Welcome to Kumamoto City! JR Kumamoto Station is one of Kumamoto City’s major transportation hubs with access to local and Shinkansen trains, the City Tram, local and long-distance buses, and taxis. This post will tell you all you need to know about Kumamoto Station, plus some extra recommendations on great things to eat and do!

Enormous renovations and construction were completed on Kumamoto Station and the surrounding shopping areas in 2021, resulting in the opening of two major shopping and dining facilities at Kumamoto Station: Higo Yokamon Ichiba and Amu Plaza . Let’s take a look inside each to see what they have to offer.

Opposite the entrances to the Shinkansen and local train platforms, you'll find Higo Yokamon Ichiba, a food court/souvenir mall with a lot of local dining options. A tourist info desk is located at the central entrance. There are a few convenience stores here if you need an ATM, and there is also a 100 yen shop to the rear.

Higo Yokamon Ichiba is essentially all of Kumamoto’s most famous souvenirs, foods, and drinks, all in one place. The kokuto donut sticks at Fuji Bambi are one of Kumamoto’s most popular hometown snacks and are available in a variety of tasty flavors. A box of donut sticks makes a great souvenir!

Fuji Bambi

Hours: 9AM-8PM

Kyushu is famous for its shochu (a distilled spirit), with the rice shochu from Kumamoto’s southern region of Kuma being especially popular. Ushijima Saketen is a liquor shop in Higo Yokamon Ichiba with a wide selection of local shochu and excellent Kumamoto sake to taste and take home. 

Ushijima Saketen

Hours: 9AM-8PM

Kumamoto is also famous for its Kumamoto ramen. Traditionally, Kumamoto-style ramen is tonkotsu soup with the addition of garlic chips and/or garlic oil. Tengaiten—famous for its ramen with a garlicky punch—is one of Kumamoto’s most popular ramen shops and has a location here at Higo Yokamon Ichiba.

Tengaiten

Hours: 11AM-8PM

Heading back towards the train platforms, go out the Shirakawa Exit of the station and to your right you’ll find Amu Plaza Kumamoto, a large mall with restaurants and great shopping. Directly ahead is the platform for the tram, and to your left you'll find the taxi area and bus stops that will take you to downtown Kumamoto City.

Inside Amu Plaza, you’ll find all kinds of clothing stores and hobby shops, plus cafes and dining spots. There is also a supermarket and deli section located to the rear of the 1^st floor, which is a good spot to pick up a bento for lunch.

Anime and manga fans should definitely stop by the One Piece Mugiwara Store on the 6^th floor. Kumamoto is the hometown of Eiichiro Oda, creator of One Piece, one of Japan's most popular anime and manga. With the unveiling of bronze statues of One Piece characters throughout the prefecture, Kumamoto has recently become a mecca for die-hard One Piece fans. The Mugiwara Store offers all kinds of limited release and rare One Piece swag, plus some life-sized statues of the characters to take selfies with.

One Piece Mugiwara Store

6^th Floor

Hours: 10AM-8PM

With the opening of Amu Plaza in 2021, Kumamoto also got its first Cinnabon shop. Fans of these gooey cinnamon rolls used to have to go all the way to Fukuoka to get a taste but can now get their fix at Amu Plaza. The café space overlooks the plaza in front of the station and is a great place to relax as you enjoy your cinnamon roll.

Cinnabon & Seattle’s Best Coffee

2^nd Floor

Hours: 10AM-8PM

If you’re looking for a tasty meal, be sure to check out Seafood Beer Station on the 7^th floor of Amu Plaza. Owned and operated by Kumamoto’s Diamond Brewing, Seafood Beer Station offers Diamond’s own beers, plus guests brews from other local and global craft breweries. The seafood dishes are also locally sourced, beautifully arranged, and delicious.

Seafood Beer Station

7^th Floor

Hours: 11AM-10:30PM

There’s plenty more to explore at Kumamoto Station and Amu Plaza, so be sure to schedule in at least a couple hours here for shopping and dining the next time you’re in Kumamoto!