Inner City Transportation
Public transportation facilities in Kumamoto City includes buses, taxis and Kumamoto City Tram. To go to major sightseeing spots such as Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Joju-en Garden, Kumamoto City Tram will be a great way to go. There are also discount tickets, so please try using it.
About the Kumamoto city tram
The 2 city tram systems which run east and west within the city serve important spots like Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Castle, Suizen-ji Joju-en Garden, Arcade Area, and more, so they are convenient and an easy mode of transportation for tourists. Fares are the same throughout the city. In addition to Kumamoto city tram 1 Day pass, the system can also support IC cards from other regions in Japan.
Kumamoto City Tram is a very convenient method of transportation to visit major tourist facilities in Kumamoto City, such as JR Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Castle, Arcade Street, Suizen-ji Joju-en Garden, etc. It is a public transportation facility that is convenient for tourists to use.
There are various types of train, from the nostalgic retro train to the ultra-low floor train "COCORO" that was introduced in 2014.
A flat fare is applied within the city. In addition to the day pass for city buses, we also support the mutual use of the IC transportation card which can be used all over Japan.
| Single Use | One Day Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 180 yen | 500 yen |
| Child | 90 yen | 250 yen |
Free WiFi is available in the tram.
The fare for the Kumamoto City Tram is the same no matter where you get on and off.
*Please use the money changer at the front or back of the
tram, and pay the exact
amount
into the fare box.
*Be aware that the fare box does not give you any change for
500
yen coins or 1,000 yens notes.
Kumamoto City Tram charges a flat fare to go anywhere in the city.
*If you do not have the exact amount of money, please use the
money changer at the
front
and back of the train and pay the exact amount in the fare box.
*If you have a
1-day
ticket (City Tram 1-day ticket or Wakuwaku 1-day Pass), please show the side of the
card
that has the date to the driver when getting off.
*Please find the route map here
How to Use the Kumamoto City Tram
How to ride trams
- When getting on a tram, please use the middle or the real door.
- Ultra-low floor trains can be boarded using both front and back doors.
- In case of paying with cash, please simply get on the tram. The fare is to be paid when you get off.
- When using IC card, please touch the reader with your card when boarding.
*For details on IC cards
How to get off trams
- When getting off, please push one of the get off buttons located inside the tram.
- The door for getting off is the front door.
- You can get off ultra-low floor trains using either the front or the rear door.
- Please put the money for your fare payment in the fare box when getting off.
*If you do not have the exact sum, please exchange money at
exchange machines in the front and the rear of the tram and put the money in the
fare
box.
*Please note that no change will be given if 500-yen coins or 1000-yen bills
are
put directly in the fare box.
*10000-yen, 5000-yen, 2000-yen bills cannot be
changed.
- When using IC cards, please touch the reader with your IC card when getting off.
- If you have a 1-day ticket (City Tram 1-day ticket or Wakuwaku 1-day Pass), please show it to the driver when getting off.
*Click here for details on 1-day tickets (City Tram 1-day ticket or Wakuwaku 1-day Pass)
Denden nimoca
Denden nimoca cards is a very useful IC card that can be used not only to ride Kumamoto City Tram but also to ride buses in the prefecture. It can also be used in transportation systems all over Japan that use a mutual IC-card system, as well as an electronic money to buy items in convenient stores and some other shops.
Kumamoto city tram 1 day pass
It is a very convenient and profitable one-day ticket, which allows you to use all lines of Kumamoto City Tram for 1 day with only a 500-yen fare for an adult and 250-yen fare for a child. This is a scratch-type ticket and is sold at the Kumamoto Station Tourist Information Center, inside the tram. In addition, the ticket also provides discounts for entering various historical and cultural facilities in Kumamoto City.
About the Kumamoto Castle Area Tour Bus Shiromegurin
This bus line allows you to tour around Kumamoto Castle and surrounding tourist spots. Each day, they operate every 20 to 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A flat rate fare is used. In addition to the Shiromegurin one-day pass, you can also use the Wakuwaku one-day pass.
| Single Use | Kumamoto Castle Tour Bus Day Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 180 yen | 500 yen |
| Child | 90 yen | 250 yen |
The fare for Shiromegurin is the same no matter where you get on and off.
Free WiFi is available in the tram.
How to Use the Kumamoto Castle Tour Bus 'Shiromegurin'
Getting on a tour bus
Please board the bus at the rear door.
*When using an IC card over the card reader.
Getting off a tour bus
Please push the button after the announcement of the stop you intend to get off
at.
Please alight from the bus by the front door.
*The fare is paid when getting off the tour bus.
*When
using
an IC card over the card reader.
IC cards and Passes
Kumamon IC Card
Kumamon IC Card is a prepaid card that can be used to easily pay fares on buses and city trams within Kumamoto prefecture. You can purchase it at each transport operator sales center or onboard the bus and it costs ￥2000 (including a ￥500 deposit). To use it, touch it to the IC card reader when you get on and again when you get off the bus or city tram. If you do not have enough money remaining on your card to pay the fare, you can also add money to the card while onboard the vehicle.
Shiromegurin one-day pass
With a Shiromegurin one-day pass, you can have unlimited rides for one day on the Shiromegurin bus which goes from Kumamoto Station to tourist spots around Kumamoto Castle. You can purchase it at the Kumamoto Station Tourist Information Center, the Bus Information Center or onboard the Shiromegurin bus and it costs ￥400 for adults and ￥200 for children. When you use it, please show the driver the ticket with the date filled in.
Wakuwaku 1day pass
Ride the train and the bus as much as you want for one day with this amazing and convenient one-day pass. Three types of scratch-off tickets are available: Zone 1 (700 yen), Zone 2 (900 yen), and Prefectural Guide (2,000 yen). The ticket is sold at Kumamoto Station Total Information Center including the city streetcars and buses. In addition, you can benefit from the discount tickets for historical and cultural facilities in Kumamoto City, which are included.
