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Kumamoto Airport to central Kumamoto: how to get out of the airport

Rebuilt with a new terminal after the 2016 earthquake. The limousine bus runs into the city in about an hour.

Updated

30 minquickest published run into central Kumamoto
1,000 yencheapest published fare into central Kumamoto
400 yencoin locker, smallest size
6ways into the city listed here

KyushuInternational flightsCourier counter

Getting from Kumamoto Airport into central Kumamoto

What the airport itself publishes for each way in.

Ways into central Kumamoto from Kumamoto Airport, from the airport's own access pages
RouteTransportToTimeFare
Kyusanko limousine busBusKumamoto Station65min1,400yen
Kyusanko limousine busBusSakuramachi Kumamoto Bus Terminal45min1,400yen
Kyusanko limousine busBusKumamoto Prefectural Office30min1,000yen
Kyusanko limousine busBusSuizenji Park35min1,000yen
TaxiTaxiKumamoto Station45min6,100yen
TaxiTaxithe Aso area45min10,800yen

How long each way in takes

Bus to Kumamoto Station65 min
Bus to Sakuramachi Kumamoto Bus Terminal45 min
Bus to Kumamoto Prefectural Office30 min
Bus to Suizenji Park35 min
Taxi to Kumamoto Station45 min
Taxi to the Aso area45 min

Step by step from Kumamoto Airport

Every route we cover, with first and last departures and where to board: airport transfers.

Sending your bags on, or leaving them here

Japan's courier network reaches this airport, so a case can go to your hotel without you.

Who runs it
Yamato Transport
How long it takes
Next day, or the day after for some areas.

Coin lockers

What it costs to put a bag down for the day.

Coin locker rates at Kumamoto Airport per a use
SizeInsidePrice
Small—400yen
MediumW352 × D678 × H516mm600yen
LargeW450 × D678 × H561mm700yen
Extra largeW450 × D678 × H1152mm1,000yen

Getting online

This is a smaller airport, so arrange an eSIM before you fly rather than counting on a counter in the arrivals hall.

eSIM
Bought before you leave home and installed over Wi-Fi, so you land connected. Needs a phone that takes an eSIM and is not carrier-locked.
Prepaid SIM
Sold at the arrivals counters and vending machines at the larger airports. You swap your physical SIM — keep the old one safe.
Pocket Wi-Fi
A rented router for several devices at once. Picked up and dropped back at the airport counter, or posted back.
Free Wi-Fi
Available in the terminal. It stops when you leave the building.

Inside Kumamoto Airport

Opening hours, lounges, cash, SIM rental and free Wi-Fi at Kumamoto Airport, as the airport lists them on its own pages.

Opening hours
06:30–21:30; the closing time can change with the flight schedule.
Staying overnight
The airport says passengers who arrive before 06:30 for an early flight are not let in, for security reasons.
Lounge
Lounge ASO, 3F, boarding waiting area, after security (06:30 until the last flight departs) — Free for airline lounge guests and some gold card members.
Lounge
Lounge G, Sorayoka Visitor Center (09:00–19:00) — A themed rest space with free massage chairs, for departing and arriving passengers.
Currency exchange
Foreign exchange machine (passport required), 1F Arrival Lobby (08:00–21:00).
ATMs
Higo Bank, Kumamoto Bank and Seven Bank, 1F lobby.
SIM and pocket Wi-Fi
Town WiFi rental locker, 1F.
Free Wi-Fi
KUMAMOTO Free Wi-Fi.
Sending a bag on
Yamato Transport counter, 1F Arrival Lobby (08:00–18:00).
Leaving or sending a bag
Yamato Transport counter inside the boarding lounge, 3F, inside the boarding lounge (10:00–19:00).
Prayer room
1F Arrival Lobby (06:30–21:30).
More in the terminal
Observation deck
4F (06:30 until the last flight departs).
Tourist information
Information desk (facility, sightseeing, transport and accommodation information; hotel introductions; lost property), 1F (06:30–21:30).
Tourist information
1F (09:00–16:00, staffed hours, a booth may be empty depending on the day).
Clinic
First-aid station (no resident doctor, medicines or medical equipment; ask the information desk), 1F Lobby (06:30–21:30).
Clinic
OHDr. Medical Support Station (online health and medical consultation for airport users including foreign visitors; online consultation is paid), 1F (11:00–17:00).
Pharmacy
Matsumotokiyoshi Aso Kumamoto Airport store (medicines, cosmetics, medical supplies), 1F (07:00–21:00).
Duty-free shop
Aso Kumamoto Airport Duty Free Shop (only for passengers departing overseas), 3F, international flights, after immigration (varies with international flight departure times).

What happens between the plane and the exit

The same order at every international airport in Japan.

  1. Quarantine — a health check as you come off the aircraft.
  2. Immigration — fingerprints and a facial photograph, for everyone aged 16 and over, then the landing permission seal in your passport.
  3. Baggage claim.
  4. Animal and plant quarantine — before customs. Meat, fruit, vegetables, seeds and plants go to this counter first.
  5. Customs — green channel with nothing to declare, red channel otherwise.

Register on Visit Japan Web before you fly and you get one 2D code that covers both immigration and customs. You need a phone or tablet to show it.

What you can and cannot carry is in our what you can bring to Japan table, and the baggage allowance for your airline is in the airline baggage rules.

Frequently asked questions

What is the quickest way from Kumamoto Airport into central Kumamoto?

The Kyusanko limousine bus to Kumamoto Prefectural Office, which the airport puts at about 30 minutes. The fare is 1,000 yen.

What is the cheapest way from Kumamoto Airport into central Kumamoto?

The Kyusanko limousine bus to Kumamoto Prefectural Office, at 1,000 yen. It takes about 30 minutes.

How much is a coin locker at Kumamoto Airport?

From 400 yen for the smallest size per a use.

Can I send my suitcase from Kumamoto Airport to my hotel?

Yes. Yamato Transport has a counter at the airport, and the bag arrives the next day, or the day after for some areas.

Is there a lounge at Kumamoto Airport?

Yes: Lounge ASO (3F) and Lounge G (Sorayoka Visitor Center). At Lounge ASO: free for airline lounge guests and some gold card members.

Can you stay overnight at Kumamoto Airport?

The airport says passengers who arrive before 06:30 for an early flight are not let in, for security reasons.

Related items

Kumamoto Airport official site

Sources for this page

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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026