Cool samurai @ kumamoto castle

KATO Kiyomasa is one of them

People love samurai castles. Only 12 original castle towers remain but more were reconstructed based on the original. The main castle tower of Kumamoto Castle connected with the minor tower is a concrete recreation built in 1970. In front of them lies a square where samurai members periodically gather and perform shows. In the photo is seen a tall ginkgo tree which was first planted at the beginning of the 17th century by KATO KIYOMASA, who expanded the existing fortress into a magnificent castle complex now known as Kumamoto Castle. He predicted something ominous would happen when the tree became as tall as the main castle tower. That grave event could have been the battle fought in 1877. The castle was besieged by unaffected former samurai members from Satsuma but was so well designed that it was not penetrated more than 50 days and most of the Satsuma troops moved a way from the castle to seek different tactics. Kumamoto castle has some old historical buildings which you cannot resist taking pics. But their reconstructions have been beautifully done and that's the way this castle has to offer you a lot to see.

Yachiyo-za theater in YAMAGA, Kumamoto

Latticed ceiling with gas lighting and business ads

 

In a small city tucked in an inner northern Kumamoto lies a theater calls YACHIYO-ZA built in 1910. About 20 of this type of old-fashioned theaters remain in Japan today. YACHIYO-ZA uses gas light and the lighting equipment on the ceiling looks delicate. The lady who acted as a guide was quite an entertainer. I translated what she said into English but her enthusiasm was easily communicated to her audience. What a fun memory we all got. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, Yamaga, ASO, and Kumamoto Castle make a great combination of diversity. It sure made a good tour.

Active Mt. ASO

Smoky crater!

 

One of the craters on Mt. ASO is active, which often makes the aerial cable service stop, usually connecting the lower station next to a large parking lot and the upper station near the crater. As the phot suggests, it was a clear crisp day, ideal to view the peaks, sommas, and caldera basin. But of course the cable did not work at least for a while and visitors were not allowed to go to the closest area to the crater when it worked. This photo was taken from the area called KUSA SENRI, now a grassy field but once a crater. The life cycle of the active crater is pretty much predictable and that's why tourists are allowed to go to the crater area when the gas situation is tolerable. Try your good luck and go for Crater No. 1, the only active crater of Mt. ASO.

Near the lower cable station

 

Three towers seen at the same time in Kumamoto Castle grounds

 Taken near the largest parking lot 

No utility poles and wires! This must be how it originally looked when built at the beginning of the 17th century by KATO Kiyomasa, a feudal lord noted for his excellent castle building technique. Two of the towers are reconstructions in the 20th century but one is from the  castle's inception. Thanks to the inauguration of Kyushu Shinkansen services, Kumamoto is easy to go to. Try the castle and perhaps Mt. ASO as well and you will feel the grandeur of Kyushu.