Kumamoto Station Shirakawaguchi

This camera covers Shirakawaguchi, the east side of Kumamoto Station, and is streamed by RKK, the prefecture's oldest broadcaster. The name comes from the Shirakawa river, which runs nearby and gives this side of the station its identity.

The station was rebuilt around the arrival of the Kyushu Shinkansen, with the exterior design supervised by the architect Tadao Ando. His treatment leans on concrete and deep eaves, and the facade carries a woven pattern drawn from local basketry. The Amu Plaza Kumamoto complex opened alongside it in 2021.

Trams stop directly in front, and the line runs from here to the castle and the downtown arcades in about fifteen minutes. The forecourt is where most visitors get their first impression of the city, and it is busiest around commuter hours and when Shinkansen services arrive.