All Reviews of Kumamoto Castle

Kumamoto Castle is really big. You should set aside at least 1.5 hours to walk around and visit the castle keep. It's a must-see attraction in Kumamoto, with cherry blossoms in spring and fall foliage in autumn. Samurai also occasionally appear near the castle, and visitors can take commemorative photos with them.

Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan's three most famous castles, underwent extensive restoration after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes and has now regained its original appearance. On this visit, although traces of the restoration were still visible in some places, it still felt very much like the castle it used to be, and walking through it was quite impressive.

Admission to Kumamoto Castle is JPY 800 for adults, and I personally think it's well worth visiting. Besides touring the castle tower, you can also see the progress of the post-earthquake restoration along the way, which gives you a better understanding of the castle's history.

I also highly recommend visiting the nearby Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza. It has quite a few interactive activities that let you learn about Kumamoto Castle's history in different ways, along with some mini-games. You can even dress up in period costumes, which was surprisingly fun. A combined ticket for Kumamoto Castle and Wakuwakuza is currently only JPY 850, making it a much better deal than buying separate tickets.

After touring Kumamoto Castle, you can also stop by the nearby Sakura-no-baba Josaien. It has plenty of restaurants, souvenirs, and Kumamoto specialties, so it's a convenient place to eat and take a break after visiting the castle. It fits nicely into the itinerary.

During a rare vacation, after overcoming all kinds of obstacles, I finally set off on my long-awaited trip to Kyushu on June 26, 2026. It was also my first time visiting Japan.

Before departure, Typhoon Mikla swept across Japan, adding a sense of uncertainty and nervousness to the trip. With both anxiety and excitement, I flew to Kumamoto.

After arriving safely, the next morning, a brilliant rainbow stretched across the sky above Kumamoto Castle. It felt as if it were blessing the land after the storm and opening the most beautiful chapter of this brief journey.

Seeing a rainbow after the wind and rain was not only a rare and beautiful sight, but also a symbol of hope and good fortune. It made this trip to Kumamoto one of the most unforgettable and precious travel memories of my life.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

The buildings inside are really unique. I definitely want to visit again.

The damage from the big earthquake was really severe, but thanks to ongoing restoration efforts, things are slowly getting better. It will still take quite a while, but one day, it will definitely regain its former glory.