Kumamoto Castle is known as one of the three most famous castles in Japan. It is also known as Ginkgo Castle, and was built by Kato Kiyomasa, a famous general in the Azuchi-Momoyama and early Edo periods, over a period of about seven years from 1601 (Keicho 6). It is a vast castle with a circumference of 5.3 km and a total area of 98 hectares, and has three castle towers, 49 turrets, 18 turret gates, and 29 castle gates, making use of unique castle construction techniques that make use of stone walls and natural terrain.
During the Seinan War in 1877 (Meiji 10), the castle held out against the Satsuma army led by Saigo Takamori for over 50 days, demonstrating its true worth as an impregnable castle, but just before it was surrounded, a fire of unknown cause destroyed the castle tower and Honmaru Palace area. The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1960. In spring, about 800 cherry trees of three types, mountain cherry, Higo cherry, and Somei Yoshino, bloom in full bloom.
Kumamoto Castle attracts many people with its magnificent stone walls and solid defenses. The beautiful black and white contrast of the castle tower and the intricately constructed stone walls create a beautiful balance. The stone walls built by Kato Kiyomasa are called “Kiyomasa-style stone walls” and their unique style and advanced techniques are still talked about today.
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