Former residence of grounds as of January 1st, 2017 Hosokawa Gyobu Inui- Tower Kato Shrine English City Museum Photo spot

Akazu-no- Direction Prefectural Gate Art Museum Nishide-Maru Uto-Yagura Ni-no-Maru/ Tower Main Main Keep route (on foot only) Ni-no-Maru Circular route Square Hohoate-Gomon (on foot only) Gate Multiple Towers kazukazu-no-yagura Shuttle bus Ni-no-Maru Honmaru-Goten route Palace Castle features numerous towers of different types, all of kurokabe Parking Lot Restoration which function as in four directions. Constructed in the Black walls in progress shitami-itabari style, one can also look down at the castle . The Main Keep and walls of towers are painted Uto-Yagura Tower, the castle's largest, retains the same style of 400 black, a characteristic that suggests a great years ago. Hitsujisaru- Iidamaru-Gokai-Yagura degree of impregnability of the castle to this Yagura Tower day. The paint consists of black lacquer and Tower persimmon juice, a combination that Open from Stairwell prevents deterioration caused by weather 8:30 -18:00 Bizen Moat Umaya-Bashi Bridge conditions such as wind and rain, as well as Sudoguchi-Mon by insects. Josaien Gate Hazekata-Mon cultural t Gate Nagabei Wall onal reasu ti onal historic s re Na nati ite / Bagu-Yagura Tower

City Hall Preparing for Civic Auditorium ed "black" rojo-no-sonae fam cast Stone Walls ishigaki he e process of reconstru le: Kumamoto Castle differs from others in the sense T in th ction The angle of the castle’ s stone foundation walls that it has defense mechanism in place to increases toward the top to nearly 90 degrees, a withstand extended sieges. Specifics included Restoring to a beautiful state. high-technology construction designed to turn numerous gingko trees planted for contruction back enemies attempting to scale the walls. This materials as well as for food, and the many water function has earned it the name "musha gaeshi," wells on the grounds. which literally means "repels warriors."

hei The Castle has in place an array Walls of defense mechanisms Main Keep designed to keep enemies out, including a wall tenshukaku that faces the moat. At 242 meters, it is ’ s longest such wall. These are some prime Kumamoto Castle is 熊 城 examples of Japan's advanced construction an example of a style technologies. of architecture known 本 as connected-keep layout, consisting of Iidamaru-Gokai-Yagura Repairing stone walls Kumamoto Castle one large and one iidamaru-gokai-yagura ishigaki-no-shufuku Kumamoto Castle is known as the masterpiece of small keep. Though it Tower burned in the Satsuma Complete Guide here famed castle-builder Kato Kiyomasa. So, what are One column of stones holds up the In order to restore the Castle to its some of the defense systems that remained in place Rebellion, the solid structure has been building. There is a green arm that original beauty, each of the stones Japan Secrets of even through attacks with modern weapons during the reconstructed, sitting was specially engineered in Japan. that have fallen from the structure Satsuma Rebellion? atop the stone wall. From the 14th floor of city hall there is are numbered and restored to their an observatory overlooking this site. original places as shown in photos Weekdays: 7:30-22:00; Saturday, taken prior to the damage. Impregnability Secrets of Sunday and holidays: 9:00-22:00 The striking combination of the Castle’ s black walls You just might meet a real military commander! and plaster is part of the The Kumamoto Castle Omotenashi Bushotai appeal of Kumamoto Kumamoto Castle Plus Info Kumamoto Castle: one of Japan's Castle, giving it extreme The innermost area of Kumamoto Castle is currently beauty in addition to its under construction. The following are some recommendations Beauty renowned impregnability. on additional sights to see after touring the castle area. three most famous , The Goten (Palace) re-enacting the life of unrivalled impregnability the feudal lord is also a must-see! Sakura-no-baba Josaien Amongst the castles built by powerful warrior Kato Kiyomasa, Conveniently located in close Kumamoto Castle is considered the masterpiece. proximity to Kumamoto Castle, this complex features facilities introducing the history of Kumamoto, gift shops, This famous castle ranked at the top for three consecutive years on 01 02 03 hands-on experience facilities and TripAdvisor®’ s rankings of Japanese castles 2013–2015. more. There is also a tourist 01. The elaborately decorated information center. Stop in before you Built at the end of the Sengoku (Warring States) period of Japanese history, Honmaru-Goten Palace 02. A take a walk around the city! Kumamoto Castle employs highly sophisticated defense systems major characteristic of Kumamoto The Bushotai come alive at Kumamoto castle, skipping through 400 years of time Castle is the various defense to bring some fun to . The group consists of ten people including rendering it worthy of being called “impregnable.” mechanisms in place designed to the original owner of the castle, Kato Kiyomasa. Performances and monologues, In comparison to castles built subsequently, which emphasized appearances, stymie intruders. 03.Colorful which are popular with tourists, are held daily at the Sakura-no-baba Josaien (at Kumamoto Castle impresses with a sense of simplicity and fortitude instead. cherry blossoms enliven the the foot of the Castle). black-walled Main Keep. The blossoms peak every year in late Though the Kumamoto Castle was damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, March through early April. Experience the sankin kotai or “alternate At the Narikiri experience corner, dress up like a attendance” system of the , town girl, a traveler or a samurai of the Edo ■ Access from major Shinkansen stations As of January 2017. the Castle is now undergoing renovation to restore which involved a maximum of 2,700 people. period, and have a photo taken free of charge! it to its original condition. This time offers a unique Hakata Hiroshima Himeji Shin-Osaka Kyoto Tokyo opportunity to view the interior of the stone walls, Our goal of restoring Kumamoto Castle 1 hr. 2 hr. 3 hr. 3 hr. 5 hr. Kumamoto 38 min. which are a primary characteristic of Kumamoto Castle. Reconstruction Sponsor program launched!! 43 min. 45 min. 14 min. 33 min. 33 min. Individuals donating 10,000 yen or more at a time are given a Reconstruc- Sakura Sakura Sakura Sakura Nozomi Nozomi tion Sponsorship Certificate. When you digitally register your name, you are issued a Reconstruction Sponsor Pass. Present the Pass at tourist facilities Change to the Change to the or participating stores in the city to receive special privileges. Mizuho Shinkansen Mizuho Shinkansen at Shin-Osaka at Shin-Osaka ■ How to make a donation ■ Access from the airports (approx.) ① Bank transfer: Pick up the specified form and make a bank transfer at your nearest post office. ② Cash: Payments are accepted at the Kumamoto Castle General Affairs Office, at the Wakuwakuza, Kumamoto Airport 55 min. (airport limousine bus) Sakura-no-baba Josaien. Kumamoto Fukuoka Airport 2 hr. 15 min. (highway bus) Get tourist information on Kumamoto City Official Tourist Site. ■ Inquiries about Kumamoto Castle Kumamoto Castle General Affairs Tel: +81-96-352-5900 After completing your tour of Kumamoto Castle, take a walk around the castle ■ Published by Kumamoto City Tourism Promotion Section Tel: +81-96-328-2393 town. See the Visit! Kumamoto (Kumamoto City Official Tourist Guide site), which lists local gourmet choices as well as crafts and other sights to see.

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