5 Must-Visit Spots in Hitoyoshi: National Treasures, the Kuma River, Hot Springs, and Local Food

In July 2020, record-breaking rainfall struck southern Kumamoto Prefecture, causing the Kuma River to overflow and devastating the river basin, including Hitoyoshi City.
In addition to flooding the city center, the disaster severely damaged local transportation infrastructure, including the JR Hisatsu Line between Yatsushiro, Hitoyoshi, and Yoshimatsu, as well as the Kumagawa Railroad, forcing prolonged service suspensions.
Around 6 years later, reconstruction is progressing in central Hitoyoshi, and tourist attractions and accommodations have reopened.
Some sections of the JR Hisatsu Line remain closed as of September 2026, but restoration work on the Yatsushiro–Hitoyoshi section is moving forward with the goal of resuming service around fiscal year 2033.

On July 28, 2026, the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake struck with its epicenter in the Kumamoto region of Kumamoto Prefecture. It had a magnitude of 7.1 and a maximum intensity of 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale.
Uki City and Hikawa Town recorded the maximum intensity of 7, while the Hitoyoshi Kuma area experienced intensities of 4 to lower 5, with relatively limited damage.
By August, essential infrastructure in Hitoyoshi had been restored, and accommodations, hot springs, and restaurants were generally operating as usual.
Some cultural properties were affected, however, with ground cracks at the Hitoyoshi Castle Ruins and fallen gravestones at the Sagara Family Cemetery. Concerns about the area also led to a wave of accommodation cancellations.
Visiting Hitoyoshi as it overcomes these challenges and returns to everyday life can help support the region.

One piece of welcome news is the resumption of service along the entire Kumagawa Railroad.
On September 20, 2026, trains will resume running between Hitoyoshi-Onsen and Higo-Nishinomura stations, reconnecting the full line from Hitoyoshi-Onsen to Yunomae for the first time in around 6 years.
At the same time, Kawamura Station will be renamed Sagara-Toshima Station, and Higashi-Taragi Station will become Taragi-Shorenji Station.
This will once again allow travelers to explore the attractions along the line by rail, including Okadome-Kofuku Station, Japan's only active station with "kofuku," meaning "happiness," in its name.
This milestone, reached after overcoming the damage from the torrential rains, marks a major step forward for the Hitoyoshi Kuma region—and makes this a particularly meaningful time to visit.

JR Hitoyoshi Station is the main starting point for sightseeing in the city.
As noted above, the JR Hisatsu Line between Yatsushiro and Hitoyoshi remains closed, so it is not currently possible to reach Hitoyoshi directly from outside the city by JR train.
Highway buses and other bus services are convenient alternatives.
The table below outlines routes from 2 convenient starting points: Miyazaki Station and Kagoshima Airport.

When sightseeing in Hitoyoshi, choose transportation to suit your destinations and travel style.
The main attractions around Hitoyoshi Station are easy to explore on foot. For places farther from the station, local buses, sightseeing loop buses, and the Kumagawa Railroad are convenient options.
If you want to visit several sights efficiently or reach places that are difficult to access by public transportation, consider a taxi or rental car.

This historic shrine in Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, was founded in 806.
Revered as the guardian shrine of the Hitoyoshi Kuma region, it is affectionately known to locals as "Aoi-san."
The main sanctuary, connecting corridor, offering hall, worship hall, and two-story gate were built between 1610 and 1613 and are designated National Treasures.
It is rare in Japan for an entire group of shrine buildings to date from the same period.
The buildings feature Momoyama-style architecture with brightly colored decorations throughout. Their most distinctive feature is the steep thatched roofing with high ridgelines.
Steeply pitched thatched roofs are a common feature of historic buildings in the Hitoyoshi Kuma region.

These are the ruins of the castle that served as the seat of the Sagara clan, which ruled the Hitoyoshi Kuma region for around 700 years.
Built on a naturally defensible site with the Kuma and Mune rivers serving as moats, the castle was a symbol of Sagara rule.
Also known as Sengetsu Castle, it has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Fine Castles.
Although the castle had no main keep, its grounds offer views of the Kuma River and surrounding mountains, combining a sense of history with natural beauty.
Highlights include the remains of the Mizunote Gate, fitting for a riverside castle, and the overhanging stone walls built after a major fire near the end of the Edo period.
Following the stone walls and other remains gives a sense of the scale of the castle in its heyday.

Around 50 hot spring sources are spread across a broad area of Hitoyoshi City, from Itsuka-machi to Onsen-machi.
The clear, colorless, tasteless, and odorless waters fall into 2 main categories: mildly alkaline simple hot springs and sodium bicarbonate-chloride hot springs. They are beneficial for conditions including rheumatism, neuralgia, dermatitis, and gynecological disorders.
Source temperatures remain between 42 and 48°C, and the water has a soft, moisturizing feel on the skin.
To experience these renowned waters, stay at a ryokan or hotel along the Kuma River, or visit one of the public bathhouses open to day visitors.

This railway museum was overseen by Eiji Mitooka, the designer behind sightseeing trains that have attracted attention across Japan. It introduces the history and workings of the JR Hisatsu Line, which connects Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture with Kirishima City in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Exhibits include historical photographs with easy-to-follow explanations, the SL Hitoyoshi locomotive's headboard, and many railway parts and signs that were once in use.
Dioramas and videos add to the displays, making the museum engaging for railway enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike.

The Sagara clan, known as feudal lords during the Warring States period, ruled Hitoyoshi from the 12th to the 19th century. This area preserves traces of the artisans' district they established and today has the atmosphere of Kumamoto's Little Kyoto.
As the name Kajiyamachi, meaning "blacksmiths' town," suggests, many blacksmiths once lined the streets, producing blades, guns, and farming tools.
Some of the atmospheric stone paving and residences with storehouses befitting long-established businesses have been preserved as they were, offering a glimpse into the area's deeply rooted history and culture.

This traditional activity has a history of more than 100 years and is said to have been enjoyed by notable figures of the past.
Board a wooden boat for a ride along the Kuma River, a designated Class A river flowing through southern Kumamoto Prefecture, accompanied by lively commentary from your boatman.
The popular Baika no Watashi course departs twice daily outside peak periods.
It offers close-up views of the stone walls of the Hitoyoshi Castle Ruins and a chance to admire seasonal flowers from the water.

The Hitoyoshi Kuma region is known for Kuma shochu, a rice-based distilled spirit with a history of more than 500 years.
In 1995, Kuma shochu received a geographical indication designation from Japan's National Tax Agency. It is one of only 4 honkaku shochu brands in Japan with a protected geographical designation.
To qualify, it must be made from Japanese rice and water from the Hitoyoshi Kuma region, with fermentation, distillation, and bottling all carried out within the region.
Today, 27 distilleries produce carefully crafted shochu while carrying on their history and traditions.
Some offer tours where you can learn about the production process, and browsing the different labels in their shops is another part of the experience.
Visit several distilleries, discover a range of labels, and find a shochu that suits your taste.

Kiji-uma and hanatebako are traditional folk toys of the Hitoyoshi Kuma region. They are said to have originated more than 800 years ago, when refugees from the defeated Heike clan fled to the mountains of Hitoyoshi and began making them while longing for life in the capital.
Kiji-uma are wheeled wooden toys shaped like pheasants, known for their vivid colors and simple forms.
Once given to celebrate the birth of a child, they have long been cherished as good-luck charms.
Hanatebako are wooden boxes painted with camellia flowers, traditionally given to girls for the Doll Festival.
At hands-on activity centers in the region, including Hitoyoshi Craft Park Ishino Park, you can paint these crafts and create a personal keepsake of your trip.
These activities suit children and adults alike, making them a good choice for a family trip.

With its abundant water resources, Hitoyoshi has a long-standing fondness for eel dishes.
Many restaurants now use farm-raised Japanese eel, and long-established specialist restaurants are scattered throughout the city.
Many grill their eel over charcoal, cooking it to order for fragrant, crisp skin and plump, tender flesh.
Each restaurant has its own signature sauce and grilling technique. Choices range from glazed eel over rice in a box or bowl to eel grilled without sauce and eel liver soup.

Recommended Restaurants for Eel

Blessed with the clear waters of the Kuma and Kawabe rivers, the Hitoyoshi Kuma region is known for wild ayu sweetfish that feed on abundant algae.
The area is also known for large ayu measuring around 30 cm in length. Once the fishing season opens in June, ayu dishes appear on menus at local restaurants and ryokan.
Along with the classic salt-grilled preparation, restaurants serve ayu in various ways, including simmered in a sweet soy-based sauce and as sushi.
Tasting wild ayu, available only in season, is one of the special pleasures of a trip to Hitoyoshi.

Recommended Restaurants for Ayu Sweetfish

Hitoyoshi ramen is the city's local take on pork-bone broth ramen.
Each restaurant has its own approach to the noodles and broth, with styles ranging from light to rich.
Some serve a distinctive dark broth flavored with roasted garlic oil, known as mayu.
Stop for a bowl between sights, or try several restaurants to compare their styles.

Recommended Restaurants for Hitoyoshi Ramen

Kijiya in Hitoyoshi serves pheasant dishes, a rarity even in Japan.
The restaurant handles everything from raising the birds to preparing the meals, serving fresh pheasant as sashimi, charcoal-grilled dishes, hot pot, and more.
Pheasant has a firmer texture and a distinct savory flavor compared with chicken, and the seasonal variations are another part of its appeal.
If you are interested in a different kind of dining experience, consider a visit.

Where to Try Pheasant Dishes

Kumamoto Prefecture is Japan's leading producer of horse meat.
Basashi, or horse sashimi, is one of its signature local dishes.
Also known as sakura-niku, or "cherry blossom meat," it has a tender texture and a clean, savory flavor.
Different cuts have different qualities, from lean meat to futaego, a layered belly cut, and the fatty cut from beneath the mane. Choose according to your taste.
It is typically served with sweet soy sauce and condiments such as ginger or garlic, and pairs well with Kuma shochu.

Recommended Restaurants for Basashi

One of Kumamoto Prefecture's distinguished long-established inns, Yoshino Ryokan has grown alongside the history of the area.
It preserves the atmosphere of a time when political, business, and cultural figures gathered here to talk late into the night. Inside, more than a century of history lends the inn a dignified character.
Its story began in 1909, when it opened as a traditional fine-dining restaurant.
The two-story wooden building has survived repeated disasters and been passed down through generations. It is now a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property.
Warm wood interiors and skilled craftsmanship evoke the romantic atmosphere of the Taisho era.

Founded in 1910, Suiranro is a long-established ryokan on the banks of the Kuma River, known as the birthplace of Hitoyoshi Onsen.
It has 3 hot spring sources with different temperatures and several baths to try, including Mikage no Yu, which retains its original appearance.
The ryokan celebrated its grand reopening in February 2023, emerging with a new look after recovering from the torrential rains of July 2020.
Guest rooms overlook the Kuma River and Hitoyoshi's natural surroundings, while beautifully presented creative cuisine makes generous use of local ingredients.

Business Hotel Hachiya is a relatively new hotel that opened in front of Hitoyoshi Station in July 2024.
Its location directly across from the station makes it a convenient base for sightseeing or business.
The hotel has 24 rooms in 4 categories: Single, Super Single, Twin, and Twin VIP, all with spacious beds for a comfortable stay.
Along with Wi-Fi in every room, the hotel offers natural hot spring baths fed directly from the source, ideal for unwinding after a day of travel.
The baths are also open to non-staying visitors.