Tenshūkaku

Kumamoto


The castle's soaring black Tenshūkaku (main building, 29.5m tall) is today a historical museum with 6th-storey lookouts. The tower was closed at the time of writing due to earthquake damage and was scheduled to reopen in 2019.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kumamoto attractions

1. Kumamoto-jō

0.04 MILES

Dominating the skyline, Kumamoto's robust castle is one of Japan's best, built in 1601–07 by daimyō Katō Kiyomasa, whose likeness is inescapable around…

2. Honmaru Palace

0.06 MILES

The 2008 reconstruction of the Honmaru Palace fairly gleams with fresh wood and gold-leaf paintings, particularly in the Sho-kun-no-ma receiving room…

5. Wakuwaku-za

0.23 MILES

This family-friendly museum presents the history of Kumamoto and the castle from many angles, from the 10-minute video with English subtitles explaining…

6. Sakuranobaba Johsaien

0.23 MILES

This tourist complex at the foot of the castle grounds offers a one-stop opportunity to sample (and purchase) local foods, from fish cakes to tea to…

7. Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art

0.3 MILES

On the grounds of Ninomaru park, this art museum has ancient Buddhist sculptures, modern paintings and a recreation of an ancient burial mound.

8. Sōseki Memorial Hall

0.35 MILES

Meiji-era novelist Natsume Sōseki (1867–1916) is honoured at the pretty 1870s home where he lived during his four years teaching English in Kumamoto. The…