Anime Pilgrimage Field Guide · Kumamoto
ONE PIECE Statues in Kumamoto: All 10 Locations & the Best 2-Day Route
See the complete map first, divide the prefecture into EAST and WEST, and enjoy all ten Straw Hats without turning the trip into a race.
Illustrative route artwork · use the live map below for exact locations.
The answer before the itinerary
Two days is the sweet spot
The ten statues are spread across nine municipalities. A private car can technically reach them in one long day, but two days lets the journey breathe: one day through Aso, one day from Kumamoto City to the Ariake Sea.
The most comfortable plan is a private car or confident self-drive. Public transport is possible, but the rural connections turn the same project into a three- or four-day trip.
See the whole journey first
Live map of all 10 ONE PIECE statues
This interactive map uses the exact installation coordinates. Gold connects the EAST mountain route; red connects the WEST city-and-coast route. Zoom in before opening a stop in Google Maps.
EAST route
Use the Aso landscape to expand the scale of the trip, while protecting Robin’s KIOKU access window.
- Zoro · Ozu
- Usopp · Aso
- Robin · Minamiaso
- Franky · Takamori
- Nami · Nishihara
WEST route
Begin with the captain, pass through the recovery communities, and let the voyage resolve at the sea.
- Luffy · Kumamoto City
- Chopper · Kumamoto City
- Sanji · Mashiki
- Brook · Mifune
- Jinbe · Uto
View Luffy at the Kumamoto Prefectural Government promenade on Instagram
Luffy at the Kumamoto Prefectural Government promenade · embedded from the official project account.
One captain, one visual anchor
Start the overview with Luffy—save the full crew for the detailed guides
The overview needs one memorable character image, not ten repeated embeds. Luffy establishes the scale and emotion of the project; the EAST and WEST guides handle every stop, map and photo plan.
Why this journey matters
Why the statues are in Kumamoto
The statues belong to the official ONE PIECE Kumamoto Revival Project, created through a collaboration between Kumamoto Prefecture and Kumamoto-born manga artist Eiichiro Oda after the 2016 earthquakes. In the project story, each Straw Hat supports a community through a role connected to that character.
That context changes the trip. Usopp stands beside Aso’s grasslands, Franky marks the recovery of the Minami Aso Railway, and Robin stands beside a preserved earthquake-damaged university building. These are fan landmarks, but they are also markers of recovery. Read the signs, respect memorial areas, and look beyond the statue.
Official project guide · IKOU route app · Official access guide
Save the crew list
All 10 statues at a glance
The overview stays compact. Each detailed route guide will carry the character photos, exact stop maps and on-the-ground instructions.
How to use this overview: Open any Map link for quick navigation. For photography, parking, individual stop maps and exact timing, continue to the dedicated EAST or WEST route guide.
A reason to finish the voyage
Collect the official IKOU digital stamps
The official IKOU app can guide visitors to ONE PIECE statues and Kumamoto earthquake heritage sites, and awards digital stamps at participating locations. Treat the ten statues as a connected recovery journey rather than ten unrelated photo stops.
Limited-time completion rewards have existed in past campaigns, but a permanent physical prize is not guaranteed. Check the official project before traveling.
Choose comfort before price
How should you travel?
Rental car
Best for confident drivers who want to stop for landscapes, food and spontaneous photography.
Plan: 2 days
Private car
Best for couples, families and premium travelers who want hotel pickup, local navigation and control over Robin and Jinbe timing.
Plan: 2 days
Public transport
Possible, but rural connections require careful timetable work. Make the pilgrimage the main trip.
Plan: 3–4 days
Book only after choosing the pace
Remove the hardest transport work
A one-day all-ten tour is for travelers with only one free day. A custom private car over two days is the better experience when photography, food and the recovery story matter.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Life with Saki may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are selected for route usefulness, not commission size.
All-ten private Grand Tour
Use this only when the alternative is missing the pilgrimage. Confirm that all ten statues and Robin’s access window are included.
Check the all-ten Grand Tour
Custom private car
Book EAST and WEST separately, send the stops in advance and keep the freedom to adjust for weather, opening hours and the tide.
Build a private Kumamoto routeStay once, travel twice
Choose one comfortable Kumamoto base
If you fly into Aso Kumamoto Airport, the giant “100 Great Pirate Scenes” display at Sorayoka Park is a useful introduction, but it is not one of the ten bronze statues. Continue to Kumamoto Station, leave your luggage, and visit the official Mugiwara Store on the sixth floor of AMU Plaza Kumamoto.
THE BLOSSOM KUMAMOTO
The best premium base for Shinkansen arrival, Mugiwara Store access and driver pickup with minimum friction.
Check THE BLOSSOM
KOKO HOTEL Premier Kumamoto
Choose this base if Kumamoto Castle, dinner and the Sakuramachi shopping area matter more than station access.
Check KOKO HOTEL PremierAvoid expensive mistakes
Check these before departure
Operating hours, mountain conditions and the tide matter more than shaving a few minutes from the route.
- Confirm KIOKU’s opening day and Robin access.
- Check Mount Aso restrictions, weather and winter road conditions.
- Check the tide and sunset before fixing Jinbe’s position in the day.
- Send all ten Japanese place names to a private driver in advance.
- Download offline maps and leave large luggage at the hotel.
- Recheck temporary transport services on the official project site.
Official Japanese picks
ONE PIECE at CDJapan
Life with Saki may earn a commission from qualifying CDJapan purchases at no extra cost to you. Product availability can change; Japanese books may not include English text.
Eiichiro Oda Illustration COLOR WALK 10 DRAGON
A strong Japanese-edition keepsake for readers who want Oda’s color artwork after returning from Kumamoto.
View at CDJapan
Official product imagery is shown only inside the matching affiliate card. Japanese-market language and format details vary by release.
Practical answers
ONE PIECE Kumamoto FAQ
Where are the ONE PIECE statues in Japan?
These ten Straw Hat statues are spread across Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu: Kumamoto City, Mashiki, Mifune, Uto, Ozu, Aso, Minamiaso, Takamori and Nishihara.
Are the statues free to visit?
Statue viewing is free. Robin follows KIOKU facility access hours. Transport, parking, museum visits, food and collectibles cost extra.
Which statues fit a short Kumamoto City visit?
Combine Luffy and Chopper, then add the Mugiwara Store at Kumamoto Station if time allows.
What is the hardest statue to visit?
Robin requires the most care because the museum schedule creates a real deadline. Without a car, the rural connections among Robin, Franky and Nami are also demanding.
Do I need Japanese?
Not for viewing the statues, but Japanese helps with rural transport, restaurants and stock checks. Save the addresses and a translation app offline.
Ten statues · two routes · one connected story
Choose the route that fits your first full day
Start with EAST when the weather over Aso is clear. Start with WEST when Jinbe’s tide and evening light create the stronger opportunity. The route names stay flexible so the experience does not depend on a rigid Day 1 or Day 2 order.