The Kumamoto City Tram helps thousands of people navigate Kumamoto City each day. It’s cheap (flat rate of ¥180 for adults, ¥90 for kids), super easy to use, and is a great way to see the city.

Kumamoto’s trams first started running in 1924. Some of the trams in use date back to the 1950s but still incorporate modern comforts like contactless payment and cushioned seats. The older trams have well-worn wooden floors and vintage bronze controls that make you feel like you’ve stepped into an old movie.

Keep your eye out also for COCORO, the newest tram on the block. COCORO is a sleek yet comfortable two-car tram designed by Eiji Mitooka, the same designer behind some of Kyushu’s fanciest trains, like the Seven Stars of Kyushu ultra-luxury liner and the Tsubame Shinkansen.

Real-time location data for trams is available here: https://www.kumamoto-city-tram.jp/Sys/web01 (use the menu at the upper right to change the language).