And also on the Higo Samurai culture and art
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Operated by Japan Guide Agency