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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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Supervised by :  Kumamoto Castle

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

11

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • May Li
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    I could see Kumamoto Castle from my hotel, and the roof of the main keep looks seriously cool. It feels really different from Nagoya Castle or Himeji Castle.

  • 吳振宇
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    Some parts of Kumamoto Castle are still under construction, so you can see the damage from the big earthquake. But seeing the main keep fully restored really shows the spirit and perseverance of the Japanese people. There's still a long way to go for full restoration, but this historic castle is so symbolic—I truly believe they'll make it happen!

  • Claire Chang
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    Kumamoto Castle is one of Japan's three great castles. It was built in 1607 by the famous warlord Kiyomasa Kato and became the Kato family's residence.

    The castle is famous for its steep stone walls called 'Musha-gaeshi,' which were said to be impossible for even ninjas to climb. It also played a major role in the last civil war in Japan, the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, where Saigo Takamori himself praised how difficult it was to capture.

    Despite its strength, the castle has suffered from natural disasters like fires and earthquakes. The 2016 earthquakes caused significant damage, and full restoration is expected to take 20 years. Even during the pandemic, Kumamoto Castle has been working hard to recover, and by 2022, it reopened for visitors. The castle features both a large and small main keep, which is quite rare.

    I've visited Kumamoto Castle several times (2013–2016) and really love the vibe of this city. It has the energy of a big city but still feels down-to-earth. Kyushu is great to visit year-round—cherry blossoms in spring, ginkgo trees in autumn.

    If you're in Kyushu, don't miss the chance to see Kumamoto Castle up close. It's absolutely worth a visit! Also, check out Sakuranobaba Josaien nearby, a small castle town area where you can experience local food, history, and culture.

    Highly recommended 👍
    There's a centuries-old ginkgo tree in front of the main keep, known as 'Ginkgo Castle.' It's said that Kiyomasa Kato himself planted it. The original tree was burned during the Satsuma Rebellion, but the current one grew from new shoots after the fire.

  • 張為誠
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    After the earthquake, Kumamoto Castle was badly damaged. It's slowly being restored bit by bit. I hope it can return to its original state soon.

  • Robert Chen
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    After the big earthquake, many parts of the castle are still under repair. Some of the collapsed areas are quite shocking to see. The restoration is expensive and time-consuming, but I hope it's finished soon.

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.
(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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