July 4, 2008

• Kumamoto Castle 7/2008

  Today's "go somewhere" is Kumamoto.

  

  This map of Kyushu, the southernmost main island of Japan will help you get your bearings.  We are in Fukuoka, and Kumamoto is to the south about halfway down.  Tomorrow I am going down to Kagoshima to visit MIL.  See that round piece of land just across the water from Kagoshima City?  That is their friendly local active volcano, Sakurajima.  But let's get back to Kumamoto.

  

  We took a tram and got off at the stop closest to Kumamoto Castle.  Hub immediately recognized the round brick building to the left as a public hall where he came for glee club concert competitions as a student.  Three schools would compete and his always came in second.  See the castle just to the left of the traffic signal on the right side of the picture?

  

  Here is a diagram of the castle grounds, and a statue of the original constructor of the castle.

  

   

  Got that?  Took my own picture, too.  Hub is looking at maps, as he is the navigator.

  

  Let's enter the castle grounds!

  

  The walls are propped up from the inside with stone pillars.

  

  Our destination is in view, so let's start the climb.

  

  Stairs...

  

  More stairs...

  

  And yet more stairs.

  

  What is this deal with the double layer of wall, I ask?

   

  I got my answer.

  

  This is the last set of stairs - we are almost there!

  

  Here is the castle!!  Let's check out some of the other buildings on the property, too.

  

  The building below is building #6 on the map above.

  

  

  Here is the interior

  

  The Front

  

  The back - see the small holes below the windows!  Those are for shooting enemies through.

  Next we are going to visit building 22.  This building, Kumamoto Goten was a residential quarters that has been recently restored.  There were many visitors to this new old building.

  

  

  Go in through an underground hallway.

  

  Here are some of the reconstructed rooms.  The innermost room must have cost a fortune to restore!

  

  We were not allowed to take pictures, but here is one off the Internet.

  

  Here is the entrance to the Castle.  This is made of concrete rather than traditional wood.  There are different museum type displays on the inside, but pictures were not allowed here, either.

  

  This is a view of the previous residence quarters from the top of the castle.

  

  Roof tiles and the city.

  

  Another view from the top floor of the castle.  The structure on the left, Uto Turret, is original and our next stop on the tour.

  Now we are going to visit Uto Turret, building #5

  

  

  The turret seen from the ground

  

  

  There were rows of holes in the wall for shooting enemies.  These folks don't look too dangerous.

  

  The hallway leading into the turret.

  

  This shows how traditional walls were made.

  

  Iron diagonal beams were added to the walls to strengthen the building in case of an earthquake.

  

  Rooms inside the turret

  

  Let's start climbing up the several flights of steeeep stairs.

  

  Here is the last flight.

  

  The castle seen from the Uto turret.  I kinda like this picture.

  

  Another shot of the castle from the turret.

  

  OK, let's start back down.

  

  I saw this little feller in a souvenir shop.  Kumamoto is famous for its spinning tops, and this guy's body is made of four tops.  We used to have one of these around the house, but I chose to take a picture rather than replace it.

  

  Ooooh, a real ninja!!

  

  Me and a Japanese Grenedier

  

  Next stop was a traditional craft museum.  Here are some wooden pull toys.

  

  Here are some brightly colored tops.

  

  Pull the string and this feller will make a face at you.

  There is another "toy" that some might find offensive, but those who want to see it can do so here.

  

  This was a shrine behind the castle.  I don't care for shrines but I liked the colors.

  

  What is at the top of the steps?

  

  This is devoted to miscarried infants.

  

  Shrines in shrines in shrines in...

  

  The last stop was Suisenji Park.  Mt. Fuji is too far away to visit, so they made one here.

  

  They say this is a fountain of eternal youth.

  

  Mt. Fuji from the other side.  I liked the clouds reflected in the water.

  

  A tea house in the garden.

  

  Time to go home - let's get on the tram and go to the station to catch our train.

  

  I liked this tram-castle picture, too.

  

  All Aboard!!

  • 20:52
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