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Kumamoto Castle

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Kumamoto Castle

A Kumamoto Prefectural Icon! A famous castle with over 400 years of history inside.

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Kumamoto Castle is the famous castle built by Kiyomasa Kato in 1607. It was built using the latest, cutting edge techniques at the time and was the setting of many important moments in Japan’s history.

While the castle keep was burned down during the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, it has since been rebuilt to its current visage in 1960.
Once again, the castle suffered great damage during the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, but has since been restored as of April 2021. Now reinforced with state-of-the-art, anti-seismic technologies, the castle has become a symbol of rebuilding. The newly reinforced castle keep offers a view from the top that cannot be missed.

Inside the Honmaru Goten sits the large formal room, the breathtaking Shokun-no-Ma, known from ancient drawings and texts. It was restored in 2008 with a decadent gold-leaf patterned ceiling and walls that make for an absolute must-see stop. (As of May 2023, interior tours are not available due to ongoing restoration work.)

The castle is home to a stone-walled underground passage, “shinobi-gaeshi” iron pikes above the stone walls of the small castle tower kept to ward off enemy intrusion, defenses across the castle grounds and boobytraps used in battle. Finding all of these unique features is a definite highlight of any visit here.

Highlights

  • An iconic symbol of over 400 years of Kumamoto history.
  • View from the castle top offers a sweeping view of Kumamoto City, the peaks around Mt. Aso and more.
  • While damaged by the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, the castle keep was completely restored in 2021. Restoration of the entire Kumamoto Castle is scheduled to be finished by 2053.
  • 13 different structures, including the Yagura, Yagura-mon and Hei, in the castle complex are registered Nationally Designated Culturally Important Properties.

Photos

  • Kumamoto Castle

    Kumamoto Castle

  • Kumamoto Castle at night

    Kumamoto Castle at night

  • The underground passage way

    The underground passage way

  • Kumamoto Castle, after withstanding severe damage during the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake

    Kumamoto Castle, after withstanding severe damage during the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake

  • Kumamoto Castle and cherry blossoms

    Kumamoto Castle and cherry blossoms

Official FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.

Q

Do you have signs or pamphlets in foreign languages? (If you do, which languages are available?)
A

English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and Korean are available.

Q

Is free WiFi available in the facility?
A

Yes, free Wi-Fi is available in various places within the area, such as near the ticket office, rest areas, inside the castle tower, and within Josaien.

Q

Are coin lockers available?
A

Yes, coin lockers are available at nearby tourist facilities such as Josaien and Ninomaru Rest Area. Inside the paid area, we also offer luggage storage for carry-on suitcases only at the Honmaru Rest Area (for a fee of 400 yen).

Q

Is parking available?
A

Yes, there are several parking areas in the vicinity.

Q

Where is the entrance to the paid area?
A

There are north and south entrances, but due to construction, the north entrance is closed except on Sundays and public holidays. Please enter from the south entrance (may change due to events).

Q

I have trouble walking, can I still tour the place?
A

The castle tower is equipped with an elevator, and the observation area is also accessible. Additionally, electric wheelchairs are available at each ticket office.

Reviews

10

  • Top Reviewer

    NO IMAGE

    Claire Chang Top Reviewer

    熊本城是日本的三大名城之一
    1607年由戰國名將：加藤清正（稱為清正公）起造，並成為加藤氏的居城。

    熊本城有一號稱：忍者都爬不上去的城
    熊本城的石牆稱為「倒武者」(武者返し)：
    其意指這個又陡又斜的石牆，即使武功再高強強的忍者也爬不上去
    經歷過日本的最後一場內戰：西南戰爭1877年，也讓西鄉隆盛止步於此
    西鄉隆盛不禁讚嘆加藤清正建造的熊本城有多麼的難攻破。

    但這麼堅固的城池，還是經不起大自然的力量（火災，地震）
    2016年多次地震，也傷害的這堅固的熊本城，毀壞程度要完整修復竟需要20年呀～～
    近幾年的疫情，熊本城也可在這次疫情中努力恢復
    2022年的熊本城已經恢復可以參觀囉！熊本城有大小天守閣，這也是相當罕見的唷！
    來到九州熊本，最大的重頭戲就是熊本城囉～


    我多次造訪熊本城(2013～2016年），
    真的很喜歡熊本的這個城市帶給我的感覺，
    有都市的熱鬧又不失鄉下的純樸，九州很適合一年四季早訪，春天賞櫻，秋天賞銀杏。

    來到九州，千萬別忘來近距離一睹熊本城的風采，
    熊本城絕對值得您的造訪，當然也別忘了前往熊本城旁的 城彩院.櫻之馬場
    城彩苑位於日本3大名城之一熊本城山麓地帶的櫻花馬場。
    是小型熊本城下町（老街）風光，體驗當地飲食、歷史與傳統文化

    特別推薦👍
    天守閣前廣場，有一棵數百年的銀杏樹（別稱「銀杏城」）
    傳聞加藤神社境內的銀杏樹與此樹，皆是由加藤清正親手種植。但是在明治10（1877）年的西南戰爭前夕的天守・本丸御殿燒毀之際，此銀杏樹也被燒盡。現在的銀杏樹，是新芽在燃燒後重新生長的。

  • 吳振宇

    熊本城裡還是有在施工的地方，可以看到當時熊本大地震所造成的傷害，但能看到天守閣能修復完全，可以感受到日本人做事的精神和毅力，雖然要修復完全仍是一條長路，但這古城有歷史象徵意義，相信絕對可以做到!

  • 張為誠

    地震後熊本城倒塌得很嚴重，一點一滴慢慢地修復中，希望早日恢復原狀。

  • Robert Chen

    經歷過大地震後多地方都在修建中，很多崩塌的地方看了怵目驚心，修復工程花錢又花時間希望早日完成。

  • 陳鈺潔

    裡面的建築都很有特色，還想再去一次。

Details

Name in Japanese
熊本城
Postal Code
860-0002
Address
1-1 Honmaru, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto
Tel
096-352-5900
Closed
December 29-31 *Subject to change.
Business Hours
9:00am - 5:00pm
Admission Fee
Kumamoto Castle Grand Unveiling Third Stage
High School Students and Up: 800yen, Elementary and Middle School Students: 300yen
Access
(1) Approximately 30 minutes by Kumamoto Castle Bus Tour "Shiromegurin" from JR Kyushu Shinkansen Kumamoto station. (Fare: Adults 160 yen, Children 80 yen)
(2) Approx. 10 min. walk from Kumamoto Castle/City Hall Station on the Kumamoto Electric Railway
(3) Walk approx. 10 min. from the Sakuramachi Bus Terminal after riding the express bus for 50 min. from Kumamoto Airport.
Official Website
Official Website (English)

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