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Kumamoto Castle

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Spot guide · Yatsushiro

Kumamoto Castle

Open again after the July 2026 earthquake, with the fallen walls in view from the walkway

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Photo: Suicasmo / CC BY-SA 4.0
From the berth
About 1 h 15 min each way (our estimate)
Taxi to Shin-Yatsushiro, 12.5 km, about 20 min and about ¥4,000 (our estimate); Shinkansen to Kumamoto about 15 min, ¥1,630; tram to Kumamotojo/Shiyakusho-mae about 10 min, ¥200; about 10 min on foot. Taxi all the way about 44 km, about ¥13,000 before tolls, our estimate
Hours
9:00–17:00, last entry 16:00
September to June; July–August to 19:00. Closed 29 December; may close in bad weather
Cost
Adult ¥800
Ages 7–15 ¥300; cards, IC and QR payment accepted
Gates
Weekdays: South Gate only
Weekends and holidays either gate. Free shuttle from Josaien to the South Gate, every 10–15 min, 9:00–17:00

Open in Google Maps · Directions from your berth

Checked · Researched, not yet visited · times from official timetables and our estimates · Takumi Yamada

Why it's worth your hours

The castle closed after the earthquake of 28 July 2026 and has reopened; its notice of 18 September 2026 lists normal operation.

Stone walls collapsed in about 40 places, and the walkway passes them. Sakuranobaba Josaien, the food street below, is open; its Wakuwakuza museum is closed.

What you actually do here

Three things the plaques won't tell you

  1. On a weekday you must enter and leave by the South Gate; Josaien’s free shuttle stops there.
  2. The castle’s night opening (from 27 Oct 2026, to 21:00) is too late for a ship day.
  3. Buy the castle ticket alone: the joint tickets include the closed Wakuwakuza, and whether they are sold is not confirmed.

Sakuranobaba Josaien, the food street below, is open; its Wakuwakuza museum is closed.

Eat nearby

The picks

The whole Top 10
Sakuranobaba Josaien and the samurai troupe, KumamotoFood street below the castleSakuranokoji at Josaien: restaurants 11:00–18:00, souvenir shops 9:00–18:00 — open in MapsKumamoto ramenKumamoto ramen on the way backKeika in Kumamoto Station, 11:00–22:00 — open in Maps
While you are here

More in Yatsushiro

The Yatsushiro guide
Suizenji Jojuen garden, KumamotoSpot guide

Suizenji Jojuen garden

A spring-fed stroll garden with a small Mount Fuji, undamaged by the 2026 quake

Open the guide
Quick answers

Questions people ask here

Is Kumamoto Castle open after the 2026 earthquake?

Yes. It has reopened and its notice of 18 September 2026 lists normal operation: 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:00, adult ¥800. Collapsed stone walls can be seen from the elevated walkway.

How long does it take from Kumamon Port to Kumamoto Castle?

About 1 hour 15 minutes each way by our estimate: a 20-minute taxi to Shin-Yatsushiro, about 15 minutes by Shinkansen, 10 minutes by tram and about 10 minutes on foot.

Whatever the plan: back aboard 60 minutes before all-aboard. Full port context on the Yatsushiro guide.
Everything in one pageThe complete Yatsushiro guide: berth, into town, your hours, tours that fitOpen the complete guide →