Kumamoto Shogun Castle, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan is a marvelous might fortress located on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu. This beautiful place will leave you breathless with its powerful premodern architecture. For Japanese history and culture lovers, this will be the perfect place.
Things to do
in the first place, this place was recently restored. Therefore, you will be able to appreciate how well it has been preserved. The Kumamoto Shogun Castle is one of the only medieval heritage castles in Japan.
Begin your tour with a walk through its immense interior. Inside, you’ll find fine pieces of art and illustrations of Japanese everyday life.
On the other hand, you will find several buildings and you will be able to go to the incredible gardens park. There, you will observe the immense walls that surround the castle.
Besides, like all Japanese luxury, you will be able to appreciate its tatami floors, its screens, ceilings and sliding doors that give it an unusual beauty. Likewise, the castle offers you different groups of traditional singers and dancers so that you can relate more with their culture.
Afterward, you will find the shopping mall finely designed according to its time. Finally, you will be able to reach the top floor and take the best pictures of the spectacular view that surrounds you. In this way, you will be observing much of downtown Kumamoto City.
How to get there
There are different ways to get to the Castle from Kumamoto Airport (KMJ) here are some of the main ones:
- By Bus – It is a 50-minutes journey from the International Terminal to Torichosuki. Over there you’ll have to walk 11 minutes to the Castle. The price estimated is from $9 USD.
- By Taxi – You’ll take the taxi right at the Airport. It’s a 19-minutes journey with an estimated price of $50 to 65 USD. It will leave right in the castle.
- By Drive – At Kumamoto Airport, you’ll be able to rent a car. It’s a 19-minute journey of $2 to 3 USD.
When to go
Here in Kumamoto, you will have a subtropical climate with balmy summers and mild winters. However, the best time to visit it is in October with its Castle Festival demonstrations of samurai yabusame. If you want to feel its culture, you cannot miss this.
How long
To have an excellent trip to this wonderful castle take at least 2 days. So you can get to know every mysterious corner it has.
Opening and Closing Hours
This castle opens:
From March to November: 8:30 a.m to 6:30 p.m
From December to February: 8:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m
On the other hand, it is close from Dec 29th to 31st
Planning
Even though you have simple information in English, Chinese or Korean at the Castle, you need to book in advance. Therefore, you’ll be able to hire a guide to get the most out of your visit. Also, there are some hotels near the castle that you can book.
Inside Information
Over there, there are no meals. So it’s recommended to take your snacks. Also, take a lot of water so you can enjoy your day without interrupting your trip.
History
This fortress was completed in 1607 after nearly seven years of construction. Its Original walls rambled for nearly 8 miles. As a matter of fact, not even the crafty ninja’s specialist in unorthodox warfare could climb its magnificent walls.
On the other hand, in 1877 during the Satsuma Rebellion, the samurai Saigo Takamori torched this castle. Later, only the Uto Yaguara tower survived. The rest of the castle lay in ruins until the 1960s. However, they were able to rebuild.
Websites
Other nearby attractions
If you visit the Kumamoto Shogun Castle, you need to visit the lovely grassy park called Ninomaru Koen. Over there, you’ll be able to spend an amazing afternoon under the tree’s shade. You can also visit the Kunamoto’s Art Gallery and the restored Samurai Mansion. These traditional places will show you the wonderful Japanese History
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