Townapedia
Arao city hall
Arao city hall · アラツク, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kunai, Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture 864-0004, Japan - panoramio
Kunai, Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture 864-0004, Japan - panoramio · Yuji Sakamoto, CC BY-SA 3.0
Platform of Arao Station (Kagoshima Main Line)
Platform of Arao Station (Kagoshima Main Line) · そらみみ (Soramimi), CC BY-SA 4.0
Platform of Arao Station (Kagoshima Main Line) 2
Platform of Arao Station (Kagoshima Main Line) 2 · そらみみ (Soramimi), CC BY-SA 4.0
View from overpass of Arao Station (south)
View from overpass of Arao Station (south) · そらみみ (Soramimi), CC BY-SA 4.0
View from overpass of Arao Station (north)
View from overpass of Arao Station (north) · そらみみ (Soramimi), CC BY-SA 4.0

Arao, Japan

荒尾市

Arao is a town of 53,675 people in Kumamoto, Japan, founded in April 1, 1942.

Loading the weather...
Population53,675 GeoNames
Local name荒尾市
RegionKumamoto
Elevation28 m 92 ft
FoundedApril 1, 1942
Time zoneAsia/Tokyo
Land area57.1 km²
Nearest airportSaga Airport (Kyushu Saga International Airport) (HSG) 23 km

Why visit Arao

Townapedia lists 27 museums and landmarks, 43 parks and trails, 19 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include 早鐘眼鏡橋, 荒尾干潟・水鳥湿地センター, 大牟田市石炭産業科学館 and Arao Higata.

About Arao

Arao (荒尾市, Arao-shi; Japanese pronunciation: [ä̀.ɾä́.ó̞(.ɕì)]) is a city in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 July 2024, the city had an estimated population of 49,334 in 24,092 households, and a population density of 860 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 57.37 km2 (22.15 sq mi).

From the Wikipedia article Arao, Kumamoto (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do3

早鐘眼鏡橋

Bridge · 4.7 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

大牟田市動物園

Zoo and aquarium · 4.4 km

Open in Google Maps

三池港展望所

Scenic view · 4.6 km

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks27

荒尾干潟・水鳥湿地センター

Museum · 2.3 km

1, 荒尾市

Tu-Su 09:00-17:00

Open in Google Maps

大牟田市石炭産業科学館

Museum · 6.1 km

Open in Google Maps

別当塚東古墳

Monument and historic site · 2.9 km

Open in Google Maps

別当塚西古墳

Monument and historic site · 2.9 km

Open in Google Maps

宮崎兄弟資料館

Museum · 1.2 km

1, 荒尾市

Open in Google Maps

204号車両

Monument and historic site · 5.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Mitsui Miike Coal Mine Manda Mineshaft

Monument and historic site · 2.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Mitsui Miike Coal Mine Miyahara Mineshaft

Monument and historic site · 4.1 km

Open in Google Maps

三の宮古墳

Monument and historic site · 3.2 km

Open in Google Maps

三池炭鉱

Monument and historic site · 5.6 km

Open in Google Maps

別当塚古墳群

Monument and historic site · 3.0 km

Open in Google Maps

15 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds43

Arao Higata

Park · 1.4 km

Tidal flat in Arao, Kumamoto, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

グリーンランド

Sports field and stadium · 2.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Greenland amusement park

Sports field and stadium · 2.1 km

Open in Google Maps

テニスコート

Park · 5.9 km

Open in Google Maps

臨時駐車場(高架下)

Park · 5.9 km

Open in Google Maps

諏訪公園(スポーツ休養ゾーン)

Park · 5.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Suwa park

Park · 5.3 km

Open in Google Maps

グリーンランド リゾートゴルフコース

Golf course · 1.6 km

Open in Google Maps

ふるさと公園

Park · 5.1 km

Open in Google Maps

三池港あいあい広場

Park · 4.7 km

Open in Google Maps

不知火GC

Golf course · 5.4 km

Open in Google Maps

中友公園

Park · 6.1 km

Open in Google Maps

31 more on the map.

Advertisement

Restaurants and cafes19

焼肉ヌルボンガーデン 荒尾

Restaurant · Korean · 2.6 km

Mo-Fr 16:00-22:00; Sa-Su 11:30-23:00

Open in Google Maps · 0968655333

Reika Ramen

Restaurant · Ramen · 2.3 km

1, 荒尾市

Mo-Su 11:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +81-968-66-2132

hara harmony coffee

Cafe · 5.7 km

09:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps

すし市場

Restaurant · Sushi · 1.9 km

Open in Google Maps

スシロー大牟田店

Restaurant · Sushi · 6.4 km

Open in Google Maps

東洋軒

Restaurant · Ramen · 5.6 km

Open in Google Maps

焼肉 味彩

Restaurant · Barbecue · 2.2 km

Open in Google Maps

Baskin Robbins

Ice cream · 2.5 km

Open in Google Maps

rasora

Bakery · 6.0 km

Open in Google Maps

ゑびすや

Bar and pub · 5.7 km

Open in Google Maps

ガスト

Restaurant · 5.1 km

Open in Google Maps

ジョイフル

Restaurant · 5.1 km

Open in Google Maps

7 more on the map.

History

The area of Arao was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the village of Arao was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was raised to town status on April 1, 1919. On April 1, 1942 Arao merged with the villages of Ariake, Hirai, Yahata, and Fumoto to form the city of Arao.

From the History section of Arao, Kumamoto on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay2

Churches and places of worship3

Advertisement

Shopping14

Gas and EV charging3

Schools, colleges and libraries52

Advertisement

Healthcare19

Map of Arao

185 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Saga Airport (Kyushu Saga International Airport) (HSG) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 23 km away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 5, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.