The 14 Best Day Trips from Kumamoto
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 14 good day trips from Kumamoto, Japan, led by Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Kagoshima. The closest is Ōmuta, about 40 min by car, and 1 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 14 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Kumamoto
- 1
Fukuoka, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car92 km north of KumamotoKnown for 名島水上飛行場跡.
- 2
Kitakyushu, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car117 km north of Kumamoto - 3
Kagoshima, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car138 km south of Kumamoto - 4
Ōita, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car97 km north-east of Kumamoto - 5
Nagasaki, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car76 km west of Kumamoto - 6
Miyazaki, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car120 km south-east of Kumamoto - 7
Kurume, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 10 min by car59 km north of Kumamoto - 8
Shimonoseki, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car130 km north of Kumamoto - 9
Sasebo, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car99 km north-west of Kumamoto - 10
Saga, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 10 min by car60 km north-west of Kumamoto - 11
Ube, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car137 km north of Kumamoto - 12
Miyakonojō, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car124 km south of Kumamoto - 13
Isahaya, Japan
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 10 min by car61 km west of Kumamoto - 14
Ōmuta, Japan
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car34 km north-west of Kumamoto
A sample day: Kumamoto to Fukuoka
- 08:30Leave Kumamoto
- 09:55Arrive in Fukuoka (1 hr 25 min drive)
- 10:10名島水上飛行場跡
- 12:10Lunch
- 13:25Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Fukuoka
- 15:55Head back to Kumamoto
- 17:20Home in Kumamoto
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Kumamoto?
- The best day trips from Kumamoto are Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Kagoshima, Ōita, Nagasaki. The closest is Ōmuta, about 40 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Kumamoto?
- Ōmuta is the closest, 34 km north-west of Kumamoto, roughly 40 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Kumamoto?
- One place is within about an hour's drive of Kumamoto: Ōmuta (40 min).
- What is the biggest city near Kumamoto for a day out?
- Fukuoka is the largest city in day-trip range, 92 km north of Kumamoto and about 1 hr 25 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Kumamoto?
- For a weekend away from Kumamoto, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Kagoshima (138 km, 2 hr 10 min), Ube (137 km, 2 hr 10 min), Shimonoseki (130 km, 2 hr), Miyakonojō (124 km, 1 hr 55 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Kumamoto?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Kagoshima at 138 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.
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