Exploring the 10 One Piece Statues in Kumamoto prefecture in Japan—A Complete Tour for Fans Worldwide!
Hello, I’m Hiro, the manager of this blog. And here with me is my companion, Omochi the rabbit!
Omochi: “Nice to meet you, everyone! Let’s go on a One Piece statue adventure in Kumamoto together!”
In 2024, Kumamoto has seen the highest increase in inbound tourism in all of Japan. The main reason seems to be the 10 One Piece statues placed all around the prefecture! With the global popularity of the One Piece manga/anime—created by Eiichiro Oda, who is from Kumamoto City—this tourism project is boosting visits from all over the world. Let’s discover how to see all the statues and also learn about the magic of One Piece!
- Why Visit One Piece Statues in Kumamoto?
- Getting to Kumamoto from Tokyo or Osaka
- Recommended Routes to Visit All 10 Statues
- The 10 One Piece Statues in Kumamoto
- “ONE PIECE” — A Global Phenomenon
- Hiro’s Personal One Piece Figurine Collection
- Visiting All Statues—A Perfect Kumamoto Adventure
- FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Why Visit One Piece Statues in Kumamoto?
Kumamoto Prefecture and One Piece’s creator Eiichiro Oda have joined forces for the “Kumamoto Reconstruction Project”, placing statues of the Straw Hat Pirates in areas affected by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. Each statue represents a message of gratitude and resilience, connecting fans worldwide to this special place.
In July 2022, the final statue—Jinbe—was installed in Uto City, completing the full lineup of 10 crew members. In the manga’s first volume, Luffy said:
“First, I need a crew… Ten people would be nice!”
Now you can see those 10 crew members in statue form, each with a special link to Kumamoto’s recovery effort.
Getting to Kumamoto from Tokyo or Osaka
Omochi: “Hiro, for travelers coming from Tokyo or Osaka, how do they get to Kumamoto?”
Hiro: “Great question! Here are some easy options in English, especially for our overseas readers.”
Table: Access from Tokyo/Osaka to Kumamoto
Origin | Method | Details |
---|---|---|
Tokyo | Airplane | – Flights from Haneda or Narita to Kumamoto Airport (approx. 1 hr 40 min) – Then take a bus or taxi to central Kumamoto (about 40 min by bus). |
Tokyo | Bullet Train (Shinkansen) | – Take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakata (Fukuoka) (approx. 5 hrs) – Transfer to Kyushu Shinkansen from Hakata to Kumamoto (approx. 40 min). |
Osaka | Airplane | – Flights from Itami or Kansai Airport to Kumamoto Airport (approx. 1 hr 15 min) – Then bus or taxi to central Kumamoto. |
Osaka | Bullet Train (Shinkansen) | – Take the Sanyo-Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hakata (approx. 2.5 hrs) – Transfer to Kyushu Shinkansen from Hakata to Kumamoto (approx. 40 min). |
Omochi: “So quick by plane, or scenic by Shinkansen. Both are great experiences!”
Recommended Routes to Visit All 10 Statues
Approaches to One Piece Statues
Approach | Details | Pros & Cons |
---|---|---|
Follow Crew Joining Order | Visit statues in the sequence each character joined Luffy (Luffy, Zoro, etc.). | Pros: Feels like living the story! Cons: Some backtracking due to scattered locations. |
Shortest Distance Route (Google Maps) | Simply type “One Piece Statue” into Google Maps, sort by distance, and go to the nearest statue one by one. | Pros: Very efficient. Cons: Loses some story immersion. |
Enjoy Local Tourism Route | Divide your travel by region: – Central Kumamoto: Luffy, Chopper – Aso Region: Zoro, Robin, Usopp – High-Mountain Area: Brook, Sanji, Nami, Franky – Amakusa for Jinbe | Pros: You can also enjoy onsen, local cuisine, and nature. Cons: May need more time. |
Omochi: “If you have enough days, I recommend exploring each region. Kumamoto has delicious food and beautiful landscapes.”
The 10 One Piece Statues in Kumamoto
Table: Straw Hat Pirates Statues
Luffy
Zoro
Nami
Usopp
Sanji
Chopper
Robin
Franky
Brook
Jinbe
クルーメンバー | Location |
---|---|
Luffy | Prefectural Office Promenade |
Zoro | Ozu Chuo Park |
Nami | Tawayama Koryukan Moe no Sato |
Usopp | Aso Station Front |
Sanji | “Minaterasu” in Mashiki Town |
Chopper | Kumamoto City Zoological & Botanical Gardens |
Robin | Former Tokai University Aso Campus |
Franky | Takamori Station Front |
Brook | Mifune Town Fureai Hiroba |
Jinbe | Sumiyoshi Coast Park (Uto City) |
Mini-Figurine Info and Special Shops
Omochi: “Wow, so I can buy mini-versions of each statue as souvenirs?!”
Hiro: “Yes! They’re sold at specific shops near each statue location.”
Mini-Figurine Shop List
Figurine | Shops |
---|---|
Luffy | Lawson Kumamoto Prefectural Office, Hotel Kumamoto Telusa |
Zoro | Hobby Shop So, Umi no Eki Ozu |
Nami | Tawayama Koryukan Moe no Sato |
Usopp | Michi no Eki Aso |
Sanji | Mashiki Town General Gym “Minaterasu” |
Chopper | Kumamoto City Zoological & Botanical Gardens Entrance |
Robin | Former Tokai University Aso Campus, Michi no Eki Aso Bow no Sato Kugi no Ajiwai Kan |
Franky | Minami Aso Railway Takamori Station |
Brook | Dino Base Mifune |
Jinbe | Michi no Eki Uto Marina Okoshikikan |
“ONE PIECE” — A Global Phenomenon
Written by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997. It tells the story of Monkey D. Luffy, who aims to become the Pirate King and find the legendary treasure known as the “One Piece.” With over 500 million volumes in circulation worldwide, it’s one of the best-selling manga ever.
Key elements of One Piece include:
- Adventures across islands with unique cultures
- Themes of friendship, dreams, and epic battles
- Emotional storytelling set in a vast world
Omochi: “People of all ages love One Piece. No wonder fans from abroad come to see these statues!”
Hiro’s Personal One Piece Figurine Collection
Hiro: “Let me share a few from my stash!”
- Luffy (Gear 5)
- ‘Sake Cup Siblings’: Luffy, Sabo, Ace
- Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Chopper & Luffy, Bon-chan… etc.
Omochi: “So many cool figures! They look amazing lined up together!”
Visiting All Statues—A Perfect Kumamoto Adventure
If you haven’t visited yet, you can’t imagine how moving it is to see each statue. Sometimes you’ll recall a line from the manga, and it might just bring tears to your eyes. That’s the magic of One Piece—and now you can experience it fully in Kumamoto.
Memorable Quotes from One Piece
- “I don’t want to lose any more of my friends.”
- “Thank you for everything. I won’t forget this favor.”
- “If we meet again, will you call me your crewmate once more?”
- “I want to live!”
- “If you ignore a friend who’s risking his life to save you, how can you enjoy a meal tomorrow?”
- “Happiness Punch! Ten thousand each!”
Omochi: “Ready to set sail? Let’s go find these statues and treasure up those memories!”
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Question | Answer |
---|---|
How do I plan a route to see all the statues? | You can follow the joining order (Luffy first) or use Google Maps and search “One Piece Statue” to optimize by distance. |
Is there an official site for more info? | Yes, check op-kumamoto.com (Japanese site) for official updates. |
Can I buy souvenirs or figurines of these statues? | Yes, mini-figurines are available at specific local shops near each statue location. See the table for details. |
Hiro: “In the end, the One Piece statue tour is more than a fandom trip. It’s a reflection of hope, gratitude, and a bright future for Kumamoto’s tourism.”
Omochi: “Yes! If you have a chance, visit each statue, enjoy the local spots, and collect some figurines to treasure these memories forever!”