Business
- Property Tax
- Yes, 1.4% Fixed Asset Tax
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥350,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥10,500,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥220,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥6,600,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥400,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥20,000,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥280,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥14,000,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥450,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = ¥33,750,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥320,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = ¥24,000,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30% (Effective rate including local taxes)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20.42% (Standard rate for non-residents)
- Tax System
- Resident basis (Worldwide income for permanent residents)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (National) + 10% (Local)
- VAT
- 10% (Consumption Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, extensive anti-tax-haven rules
- Property Transaction Tax
- Real Estate Acquisition Tax (3-4%) + Registration Tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- New 6-month Digital Nomad Visa available (Tax residency depends on total days)
Essentials
- City
- Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
- Population
- 738,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 95 Mbps (Fiber optic widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 150 JPY, 1 EUR ≈ 162 JPY (Higo Bank is the local major bank)
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Kumamoto is famous for 100% groundwater-sourced tap water)
- Power
- 100V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Ubigi (eSIM), Sakura Mobile (long-term), Mobal (short-term)
- Banking for Expats
- Japan Post Bank (Yucho), Sony Bank, Wise, Revolut
- Accommodation
- Monthly Mansions (approx. ¥80,000/mo), Airbnb around Kumamoto Castle
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate (Major stores accept Suica/IC cards, but local ramen shops remain cash-only)
- Short Term Rentals
- KaguAruoo (Furnished apartments), MetroResidences Japan
- Budget Accommodation
- Dyeing and Hostel Nakashimaya (¥3,500/night), The Share Hotels Tsugumi
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Chuo-ku (near Shimotori and Kamitori Arcades)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Suizenji (quiet, park access) or Shin-Kumamoto (near Shinkansen station)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Future Labo Kumamoto (¥1,500/day, near Torichosuji)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Starbucks Coffee (Sakae-dori location) or Brooklyn Tea (Kamitori)
- Networking Events
- Kumamoto Startup Hub events, Tech-focused meetups at XOSS POINT
- Social Events for Expats
- Kumamoto International Center (KIC) language exchange, 'Kumamoto Foreigners' Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Go App, Uber (limited to taxis), Didi
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Kumamoto City Rental Cycle (Charichari) - ¥6 per minute
- Best Beach Nearby
- Oda Coast (Uki City), approx 45 mins by car/train
- Top Regional Airline
- Solaseed Air (Hub at KMJ), JAL
- Top International Airline
- Korean Air, STARLUX Airlines (via Kumamoto Airport KMJ)
- Highway Access
- Kyushu Expressway (Kumamoto Inter/Mashiki-Kumamoto Kuko Inter)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- JR Kumamoto Station (Shinkansen stop)
- Public Transport Passes
- Waku Waku 1-Day Pass (¥500-¥900 for trams and buses)
- Regional Travel
- Kyushu Shinkansen (35 mins to Fukuoka), Kyushu Sanko Bus (to Mt. Aso)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Kumamoto University Hospital (English support available)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Studio Shanti (Chuo-ku), LAVA Kumamoto
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness (Kumamoto Joshin), Gold's Gym Kumamoto
- Laundry Services
- Pika Pika Coin Laundry (various city locations, approx. ¥400-¥800 per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Kumamoto Ramen (Garlic-infused), Basashi (Horse Sashimi at Suganoya)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Private Lodge (Vegan-friendly curry), Private Kitchen Hibari
- Best Dessert Spots
- Okada Coffee (Kamitori), Swiss Konditorei (Ikinari Dango)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Shimotori Arcade, Don Quijote (Shimotori)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.jp, Rakuten, Mercari
- Grocery Delivery
- Aeon Net Super, Ito-Yokado (limited)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Shimotori and Sakae-dori districts
- Local Brewery
- Diamond Brewing (Brewery Kaigan)
- Wine Bars
- Wine Bar tsubame, Q-uraku
- Street Food Stalls
- Sakura-no-baba Johsaien (near the castle)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Tien Tien (Vietnamese), Gandhara (Indian/Nepalese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Kumamoto Castle (Symbol of the city, restoration ongoing)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto (CAMK), Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art
- Historical Sites
- Hosokawa Gyobu-tei (Samurai residence), Reigando Cave (where Musashi wrote 'The Book of Five Rings')
- Religious Sites
- Fujisaki Hachiman-gu, Kato Shrine
- Annual Events
- Fujisaki Hachiman-gu Autumn Festival (September)
- Cultural Districts
- Shinmachi and Furumachi (Old merchant districts)
- Theater Venues
- Kumamoto City Theater
- Local Markets
- Kumamoto Station 'Higo Yokamon Market'
- Music Scene
- Kumamoto B.9 (Live house)
- Street Art
- Limited; look for Kumamon (city mascot) statues everywhere
- Cooking Classes
- ABC Cooking Studio (Sakura Machi Kumamoto)
- Art Galleries
- Nakamura Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Lafcadio Hearn's Former Residence
- Local Heritage
- Higo Zogan (inlaid metalwork), Kumamon Mascot culture
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Suizenji Joju-en Garden (stunning landscape garden)
- National Parks Nearby
- Aso-Kuju National Park (1.5 hours away, active volcano)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Shirakawa River walk, Tatsuda Mountain paths
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Hanaokayama Park (City skyline view)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Ezu Lake (waterfowl observation)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Aso Milk Road campsites (designated areas only)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Yamato Transport (Kuroneko), Sagawa Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Bic Camera Kumamoto (Support desk), PC Clinic
- Table Tennis Spots
- Kumamoto City Gymnasium
- Language Classes
- Kumamoto Nihongo Gakko, YMCA Kumamoto
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Kumamoto Prefectural Library
- Community Centers
- Kumamoto City International Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Gigo Kumamoto (Arcade)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Pachinko 21 (Note: Casinos are illegal; Pachinko is the legal alternative)