Kumamoto Castle

Kumamoto-jo is a relatively authentic modern reconstruction of a fortification dating back as early as the mid fifteenth century and, for those with an appetite for castles, is the most impressive one I've seen yet.

Selfie time? Uh-huh, yeah.

Breathtaking on many occasions, as I considered the many battles witnessed by the ground I walked on.

Fortifications from the West entrance. There is a guard tower
whose entrance hallway you can see on the left wall

The guard tower. Parts of the interior were under
renovation but the wood used inside felt old; we
had to remove our shoes to climb it.

View from the top, overlooking the grounds and surrounding Kumamoto city.

Its construction and fortifications were an elegant balance of old and new, with boulder base and old wood flooring juxtaposing an LED TV playing a documentary of the authentic methods used during reconstruction.

The castle itself is a reconstruction of the original, which has been periodically destroyed be one thing or another.

Through the appropriately-named "Dark Hall" on our way to the front entrance. That guy
was hurrying us on: "Don't stop the flow of people!"
There was nobody behind or anywhere within fifty feet of us.

Cell phone selfie at the front entrance.

Hiding behind Tanimura Keisuke, a nineteenth-century war hero.

An original decoration of the castle.

More original decorations of the castle. Note the recovered pieces around it.

View from the top of the castle! Note the guard tower.

The courtyard below, with costumed actors walking around.

We also got a chance to see the 'throne' room, where the leader would reside. Based on prestige and trust, visitors were allowed to approach in one of the successive adjacent visitors' rooms.

The many rooms separating visitors from the throne room. Each had a different name and, depending
on whether you were trusted, you could visit with the ruler from a closer room.

The throne room itself. Note all the gold.

A nearby tea ceremony room.

Just before the castle we had ramen at Nagomiya, a highly-rated, delicious (and cheap) underground shop just a couple minutes from the castle grounds. No picture, sorry. So here's another picture of me to make up for it.

A family said "It really matches his face, doesn't it!" as they walked past.

Finally, satisfied with our touring endeavors, we got onto the expressway to get back to Ayumi's home by around 7:30 PM. Traffic was a little backed up for the Kurume Fireworks Festival, which had been delayed since Tuesday due to inclement typhoons.