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Kumamoto Castle
Set along the verdant hillside of Kumamoto City is the city's landmark treasure, Kumamoto Castle...
Originally built by Kato Kiyomasa in 1607, the castle took over seven years to construct and is one of the most famous fortresses in Japan. Kiyomasa's hilltop castle is a brilliant architectural statement, exhibiting highly advanced engineering skill, superb masonry, and a mastery of flood control and defense technology. The un-scalable J-shaped stone walls and wooden overhangs, designed to repel invading ninja warriors, left the castle virtually impenetrable.
Located in the southeastern wing of the main castle is Honmaru Goten Palace, residence of Lord Kiyomasa, the official Guest Hall, and an expansive kitchen facility. Kiyomasa, using his knowledge of landscape design, created the narrowly long private tearoom, called nagarokujo, which can be viewed today while taking in the surrounding beauty atop the high stone wall.
Another unique feature of the The Honmaru Goten Palace, is the underground passageway, known as kuragarai tsuro, that lies underneath the two stone walls. The cluster of structures that make up the palace is said to have fifty-three rooms with a total area of 1,570 tatami mats. Visitors can travel from room to room, and feel transported into time.
The Honmaru Goten Palace, renowned for its splendor, featured exquisite partition paintings in almost every room. Using historically accurate material, the decor for two of the rooms have been restored to its original state: the Shokun Hall and the Wakamatsu Hall. Together with ancient furnishings, the paintings re-create the authenticity of imperial life long ago.
During Japan's last civil war in 1877, after an unsuccessful attempt to rise up against the new Meiji government, large parts of the castle were destroyed and taken over by the military. Most of the castle, including the towers, were reconstructed in the 1960's, with a few wooden structures having survived the aftermath.
An onsite museum displays elaborate palanquins, castle replications, armor and weaponry of the Edo Period.
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