Kumamoto Castle

熊本城

Kumamoto Castle is known as one of the three great castles of Japan. Lord Kato Kiyomasa began building it in 1601, and it took seven years to finish. The main keep burned down in 1877 and was rebuilt in 1960, and the castle was badly damaged by an earthquake in 2016. The grounds have about 800 cherry trees, which are beautiful in spring.

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Visitor information

Getting there: Take the "Shiromegurin" Kumamoto Castle bus from JR Kumamoto Station (about 30 minutes).

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the castle park stays open at night and is very crowded.
Because of repairs after the 2016 earthquake, some areas of the castle may be closed to the public.
Good places to view the main tower from outside are Ninomaru Square and Kato Shrine.

Tips for Muslim visitors

From the Kumamoto Castle/City Hall tram stop it is about a 15-minute walk through Sakura-no-Baba Josaien; a free shuttle bus also runs from Sakura-no-Baba Josaien.
For prayer, Kumamoto Masjid (Kumamoto Islamic Centre, 5-5-2 Kurokami, Chuo-ku) is reached by bus from Kumamoto Station (about 27 minutes to Kurokami 5 Chome, then a 1-minute walk).
Inside many castle keeps you take off your shoes and climb steep, narrow wooden stairs. Wear socks and clothing that is comfortable for climbing.
Castle grounds are large. Plan a prayer stop before or after your visit at one of the places to pray listed below.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Kumamoto and the verified places to pray nearby.
Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.