Amakusa (Hondo)
天草32°28′ N 130°12′ ECityPop. 74,861Kyushu
Amakusa suits riders who want an island loop of fishing villages, Hidden Christian heritage and quiet coast roads on Ama-Ichi, and the islands have no railway, so you ride or take the bus.
Road closure
Kumamoto is rebuilding after the 28 July 2026 earthquake, and most roads and lines are open
An M7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto region on 28 July 2026, and Uki and Yatsushiro took the worst of it. The Kyushu Shinkansen fully reopened on 18 September and JR's Kagoshima line between Uto and Yatsushiro on 10 October. The Minami-Kyushu Expressway stays closed between Yatsushiro JCT and Yatsushiro-minami IC while its bridges are repaired, and aftershocks continue. Aso and Amakusa are open to visitors, and their towns ask travellers to come.
Checked 2026-10-11 · bousai.go.jp
Photo 690 Noda · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Stay in Hondo to split Ama-Ichi into two days and to start the west coast early with Sakitsu on the way.
Amakusa City covers most of Shimoshima and its neighbours, and Hondo on the east coast is its centre. Ama-Ichi, the National Cycle Route, crosses the Amakusa Five Bridges from Misumi and loops through Hondo and Reihoku before running down the west coast past Sakitsu to Ushibuka.
Sakitsu's church and fishing village belong to the Hidden Christian Sites on the World Heritage list, and a visit inside the church needs advance notice. Mio Camino Amakusa in Hondo serves as the route's gateway.
The July 2026 earthquake cracked homes in Amakusa and Kami-Amakusa, and water was off for a few days, restored by 1 August. Tourism businesses are open, and the Amakusa tourism association asks visitors to come and support the islands with their trip.
Quick answers about Amakusa (Hondo)よくある質問
Is Amakusa (Hondo) a good place to stay?
Stay in Hondo to split Ama-Ichi into two days and to start the west coast early with Sakitsu on the way.