Kumamoto Castle

熊本城Kumamoto

Historic area

What makes this place special?

At a Glance

Kumamoto Castle is a hilltop castle in Chūō ward, in the center of Kumamoto, also known as the Ginkgo Castle. Together with Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle, it is counted among Japan's three premier castles.

Katō Kiyomasa built much of the complex in the early 1600s, raising it to 49 turrets and dozens of gates, with curved stone walls called musha-gaeshi designed to stop attackers from climbing. A fire of unknown cause burned the keep and palace just before the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion, yet the castle withstood the assault. The present keep is a concrete reconstruction from 1960, and thirteen original structures, including the Uto Turret, are Important Cultural Properties. The 2016 earthquake damaged walls, turrets and the keep, and repair work continues. The grounds are also listed among Japan's 100 cherry blossom spots.