Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto Prefecture is a vast castle built by Kato Kiyomasa, famous for its beautiful stone walls. It was badly damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, and restoration work continues.
History
Kato Kiyomasa advanced construction in the early 17th century and is said to have completed the castle during the Keicho era. After Kiyomasa, the Hosokawa family took over and ruled from the castle until the Meiji Restoration. The keep and other buildings burned down just before the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877. The current main and small keeps are exterior reconstructions from the Showa era. The 2016 earthquake heavily damaged walls and buildings, and repair work has continued since.
Highlights
- Stone walls with the curved profile known as "warrior-repelling" slopes
- The Uto Turret, the only surviving keep-scale structure
- A special viewing route where you can watch the restoration
Map
Sources
- 公益財団法人日本城郭協会 日本100名城一覧 / retrieved 2026-09-30
- Wikidata（座標）（CC0） / retrieved 2026-09-30
- Wikipedia「熊本城」（参照）（CC BY-SA 4.0） / retrieved 2026-09-30
- Photo: Kumamoto Castle Keep Tower 20221022-3.jpg（Suicasmo / CC BY-SA 4.0）