Kumamoto Castle
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Why go
- The Honmaru Goten palace, completed in 1610, with the castle's most impressive decorations
- The main keep, 30.3 metres tall, a 1960 concrete rebuild that now houses a museum
- The ginkgo tree Legend says Katō Kiyomasa planted, over 400 years old and still bearing fruit
Opening hours
Today09:00 – 17:00Show all
Don't miss
- Uto towerOne of the few castle buildings to come through the 1877 siege intact.Within the castle grounds On the map
- Shokonnoma roomGold-leaf surfaces and paintings by Kotonobu Kano, in the most lavish room of the palace.Inside the Honmaru Goten palace On the map
- Shirakawa river moatThe Shirakawa river served as the outer moat on the south side of the castle.South side of the castle On the map
- Statues on the two main towersFour new statues replaced those destroyed in the earthquake.On the two main towers2018 On the map
- 120 wells in the castle parkKatō Kiyomasa had 120 wells placed in the castle park.Castle park On the map
Know before you go
- Open every day from 09:00 to 17:00.
- The address is 1-1 Hommaru, postal code 860-0002.
- The Honmaru Goten great hall is closed to the public because of earthquake damage.
- Visitors cannot enter the lord's reception hall but can view it from a corridor overlooking the courtyard.
- Visits resumed in 2021, and visitors can again go inside the main and secondary keeps.
Legends and hidden details
- The steep stone walls are said to be impossible even for a rat to climb.
- The castle's nickname Ginnan-jo, meaning castle of ginkgo nuts, comes from a ginkgo tree.
- Miyamoto Musashi was invited to Higo in 1640 and given a residence by Hosokawa Tadatoshi.
What's inside
- Inner Palace: a large renovation was completed in 2007.
- Palace and grounds: the architecture still holds clues to how domain lords lived in the Edo period.
Tips for your visit
- Guided tours start at the large garden, so go there first if you want one.
Interesting facts5
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Its roof tiles were built to fall off in an earthquake, so the roof itself would not collapse.
Kumamoto Castle - Wikipedia -
Saigō Takamori is said to have claimed he lost to Katō Kiyomasa, not to the imperial army.
Burg Kumamoto - Wikipedia -
An earlier castle on the site was built by Ideta Hidenobu, who named it Chiba-jō.
Burg Kumamoto - Wikipedia -
The complex spans about 1.6 km from east to west and 1.2 km from north to south.
Kumamoto Castle - Wikipedia -
Thirteen structures in the complex hold Important Cultural Property status.
Kumamoto Castle - Wikipedia
Shorts
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Kumamoto Castle wall collapses as quake shakes JapanSouth China Morning Post
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Kumamoto Castle's wall crumbles as deadly quake rocks JapanReuters
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JAPAN EARTHQUAKE: Kumamoto Castle Damaged as 7.1 Magnitude Quake Jolt…Times Now World
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A hotel with an observation deck overlooking a castleexploringwithamelia
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WATCH: 400-Year-Old Kumamoto Castle's Stone Walls Collapse In 7.1 Qua…Times Now World
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Japan's 400-year-old Kumamoto Castle Damaged After Powerful EarthquakeNDTV World
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🇯🇵The Hidden Charm of Kumamoto Castle!SnapTrip(瞬間旅録)
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Kumamoto Castle, a place full of history!AndXplore
History
From 1601 he spent seven years enlarging it, folding in two older castles, and the complex was completed in 1607. In 1632 the Hosokawa family took over and held the castle until the Meiji Restoration.
- 1467Ideta Hidenobu builds the first fortifications on Kyomachi hill and names the castle Chiba-jō.
- 1588Katō Kiyomasa takes over the site as feudal lord.
- 1601–1607Kiyomasa enlarges the castle into a complex of 49 towers, 18 large gates and 29 small gates.
- 1877The Satsuma Rebellion brings a siege, and fire destroys the wooden keep.
- 1960A reinforced concrete keep is built in place of the burned one; it now houses a museum.
Show all
- 2016Earthquakes severely damage the roofs and stone walls.
Tours and audio guides
- Guided tours
- Start at the large garden in the castle grounds
Sources: Kumamoto Castle - Wikipedia · Kumamoto - Wikivoyage (see) · 【公式】熊本城 · Burg Kumamoto - Wikipedia · Château de Kumamoto - Wikipedia · checked 26 Oct 2026
- Phone
- +81 96-352-5900
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours of Kumamoto Castle?
Kumamoto Castle is open every day from 09:00 to 17:00.
Where is Kumamoto Castle?
The castle stands on Kyomachi hill in Chūō-ku, Kumamoto, at 1-1 Hommaru, postal code 860-0002.
Can you go inside the keep at Kumamoto Castle?
Yes. Visits resumed in 2021, and visitors can go inside the main and secondary keeps again.
Can you visit the Honmaru Goten palace at Kumamoto Castle?
The Honmaru Goten great hall is closed to the public because of earthquake damage. Visitors can look at the lord's reception hall from a corridor overlooking the courtyard, but cannot go in.
Are there guided tours of Kumamoto Castle?
Yes. Guided tours start at the large garden in the castle grounds.
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