One of the most beautiful Japanese war time castles is Kumamoto-jo, which we visited in the morning. The castle was built in 1607 and is famous for the architecture and the notable stone walls. Only a few structures have survived the centuries since the castle’s construction in 1607 intact. The castle keep and most other buildings are modern reconstructions, but the reconstructions are mostly of a high quality and new buildings are continually being added. After a leisurely lunch in Kumamoto, we left the city by van and had a restful afternoon travelling to Amakusa, located in the southwestern part of Kumamoto. Kami-shima and Shimo-shima islands are the two major islands in the area, there are also 120 other islands varying in size, which all belong to Unzen-Amakusa National Park. We stayed at a seaside hotel in a small island off Kami-shima, facing ever calm Yatsushiro Sea.
UPDATE: Kumamoto Castle suffered serious damage in the earthquakes of April 2016. Many roof tiles fell, foundations were damaged, walls crumbled and entire structures collapsed. On June 1, 2020, an elevated walkway was opened to the public, allowing for views of the inner castle grounds. The interior of the castle’s main keep is scheduled to be reopened to the public in spring 2021, while the rest of the grounds are expected to require about 20 years to be fully repaired.
