About Kumamoto City Jonan B&G Marine Center (Pool)

Hello there!
This is “Gussan,” a Sarukuma travel writer.
Today I’d like to introduce you to the swimming pool at the Kumamoto City Jonan B&G Marine Center.

Since this is not a heated pool, it’s only open through the end of September.
It’s an unbelievably affordable spot, so I highly recommend visiting with your kids while it’s still in season.

This was my first visit to the Kumamoto City Jonan B&G Marine Center.
My GPS led me right there with no trouble, though the entrance is more prominently marked with a “Jonan Sports Center” sign.
The surrounding area features tennis courts and athletic grounds, but the pool is housed inside the Kumamoto City Jonan B&G Marine Center building.
The entrance has both stairs and a wheelchair-accessible ramp.

Step through the automatic doors and you’ll find the reception desk and ticket vending machine right inside.

Now, let’s check the price…

High school students and above: 140 yen
Junior high students and younger: 70 yen

Wait, that’s incredibly cheap!!!!

I’ve never seen a pool you can swim in for such a low price!
I couldn’t believe it — I had to do a triple-take!
The Kumamoto City Jonan B&G Marine Center is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, but they have scheduled safety inspection breaks, so I recommend checking ahead before you visit.

Morning session: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Afternoon session: 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Evening session: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

*Note: Your session time includes shower and changing time.
Near the reception desk, there’s a clear list of what you can and can’t bring into the pool.
Knowing this in advance is super helpful for getting properly prepared.
Swim caps are mandatory, diapers are not allowed (including swim diapers), and floats are only permitted in the small kids’ pool.
Children below elementary school age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in swimwear and a swim cap.
The water temperature is displayed at the reception desk.
It’s not a heated pool, but on the day I visited the water was a comfortable 28°C — just right for a refreshing swim.

What Makes Kumamoto City Jonan B&G Marine Center (Pool) Special

This is the women’s changing room.
Honestly, public pool changing rooms often have a reputation for being wet and unkempt, but here the toilets, changing rooms, and shower areas were all spotlessly clean — I was genuinely impressed.
And get this — the coin lockers are only 10 yen, which is incredibly cheap.
The changing room, shower area, and toilets are all connected, and the door to the left of the toilet (not visible in the photo) leads directly to the pool.
My kids absolutely love swimming and we’ve visited many pools together, but I really felt that the water at the Kumamoto City Jonan B&G Marine Center was unusually clear and clean.

The main pool is divided into a free-swim lane, a swimmer’s lane, and a walking lane. My elementary-age kids spent about an hour and a half on the free-swim side practicing streamlines and seeing how far they could glide on a single breath.
The main pool is 110 cm deep at both ends and 120 cm deep in the middle.
Floats aren’t allowed in the main pool, but kickboards are available for loan.
Another wonderful feature of the Kumamoto City Jonan B&G Marine Center is the dedicated children’s pool.
It’s 50 cm deep on the near side and 60 cm deep on the far side.
Floats are allowed in the kids’ pool, so it’s a great place for little ones to splash around safely with their parents.

The hot weather is here to stay for a while.
The pool is open through the end of September, so be sure to check it out!

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Frequently Asked Questions

*Information is accurate as of the time of reporting. Prices and operating hours may change. Please verify before your visit.