Kumamoto-jo is one of Japan's three great castles, along with Himeji and Matsumoto. The current black-timbered keep is a 1960 reconstruction but faithful to the original's commanding silhouette on its hilltop. The 2016 earthquakes caused serious damage and restoration work is ongoing — sections of the grounds are fenced off — but the castle is open and the construction itself has become a draw, with viewing platforms letting visitors watch stonemasons rebuild collapsed walls by hand.
Kumamoto Castle
One of Japan's three great castles, still being restored after 2016 earthquakes
A story
During the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, the castle withstood a 53-day siege by Saigo Takamori's forces before they were pushed back — one of the last battles of the samurai era. A fire destroyed the main keep just before the siege ended, though historians still debate whether it was set deliberately or by accident.