Kumamoto Prefecture is located almost in the center of the Kyushu region, and the Amakusa area is located in the southwestern part of there.
In the Amakusa area, there are 120 islands of various sizes, inhabited by more than 200 bottlenose dolphins, and schools of dolphins can be seen throughout the year. Sometimes 50 to 200 dolphins gather and migrate. Such a large school of dolphins is a rare occurrence.
After about an hour’s drive from the hotel in Kumamoto City, a bridge connecting the Kyushu mainland and Amakusa comes into view.
The beautiful islands of the tropical sea spread out before your eyes. The sunlight and sea breeze are pleasant.
After crossing five bridges (Amakusa Five Bridges) and driving for another hour, we arrived at the “Amakusa Dolphin Center. “
Shortly after setting sail, about 10 minutes into the trip, we can see dolphins jumping offshore, and as we head closer, we see a school of cute dolphins!
The boat continues to sail past dozens of dolphins swimming in groups, and both adults and children were delighted to see so many dolphins up close!
The Children are so excited to see wild dolphins for the first time, saying “They are so different from dolphins in an aquarium! ” They are so excited that they feel as if they’re part of the dolphin herd.
It was such an exciting experience to see a large group of wild dolphins so close for the first time! The time passed by so quickly.
The tour was guided by a local fisherman who knows the surrounding waters well, so there is a high probability of seeing wild dolphins up close.
The captain and staff were kind and courteous, and we were very satisfied with the cruise. The encounter with wild dolphins while experiencing the rich nature of Amakusa was an unforgettable memory.
We traveled to Shimoda Onsen town in Amakusa, stayed at a resort hotel, and after relaxing in the hot springs and enjoying fresh seafood dishes. The next day, we stopped by the photogenic “Kuratake Shrine,” torii gate in the sky, and enjoyed a stylish cafe at “Risolaterasu Amakusa,” before heading home completely satisfied.
Next time, we would like to visit historical sightseeing spots such as “Sakitsu Village,” which is registered as a World Heritage Site as “Nagasaki and Amakusa Region Heritage Related to Submerged Christians,” “Amakusa Rosary Hall and Oe Church,” and marine sports such as SUP cruising, scuba diving, and swimming in the sea in summer.
Amakusa is a 2 to 3 hour drive from Kumamoto City.
There are a wide variety of routes and means (boat, plane, train, long-distance bus, etc.) to get to Amakusa other than by car.
Please design your own fun trip and enjoy the bounty of Kyushu.

Amakusa Dolphin Watching Information Center
（Amakusa Dolphin Cruise Tourism）
4689-20, Nie, Gowa-cho, Amakusa, Kumamoto 863-2421, Japan
Dolphin Center is located in front of the departure port (Futae Fishing Port) along Route 324)
Phone number: 0969-33-1616
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Monday – Sunday (including national holidays) / 365 days a year
Business hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Open all year round
Amakusa Sightseeing Dolphin Watching Dolphin Cruise　https://dolphincruise.jp/