Uto, Japan
宇土市
Uto is a town of 37,442 people in Kumamoto, Japan, founded in April 1, 1889.
Why visit Uto
Townapedia lists 21 museums and landmarks, 68 parks and trails, 16 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 14 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Mt. Nozoe, Mt. Nukatsuka, Adaka-Kurobashi Shell Mounds and 向野田古墳.
Weather in Uto
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Uto
Uto (宇土市, Uto-shi; Japanese pronunciation: [ɯ̈̀.tó̞(.ɕì)]) is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 July 2024, the city had an estimated population of 36,149 in 16127 households, and a population density of 490 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 74.30 km2 (28.69 sq mi).
From the Wikipedia article Uto, Kumamoto (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Uto on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do14
2 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks21
Adaka-Kurobashi Shell Mounds
Monument and historic site · 5.6 km
Archaeological site(s) in Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan
9 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds68
Kumamoto Prefectural Museum Network Center Multipurpose Plaza
Playground · 5.7 km
56 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes16
4 more on the map.
History
The area of Uto was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Uto was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Uto annexed the neighboring village of Hanazono, Todoroki, Midorikawa, Amizu and Hashiragata in 1954. On October 1, 1958 Uto merged with the village Amida and was raised to city status.
As part of an effort to help Kumamoto Prefecture recover from the 2016 earthquakes, One Piece author Eiichiro Oda helped set up 10 statues of the Straw Hats around the prefecture. Jimbei was the last statue, unveiled at Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park in Uto on July 23, 2022.
From the History section of Uto, Kumamoto on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship20
Shopping15
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries37
Healthcare22
Map of Uto
219 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kumamoto Airport (KMJ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 24 km away.
- Kumamoto 14 km north, about 14 min by car
- Yamaga 37 km north, about 37 min by car
- Ōmuta 44 km northwest, about 44 min by car
- Miyama 51 km north, about 51 min by car
- Setakamachi-takayanagi 55 km north, about 55 min by car
- Yanagawa 59 km northwest, about 59 min by car
- Chikugo 60 km north, about 1 h by car
- Isahaya 61 km west, about 1 h by car
- Yame 61 km north, about 1 h by car
- Ōkawa 64 km northwest, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Uto City hall, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uto Joint Government Building, Suikotei, CC BY 4.0
- JA Kumamoto Uki Uto Branch, Suikotei, CC BY 4.0
- M 6.8 - 5 km E of Uto, Japan, USGS, Public domain
- Jomon Kaimen, Nanj2783, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Matsubase-shrine, Siwamura, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kumamoto Jonan junior high school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kumamoto Minami National Hospital, Waka77, CC0
- Kumamoto City Tsukawara Historical Museum, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kumamoto Nakamidori Elementary school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uto Elementary School, Kenta Mabuchi, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Uto Kakujo Junior High School, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Uto Sumiyoshi Junior High School, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Uki Matsubase Elementary School, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Uki Toyofuku Elementary School, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Uki Toyokawa Elementary School, Hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Uki Tonoo Elementary School, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Matsubase Junior high school 01, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uki Shiranui Elementary School, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Uki Shiranui Junior High School, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mukonoda Kofun, funcho, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- 宇賀岳からの夕焼け - panoramio, 浅川浩二, CC BY 3.0
- 宇賀岳の桜 - panoramio, 浅川浩二, CC BY 3.0
- 立石稲荷神社 - panoramio, shikabane taro, CC BY 3.0
- 泉胃腸科外科 - panoramio, 浅川浩二, CC BY 3.0
- 宇城市立中央図書館美術館 02, しょう大, CC0
- 宇城市立中央図書館美術館 05, しょう大, CC0
- 宇城市立中央図書館美術館 01, しょう大, CC0
- 宇城市立中央図書館美術館 06, しょう大, CC0
- 宇城市立中央図書館美術館 03, しょう大, CC0
- 宇城市立中央図書館美術館 04, しょう大, CC0
- 宇城総合病院の全景, ノート258, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Michinoeki Uki, アラツク, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Raven scavenging on a dead shark, Chris 73, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Midorikawa River from train of Misumi Line, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 三角線・糖塚山 - panoramio, shikabane taro, CC BY 3.0
- Kumamoto Sumiyoshi Station front 2, MK Products at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kumamoto Sumiyoshi Station 3, MK Products at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kumamoto Sumiyoshi Station front 1, MK Products at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 塚原古墳 - panoramio, 浅川浩二, CC BY 3.0
Page built November 5, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.