About Kumamoto Rinku Mega Solar Parking Lot

Hello travelers! I’m Aikero, a writer for [Sarukuma].

My 2-year-old son is obsessed with anything that moves on wheels or wings!
He even mumbles “choo-choo” in his sleep. lol

Lately, his newest love is airplanes.
Sure, you can spot them from the airport observation deck — but you’ll need to pay for parking, and the planes look pretty far away during takeoff and landing (>_<).

But here? Totally FREE! And since you’re right next to the runway,
you can feel the roar of the engines and watch the action up close (●＾o＾●)

So today, let me introduce you to a hidden gem in Kikuyo Town, Kikuchi District:
[Kumamoto Rinku Mega Solar Parking Lot].Quick quiz!
How many planes can you spot in this photo?

Tick, tick, tick… ding!
The answer is — 5 planes!

Of course it depends on the time of day, but during our visit we saw 3 landings, 3 takeoffs, plus several small aircraft going up and down ♫The location is right behind Aso Kumamoto Airport.
Just set [Kumamoto Rinku Mega Solar Parking Lot] in Google Maps and you’ll get there easily (^^)/

Look out for the signpost, then turn and follow the road that runs parallel to the runway.
Lots of cars park along the roadside, so be careful when passing oncoming traffic!This is the parking lot Google Maps will direct you to.
It’s tucked away quite a bit past the signpost, with about 12 spaces.

I went on a Sunday afternoon and as you can see, it was almost empty.
Most people seem to prefer parking on the roadside!
We didn’t check the flight schedule beforehand, but the lot started filling up gradually as more planes came through.
The road keeps going past the parking lot (the photo’s blurred for privacy), with cars parked along the roadside the whole way.“So where’s the best spot to watch from?”
Personally, I’d recommend the [Kumamoto Rinku Mega Solar Parking Lot] itself ♫

You can absolutely watch from the roadside in your car, but the parking lot offers great views too!
Flights can be delayed, so wait times can stretch — having a proper parking spot is safer and more comfortable.

My personal favorite spot in the lot is the very end, closest to the road!
That way no one parks beside you and blocks your view!

Landings happen further down past the parking lot, but takeoffs are perfectly visible from right here ★A few important things to know before you go (>_<):

① No restrooms or vending machines!
There’s a convenience store about a 5-minute drive away near the Nishihara Village Furusato Market, but it’s best to use the bathroom and grab snacks/drinks before heading over Σ(･ω･ﾉ)ﾉ!

② Check the flight schedule! Visit during peak times for the best viewing!

③ If you park on the roadside, watch out — there’s a slope at the edge that could be dangerous!

④ No littering! Always take your trash home with you!

Why We Recommend Kumamoto Rinku Mega Solar Parking Lot

The cloudy sky was a bit of a bummer, but isn’t this view incredible?
From the airport observation deck, you get close to parked planes but the actual takeoffs and landings happen far away.

At [Kumamoto Rinku Mega Solar Parking Lot], you’re right by the runway — so taxiing planes are SO close!The thunderous “VROOOOOM” of the engines is pure adrenaline!
Even smartphone zoom shots come out surprisingly good ♫
Some visitors take dramatic shots of their car or motorbike alongside a plane ♫
It’s fun to try different photo angles (^^)/
“Bye-bye!”
Kids who love planes and vehicles will be over the moon!A budding child photographer in action!
Kids’ photos always have such a unique perspective compared to ours.During our visit, a small aircraft circled the area and we caught its takeoff and landing about 3 times!That adorable yellow plane is Fuji Dream Airlines’ “Shimanekko-go” — a special livery aircraft commemorating the 15th anniversary of both FDA and Shimane Prefecture’s mascot Shimanekko, through a naming-rights partnership with Shimane Prefecture!
The contract ends at the end of March, so there are only about 2 months left to spot it!?

I had no idea about any of this until I started writing this article — what a lucky coincidence ♫Solaseed Air, my go-to airline for trips to Tokyo, was just landing.
The touchdown point was a bit far, but you can clearly see the plane taxiing along the runway ♫In the back right of the photo, you can see Amakusa Airlines’ charming “Mizoka-go” — featuring a mama-and-baby dolphin design.
That striking blue is so very Amakusa, and stands out beautifully even from a distance ♫The thrill of seeing planes this close will definitely have your kids saying “I want to come back!” ♫
And the best part — there’s no time limit, so you can stay as long as you want (^^)/

Definitely add this to your Kumamoto itinerary (●＾o＾●)

※Please note: Some sections of the runway-side fence are electrified. Do not climb over or touch them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please check before visiting.